4th Quilted Tote - brought up more questions
 

Okay, so I am just hooked on totes right now (though I am working on finishing up my first tumbler quilt in the middle of totes).

My daughter picked the fabrics for this one, wanted it for school/books. I like the colors, and I tried some different combinations of interfacings/fleece. I have some questions that came up in the process - but not sure to post with the picture - or to post that over in the main forum. I'll post here so as not to double post - but correct me if I do it wrong please! :-)

I used Pellon SF101 woven fusible interfacing under the outer fabric, then used Pellon Fusible Fleece. LOVED that (first time using the woven fusible - I will be using it from now on)! I added DecorBond to the lining, as I wanted a sturdier bag. So far so good. But two things.

1. I have read about getting to many layers in the seam allowance and it being difficult to sew. I did not take the DecorBond all the way to the edge of the fabric - which I now believe was a mistake - primarily because now I am wondering at the strength of the fabric in those seams.

2. With regard to the Decor Bond - I am not finding it so fusible. It seemed so at first - but then when tinkering with the bag, edges started coming up. Since I hadn't taken the DecorBond all the way to the seam - it was not sewn down. :eek: I ended up adding strips of Stitch Witchery under the edges to reseal it.

I am wondering for those who use Decor Bond (or a similar type fusible) - how do you go about using it? Any problems with the fusing? I followed the instructions on the label. It all seemed fine at first, but did not hold up to all of my tinkering. I like what the Decor Bond adds to the bag - but if it isn't going to fuse down, I might as well buy the sew in stiff interfacing - which I am thinking is probably less expensive than the fusible. Though I am also considering that I could use the sew in with Wonder Under - just because I like things fused.

I already have in mind what I want to make for my next purse/tote. Something in a little bit of a different direction. After I finish up the quilting on my tumbler quilt. :o

Very Pretty. You did good. BrendaK

Good job, it is a very pretty bag.

Very nice tote!!! I use Decor Bond in all my purses. Did you iron it on both sides? I iron it with the fabric on top first and then I turn it over, put a piece of muslin over it and iron that side also. I read somewhere before that fusibles need to be ironed on both sides. If it doesn't work, I turn my iron up a little more. I never have any problems with it not adhering. Of course, you can get a bad batch sometimes too.

Joysewer, thanks for the tip! No, I didn't iron it on both sides, but will do this the next time. I do prefer a fusible. Also, upon doing some more digging - I misunderstood what I was supposed to do to reduce bulk in the seam allowances. If sew in interfacing, take it to the edge of the fabric so it is stitched on, then trim down to just above the seam. With fusible, since it shouldn't be able to be trimmed down, I guess one would just make sure that the edges of it are caught in the seam line. I will be taking it to the edge of the fabric from now on. Duh, makes sense now! I was not a sewer before, so that is why this misunderstanding!

A little worried because when I turned the purse inside out (after sewing the lining and the bag together) - a rather large piece of the Decor Bond was loose. I apparently didn't get all the way around the edges with my stitch witchery - thought it was all tacked down. I did try to push everything back into the bag to smooth it out so I could reach in right at the top with a bit of the stitch witchery to get it tacked back down - but couldn't get it all back down smooth enough to allow for this. So I proceeded forward. No idea what will happen. Mostly the Decor Bond is tacked down around the edges. I suppose all will likely be okay unless my daughter ever decides she needs to wash the bag. :confused:

Oh well, adding more notes as to what I have learned thus far. If the bag fails, I will just make her another one! I think she will get enough use out of it before that happens. Will chalk it up to more learning experiences.

Very cute! Keep making them!! :)