I did not hit the sewing ground running when it comes to adorning my creations. I think I was intimidated for a long time — I didn’t know what to use where. I called myself liking a clean, uncomplicated style, which I now realize isn’t necessarily a conflict with trims when they’re used correctly. (“Correctly” in this case meaning nothing more than the way I like it.) There’s no question — I still come across a lot of fandangles that absolutely stump me. But now, if an embellishment appeals to me, I’ll figure out how to make it work.
Unequivocally, my favorite trim is piping. I like it in a solid color or any variety of print, with cording or without, delicate or chunky. And now that I know about that awesome way to make it from scratch, I doubt I’ll buy it pre-made again. (Well…not often.) I also adore rickrack and the perfect vintage feel it brings to its host project. In this post and in part 2, I’ll walk you through the process of using either of these on the top edge of your next tote.
For the purposes of these variations, I copied the dimensions of a small- to medium-sized gift bag, one of those paper ones you can usually get for a dollar. Not only will a homemade original be way cuter than those, but it can be used for gifting approximately a bazillion times, assuming the gift recipient is willing to pass it on. :~)
The finished dimensions are 10″ tall x 12″ wide (at top) x 5″ deep (at bottom). Continue reading →
