Hi -

I'm making fiber lace squares using Solvy, the water based stabilizer. In order to get the fibers to stick to the Solvy so that I can sew it in the sewing machine, I am using a very light coat of spray adhesive on one piece of Solvy. For the life of me, I can't get all of the Solvy off because of the adhesive, but I can't put it together w/o a little bit of adhesive. I'm using Elmers Craft Bond, which has directions for temporary adhesive - which I followed. It makes my final product look like it has dandruff!!!

This picture isn't great, but I think it's focused enough for you to see what I'm talking about


For kicks, here's the finished product -


Anyone have any thoughts on either a)a better, water soluble adhesive or b) a better water based stabilizer than Solvy? When I use light colored fibers, it's not such an issue of course - just like when you wear black and have dandruff, right??? 

Thanks!

Lia, those are great looking! Some cool D-rings and some webbing and they will be totally stylin'! How was the vinyl to work with? I've only sewn with vinyl once - it was for a Halloween costume for my son, and I remember fighting with it a bit.

pikegami, I made the piping by with cotton cording as the inside - it's really cheap, like $.29/yd. I've used shoelaces etc. but the round stuff really does look the best. Cut the material you are going to use on the bias (angle) - it will bunch less and be easier to make fit into corners etc, because it will have a little give in it. To sew strips of the fabric together, put the ends of the 2 pieces right sides together at a 90 degree angle to each other, and sew the overlapping part from upper left corner to lower right corner. When you flip the vertical piece backup, you'll have a nice neat piece.  Here's a lame drawing that might help make it clear.



When you do it this way, it makes a neater, cleaner, easier to work with seam. When covering the cording, just use a zipper foot or anything that allows you to get closer to the cording than with the regular foot, and really sew it in there tight. If you don't have a zipper foot, you can get a generic foot at any fabric store, like this one -

they cost about $2.50, and fit any standard sewing machine.

Once you learn to make the piping right, you'll want to do it on everything!

OK, here's the pics of my finished bag (first time using
photobucket - hope this works!)

jordy, I did mine almost identical to yours, except that instead of cutting the squares out of mine, I did mine as 3 pieces (both the lining and the outside) - 2 identical rectangles, and one long strip of fabric that served as both the sides and bottom of the bag. I did this because I wanted to do the cording on the edges, and it was easier for me to do it this way. The cording is just the interior lining fabric around the cheapy cotton cording stuff you buy, and instead of interfacing, I used a leftover piece of quilt batting (I've used everything from old blankets to old cloth diapers for batting!). I sewed the closing flap in when I sewed in the lining and handles - a bit bulky to work with, but did the job great!

My daughter uses it for preschool and ballet - it was fun to make!



the bag

the cording/piping (sorry, forgot to rotate the picture!)



the interior/closing flap