This week we are continuing with our celebration of National Sewing Month with a look at upcycling! This is one of my favorite ways to shop for fabrics and embellishments. The authentic look and feel of the finished pieces come together so well when you can use the right types of materials. Depending on the recipient, you can look for the upcycle pieces almost anywhere. If you are making items for your own collection or as gifts, you can comfortably use items you may already have or gently used things you pick up at thrift stores or yard sales. If you are making items to sell, you'll want to be on the lookout for those clearance racks or the extra savings days at discount stores. You may begin to feel like a bit of a treasure hunter!

Since we're on the topic of sewing the Sew Powerful Purse, I have a step by step walkthrough of how I used a great pair of vibrant green skinny jeans that I found on clearance for just a few dollars to strategically cut out the purse to incorporate the back pocket on the back of the purse! 

Brand new jeans - just €2.00! I got the biggest size I could find.

 Step 1: Cut apart the pants along the side seam so I could open the leg flat.

Step 2: Look at the pocket placement and fabric grain. Position the pattern piece so that the pants back pocket is centered on the pattern piece. Pin into place and cut it out.

Step 3: Just below the back pocket area, I can place the Purse Front piece on the leg. The first image shows it flat and the second image shows it folded back to cut out.

Step 4: On the Pants Front, of the same leg. I am able to cut the Purse Back Top and the Purse Front Flap. All of these pieces are cut one, so I have done them all on the single layer.

Here I have all the main pieces cut from the green denim. Now I will find a coordinating cotton lining and cut out the remainder of the lining pieces. I am going to use 1" wide webbing for the purse strap.

I will continue to make the purse following the pattern instructions :)

Look! I have so much fabric leftover! I can cut out a second purse, or use this denim to make a variety of doll-size items. This is perfect for Skinny Jeans, Mini Skirts, Jumpers, Backpacks, and more!

Interested in upcycling with other types of fabrics - check out these examples!

I also have a few videos that explain the upcycling idea in more detail as it relates to creating doll scale fashions. 

The first video - Upcycled Examples and Tips -  is a look at some pieces I've picked up and the garments I've turned them into. There are so many different types of garments to be on the lookout for!

In the second video - Upcycling From Start To Finish - I'm going to walk you through a project from start to finish using a beautiful fuschia sweater and the 123 Mulberry St Trendy Slouch Cardigan. Follow along and watch my process!

Week Two Task:

• It's the final week of September! Be sure to look back over the techniques taught and take the time to practice or brush up on them!
• Reminder to enter the giveaway!!
• I'd love to see something you've created from an upcycled garment!
• Jump over the SWC Facebook Group for conversation and project sharing.

Download the Sew Powerful Purse pattern. The beginner level pattern is in the SWC Bonuses section. You can also find the Intermediate level pattern on the Sew Powerful website.

This week we are continuing with our celebration of National Sewing Month with a look at a very popular technique, machine-stitched fusible Applique - yay!

What is Applique, you might ask? According to Wikipedia, Appliqué is ornamental needlework in which pieces of fabric in different shapes and patterns are sewn or stuck onto a larger piece to form a picture or pattern. It is commonly used as decoration, especially on garments. The technique is accomplished either by hand or machine.

For this tutorial, we will be looking at creating applique designs using fabric and fusible web. We will also focus on sewing them by machine.

I'll be demonstrating the techniques while sewing the Liberty Jane Cross Body Purse pattern (now published as the Sew Powerful Purse). As I've mentioned in the video, you can use these techniques at any scale and on a variety of projects - the possibilities are endless!

I mentioned at the beginning of this month that we are going to have a contest! 

Drumroll, please.....

I challenge you to each make one amazing purse for the Sew Powerful Purse project! Each person who makes a purse and shares it as an image in the group will be entered into a contest. At the end of the month, we will enter all the names into a drawing and the winner will receive a $100 larougetdelisle gift card!! Exciting right?!

To keep things organized, please try to add your purse photo under the post for this months topic HERE. That way I can easily find all the entries in one place :)

Are you ready? Let's go...

Watch the Applique 2 Ways! video:

Then, Jump over to the SWC Facebook group to share your projects with the group!

Week Two Task:

• Watch the video, follow along as I demonstrate raw edge applique and reverse applique.
• Pick a project and try out one of these methods. Then challenge yourself to take it to the next level! You can create an applique with a decorative stitch around the edge, or a satin stitch. Maybe you'd like to create a layered applique with some dimension. Be creative, I'd love to see some fun and creative examples!
• Jump over the SWC Facebook Group for conversation and project sharing.

Next Tuesday - Part 3: We'll take a look at sewing with fusible interfacings.

Resources:

Download the Sew Powerful Purse pattern. The beginner level pattern is in the SWC Bonuses section. You can also find the Intermediate level pattern on the Sew Powerful website.

Interested in doing this at the tiny doll scale? We have a doll size pattern available as well!

Fusible web can be found at a variety of local stores - JoAnn Fabrics, Walmart, Hobby Lobby, etc. It can also be purchased online. The brand I used in the video is HeatnBond®.

Fun examples of doll scale applique:

Hi Everyone! It's September and it's National Sewing Month - Yay! We have a lot going on in Sewing With Cinnamon this month! We are going to join in with the Babylock / Sew Powerful sewing month event challenge and use the Sew Powerful Purse pattern to practice and illustrate several sewing techniques - applique, upcycling, and more!

But first, we are going to do a fun group activity! Being that it's National Sewing Month, I thought it was the perfect time for each of us to share their favorite sewing tip, tool, or technique with the group. Watch the video below for more info!

As the topic progresses, I'll be demonstrating these methods while sewing the Liberty Jane Cross Body Purse pattern (now published as the Sew Powerful Purse) to help illustrate how the basic techniques and methods are used. We will kick off the purse sewing instruction next week, but in the meantime, be sure to download the free pattern and read through the supply list to be sure you have everything you need to jump right in with us next week! (More info and links below)

Are you ready? Let's go...

Watch the overview video for this months topic:

Then, Jump over to the SWC Facebook group to share your favorite tips, tools, or techniques with the group!

Since we're on the topic of favorite sewing tips, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite past technique videos too!

Sewing a curved hem can be a challenge, here's my technique video with my best tips!

Top Ten Tips: Back in 2017 I did a topic "Sewing In Bulk". This video is from that series, it's my top 10 tips for sewing in bulk or for efficiency! These tips carry over to sewing in general, even if you're not looking to mass-produce items to sell.

Week One task:

• Watch the videos. :)
• Think about your sewing habits and challenges. What stands out to you as something that has helped you overcome a challenge or something that saves you time. Share your thoughts in the Facebook group under the National Sewing Month Post. (or in the comments below this post).
• Jump over the SWC Facebook Group for conversation and project sharing.

Next Tuesday - Part 2: We'll kick off our purse sewing contest and tutorials! Stay tuned for the exciting challenge contest announcement!

Prepare for next week:

Download the Sew Powerful Purse pattern. The beginner level pattern is in the SWC Bonuses section. You can also find the Intermediate level pattern on the Sew Powerful website.

Interested in doing this at the tiny doll scale? We have a doll size pattern available as well!

Gather up all the supplies and fabric needed for the project.

• Fabric: twill, denim, duck, faux leather, suede, corduroy, or any other mid-weight fabric. Note - quilting cotton can be used, but it should be interfaced for structure and durability.
• Purse Body: 1-1/2 yards 44" width OR 1/2 yard 54" - 60" width
• Purse Lining: 1/3 yard 44" width
• Interfacing (optional): 1-1/2 yards (Pellon® SF101 is recommended)
• If desired, you can use 1" width webbing for the purse strap instead of making one from the fabric. The finished strap is 52" in length.
• Applique supplies: Coordinating fabric scraps, Decorative thread, Fusible web such as Heat n Bond™, Iron.