BRILLIANT BAGS WORKSHOP - Barbara Cheeseman.
The workshop has 2 parts - creating a piece of fabric, and making a bag with it.
The fabric is made by laying lots of scraps and bits, threads etc. on to a foundation fabric, (bondawebbed if you like) covering with organza, chiffon or net and machine stitching all over it to trap the bits and decorate the surface. The foundation fabric tends to get covered up so colour etc. doesn't matter much. You can do free stitching, or use the auto stitches on your machine. If you have never done any free machining there might not be time to learn at this workshop but great results can be achieved using auto stitches or even just straight stitch. If free stitching you need a firm enough foundation fabric to take it, or a piece of thin wadding/felt/Lidl wiping cloth.
Decide on size of bag - I suggest 6" x 16" or a bit bigger as doable in the day. The bag is made by folding a rectangle in 3, one end is the flap. The bigger it is the longer it will take to stitch over.
SCRAPS can be plain, patterned, glitzy, gold bits, lace, strips or chunks. Some are more sheer than others you don't want to disguise your bits completely, though a dominant colour can be taken down a bit with stitching.
SEWING THREADS - several - rayon - metallic - multicolour, matching and/or contrast. Normal sewing thread for sewing the bag together.
SEWING MACHINE, SPARE NEEDLES, DARNING FOOT ETC.PINS, SCISSORS, HAND SEWING KIT
LARGE BUTTON OR SUITABLE BEAD FOR FASTENING
THICK THREAD, BOUGHT OR WRAPPED CORD OR BRAID FOR HANDLE/HANGING STRAP. Could bring threads to make a twisted cord, or strip of fabric to fold over and stitch. I will bring a gadget for twisting cords.
I will bring some of most of these things so if you are stuck you can use mine.
Don't agonise for ages over choice of materials, it changes with each step and everything looks good in the end. What shows most is the covering sheer and the stitching, and a general impression of colour.
Any questions to 01202 692311 or bacquilter@gmail.com Barbara Cheeseman.
