Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Tackle It Tuesday: Saving The World...and a buck or two



Tackle It Tuesday Meme

Let me begin by saying, "The Lord did not bless me with skills for sewing."
That being said...here is my Tackle It Tuesday project.

One day, while channeling through blogland, I happened across a site that mentioned making Homemade Fabric Sandwich Wraps. I thought, "hmmm...what a great idea! And - how convenient...I'm out of waxed bags AND baggies right now! These look easy enough. Gosh, I'll even be able to make...like...5 or 6 of them. Cool!"

I made one...and it took me all evening.

Don't let that discourage you. I just...well...I don't know. I guess I just don't sew enough to know how to do things quickly. My thread kept breaking, I couldn't get the pattern quite straight, the thread was bunching up, I don't know how to "close" something properly after turning right side out. *sigh*



Regardless of all that - I'm very pleased with the way it finished and couldn't help but smile while turning it right-side-out. Not too shabby for my first go at it.

I may try another one tonight.


I followed the directions on the site mentioned above, but here are a few tips from me:
  • Make your pattern on the white side of Christmas wrapping paper; it's big enough and easy to pin through.
  • Make sure you measure and cut rather precisely. I should have cut both pieces at the same time - as you can see, one is larger than the other. Be sure to line the corners up nice and straight. Mine is 15 x 15".
  • I used Ripstop for the food surface on the inside and a vintage fabric on the outside. The Ripstop can be wiped down easily as it is water repellent and easy to sew. It was $6.99 a yard at Joanne Fabrics - but be sure to print your 40% Q from the internet first - made it cheaper.
  • When you iron your pieces after cutting, remember: when the ripstop says cool iron...it means cool iron. Lesson learned.
  • When you insert the velcro, make sure the fastening part is "up" (away from the fabric print). You'll see when you get that far.
I'm not sure how my husband is going to feel when he opens his lunch to a sandwich wrapped in rooster cloth, but I'm anxious for the reaction. I think he'll appreciate helping to save the world, but would rather be doing it with White Sox fabric.

2 comments:

Hey Harriet said...

This sounds like a great idea, but unfortunately I cannot sew at all. Can't even sew a button onto something. I'm sure your hubby loved his rooster cloth lunch bag :)

Toni said...

To say the least, he wondered what that "thing" was in his lunch box LOL He LOVED the idea - but needed a more "manly" print...like plaid or something. I figured that might have been the reaction. The next one will be a little more to his liking :)