My favorite gift!
I didn’t plan on doing this week’s Zakka Style project but I’m glad that I did because I’m quite happy with how it turned out and will actually use it! There is a BIG incentive to complete this project and to link it up to the sew along – a nice collection of Cosmo Thread by Lecien. I was intrigued by the post by The Patchsmith who said she has threads all over the place from making this. After thinking about it for awhile and reading the directions again, I thought that starting with a large patchwork piece and cutting it into strips on the BIAS might be an answer to the loose threads. So I tried it!
I sewed some strips together, cut them into smaller pieces and then sewed the pieces together in an arrangement that I thought would give me a long run of bias.
I cut bias strips 1 1/4 inch wide from this. No frays on the edges and the front of the stripes looked great. The back, though, had all those seams.
Front of bias strips – beautiful
Back of strips – not so pretty
I joined the strips together using a bias join technique. I thought about stopping here and using the “ribbon” this way.
Single layer
However, there was so much of it that I decided to go ahead and sew it all together with the wrong sides together using a simple running stitch down each edge. After that, I had only half of the length but no raw edges showing at all!
Double layer
After looking around for something to be the gift to tie it onto for the photo, a wine bottle seemed perfect. My sewing space is incredibly well “stocked”! Don’t you agree?
Fabric to the right. Wine to the left.
I Finally Have Time 
Thank you so much, for your look on this project! I’m going to make it the way you did. Now I actually look forward to it.
ooooh, I just read the patchsmith’s post and was going to give this one a miss – yours looks brilliant though. Oh no, what to do??
you should win for innovation alone!
Linda, I was discouraged by some of the response I’d seen. What a great idea using the bias! Can I link to your project on my blog?
Lindsey, I would be honored. Thank you! Linda
Sent from my iPhone
I think we’ll all be linking! Thanks so much for this great solution!
That looks like my kind of sewing room!
Well done for persevering with this project, I am hesitating this week.
I am so glad you found a solution to the ‘threads’ problem. It looks lovely and I too linked up to your blog this morning.
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I think I see heaven…….
Thank you everyone for all the nice comments and links to my blog about this project. Sewing with all of you these past 16 weeks has been a lot of fun! I look forward to more fun in the weeks to come.
Yes indeed, a great way to stock the studio! I’d take the stash of fabrics over the wine any day, though! 🙂