Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Using Quilting Cottons on the Departure Satchel

You know I prefer home decor weight or outdoor fabrics for the departure satchel, but I did recently make one with quilting cotton. I want to help you use your incredible stashes of quilting cotton, so I have made some notes for you here.
1. Plan on having a dry clean only bag. That way, you can use the duck without prewashing it. The finish on the duck is really nice if you don't wash it and I think it gives the bag better shape.
2. The lining of the bag can be made following the original instructions. The only changes are to how to handle the exterior fabric. (and the duck if you use it without washing)
3. Back every exterior piece with decor bond heavy weight fusible interfacing. You can buy it by the yard at JoAnn's.
(If you insist on your bag being washable, I do not recommend the iron on interfacing. You will have to find a sew-in interfacing to substitute. You are looking for thin but stiff interfacing. That is what I love about the decor bond.)
4. Add piping at the end of step 3 and at the end of step 6, going all the way around the front and back of the bag. Also, piping at the top of the trolley sleeve is nice.
(I added lining in the front pocket which is really nice, but it would not be necessary if I had used piping on the pocket instead. Next time, piping on the kangaroo pocket. Also, my fabric got too thick at the top front for the piping, which it would not have been had I not lined that pocket and used the piping instead.)This is how I love to travel, with both the duffle and the departure satchel. They look great together too.

3 comments:

  1. Thanks for a great post! I've just bought the pattern and hoping to create one using these methods - how much piping did you need for steps 3 & 6? Did you use a specific size/ thickness of piping? Thanks!

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  2. Thanks for a great post! I've just bought your pattern and will be using these methods.

    Can I ask, how much piping did you need, and did you use a specific thickness of piping? I know how awful piping can look if it's too thick so I want to get it right!

    Thanks,
    Michelle

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  3. The packaged piping I use comes in 2.5 yard lengths, you need one package. It is 1/2" wide including the cord and the flange, so the flange is 3/8" of that and the cord is 1/8" thick. If you are making your own, you probably need to cut your bias fabric 1.25: wide to end up with the same piping. I hope that helps!

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