Monday, November 26, 2012

Snippets ~ UFO to GO!

Today's "Snippet" from the Sewing Room: 
A Portable Design Wall I call my "UFO-to-GO"! 

Featuring Laminate Fabric and Sew Together notions from Riley Blake Designs 

(UFO = Un-Finished Object... or Un-Fulfilled Opportunity?) 
Use this project to lay out and store any work in progress. 
Handy to wrap up and take to class or on the go! 
Makes a great gift for quilting friends! 

Supplies:

  • 1/2 yard Riley Blake Designs' Laminate 
  • 1/2 yard Pellon 987F fusible fleece 
  • 1/4 yard binding fabric - CUT 3 @ 2" strips x width of fabric 
  • 1 yard 1/2" ribbon 
  • 2 cute 1" buttons
  • 2 small covered elastic hair bands

Read some great tips for sewing with laminate fabric HERE

Instructions:

CUT Laminate fabric into a 15" x 30" rectangle. CUT Pellon fusible fleece about 15-1/2" x 30-1/2"

Step 1) PRESS.
Place laminate fabric wrong side up on ironing board.  Place fleece, fusible side down over fabric.  Set the iron to Wool/Steam and press to adhere fleece to fabric. With the iron at "Wool/Steam" setting, press down firmly for about 10 seconds.   Repeat, overlapping iron until the entire area is fused.  Use a mylar pressing sheet or piece of parchment pan liner to prevent the adhesive from sticking to your ironing board.



Using steam really seems to do the trick.  You may also use a damp press cloth.  Trim edges.



Step 2) BINDING
Attach a binding as you would for any quilt.  Join three 2" strips together using diagonal seams to make a binding. Fold binding in half lengthwise and press. With fleece side up, align raw edges of binding along the fleece edge and stitch, using 1/4" seam allowance.  If you need a binding refresher, see my TUTORIAL.  You can also watch a VIDEO tutorial of my favorite machine-binding technique.



Miter the corners:




Finish final seam for a continuous binding. (see TUTORIAL)


Step 3) NOTIONS
After stitching the binding to the fleece side, flip the UFO-to-GO over, laminate side up.  Fold your ribbon approximately in half, printed side together, with the top piece about 6 inches longer than the other.   Center the ribbon along a 15" edge of the UFO-to-GO, aligning the fold with the raw edges of the fleece.  Baste in place.
To position the elastic loops, Measure about 8-1/2" from corners on the long sides and mark with a pin.  Make a 1" loop and baste into place as pictured.  (Sorry, I don't have a "before" picture, this shows placement with a finished binding.)



Step 4) FINISHING
Bring the folded edge of the binding around to the laminated side and machine-stitch to finish.  I used an edge-stitch, but a fancy stitch would work well also.




Stitch 1" Buttons about 2-1/2" from the corners on the same end as the ribbon (see placement diagram above). Use a zig-zag stitch on your sewing machine with a stitch length of 0.  You may need to hand-crank the machine to set the width of the stitch to fit the holes.  Stitch through all layers several times to secure the button.  

 

Now your UFO-to-GO! is ready to go to work!  Lay out your quilt blocks or supplies to get ready to sew, or roll up your UFO-to-GO and store your project for a later time. The laminate won't stick to the fabric, but the fabric certainly sticks to the fleece!


 

 Roll it up!



 

 Secure ends by bringing elastic bands over the buttons. Wrap the ribbons around and tie a cute bow.


Make it more compact by folding the UFO in half and trading sides with the elastics. 


Catch a glimpse of how this handy little unit can be made as a DELUXE version (holds ten or more large quilt blocks!) on the recent Riley Blake Designs' video HERE. Subscribe to keep posted, and remember to check here each Monday until Christmas for more fun SNIPPETS from/for the sewing room!


Happy Sewing!

11 comments:

  1. You just made that look really easy, and I'm thinking it isn't THAT easy. It sure is beautiful!!

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  2. Great looking and a great gift idea too!
    Thanks!

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  3. That is a fabulous idea. I know who I am going to make one for and I know she will love it. Thanks for the tutorial.

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  4. I was waiting for the tutorial on the Riley Blake wesbite so thanks for sharing.

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  5. Great idea! Thanks for sharing!

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  6. 100% awesome! Thanks SO much!

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  7. I really like this...and please let us know when your pillow is up ok...looking forward to seeing it

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    1. by the way I really like this project....fabulous idea

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  8. Can you use regular fabric instead of the laminate, or will that make the blocks stick on both sides?

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    1. Good question, Mara!

      I think this project would work with fabric too, and your pieces would stick to the fleece bettern than the fabric, but may stick to the fabric too. The point of the laminate is that it won't stick at all so your layout remains the same no matter how many times you roll it out! Can't hurt to make a UFOtoGO with fabric, though - let me know how it goes for you!

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  9. Hello Deonne I finally made my version of your UFO to GO! but for my WIP's, check it out.
    http://www.grecomara.blogspot.gr/

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So happy you stopped by for a visit! Thank you!