RED THREAD / PURPLE THREAD?

Have been on a sewing jag latterly and getting more confused all the time. This all began when I:

- Needed to sort and pre-cut strips and collect ‘crumbs’ for Bonnie Hunter’s workshop, two weeks from now.

- In tandem with this project I could also sort out the studio and pull out considerable fabrics for a goodwill donation as I have WAY more fabric than I will use in my lifetime. Time to reduce the clutter.

- Somewhere along the way I had collected quite a number of crumbs (Bonnie’s definition for all those little pieces you do not need but cannot seem to throw out; too little for this and too big to discard.

- That begun, I started to think about patching some crumbs together and before you know it had an envelope purse constructed too far along to stop.

- Then decided that I had not favored my two nieces, Meghan and Amanda, as of late so I might as well make TWO purses.

- Bag number two is in the works and the crumbs box is shrinking by the minute. The goodwill box is still empty, many fabrics are strip-cut and I cannot remember what started this whole project.

Now in the midst of my dilemma, bag number two is ready for top-stitching and the decision that seems to be difficult is: red thread on top and purple beneath, or vice versa? And why did I use so many ‘brights’ and is red the best color (?). These are the questions that patchwork quilters face every day but I must be tired today – my usual color sense and ‘hurry up’ mode seem to have fast faded.

The top photo series are the zippered, Envelope Bag with wrist loop.
The first photo shows the scrappy strips or crumbs stitched into a patch-worked piece with zipper in place.

The next is the gingham checked lining with an extra fold for a secret inside pocket.

The back of the patchwork purse, determining the fold-line.

Finally, the knotted handle is ready to be applied.




The second series show the Pod Bag in various stages of preparation.
This will be a Pod Bag, showing an exposed zipper with a chintz lining and hanging loop. At this rate I will not have any crumbs left for the workshop.

Strips and crumbs are stitched into a snazzy and complex fabric.






The opened zipper will reveal a chintz floral lining inside.








The patches are stitched with RED thread to begin the quilting process.
Quilting is, or should be, stitching that traps layers (3) into performing as a single layer. That is if you do it right.







Finally, the pod will get a knotted loop for hanging, or to carry.








That was not my major worry today. My second work project has hit a snag. I need a film editing program and the use of FabPlatinum was recommended to me. Made the purchase OK, but when Dear Hubby (aka My I.T. Department), tried to register the program and install something seemed to go wry.

I have an Emergency Help message in to my #2 I.T. person who will have to help install the program BEFORE we can think about my tutorial, saving a trial film clip and how to click film segments into PowerPoint for a lecture series on “Dance in American Films.” The class is scheduled for next January and I thought six months would be enough time. HA! There is NEVER enough time.

Got to serve dinner. Need ice. Rum is getting warm. B