Friday, November 20, 2015

catch-all fabric baskets

Welcome to finish it up Friday!

Well, it feels like winter here, so it was time to crack out the butterfly fabric! :) I actually used fabric from my stash this week--a noteworthy event to be sure. Ha!
Last summer my friend Michelle gave me a little fabric basket/tray as a gift, and I have found it so useful for corralling fabric scraps on my sewing table while I work. I have a lot of scraps, (ahem!) so I thought I would sew up a few more baskets. These were a fun, quick project to make that could be used for organizing so many different things! I was able to use up some scraps of weird stabilizer stuff (I think it was Pel-Tex) that I had leftover from making some bags years ago, so that was a bonus!
Let me mention the bamboo turner, pictured above. It's one of my new favorite tools! I usually use a knitting needle or something similar to poke out the corners of my little projects (like pincushions) but that bamboo turner is amazing! It's by Merchant & Mills and I bought it at Modern Textiles. It's a nifty little tool that I would recommend if you like sewing gadgets! Or if you make hundreds of pincushions, like I do. :)
 
You can use this video tutorial by Crafty Gemini to make the catch all baskets, if you care to make some of your own. Thanks, Vanessa!

Speaking of tools...I picked up this Clover needle threader at the free table last month at my guild meeting. (Don't you love that?) I haven't been successful in getting the needle threader to work, (although my son did) but I love the little cutter on the top! I use it for cutting apart blocks after chain piecing. It's so fun that I can even get my kids to do that task for me once in awhile. :) It ALL helps!
And just to keep things real....this was the project I was hoping to finish for today. I pulled out my scraps from this quilt and I was hoping to turn them into a throw pillow. The color balance wasn't quite right, but I didn't have the motivation or energy to push through...so that will be saved for another day. It's close, but not quite there yet! It's ok...I have plenty of other projects to keep me busy. Ha!

Now it's your turn! Please link up your finishes. Thanks, as always, for joining me for finish it up Friday!

27 comments:

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

love your little fabric basket neat idea

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

oh and I love that needle threader and have had it for years - the threader works great but I have noticed the thicker the thread the less luck with it.

em's scrapbag said...

Thanks for sharing the link for the fabric basket tutorial. I think they might make some great Christmas gifts.

Brenda said...

To get the thread to work, place the thread in the grove first, and then put in the needle. I found it works well with little quilting needles and applique needles, not so much with bigger needles, but those are easier to thread by hand. the other benefit of this gadget is you could take it on airplanes to snip thread.

Carole @ From My Carolina Home said...

I love those Clover threaders! Couldn't do a stitch of handwork without one! They don't work will all needles, so I have figured out a few that do well and keep them in a separate pin cushion with my handwork basket.

Cut&Alter said...

This fabric tray is so pretty and useful ... I am currently using an old plastic container so think I should whip myself up some of these to prettify my sewing space!

CapitolaQuilter said...

I can't live without my threader - on occasion it won't like the type of needle I have (or I'll forget to put the needle in first before the thread) but keep trying it's worth getting use to.

Melissa Corry said...

Love those little baskets!!! I made a similar type of one with my daughter a little while ago and she just loves it. I think we need to make some more ;)

Mari said...

Very cute basket! (Thanks for the link!) I think the pillow parts look just lovely together. I'd be interested to know how you got those half-rectangles so perfect, too! have a great weekend!

Live a Colorful Life said...

Cute basket! I have one of those needle threaders--still in the packaging. I'll have to borrow Charlotte or Levi and see if they can make it work. :)

Di~ said...

What!? color balance? It looks fine! Man, do I have to think of everything!? :)

tisha @ quiltytherapy said...

Those baskets are adorable. Adding that tutorial to my list of baskets tutorials.

Laura said...

I think the pillow top is gorgeous and should definitely become a pillow!

OSSU said...

Nii ilusad tööd teil.

Lorna McMahon said...

That little bamboo turning tool looks handy. I like making quilted cushions. It would work great on turning those corners, too. Such happy fabrics in your post today.... As always! Love your RST layout!

Heidi said...

Cute basket:) I have a plastic tool similar to your bamboo one - I am able to use it like a hera marker as well to score quilting lines. I do use the needle threader tool as well, it works really well with most needles. Thanks for the party!

Anja @ Anja Quilts said...

Thanks for sharing the link to the fabric trays. These are a great idea.

Katherine said...

Oh, these trays are darling! I think butterflies were the perfect choice - and I now feel better knowing I'm not the only one with butterfly projects as we head into winter. ;o)

Will be on the look out for that bamboo turner - looks like something I would use a LOT.

Wishing you a lovely finish to your week and a very happy weekend!

Shirley said...

After looking at the video, I am guessing you did not use the foam layer in your basket? Just the peltex? That would serve as the interfacing and the foam both? Is the peltex iron on? Thanks

Kay said...

I need a little basket to drop all of my threads ends into while sewing, right now I just use a plastic box. x

Sharon said...

Love the little baskets, but I'm thinking if one puts snaps in the corners, then they can be stored flat and brought out as needed.

mammafairy said...

Did you know you get different size needle threaders for different size needles? It is sort of obvious when you think about it, as the eye is not always just in the same spot on each needle, and also, you have to have the needle positioned so the eye is in the correct alignment, or the threader just jabs against it instead of going through...
Just saying. ( sorry)

Anne / Springleaf Studios said...

Colorful butterflies looks so pretty set against winter snow. I made something similar years ago but instead of being quilted I used those plastic needlepoint sheets inserted inside for stiffness.

Unknown said...

AH! I've been wanting to get a specific cutter for chain piecing and then I saw this. I've had that same needle threader on the shelf for months because I couldn't get it to work. But now it's got a use and I'm thrilled! THANK YOU!

Amanda Jean said...

Shirley,

I used a layer of PelTex (which isn't fusible) instead of the foam. I did use the layer of interfacing (SF 101) inside....it's my favorite interfacing ever! It's nice and thin and added just the right amount of body to the fabric, I wouldn't skip it.

Hope that helps!

AJ

Amanda Jean said...

Rebecca Greco,

I'm so glad to hear it! How handy that you already have one on hand! Hurray!

AJ

MissesStitches said...

The needle threader will not work with some threads and with some needles. But try pressing down the lever slowly, instead of a fast motion.