You learn something new every day.....

It's been a week of working through tedious technical stuff. Instructions. Ho hum.
With a materials list that included lots of Vilene S320 (and none of it's heavier cousin Vilene S520), I had to think outside the square (so to speak) when it came to protecting the fabric from the back of the magnetic catch. As I usually do these days, I used a 2.5cm (1") square of Peltex between the fabric and the back plate of the magnetic snap. But this time, I fused a few 5cm (2") squares of Vilene S320 over the back (instead of Vilene S520). It worked a treat!

Although not as cardboard-flat as S520, the layers can be fused on one-at-a-time with much lower heat and with less steam, and it sticks super-well to hold the snap and all the fabric surrounding it.

It doesn't actually need the reinforcement of the stitching around the Peltex square (because the Peltex and Vilene S320 are fused fast) but I still like the look if it. Ok - enough from me.... Back to the secret-squirrel cave....

Pattern Givaway Winner

Thanks to everyone who went in to the draw, and special thanks to those who blogged a link.

The Winner is KATE from Fox's Lane! Congratulations, Kate! When you send us your postal address we'll pop the pattern in the mail to you.

This is the Kid's Hat that was used as the barrel. The fabric is Sandi Henderson's Meadowsweet range. It used to have a matching Tulip Dress....

On another - completely unrelated and without segue - point, there appears to be a magnetic catch drought. The next shipment of the 19mm silver nickel snaps we usually stock will be mid-February. To tide us (and you) over, we have these swishy snaps until then. They're a bit more expensive, but rather nice. Prices are the same as the antique snaps of the same quality.

Make it Snappy!

I spent today in the studio - determined to finish this 300mm Snap bag....

It wasn't finished before the afternoon light began to fade - so the pictures are a little dimmer than I'd like. Ah well - I'm just so happy to have had enough time at the sewing machine to start and finish something in one sitting.

I used brown pinwale corduroy and this lovely print - I think from the Rhapsody range by Baum Windham. The frame is "antique brass" coloured, which brings out the warmth in the brown and green of the flowers in the print and tones in beautifully with the brown corduroy. I also used my lovely antique brass flat rings....

...and the new antique brass purse feet on the hard base of the bag.I like the over-all effect - it's earthy but girly at the same time. Probably a bit like me.

One thing I have to admit to... I had to read the instructions to make it!!! It's been a while since I've made one, and I made TOO MANY samples while I was developing the pattern (ironing all the kinks out of the work-flow). I remembered that there were lessons learned in the process, only I couldn't rememeber what those lessons were! It was handy to have a ready supply of the instructions to tell me what to do when and - more importantly - what NOT to do.... although I felt a little silly having to read them!!

(In hindsight I'm heartened by the memory of hearing Billy Joel saying that he once asked Bob Dylan how he remembered all the words he's written. Apparently Bob pointed to a copy of "The Complete Bob Dylan"...!!).

How to make sew-in magnets...

(..when you've accidentally botched a large-ish and expensive import order). What I wanted was THESE -

And what I got were THESE super-sticky non-pvc-coated magnet snaps. (Those are heavy 12-inch tailors shears they're holding up, folks!).

My suppliers in Asia are not particularly interested in a return or swap arrangement, so I'm making the best of the situation and playing with my new friends, the magnets. Trying new things.

Super-Sarah wants to make fridge-magnets out of them. Not a bad idea... they'll never fall off!!

In fabric heavier than quilting cotton, I reckon they'd be fine to be placed directy on the (wrong side of) fabric and "trapped" with a layer of fabric sewn over the back of them. On leather you could probably just glue them into place between the outside and the lining of whatever you're making.

On the fine cotton and silk that I was trying to sew, I thought they showed through a little too much without a bit of softening, so I made my own "sew-in" magnets!

I laid the magnets on a scrap of light fusible interfacing. (You could equally use organza or voile with vliesofix or basting spray, I think...).

Folded it over.Pressed the interfacing to fuse it...

...to both sides of the magnets.

With a zipper foot I sewed around the magnets - to stop them slipping and moving with use over time. I don't trust the interfacing to stick together forever. (Did I ever mention that I'm hyper-cautious about ensuring things don't fall apart??).

I forgot to take a photo of this step, but you can see the finished magnet below - all pinned in place and ready to be sewn in.

Ok... so we're into another tutorial now. I'll follow with another post of my new last-minute-gift idea tutorial, which uses the new sew-in magnets. Watch this space.

In the meantime, I'm selling the magnets off VERY close to cost price. They'll be up on the website very soon.

I'm off to check my product codes before I place another order.....