Welcome to week 2 of the Smart Sofa station Sew-Along!
I’ve been sew excited to see so many of you making a start, and some of you even zooming ahead with enthusiasm!
You can catch up on past blog posts here and here, and it's not too late to sign up and start sewing...click here and fill in your details.
I’ll share some of my favourites below so make sure you read to the end!
This week we are continuing to hand quilt the base if you’re not done with this, and also making the the pockets, flaps and other extra bits.
Now I’m not going to sugar coat this…there’s a reason I labelled this pattern as an ‘intrepid adventure’.
It has small pieces, multiple layers, and requires a level of precise sewing to get a crisp look to the flaps.
This isn't to discourage you at all, but to help you understand that there is an extra level of effort and patience involved. Believe me when I say, the results are sooo worth it!
All About the Interfacings Used in this project
The interfacing is there for a good reason, and if you’re new to what this is for, it’s a carry over from dressmaking.
In dressmaking, fabric is reinforced with another layer or layers to make it behave slightly differently from normal.
Interfacings come in various weights, compositions and are either fusible (glued on with an iron) or sewn in place in the seam allowance.
There are many brands of interfacings made by different companies that can be substituted for one another, and some are only available in certain countries.
In our case, we need the flaps to have a bit more stiffness than just fabric by itself, and cope well with being manipulated into a small shape that will be turned right side out.
The first interfacing used in this pattern is Pellon Shape Flex 101 (SF 101). This is a lightweight fusible woven interfacing. It’s about the same weight as quilting cotton.
When fused to the back of the fabric, it provides stability that stops the piece warping out of shape as it’s manipulated.
This is fused first before adding any other layers of interfacing to prevent the bumpy texture that other synthetic interfacings will leave.
The next one we use here is Pellon Craft Fuse 808 (CF 808). This is a medium weight fusible interfacing that has a paper like quality.
It add stiffness to the fabric, and helps give a really crisp look.
We use these two interfacings together to get the best of both worlds, stability and stiffness.
If you’re not sure which interfacing is which, you can tell them apart by noting that the SF 101 has large weave to it, and the CF 808 has a paper like quality.
Notice the difference between the glue side and the non-glue side, and make sure you never touch your iron onto the glue side.
You’ll notice that the template pieces are smaller for the interfacings than they are for the main flap pieces.
That’s because too many layers in the seam quickly becomes unruly, and makes the whole piece look bulky. You’ll achieve much smoother seams when the interfacing is not sewn into them.
Another bonus about having these smaller, is that you can use the edge of your interfacing as your seam allowance guide when stitching.
Remember to watch the videos for further help on how to sew these and get a lovely result.
Cute Ideas to Add to Your Project
One of my favourite things about remaking a pattern I’ve already written, is seeing how I can change it up a bit by adding in new and unexpected touches.
I encourage you to collect ideas from others that appeal to you to add your own personal flair and style to a project.
This time I’ve added a little ribbon tag into the seam of the pincushion, and some tiny cross stitches into the hand quilting.
This makes a feature out the back seam on the pincushion, and instead of kind of wanting to hide it, shows it off!
I’ve also included some crosses into the flap and the needle keeper, to tie these little touches together, and I'll show you more of these later.
Sew-Along Inspiration
Now let’s have a look at some of the inspiration from the Facebook group this week!
I'm always delighted to see how you take a project and make it your own...I love to see styles very different from my own, and see others bold enough to take risks!
Tracey has made a start using Tula Pink's Linework fabric.
Love the drama!
Stephanie is using some lovely teal Liberty fabrics...another fabric range close to my heart.
Lyn has put lots of her own touches into her version.
She's using some sweet Tilda pinks, and added a cute dresden plate appliqued onto the pocket.
Look at the pretty piping in the seams!
There have been many many more that I would love to share here, and if you'd like a chance to be featured next week, make sure to post your progress in the Facebook group.
I hope you enjoy this week's stitching pace.
Happy Sewing!
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