QAYG fabric basket tutorial

I do love to join in sewing with others and my Tuesday sewing friends and I like to do a joint project too....

On Michelle's blog she wrote about a Rainbow Scrap Challenge she is doing -  which is hosted by SoScrappy.  

Anyways, since we all have scraps and I don't like throwing ANY fabric out --- and us Tuesday girls needed a new machine sewing project (Dutch Treat is ongoing hand work) this seems a perfect opportunity to work on my scraps and get them in some sort of order....

This is how I keep them at the moment....

My plan is to make baskets for the different colour scraps - use some up and store the rest!  

There are several fabric basket patterns on the net but I wanted to do a Quilt As You Go  in one piece and couldn't find what I wanted so I adapted.  Now there may well be something similar around  and far better but I thought I would include how I did my  NO waste QAYG scrap fabric basket.

First I wanted to make a single piece of quilted fabric out of scraps (for this experimental basket I used batik scraps) and used THIS tutorial by Elizabeth Hartman at Oh Franson.  My finished size of the rectangle was 17" x 23" so I cut my backing a couple of inches longer and wider and the wadding the correct size.  Then quilted the patches over using Elizabeth's method.

When all the pieces were added I trimmed it all to 17 x 23"

... like this....

Fold the work in half lenthways and cut out corners 3 1/2" x 4" (the 3 1/2" being from the folded base up.  Cut carefully around the corner and keep these pieces aside.

And sew the sides together (right sides facing) (I used an overlocker for this)  

You end up with something that resembles a quilted pair of nickers without any elastic!!

Fold the corners lining up the half length fold line with the side seam and sew the boxing seam...

... and that gives you the basket shape....

Here are the pieces that were cut out the base 

Now fold them in half lengthways and sew the seam .. then turn through (this was the most difficult part as they are a bit bulky but just fiddle around ....

Find the side seams of your bag and pin these short lengths to make handles.  I put them about 1/2" on either side of the seam....  Baste them in place.

Make enough binding to comfortably fit around the bag... I did the length plus 4".  Sew it down on the inside of the basket...

Then turn over and sew the binding down..... (of course you can do this by hand)

As you can see this method shows the seams inside.....

.. but it's perfect for what I want ....

The basket has ended up sort of 7 - 8 " square (I say sort of because some sides are 7" and some are 8".  Not perfect but fine for me....

... Hmmmmmm - my overlockers sits in an old plastic cover - it could do with a QAYG cover sometime..... 

So I used up some scraps and I am also using up some of my lovely threads left over from quilt projects (not enough to use for a big project)

For the linings I am using left overs from backings (so officially scraps too!!!) .... sometimes I need to join them...

and I have a couple of linings (also made from scraps)  and the wadding scraps .... 

my first newly made UFO in the bag to make one colour per month...

SoScrappy gives more information about it HERE if you are interested...  basically she chooses a colour and you choose what you want to make with it..... 

Righto, Gotto Go.... this months colour is PURPLE and I need to go and sort out my scraps and see what I can find.

parcels blanket stitch and a tutorial.....

how sweet is this wood on felt Christmas ornament from Christine?

I love it and it is on my tree... Thanks Christine...

My last 2 days of FHFS pressies have been opened and Marc is so clever in her themes (I must remember this for next year!)

Today was a sewing theme... with the cutest elephant pincushion, some pretty pins, a tape measure (just the perfect small size to go in the goto bag when I go out sewing) and a choccie treat

... and yesterday was this gorgeous zippy bag with treats in side.... a handmade washcloth, some soap, cream and emery board (I keep one of those in my bag all the time)

I'm loving these gifties Marc ... thanks so much

So I tried out the blanket stitch on my new machin and it's lovely and neat and I can change the sizes ....

.. the top of my apron (from Toni's blog) is done now....

The new machine has a button to push to sew (great alternative) and I was using that (I didn't feel I had the control but I'm sure that is just getting used to it) because my pedal wouldn't work.... I went to the shop yesterday (MK's Sewable in Toowoomba) and she checked the pedal... something in the machine is not right... There and then she swapped the machine for a brand new one.... all good now...

Of course there are always those cords so this is where my FREE TUTORIAL comes in...

those wires can get rather knotted .... 

I do love recycling so here is another one.... get your materials.....

fold your cord and slip it through the ready made gap ..... nice and neat

... of course it's lovely to pretty it up a bit so find a scrap of a pretty fabric....

.. and there you have it.... my Christmas gift to you...

Righto, Gotto Go... I want to finish that apron today....

Scruffy Faux Cathedral Windows Tutorial ....

This is a well used bath mat ..... it's really good and absorbent and even if it is scruffy and a bit ugly it is a favourite as it works so well ....

... when cleaning up recently I discovered bits of flannel and cotton blanketing .... I just can't throw things away...

so slice and dice

(Michelle gifted me with this wonderful ruler cutter.... fantastic for jobs like this)

the inner squares of flannel and cotton wadding are all cut into squares (mine were 4" squares)

you can make them whatever size you like and work out the number you want by dividing the end size by the size of your inner square....

Then circles for the background fabric ..... they need to be able to fit the square in so measure and size it accordingly.... NOT too close a fit or you have a problem with the turning over part later

cut slice trim 

(I had the bundle of ready cut cotton blanketing from when I was going to get rich making breast pads for feeding mums - I didn't get rich but the cotton blanketing was pricey and I hate to throw things away!!) 

For each square you need a circle that fits the squares.. a wadding square and a colour square....

(in the denim one I used towelling for the inside... perfect)

(this can easily use up those scraps you have in any colours)

this is how they fit inside.... now I just used the square to indicate a stitching line... you can mark of course....

... sew strips of how ever many you plan to make...

... this is how the back is looking ....

.. then start joining your strips... 

(again I have used the cotton wadding simply for guidance of the stitch line here...

... stitch your strips together....

 and it starts looking like this.....

...here are all my strips joined together..... 

then start filling the pockets... cotton waddding down first....

...and your chosen squares on top....

.. then start turning over the edges and pin in place.... including the sides ..

... then you stitch them up ... basically raw edge applique

I used my free motion foot but quite honestly I think ordinary stitching would be easier

... can always blanket stitch also if you want a neater edge..... (that would take aaaaaaaggggeeesssss)

... and there we have a new bath mat... and I have used up some bits that needed using....

... here is the back.....

... it's not a prize winner but it is a worker... and will do us well... plus it's soft....

Of course ... make it larger for a quilt... or make it smaller for a pot mat....

A great way to use up scraps, old jeans, old towels etc

Much easier to go to the store and buy a bath mat... but not as much fun!

Righto, Gotto Go... there are more scraps to use up....