Stash Couture Carry-On

Stash Couture Carry-On and Market Bag

Stash Couture Carry-On and Market Bag

The Stash
Couture Matched Luggage Set!

The Carry-On met the list of requirements:

  1. Meets airline size limits.
  2. Lightweight – According to my bathroom scale it weighs less than 1 lb!
  3. Colorful –
  4. Closes with a metal zipper.
  5. Has a zippered end pocket for cell phone and Driver’s License and quick access side pockets for the magazines/Kindle, writing utensil, boarding pass and snacks.
  6. Still working on the “Semi-secured” Name Tag….

To minimize searching for “where did I put that?”, the outside pocket(s) are on one side only, but are doubled.

Stash Couture Carry-On

Stash Couture Carry-On

The visible side pocket is divided into three sections:  for boarding pass, writing utensil and water bottle. Hidden behind it is another pocket that  extends the entire width between the handles and will fit a magazine or the Kindle.

The ends of the Carry-On were quilted for structure.  The body was not – to minimize the weight of the bag.

Pocket on Carry-On

Pocket on Carry-On

The zipper used to create the cell phone and Driver’s License pocket was also from The Stash.  It was marked 55 cents!  It was the perfect color (Mystic Blue) for the bag!

Stash Zipper - 55 cents

Stash Zipper - 55 cents

Total cost for the Carry-On was 52 cents.  I had to purchase 2 yards of cotton piping filler.

….and I still have enough of the fabrics to make another bag! Perhaps a dress (suit) bag!

 

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Carry-on luggage – An Engineered Stash Couture Project

My computer is not feeling well.  It has a virus or two or more.  While it is at the doctor’s, I am not able to load photos.

I will be traveling cross-country by air in a few weeks.   These are 2 – 3 day trips and I am attempting to travel light – limiting myself to a carry-on bag.  I was previously informed that my commercially made wheeled carry-on luggage was too large to qualify.

So, off to The Stash…

But before I cut the first snip, I did I bit of engineering

I went to http://www.luggageonline.com/about_airlines.cfm to determine allowable dimensions.  Apparently not all airlines have the same size limitations.  22″ x 14″ x 9″ seemed to be the smallest, so that determined size.

Then I listed the carry-on features I wanted:

  1. Light weight (since I could not locate any sew-on wheel kits!)
  2. Colorful (in case I did have to check it – I want to be able to spot it easily in baggage claim)
  3. Metal Zippers (no explanation required)
  4. Quick Access Outside Pockets for:  Boarding Pass
  5. More Secure Outside Pockets for:  Cell Phone and Driver’s License
  6. More Outside Pockets for:  Writing Utensil, Kindle/Magazine, Water Bottle and Food
  7. Luggage Tag that requires more than a glance to determine my identity.

I found Simplicity 2600 in The Stash.  The Duffle Bag (View A) was what I wanted to start with.  It’s dimensions are 13″ * 20″ * 11″.  I added 2″ to the width.  The pattern even came with a luggage tag pattern!

I used fabrics and trims remaining from the Market Bag Projects and love the results!  The Stash even had several metal upholstery zippers labeled “Clearance:  50 cents”!!!! (I knew I would find a use for them!)

I think if I use the coordinating Market Bag and the Duffle, I will be able to carry-on all I need!

Photos will be up as soon as the computer recovers!

 

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Kindle Cushion ReMake..

Original Kindle Cover

Original Kindle Cushion

Kindle Cover Remake

Kindle Cushio Remake

Did you ever play that “Can You Spot the Differences?” game.

The Original Kindle Cushion just seemed “lacking”.  So, I took it apart and started over…

I added the following:

1.  Quilting – The cushion needed more structure.

2.  Brown piping between fabric and binding – the wine binding alone was too blah.

3.  Another inside pocket that provided more impact resistance (required when the Kindle is in my purse)

Kindle Cover and Kindle

Kindle Cover and Kindle

4.  Trimmed edges to square.

The ReMake Results were more Stash Couture.  I loved the look.   I had plans to bead up the owl feathers, find some ribbon to wrap it with…

Then I realized, there was a PROBLEM with that “Trimmed edges to Square” step of the ReMake.

As an quilter, I understand the importance of a perfect 90 degree angle at each corner of a rectangle…and as an engineer, perfection is the goal.

But apparently, one can get carried away.

Function should have superceded the need for right angle perfection in this case.

At some point in the process, trimming a bit became trimming too much!

The Kindle no longer fits inside the Kindle Cushion.

So, on to the Complete Kindle Cover ReMake!  I wonder what fabrics to use this time…..

Posted in Accessories, Embellishment, Sewing | 1 Comment

Stash Couture Goes Green!..and Blue, and Yellow, and…

They can hold a week’s worth of groceries, they are washable, they are re-usable…  Introducing the Stash Couture Market Bags!   Go Green and Go Stash Couture!

Stash Couture Market Bags

Stash Couture Market Bags

Fabric for the bag bodies is upholstery or drapery weight. Pockets are of various weights.

100% Destash Market Bag

100% Destash Market Bag

The fabric used for the body of the blue bag (right) was also used to make the handles.  The yellow twill tape added both color and strength. Stashed quilting weight toile for the pocket – and even a laundry tape name label (from my MIL’s stash!) – make this a 100% Destash Market Bag.

Plexiglass was cut to fit in the base of each bag.  It not only adds structural stability to the bag – but can be easily removed, washed, and sanitized!

 

Market Bags

Market Bags

The bags are different sizes – more of function of fabric width than any design or intention.  The blue bag to the right is HUGE at 9″ by 18″ and 14″ tall!

The green bag shown on the left is taller, but not as wide as the blue bag.  It is 9″ by 15″ and 17″ tall.

Trim on Green Market Bag

Trim on Green Market Bag

The trim on the green bag was – (oh! the horror!) purchased for this project! (Gasp! Gasp!).  Luckily, discounts made it slightly less painful.  The Plan was to purchase just the wide navy blue grosgrain ribbon, but the green floral ribbon was a perfect color match – (and it was 50% off) – so I just had to….

 

The Stash did not have any heavier weight fabric for a contrasting base for the blue damask print, so I quilted a quilting weight Christmas fabric. The Stash provided appropriate batting.  A very narrow red and white gingham ribbon was added to the blue cotton webbing used for the handles. Both were from The Stash.

Blue Market Bag Detail

Blue Market Bag Detail

100% Destash Market Bag Blue and Red

100% Destash Market Bag Blue and Re

 

The Stash also contained a swivel clasp left over from a conference name tag.  I added it just below the laundry name tag – it may come in handy at some point!

.…So this one is also a 100% Destash Bag!

At some point during Stash Development, giraffe fabrics seemed to speak to me.  I used small amounts of three of giraffe fabrics in the bags.  In the Green Market Bag Close-up there are blue giraffes on the pocket fabric, although most of them appear upside down in that photo.

Trim on Griaffe Market Bag

Trim on Giraffe Market Bag

In the Giraffe Market Bag shown to the left, one giraffe print was used for the bag and a different giraffe print for the pocket.  The base and the handles were made of dark brown microsuede.  The microsuede handles seemed to stretch, so the purchase (again, the “P” word!!!) of the red nylon webbing became necessary.

Although I claim not to be a rick rack person, The Stash says otherwise.  So, I used some on this bag and am rather pleased with the results.

To attest to the age of my some of my stash – the ecru twill tape under the rick rack was in its original wrapping  – and the price was 15 cents!

I am considering posting a How-to for the bags.  They really are quite fun (and very easy) to make.  For the first one, I measured and re-measured and re-measured.  By the third bag, I had figured out a non-Math version – just some folding in half – which invited a lot more imagination – and produced a lot less frustration!!!

 

 

 

 

Posted in Accessories, Purses, Sewing, Stash Couture | 8 Comments

25 Squares = 1 Movie

125 Postage Stamp 1" squares

125 Postage Stamp 1" squares

The Postage Stamp Quilt continues..

Piecing 25 one-inch squares proved to be the perfectly sized project for an evening.

It requires just less than 2 hours, which in Destashification Time is approximately One Movie!

So, 96 movies to go…

The little white window below the 25 squares is the ARDCO 1″ metal square template that I use to quickly draw the square on the back of the fabric.  Without this little piece of ingenuity, I don’t think I would have attempted this project.

 

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Purse Proof Kindle Cushion

I received a Kindle from my wonderful children for Christmas.  As a voracious reader, I love it!   However, I needed to make a cushioned cover to be able to carry it over hill and dale in the deep, dark recesses of my purse!

Stash and Sketch for Kindle Cover

Stash and Sketch for Kindle Cover

The Stash had what I needed:

The Stash-tastic fabric is Tina Givens Opal Owl in Pink and a small scale giraffe spot print.

The batting, trim and buttons are also from The Stash.

A few measurements..

A few measurements..

 

 

A few measurements later… have to make sure the pockets do not cover up words.  Doubled the batting for extra cushioning.

I wanted to quilt it, but three broken sewing machine needles later, decided quilting was not really necessary!

..and the Kindle Cushion/Cover is complete and a 100% Destashification Project!

Kindle Cover

Kindle Cover

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Accessories, Sewing | 2 Comments

Destashification Postage Stamp Quilt

100 hand stitched 1" squares

100 hand stitched 1" squares

One hundred hand-pieced 1″ squares!

100 down, 24,000 to go…..

Total time:  8 hours (for this block)

That averages 5 minutes per square inch!

Postage Stamp Quilt Close-up

Postage Stamp Quilt Close-up

All of these fabrics are stash fabrics.

Some from my grandmother, including  (in the Close-Up) the lower left hand square with the purple and orange German or Dutch man and woman, and the plain pink and navy and white floral in the second row.

I always wanted to create one of these quilts and I needed a “portable” project for down time at my children’s sporting events, so the time seemed right to give it a try.

I think the 10 square by 10 squares were just a bit too large.  By reducing the “portable” projects to 5 squares by 5 squares, the gratification of “completion” will occur on a more enjoyable frequency.

I am usually not too good at long term projects (I am knitting 4 semi-complete sweaters), but hopefully, this one will be “the one”!  I’ll keep posting as I go….

 

 

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Workout Wear goes Stash Couture in 2 hours!

Stash Couture Workout Wear Close-up

Stash Couture Workout Wear Close-up

A very plain white zip-up french terry cover-up becomes couture courtesy of “The Stash”.

This Sun Face motif was placed across the upper back of the cover-up.

The center is a simple purple and gold polymer clay sun face made from a mold glued to felt and beaded.

Two stash fabrics circles were fused down and then the edges were machine zig-zagged.  The pink is a metallic sheer.  I was not sure the fusible would work with a sheer, but it did not “leak” through at all.

The swirly “air currents” were then hand stitched.

Stash Couture Cover-up DetailA jacquard ribbon was zig-zagged over the empire waist seam to form a casing and then a pink/gold twisted cord was pulled through it.

The sleeves and one pocket received some small swirly air currents.

Total Time:  2 Hours

Total Cost: $0

I took two pictures during the “Making Of”.  I am not one to sketch the design.  I have tried, but the finished product never looks like the sketch – it just seems to evolve as I work on it.

Beaded Sun Face Motif

Beaded Sun Face Motif

This marbled-look fabric really made the purple/gold sun face stand out.

 

 

I kept trying to add sun-rays, but they just didn’t seem to work.

Making of with sun rays

Making of Cover-Up with sun rays

 

 

 

 

I decided on the hand stitched “air currents” instead.

Finished Cover-Up Motif

Finished Cover-Up Motif

Love It!

So much fun to make!  Wore it to aerobics yesterday and got so many compliments!

Does anyone know if polymer clay is washable?

Posted in Crazy Quilting, Embellishment, Goddess, Stash Couture | 2 Comments

Stash Couture: The Destashification Dress

Another 100% Destashification Project!

Destashification Dress

Destashification Dress

The fabric, pattern, thread, interfacing (yes,interfacing) and thread were all from the stash!

Apologies for the self-photograph.

Fabric was a knit, content unknown.  It is not 100% cotton, perhaps some rayon, perhaps some polyester.   Pre-washed as a precaution.

The bodice pattern is loosely based on a (very) old Butterick pattern I use to upcycle T-shirts.  I used the asymmetrical skirt portion from Butterick 5485: http://butterick.mccall.com/b5485-products-11198.php?page_id=155

The colors are a peachy orange and various browns – not overly fabulous….

But, a sleeveless, extremely comfortable knit dress will get much use in the heat of Arizona – even if it is not overly fabulous!

Once I completed the skirt portion I noted that when the “flap” moved it allowed the hemmed edges (finished with a serger threaded with not-even-close-colored thread) to show.  So, I went back to the stash to see what I might have to cover the edges and maybe add the little something that was missing from this dress!

The stash contains ribbon, both plain and patterned in a variety of textures.  Plain colored ribbon did not add anything to the dress, and textured (upholstery) trim was too heavy.

One green/blue/yellow ribbon grabbed my attention, even though it was a “wired” ribbon. When I held the ribbon against the dress, the colors just jumped….

Trim on Dress Hemmed Edges

Trim on Dress Hemmed Edges

I removed the wires (love using tools!).

…and although the ribbon is only visible if the flap flaps, it added the extra something the dress needed!

As the fabric did not have much structure, the empire waist tended to sag, even when interfaced.  To counter the problem, I added a wide piece of elastic (also from the stash) across the front, securing it at both side seams.

Close-up of dress top

Close-up of dress top

The result is shown in the close-up below.  The elastic added stability without putting the strain on the fabric.  Next time I use the modified pattern, I may attempt to serge the elastic to the entire length of the front band to add even more stability and strength.

Wore the dress to the airport!  So comfortable! Many compliments!  May add some beads at some point…

Posted in Stash Couture | 1 Comment

French Braid Table Runner

Gorgeous!

Speedy Rotary Cuts…

No Miters…

Uses small pieces of several fabrics from the Stash!

Could there possibly be a project that checks all these boxes?  Yes. Yes, there is!  The Destashification French Braid Table Runner!

French Braid Table Runner

The Destashification French Braid Table Runner

Love it! Love it!

This is a 100% Destashification Project.  Nothing new was purchased to complete the table runner.  I ran out of matching thread with less than 3 feet of binding to stitch down….I so wanted to go to The Store to “just get one spool of thread,” but I know better. I finished the binding with a close-enough colored thread!

DS FB Table Runner on Table

DS FB Table Runner on Table

Most of these fabrics were also used in the New York Beauty Quilt (at LAQ now).  The rust, which also forms the border, was left over from the Celtic Illumination OBW Quilt I made for my son.

I love how the colors blend from one to the next.

This Table Runner would be great as a first quilting project.  I used a long piece of almost-linen as a foundation for the runner.  Others (out there on the wwqw – world-wide quilting web) who have made braided runners noted that the cut-on-the-bias edges tended to stretch.

Simple solution!  Stitch as a foundation pieced quilt!  No stretching! All bias edges are stitched to the straight grain of the foundation!

Pressing lines down the middle of the long piece of linen also provided a target to keep the points straight!

It went together so quickly and is so striking!  I am sure I will be making more.  I think the next one will be my first attempt at a tutorial!  Maybe a lighter colored one for the summer! Definitely a Christmas Table Runner!

When time allows, I will add some quilting to the braids and the boarders.  Currently, it is just stitched-in-the-ditch.

 

Posted in Destashification Braided Table Runner, Quilting | 12 Comments