Tags
bags, DIY, sewing, travel, WIP Wednesday
Today needs a lot of pretty colors, I’ve decided.
(WIP = work in progress)
I’m not sure how it happened, but I’m suddenly in the midst of about 12 projects here. And my sewing room–even AFTER this morning’s clean-up–looks it. I did actually finish a thing, though, so let’s take a look at that first.
This project was the result of a happy convergence between this situation . . .
. . . and the new fat quarters that I won recently.
I’m a little bit picky about oven mitts (as you get about things that you use all the time) and this one was my favorite because it was wider than most (so it fit my weird wide hands) and it had that handy metal ring on it so that I could sling it back up on its hook with one hand. So I decided to make a couple of new mitts with these same features.
I used the mitt pattern here, but widened it a bit. For the padding, I used a layer of Insul-Bright and one of thin cotton batting, as the Insul-Bright instructions recommended.
Are these fabrics fun or what?
These were a bit challenging to quilt, what with all the layers in there, but I do like how the extra batting makes the quilting show up. Can’t vouch for their ability to protect my hands from heat, though, as I haven’t used them yet (poor planning on my part!)
The blue fabric I used for the lining, binding, and loops came from the stash.
I didn’t have the patience to bind the raw seam allowances, but I’m thinking oven mitts don’t get washed all that often, anyway. They’re wide enough that if I need to re-sew the seams later, I’ll be able to do it.
Let’s see, what else am I planning?
Well, there’s the Sew Together Bag, which I have been lusting after for a while (don’t judge). I actually purchased the pattern at full price–such is the depth of my desire. 😉
I’ve got this long-term goal of paring down the amount of stuff I bring with me when I travel, and I’m thinking this bag might be a good way of organizing my toiletries. I need it to coordinate with the three travel bags I use regularly–travel is no excuse for not being FABULOUS, my darlings–so I’m planning to make the exterior a patchwork of various olive-y, sage-y greens.
I’m having a hard time judging whether this bag will actually be big enough, so I want to try it out on our next weekend away in a couple of weeks.
Just some of the green scraps I’ve pulled out of the stash for this.
There’s also the Cloudsplitter Summit Pack, which I bought back in November, also for travel. This is going to have a Laurel Burch applique on the outside pocket and use various stash fabrics for the rest of it. I have a feeling this is going to be very purple.
I’ve also cut out the blue McCall’s 7571 blouse I mentioned earlier. And some progress has been made on Mending Mountain–the things that just needed quick repairs are done, and now I need to take a couple of “before” pictures and get to work on my refashioning projects.
That’s not actually all of the things in the works here, but it’s probably enough for one post. 😉 I hope you have an excellent Wednesday with plenty of color.
STH
Living in Color 
Your oven mitts look great, so colorful!
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Thank you! I’m so enjoying having them in my kitchen!
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You are WAY classier than I am. My toiletries go in a ziploc… Seriously!
I love the oven mitts and so I need to know if they actually insulate. You will not believe how many times GIanni and I have circulated stores looking for oven mitts that he deems thick enough. I have a pair that he bought me that meet that elusive target and he is perpetually disappointed that he can’t find another pair to take home after he visits (you would think that there might also be some Italian oven mitts….). I am very confused by this issue and if I could make him a pair like mine he would be over the moon. (Really. I’ve even offered to give him mine. I think the illusion of extra thickness comes from a kind of loopy fabric used for the outer layer. I don’t know how else to describe it. I think it’s an extra loopy terry cloth, really, although it beats me. You have prompted an inspection of said oven mitts…
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I have this conflict about traveling where I really love it, but it’s also really unnerving to not be in my familiar, (somewhat) orderly surroundings. So it really helps to have my travel stuff very organized and in pretty containers that I made. It sounds weird, I know, but it’s like bringing a bit of home with me and makes me feel a lot more comfortable. Plus, these really complicated and unique bag designs are just super cool. 😉
So far, so good on the oven mitts. Used them tonight when taking egg rolls in and out of 450 degree oven, and didn’t feel any heat on my hand at all. I don’t consider this a definitive test, though, as I didn’t have to hold the pan for very long (unlike my usual–remove hot pan from oven, realize nowhere to put it, frantically shove things out of way while hand gets hotter and hotter). Google isn’t giving me an answer on whether you can use more than one layer of the Insul-Bright, but the product instructions say you should include at least one layer of cotton batting to absorb condensation, so it sounds like you could add more. If you start adding more batting, or a thick toweling like you’re talking about, you’re going to want to quilt and assemble these using a walking foot, though. (Or hand tie the layers, maybe, like a thick quilt?) And probably increase the seam allowance to make sure you catch all the layers. Totally doable, just could be a bit of a wrestling match. 🙂
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That’s a lot of good advice. I don’t know where I can get this Insul Brite stuff….hmmm…I don’t want to wrestle with too many layers of fabric. I feel as though the fabric is not as thick as G thinks. I leave him to his illusions!
It actually sounds very nice to travel with pretty bags. I wish I had your organization and motivation to make so many useful things
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I found mine at Joann’s in the interfacing section. I wasn’t sure if they’d have it or even know what it was, but the employee I asked knew right away and went to get the bolt for me, as they’d recently cut some from it and it was behind the cut counter. So maybe everybody’s been using it but us? Anyway, I’d look someplace that has a good selection of interfacing.
There’s something really satisfying about making bags . . . I’m trying to put my finger on what it is and I’m failing, but part of it has to do with wanting things neat and tidy with a place for everything. Plus they’re small, so you can use wild fabrics that you probably wouldn’t want to wear. And there’s no fitting–no FBA needed!
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The no FBA is indeed appealing! I wonder what they’d say if I go looking for Insul Brite in Italy. 🙂
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😀
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I have made the Sew Together bag – two of them actually – and it is a wonderful bag. I use mine for my sewing bits and pieces of tools that I need to take with me when I go out to sew. Your oven mitts are delicious. I hope they work really well for you!
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Thank you! I’m very happy with the oven mitts–got to use them again yesterday and they’re a pleasure to use. The Insul-Bright seems to work really well.
Thanks for your view on the bag pattern; I’ve only read good things about this one and I’m curious to see how the pieces all fit together. And to use up some of my greens!
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