DIY Network

Frankenpurse Fusing and quilting fabric creates a distinctive puckered texture. From "Uncommon Threads" episode DUCT-146

Emily Parson fuses a floral pattern onto white fabric, creating texture in the fabric by free-motion quilting the entire piece and then washing it; finally, she makes a purse out of the fused fabrics.

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Frankenpurse

Materials:

1/2 yd.100% cotton fabric (not prewashed)
1/2 yd.100% cotton Quilter's Dream cotton batting (not prewashed)
1/2 yd. fabric for lining, same as main fabric, or contrasting color
Wonder Under fusible web
fabric scraps in other colors
bag pattern (the example used the Deborah Bag, from Country Living Patterns, by Amy Butler)
thread to match base fabric
hook-and-loop tape or optional snap or button
30" of 1/2" cotton upholstery cording
basic sewing supplies: sewing machine, pins, scissors

Note: This project uses fabric scraps or motifs that are already fused. If you don't have leftover pieces from other projects that are already fused, make them first.

1. Lay out batting flat on table. Place base fabric (the unwashed piece) on top and smooth down. Scatter flowers or scraps with fusible web (figure A), already attached randomly around on fabric and batting, and fuse down (figure B).

Figure A

Figure B

2. Pin-baste lightly by safety-pinning two layers together in a few places (cotton naturally sticks to itself, so the two layers won't shift too much).

Figure C

3. Free-motion quilt around the edges of the flowers and use an all-over squiggly pattern of quilting on background (figure C).

4. Throw the piece in the washing machine on warm and dry in a hot dryer; this will produce the crinkle quilted texture. This quilted fabric is now the main fabric for your bag.

5. Cut out the bag by the pattern instructions. Cut the lining and handle out of unquilted fabric. Finish the bag by the pattern instructions.

RESOURCES :
Wonder Under fusible web
Website: www.shoppellon.com
Freudenberg Pellon Nonwovens
Website: pellonideas.com

Deborah Bag pattern
Country Living Patterns by Amy Butler
Website: www.amybutlerdesign.com

GUESTS :

Laura Wasilowski
Website: www.artfabrik.com