Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 64

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 64

I finally feel like I am getting to see the light at the end of the Tunnel

Sew Pair

Naturally, all the Pins came out of the Leaves so I had to sort them all out again. Starting at one End I began to Sew a Pair of Leaves together. I did this by Partially Overlapping. I then Sewed with Yellow Wool down the Inner Edge of the Yellow Leaf.

All Sewn

As you can imagine it has taken quite a while to Sew All of the leaves together. I kept having to Swap Coloured Wool.

Curled Top

One of the main problems with Stocking Stitch is it tends to Curl. I am going to have to do something with the Top of the Pocket. It not only looks bad but also is slightly obscuring the Rat’s Ears.

Fold and Sew

I have Folded and Sewn the Top with a Backstitch. I am going to go across again with a Tacking Stitch to bring it together more.

Press Stud Pocket

I have a small collection of Press Studs. I selected the best size and Sewed them on to the Pocket. I put three on so as to spread the wear on the Top when Opening.

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 51

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 51

Now the Toggles are finished I can move on to the Sides of the Green Bag

Add Weight

 

Since the Toggles are placed at different Levels on the Bag, I decided it would be a good idea to test it with Weight inside it. Therefore, I placed a heavy Weight in the form of a carton of milk.

I then lifted it up to check where the Levels fell. Then I placed a pin at the Bottom so I would know how much material I would need to add to the Sides.

Pin and Cut

 

I measured a piece of Green Material and Folded it in Half. I then Pinned it in place so I could cut it along the Length with Pinking Scissors. This would stop it moving whilst I cut.

Take Two

 

I Hemmed the Two pieces of Material nearly to the Bottom. I have left some loose for turning later.

Join at Top

 

I take one of the pieces of Material I have Hemmed and Joined it at the Top of the Green Bag with a Blanket Stitch.

 

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 34

 Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 34

When working on a project like this things take a great deal of time. Consequently, I can struggle to get enough photographs to make up a blog. This time I have too many so going to split into two or more.

Pin Top

 

I know have the Top part finished. I have had to Pin it to keep it from rolling while I work out the next Step.

Sew L Shape

 

I have decided to Sew the Top to the Side rather than Fold it, which was my original idea. This will create an L Shape. Before I do this, however I will Sew the loose parts of the Strap that I had left together.

 Strap Bottom

 

Ok I confess I have not a clue what this was supposed to be. This is one of the problems when blogging. Sometimes you have moved on so far you have forgotten what point in the order of things the photograph was taken.

All Attached

 

I have now attached everything and it has made that section much stronger. Now for the other side.

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 28

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 28

I refuse to be beaten by a Woolly Bag. This is going to be a longer blog than of late.

Pin Strap Tops

 

Before I can do anything, I need to know how bad the Twist is. I have Folded the Strap in Half and begin to Pin the Strap starting at the Top

Pin Strap Bottoms

 

I now Pin the Bottom part of the Straps. I now have a firm anchor from which to work.

Twisty

 

I continued Pinning along the Straps from the Top. I had to check it quite regularly to make sure that I was not adding any extra Twists. Once I reached the Bottom, I realised that the Twist was far worse than I had originally thought.

Sew Twist

 

Beginning at the Top of the Twist I Blanket Stitched the Seam.

Twist Sewn

 

The Straps are now Sewn together at the Bottom but it does look a bit of a mess. I know this is on the back of the Strap and therefore not in view. Even so, I am not entirely happy.

Twisty Leaves

 

I have decided to add a couple of Leaves to try to hide where I have had to Sew the Twist. If the Twist had been higher, I would have had real problems trying to Slide it through the Buckle.

Buckle Up

I have Buckled up the Long and the Short Straps together. With luck I will not have to do anything major to the Straps from now on. That is except at the back where I have to secure it.

Refurbished Mini Footstool 2021

 Refurbished Mini Footstool 2021

With the Chaise Longue and Footstool looking nice I just had to do the Mini Footstool too.

Red Footstool

 

The Mini Footstool is sturdier than the other Footstool and will have to be covered properly rather than a Slipcover.

Initial Pins

 

First I check how much material I need by a Corner with a couple of Pins. I need to be able to Cover the Centre and the Edges.

Glue Top

 

I spread the Glue all over the Top of the Mini Footstool so I can begin sticking the material.

Glue and Pin Front

 

I Glue what I am going to refer to as the Front of the Mini Footstool. I then proceed to carefully place the material over that so it Covers the Edge.

Next I place the material over the Glued Top of Stool. I then put a couple of Pins in the Front to hold whilst drying.

Glue and Pin Sides

 

I Glue and Pin the material along the Sides of the Mini Footstool.

Glue Left

 

That was the easy bit. I now have to make the Edges look neat. I am going to do that by Folding the Corner around from the Front.

I Glue the Triangular Shape and Press it tight against the Side keeping the Bottom Edge level.

Glue and Pin Side

The material on the Right Side which would be coming off the Rear of the Stool was slightly long. I Cut and Hemmed this part prior to Gluing and Pinning.

All Steam Ahead 2021 – Mad Hatter Preparations Part 3

 All Steam Ahead 2021 – Mad Hatter Preparations Part 3

This is a nice quick blog. Adding Cogs.

Add Cut out Cogs

 

I started to Glue the Cut out Cogs to the Hat. I had made quite a few of them now and of different Sizes. For some reason the Base Covering had left a lot of Glue Residue. I wanted to Cover as much of this as possible.

Add Cogs other Side

 

Once I had added a Bottom Layer of Cogs one Side I turned the Hat around and carried on adding.

Add Metal Centre

 

The Black Cog Shapes were only the Silhouette. To give them a proper Cog look I Glued a Metal Washer to the Centre of Each Cog Shape.

Front Right

 

After doing the Bottom Layer I started to fill in the Gaps with more Cogs. 

Front Left

 

When I was satisfied with one Side I moved on to the other. 

Top Cogs

I had used up all the Cogs I had made so I had to make some more before I could add to the Top. I also had to add a few more to the Back of the Hat.

All Steam Ahead 2021 – Mad Hatter Preparations

 All Steam Ahead 2021 – Mad Hatter Preparations

Why do I do these things to myself? The Belt was pretty easy compared to what I have to do next.

Steampunk Hat Base

 

I had several Ideas regarding how to make the Hat including using card and Foam. However I decided it was far too much to accomplish in the given time just to get the Base.

I therefore went on a Hat Hunting expedition and found what apparently is called a Pork Pie Hat for £1 in a charity shop.

Pool of Glue

 

Once again I raided Laura’s for both decorations and advice. The latter I promptly ignored. She thought the material was fine as it was saying it looked like leather even though it was plastic she made me laugh by calling it ‘Pleather’.

However I couldn’t abide it as it was so remembering she said that Steampunk was an expression of oneself I decided that I wouldn’t be true to myself if I didn’t cover it. Sorry Laura but you cannot alter a habit of 40 years that easily.

Cotton Cover

So after filling the Top part of the Hat with Glue I covered it with Black Cotton material and smoothed it down. I wanted to keep the Top Shape if I could.

Glue Beneath

 

It took a while for the Top to dry but once it had I spread the rest of the Hat with Glue. I then Covered it as best I could.

Fold Under

 

When selecting the material I cut a large piece so there would be enough to Fold Under the Hat.

Beneath Covered

 

The Front of the Hat was now Covered.

Wrap around

In order to do the Sides of the Hat I had to pull the material taut and do a little bit of Folding. I cut off the Excess and smoothed it down. I now had a fully Covered Hat Base.

Cooper Concoctions 2021 Part 8

 Cooper Concoctions 2021 Part 8

I have now Hemmed the Bottom of the Bag.

Carpet Thread

 

As this Bag needs to take Weight I have decided to Blanket Stitch along the Bottom using a strong Carpet Thread.

Hem Top of Bag

 

With the Bag still inside out I do a quick Hem cross the Top of the Bag all the way around.

Place Cord

 

This is where I had a bit of luck. Instead of using an ordinary piece of Cord I found that I had an old Toggle and Cord that I had taken off the Bottom of a Coat. I placed it along the Length of the Hem.

Pin Cord

 

So it didn’t move whilst I was trying to Sew I Pinned it Section by Section.

Back Stitch over Cord

 

To make it both Stronger and Neater I used a Back Stitch over the Cord.

Laundry Bag

 

Here we have it one nice new Laundry Bag