Faux Wonder Clips and Strap Sewing

 I succumbed to the cheapness of China and bought 50 faux wonder clips for $4.52 (free shipping).

I think wonder clips are the best sewing gift ever and I have given my fair share.
However, these are purple. And pink. And green. And blue.

They are the same exact size as wonder clips but are a little harder to squeeze open.

My sewing this weekend consisted of making two straps for the J-5 Cub (airplane). Hubby wanted to strap down the rear seat and keep the back of the seat from flying forward.
 

He first wanted me to toss my sewing room for my stash of leather.

After seeing me stumble home after another 12-hr split shift, he relented and found his stash of dark blue vinyl that the Stearman seats were made of.

 This is the seat - outside the airplane.

It was in the  plane when we were measuring to make a template. (Can you say awkward?)

To make straps out of leather or vinyl, you cut a larger piece than needed - on the fold-  from the template measurement. Vinyl and/or leather edges don't fray so you can leave the raw edges exposed.

You get out your old yucky glue stick that seemed to work and glue your vinyl together - wrong sides together. The first reason for the glue is to keep the layers from shifting while sewing. The second reason is that vinyl and leather stretch. Two layers glued and sewn together are stronger.

Then you chalk your template on. I use my Sewline Chalk pencil.
See if your machine will sew your vinyl fine or do you need to get out the teflon foot or other tricks. Generally, I rarely have any trouble sewing on faux leather/vinyl. The glue (inside) keeps the layers from shifting. I also am using my IDT feed (walking foot) on my pfaff.
Then I top-stitch just inside my chalk line and another top-stitch line parallel to that - 1/8 - 3/16" in. I'm not gonna sweat the evenness - these are hidden in the plane.

Clip your threads. Cut out close to your outer top-stitch line. Not on the chalk line. Invariably, your first top-stitch line isn't parallel to the chalk line on the curves - which is why you trim to the sewing line.
Color the edges with your black sharpie. (Why is vinyl always adhered to something white?)
Ta da!

Oh Wait!
 We have to figure out snaps. These are heavy duty snaps. One end has a screw end to go into wood and the other is flush with the fabric.
I found my leather working tools ( $8.00 score at a garage sale!) and punched a hole in the doubled up vinyl scrap to test my snap.
Then  went to work on the straps in the pictures above and below.


These were all done with hubby coming into the house, going out of the house, hollering for me to come out, test the template, go back inside, go back outside, are the snaps the right direction,  inside, outside, inside, outside.

Yeah.

Snaps are easy once you do the first one and figure out how much hammer strength you need to squish them together. My normal everyday snaps are put on with hand-held squeezy pliers.

 I'm not working overtime next week (hallelujah!).
I expect I will be sewing something.

With fabric only.

Sewing Tool Organizer

#3029 Classy and Clever Computer Case
Gail Kellogg, SVP Worldwide
VIKING CLASSROOM, SHOWPLEX
Thu. (#3029A) 8:00 – 10:30 am, Thu. (#3029E)
11:00 am – 1:30 pm, Fri.(#3029B) 2:00 – 4:30 pm
Experience the fantastic Husqvarna Viking Huskylock S25
Serger to create this stunning and useful case for your laptop
computer. You will learn how to apply zippers with the serger,
use accessory feet to embellish with decorative trim and leave
class with a sophisticated and finished project.
$25 KIT FEE INCLUDES: Two 13" × 18" double sided quilted
cotton, lining fabric, light weight batting, clear vinyl, two 18"
zippers, thread
STUDENT SUPPLIES: General sewing supplies

Description is from the SewExpo brochure.
 I am going to learn how to apply zippers with a serger (?).
All I need to provide is a kit fee and "general sewing supplies".

I don't take a lot of classes so I usually scramble  sewing notions together from my sewing room into a ziploc bag.
Yes.
A ziploc.

But this is SewExpo. I kinda need to look like I sew.

Bernina

VeryKerryBerry

JustSomethingIMade

I explored online and found some inspiration. I wanted to use some Pendleton Wool and make it big enough for a small cutting mat. While a roll would be nice and secure and smaller, the pesky cutting mat wanted to be in on the action.

"Q: I am planning on taking a 3 & 4 needle class and under student supplies, it lists 'basic sewing supplies'. What do I really need to bring?
A: Basic sewing supplies means to bring: Scissors (fabric & paper) pins, seam ripper, chalk, seam gauge, ruler, measuring tape, sewing needles, rotary cutter and mat. Optional: mini iron and ironing pad. And anything else you use that will make your sewing experience pleasurable."

 I laid my basic sewing tools out, figuring out some math numbers on paper.
Then I selected my fabrics.

A vintage Pendleton Wool Wrap Skirt was sacrificed for it's plaid properties (and possibly a chance to win something at the Pendleton Booth).

A nice coordinating airplane print and a neutral off-white.

Airplanes & Pendleton

I made the side-facing pockets with the airplane print. Re-enforcing the cotton by doubling up and sewing a grosgrain ribbon down the edge.
The pockets were custom fitted to the  notion with sewing lines 1 3/4" apart.

Basically, I started with an extra-long blue panel, using up inches as I needed to and trimming the excess at the lower end. Another way to handle this is with an elastic casing, easing in room where you need it.

 You can see where I sewed the pockets flat on the right-hand edge - couple of pleats.

 This is the smooth white fabric on top of the off-white textured fabric. This will become a pocket to store the small cutting mat.

On the left-hand side, I wanted two clear vinyl pockets to hold my small clear ruler and some pins and what-have-you. I edged my vinyl with some bias tape and the vinyl sewed much better this go around. You may remember some vivid cussing with my last experience with vinyl.

 The scissors rest in the pendleton fabric pocket with a piece of that gorgeous ribbon snapped in place across the handles.

So now we have the scissors secured and all pockets done.
I was thinking of embroidering an airplane on the front but decided to head back to simple and just zigzag on the up-cycled Pendelton Label.

I've misplaced my finished product photo but by that time the light had gone except for the Ott light at my sewing table.

Basically, I have a notebook with handles that will lay flat when opened.
Should be easy to take along.

I can tell I am feeling better because the different design elements went easily together with a minimum of hand-sewing (Scissor securement had to be hand-sewn because I forgot to do it before I sewed the pocket together.)

I'm ready to figure out zippers and sergers.






Sewing tool organizer tutorial images.