Lucie The Happy Quilter's Blog

Well the end of the year is rapidly approaching. I can’t believe how quickly time flies. My father told me many years ago that I would wake up some day wondering where all the years have gone. Well he was right……..

It’s been a lovely relaxing day. After walking the dogs first thing this morning I went into the sewing room to have a little play. I fashioned a little thread catcher for my Beach Hut Sewing Tidy. After tying it in place I decided I wasn’t happy with the way it didn’t stay open enough to get the thread bits in. Well I used a little trick that you probably all know but I’m going to tell you about it anyway.

I made a little support collar using some strapping. This strapping was on a box of printer paper. This is upcycling at its best. I love to repurpose things.

This little trick is very simple. You work out how big a collar you need for your project and add a few inches for an overlap. My strapping was all bundled up and wrapped up in a scrap strip of fabric and had folds and kinks in it. So I simply ironed the folds and kinks out with the iron by placing the strapping between layers of scrap calico and pressing it flat. If you use the iron on the strapping without the calico it might stick to the sole plate of the iron.

Once the kinks are gone work out how big a collar you need and staple the overlapped ends together.

Then you simply pull the shaped collar into place and flip the brim of your project down over it. I reckon you could use this same strapping in handles for a bag or even to give the opening of a bag some body. Strapping costs nothing and as you can see it can be useful. Do you have a use for strapping that you would like to suggest? Please leave a comment if you do.

Here’s another example of how well the strapping works as a collar for thread catchers. You can’t even see that it’s there but it holds the thread catcher open and gives it some shape.

I played nicely today. I did a few chores. I planned meals for the next couple of days. And the only list I made was for food shopping tomorrow. Cool……… I’m hoping to start 2013 as relaxed as I am at this moment. Mostly all my Christmas decorations have been taken down and put into storage for next year. All that’s left is a few fairy lights. Well a girl needs a little twinkle for New Year’s Eve!

One more day to go…….

So for this evening, this very happy longarm quilter will choose from the following activities: knitting, hexagons, Double Wedding Ring, hand quilting, making really good circles and Yo-Yo making. I’m spoiled for fun choices. Whatever you may be doing this evening, I hope it something interestingly relaxing. Until you read me again,

Happy stitching. ♥ ♥