I recently won some crazy cute Japanese Kawaii fabrics from Kats recent giveaway. They are perfect for little girls- (and maybe big girls too). I started with a gift for my baby niece who I meet for the first time this week!
I have been wanting to make this pattern from Jenny Ryan's Sew Darn Cute for ages and the Japanese fabrics were perfect for this project. Add a bit of linen and out comes a rabbit/bear cuddly. The eyes and the buttons are all made felted wool and I used Sashiko threads to stitch them on I just know the ears and paws are perfect for a baby to chew. Next Lula's turn, a gathered clutch using Anna from Noodlehead's tute. I love her patterns, the shapes are crisp and simple and just what I look for in a pattern. I know some of you think I am some sort of super sewer but any sort of zippy pouch always takes me ages and a lot of unpicking.
As usual this one drove me a little crazy. It is the zip that fells me, or more accurately the zipper foot. I have a Janome Jem Platinum sewing machine. It is small and light which is why I bought it as I used to have out it away each time I sew. I love it with the exception of the zipper foot- it is on the right in the pic below.
It is just too lumpy. It is hard to adjust where you stitch along the zipper as it likes to sit next to the zip- sometimes closer than I would like. This leads to problem with a lined pouch as the lining then has a tendency to stick in the zip and needs hand stitching to keep the fabric away from the zip.
When I stitch the side seams you need a zipper foot to overcome the bulk on one side and the Janome foot is too wide again. I resorted to my Feather weight, Minty, and its lovely skinny zipper foot (on the left in the foot pic). Minty did a lovely job but only when I had remembered how to use her- that took an hour and a half to refresh my addled brain with threading, getting the needle the right way, threading the needle right to left etc- all basic stuff but I had forgotten it all.
It finished pouch is pretty though and Lula is very happy with it. Sometimes I see little stacks of pouches for sale on Flickr and other people's blogs and I marvel at the apparent speed and accuracy and uniformity with which they can produce so many. I can produce detailed log cabin all day long but zippy pouches I fear will always elude me!
Looks pretty awesome to me!
ReplyDeleteI made a pouch without a zipper foot a while back. I am sure to one who has made them before there are glaring mistakes that a zipper foot might correct, but for me it turned out pretty good. :)
i have a hard time with zippers sometimes too! i think when i go too long between zipper projects it takes me a minute to remember how to do them well.
ReplyDeleteI have a Janome too, and I thought I was the only one who had zipper foot issues. To be honest--I don't even use it for zips. I use my regular foot and adjust the needle position. It seems to work much better for me. I have an inexpensive Singer as well, and that zipper foot was MUCH better.
ReplyDeleteI see no worries with your pouch, though--it really is delightful ;)
oh my gosh Kerry!!!! total cuteness. I'm in love. I've been meaning to make more square bears, they're just so huggable. and the clutch, wish it was mine. :)
ReplyDeleteSweetness all around Kerry! Love that gathered clutch,it's going on my 'to do' list.
ReplyDeleteLOVE Minty! She's a real beauty. x
ReplyDeleteYou've no idea how relieved I am to hear your Janome zipper foot is as disliked as mine. I got a Janome machine a few months ago and am really struggling when it comes to using the zipper foot - I mean, I wasn't a genius in that dept anyway, but I could just about manage with the trusty, noisy old Toyota. I sneaked the Toyota back onto the table to finish zips on the cushions I made recently! Anyway, your zippered clutch is lovely!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a zipper foot like that Janome one. It's easy to see why it causes you grief. But, the bag and the rabbit both turned out adorable!
ReplyDeleteAww such cute Kawai goodies!
ReplyDeleteI have a foot like the Janome on my old Brother sewing machine and I hate it, it just does not do the job. The foot on the left of your photograph does a much better job, but you don`t see many of those around now! The bag looks great, and am loving the rabbit.
ReplyDeleteHi Kerry..I feel exactly the same about little zipper pouches..I do wonder how on earth people do them so quickly with fiddly zips to put in!
ReplyDeleteVery cute pouch! I made a ton of those before Christmas to give as gifts, and I can tell you, they still took a lot more time than one would think they might for each one. You did exactly what I did, get out the Singer zipper foot! Be careful though, I sewed through the tip of my finger (twice!) during the time I was making these, trying to make a narrow seam and make sure everything was feeding through evenly. I've been sewing a long time, and that was a first!
ReplyDeleteI'm totally with you on zips, and now my fear puts me off having another go! By the way, meant to say before, thanks for your post on carboots, it has inspired me to head out this coming sunday (I used to be a regular before becoming a mum!)
ReplyDeleteThose are adorable!
ReplyDeleteI was not able to use the zipper foot that came with my Janome either. It's so odd! I ended up getting one that is an adjustable zipper foot for the Janome that looks a lot like the one in your photo on the left. Works like a charm!
Sweet projects! I still haven't tried that gathered clutch yet. It's on my perpetual "to do" list.
ReplyDeletethat wide zipper foot looks impossible to use. is "minty" the vintage machine in the photo? she's a pretty machine. your pouch looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteThe foot is pretty much useless. 'Minty' is the featherweight, she is super reliable when I remember how to thread her properly!
ReplyDeleteKerry ~ HELLO there ~ I love that you used the fabrics! So very cute! big hugs, kat
ReplyDeleteKawaii-ness overload! The way you used the Japanese print for the bunny can't be more perfect! Beautiful contrast with the linen! And the pouch is too cute! That's another project I've been wanting to give a try! But yeah, a zipper foot,, I am not a big fan either.
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