Anyone still awake and want to help me understand this pattern?

**alarosalpn** · 07-01-2008, 10:57 PM

Help please? I bought my first pattern and fabric today. It's almost 11pm and I haven't a clue where to start. My machine is threaded and ready, my iron is out and ready, I have everything ready.
I have Simplicity 4625 and I'm trying to make bag B..
What is my first step? Do I cut the pattern out,then pin it to the fabric,then cut the fabric? I also have interfacing that I have to iron on. Do I cut and pin that too after I cut the fabric?
Any direction would help
Thank you in advance. I really want to do this. I feel like a kid on
Christmas morning and I can't wait! LOL

**Ilovesewing** · 07-01-2008, 11:04 PM

LOL I can hear your excitement

You can do it either way. my mom always cut the pattern out along the cutting lines, laid it on the fabric, then cut the fabric. I cut the pattern apart, not necessarily on the line, lay it on the fabric, then cut the fabric along the cutting lines of the pattern at the same time. Either way works just as well as the other.

Then use your pattern to cut your interfacing, place it on your fabric pieces and iron to fuse.

Make sure when you lay your pattern pieces out on your fabric the arrows are all facing the same way (usually lengthwise parallel to the fold).

And have fun!

**larabelle** · 07-01-2008, 11:11 PM

How exciting!!
I always cut out the pattern and iron it.
Then I iron my fabric. You did wash the fabric ahead of time didn't you? I hope so because if not the fabric may shrink after you have your purse made and wash it.
Then I lay my pattern pieces on the fabric and cut it out.
By the way I hate cutting out the fabric but I love sewing together the finished product.
Good Luck!!!

**alarosalpn** · 07-01-2008, 11:19 PM

I didn't wash the fabric.

I guess I should do that then. I will have to just settle for cutting the pattern out of the paper. What a dissapointment.
Is it ok to line dry the fabric or should I put it in the dryer for maximum shrinkage? Do I wash the interfacing too?
I had my machine all set too. I did it all by myself.
The fabric pattern is a cluster of american flags and I bought a solid navy blue for the inside.

DH helped me pick it out! Not something I'd probably choose but it is a pretty neat pattern.

**larabelle** · 07-01-2008, 11:23 PM

I would launder and dry the fabric in the same manner which I planned to launder and dry the finished product in the event it should become soiled. When you say interfacing are you referring to the solid navy blue fabric which will be on the inside of the purse if so then I definitely would launder and dry it also.

**Ilovesewing** · 07-01-2008, 11:26 PM

If you don't think you'll ever wash the purse then you don't need to wash the fabric first. I take it this is a holiday project? So you'll only use it a short time each year and you may not wash it. I only wash fabrics for garments, and sometimes for quilting if the color is a bleeder, like red.

And I also hate cutting patterns and fabric. If I could hire someone to do all my cutting I would lol

**alarosalpn** · 07-01-2008, 11:27 PM

Larabelle- the interfacing is the white stuff that I sew onto the fabric, it will be inbetween the blue/american flag fabrics. The lady at Walmart said it was to bulk the fabric up.. I also have to sew a piece of cardboard between the fabrics for the bottom of it.

**alarosalpn** · 07-01-2008, 11:32 PM

Ilovesewing- I might want to wash it, I'm not sure. I'll wash it just in case. Good thing I told them to give me 1.5 yards instead of the 1 yard the pattern calls for,huh?

So, I wash,dry,cut,iron interface to just outside or both out and inside?,then put it together?
I'll go start the wash now.

I'll sew tomorrow.

This is like not having batteries for my toy I got on Christmas morning. LOL

**SewCrafty** · 07-02-2008, 01:58 AM

Originally Posted by alarosalpn

Ilovesewing- I might want to wash it, I'm not sure. I'll wash it just in case. Good thing I told them to give me 1.5 yards instead of the 1 yard the pattern calls for,huh?

So, I wash,dry,cut,iron interface to just outside or both out and inside?,then put it together?
I'll go start the wash now.

I'll sew tomorrow.

This is like not having batteries for my toy I got on Christmas morning. LOL

Yes alarosalpn, wash and dry both your fabrics, outer fabric and lining, (if you have a dryer, that will maximize the shrinkage), not the interfacing. Press both of those to get the wrinkles out. You can interface both the outer fabric and lining, if you got enough, you would need double what the pattern said, if not, just interface the wrong side of the outer fabric.

Another tip is instead of using cardboard for the bottom, how about a piece of plastic canvas? This way it is still washable and will give your bag stability. This is what plastic canvas looks like about 59¢ a sheet. http://www.anniesattic.com/supplies/...tml?cat_id=337 It is sold everywhere, Wally's, JoAnn's, Michael's etc...

**alarosalpn** · 07-02-2008, 08:41 AM

Sewcrafty-"Another tip is instead of using cardboard for the bottom, how about a piece of plastic canvas? This way it is still washable and will give your bag stability. This is what plastic canvas looks like about 59¢ a sheet. http://www.anniesattic.com/supplies/...tml?cat_id=337 It is sold everywhere, Wally's, JoAnn's, Michael's etc..."

Thank you! That's a great idea! I didn't even think about the cardboard not being washable! I'll stop at Joanns today.

**nuisance26** · 07-02-2008, 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by SewCrafty

Another tip is instead of using cardboard for the bottom, how about a piece of plastic canvas? This way it is still washable and will give your bag stability. This is what plastic canvas looks like about 59¢ a sheet.

~I completely forgot about plastic canvas, thanks for that tip! I recently needed some washable stabilizer and I didn't have any milk jugs or detergent bottles I could cut up.~

**VanVivCam** · 07-02-2008, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by alarosalpn

I'll sew tomorrow.

This is like not having batteries for my toy I got on Christmas morning. LOL

Sorry, but I couldn't help but LOL at this. I totally know what you mean, and it is such a big disappointment when you want to start a project and realize that you don't have everything together. I am sew happy that the ladies were able to help you.

Have fun on your first project.

**alarosalpn** · 07-02-2008, 05:56 PM

OK! I think I'm ready now. I washed and dryer dried the fabric last night. I went to Joanns today and got some plastic canvas, a45mm rotary cutter.
I went to WM and got a tracing wheel, fraycheck liquid,sewing guage, and washout pencils (white, red and light blue in a package)...
Can someone tell me what the tracing wheel and rotary wheel are for exactly. I don't want to do it wrong.
I'm going to start ironing now.
I have a question, of course, first...
I don't see an "allowance" on the pattern.. Do I have to cut it bigger or is it already the size I need and any hems are included by Simplicity?
Also, I want to try to salvage the pattern so I can use it again ( I have a feeling this one won't come out to well).
Thanks for all your help. I'm sorry for all the questions.
Oh, and where/when do I apply the fraycheck or do I not need it with this project?

**Missy** · 07-02-2008, 07:24 PM

http://www.sewingweb.com/Projects/RotaryCutting/ how to use a rotary cutting wheel

http://sewing.about.com/library/sewn...arking0404.htm scroll down about 3/4 of the page for how to use a tracing wheel

I wouldn't bother with the fray check, but if you use it, run a thin thin thin line of it along the cut edge of your fabric that you are using for your bag. Practice on scraps first. let it dry well before you use the fabric. otherwise it'll gum up your sewing machine.

It usually includes a 1/4 inch allowance unless otherwise noted.

**SewCrafty** · 07-03-2008, 10:06 PM

Read your pattern instructions or look on the pattern pieces, they should have the seam allowances written somewhere. With Simplicity, I'm going to say 5/8" and they are included already.

Don't worry about reusing the pattern pieces, just be gentle with them (they are tissue paper) and you can reuse them a long time. Ask me, I still have patterns from the 70's!