Doll's Bed in a Suitcase Sew Along Part 1 - Covering The Suitcase

 Covering a Vintage Suitcase with Fabric!

I'm going to start this with a bit of a disclaimer.  Suitcases come in all shapes and sizes, and they have all sorts of different fittings, handles, hinges.   They're made from various different materials, and no two will ever be the same - even if they look totally similar!  So here's a few tips and techniques to get you started, in the hope that you'll be able to figure out the rest yourself.  Of course, if you come up against any problems, let me know and I can see if I can explain a little further, but for now, here's how:

You will need two contrasting fabrics - one outer, and one lining.  I used around 75cm of each fabric for my size case.  To help see what you need, I'd measure the top, and the height.  You'll need two tops and two strips of height for both the lining and the main fabric, and that should do it.

Glue - we used Cartonnage Glue (an awesome glue that is quite similar to Mod Podge)

A craft knife; scissors that you don't mind messing up (no dressmaking shears here, please).

 Cut the your outer fabric to the same size as your suitcase, with 2cm extra all around.  Then cover the base of your suitcase with the glue, spreading it thick and evenly.  Lay the fabric over the glue, centrally, and smooth it so there are no creases or bubbles.

 

Cut snips at approximately 2cm intervals around the edge.

 

 Cover with glue around the edge 2-3cm up, and stick up the flaps you've cut.  The slits cut should help you go neatly around the corners.  Be prepared to get a little messy - think back to primary school and covering your hands with PVA type messy, and you're on the right track.

   

It should start to look something like this.

 

 Measure the side of your suitcase, then add about 4cm to the width.  Cut a strip of outer fabric to this size.  You'll need one or two strips to go around the edges, depending on the size of your suitcase.

 

 Spread glue over the side of your suitcase.  Lay the fabric face down, lining up 1-2cm in from the base edge of the case.  Then spread a bit of extra glue on the 1-2cm fabric that is touching the case.

 

 Fold the fabric up, and smooth down on the side of the case.  The last step gives you a nice neat folded edge. 

 

 Carry on in this method around the edge of the case, until you get to the hardware at the front.

 

 Carry on gluing as normal, sticking your fabric over the top of your locks etc. 

 

 With your knife, cut a cross over the metal parts to allow you to get to them later.  Then leave for the time being.  Cut extra space around your handle and any other hardware.

 

 Cut slits and the excess fabric over the top edge just as you did for the base.  Then repeat this entire process for the top of the case.  Then put aside to dry.

 

 Once your glue is all dry, return to the hardware, and using your craft knife, trim all around the edges as neatly as possible.  You may find that the fabric is stuck slightly to the metal, but give it a tug and it should all come free.  The fabric will have hardened so you can get a nice clean cut with your knife.

 

 Spread some extra glue all around the cut edges of your hardware.  It'll dry clear and seal any raw edges so they won't come undone over time.

 

Cover the handle the best way you can manage.  If the handle doesn't need covering, don't bother, as it can be one of the trickier bits.

Cover any hinge on both the inside and the outside before starting covering the inside.  Once this is done, start covering the inside using the same techniques you used on the outside.

Cover the sides first, folding a neat edge along the top, and overlapping the bottom.

 

I actually made a bit of a mess of the bottom of this one - but luckily managed to save it with the use of some handy apron tape...  It is worth pointing out that you need to keep the area around the rim of the main case and the lid as finely covered as possible, as if the fabrics are too thick, you'll have trouble closing it.   With this case, I actually over did it.  With a few taps of a hammer to slightly soften and curve the rim on the base I got it back in to fit - but it is tight.  I'm hoping it will loosen up with use.  On the last one I made, a slight sanding helped.

Don't worry about leaving too much glue on your outside - it'll dry clear and you shouldn't see it.  Put it to one side to dry while getting on with the contents of your case.

The next installment will be on the 9th January, when we'll make a mattress to perfectly fit your case!

Oh Autumn!

This week is a funny one. The weather just doesn't know what to do with itself. Last weekend was beautifully sunny, on Monday and Tuesday we had torrential rain and today? Well today it's a bit nippy, rather overcast and there's that lovely crisp chill that lets you know that autumn has arrived.

Here in the UK, autumn for crafters means The Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace in London. It's a vast Aladdin's Cave of fabrics, yarns, buttons, beads, workshops and wonderfully inspiring textile exhibitions.

Of course, we have a stand there, and after working hard to pack up what seemed like half our shop, there is a veritable feast of fabric for you to discover, just waiting on Stand L15.

 

 

 

We've taken modern, designer, and organic fabrics, Japanese import fabrics, kits, patterns and lots more, so if you're planning a visit, please do stop by and say hello. We always like to meet our customers!

 

Meanwhile... those of us back at the shop are really rather envious! Still, we have lots of fabulous fabrics, yarns and notions to enjoy at this end, and doesn't that nip in the air just make you want to make things?

 

A couple of our current favourites are by Lewis and Irene fabrics.

 

 



 





Woody Diamond Brown - Big Bear Little Bear is a lovely, delicate geometric and is a great contrast to the William Morris-esque Flower Garden - Teal - Home Sweet Home (below), also by Lewis and Irene. We're quite fancying a new winter bag with Flower Garden as the main and Woody Diamond as the lining. Olive green handles, perhaps?

 

 

In the yarn department, now that there's a nip in the air, we're all planning and starting our autumn and winter knits. One of the front runners for many of us is Debbie Bliss Rialto Chunky. It's a snuggly, soft, bouncy, superwash merino wool. It knits up really quickly and has splendid stitch definition.

 

 

It comes in a wide colour palette of fourteen colours including some lovely autumnal shades.

Ingrid recently knitted up a new cable hat pattern using Rialto Chunky and it came out beautifully. Well enough in fact, that if you fancy learning to knit your own she is running a day workshop for the Ever Decreasing Cable Hat on Saturday 24th October.

 

 
Don't forget, all of our fabrics, yarns and notions are still available to order from our online shop while we are at the show, so don't let that stop you if you've seen something that you fancy!

We hope to see you at the show (Stand L15) if you're there!

 

 

 

Straight Stitch Society - have it all Wallet - Pattern Review

Despite seeming a bit daunting at first with all its pockets and compartments, I was surprised to find the 'Have it all Wallet' pattern by Straight Stitch Society simple and easy to follow. This was helped by the step by step instructions and picture diagrams. And with a few cleverly placed folds it all came together nicely.

Initially I did struggle with keeping all the different components parallel and perpendicular to one another, but it was definitely worth taking a bit of extra time with the aid of a ruler or set square to ensure a neat finish.

The pattern requirements suggest using a sew-in woven interfacing to stiffen the body of the wallet, but I found a heavier fusible interfacing to do the job just as well (and this means you can iron it on rather than stitch it!). I chose to use a slightly heavier weight fabric for the outside of the wallet; I think this adds to the body, giving it a stronger shape. I also changed the snap fastening to a fancier magnetic clasp and left out the bow, for a simpler, neater finish. Another handy addition was a little key hook in the big pocket to keep hold of the important stuff. 

Overall, with a little patience this wallet is a great project, and you don’t need to be an expert to make it. It has pockets for all of your important things and it even has pockets behind those pockets! Personally, I always struggle to find a purse with all the compartments and features that I need, so I was really impressed to find this had them all!

Materials List
♥ Straight Stitch Society Have it All Wallet Pattern
♥ Outer Fabric - Grey Floral Twill - World Petit Collection - Kiyohara
♥ Lining Fabric - Grey on Grey - Dots - Mas D'Ousvan
♥ Iron-on Standard Medium and Iron on Standard Firm Vilene
♥ Magnetic Bag Edge Clasp
♥ Key-Tidy Bag Hardware

- Millie