Monday, November 17, 2008

Off to the fete


It's that time of the year again..... the primary school fete!

My nephews' school is looking for donations of homewares this year, so it was the perfect opportunity to donate some handmade goodies. I don't have a photographer in the house anymore, so the pool fence had been relegated back to modelling duty.


I whipped up a floral apron, with red spotty bias trim.....

....and finally, I have actually managed to make a not quite so wonky potholder.

I have to say that the potholder is a team effort. I received the fabulous Janome Walking Foot from Sarah and Liesl sent me a huge piece of Insul-bright to make it properly heat proof (you still need to add a layer of padding in the middle as well).

Insul-Bright: Ideal for Pot Holders, Table Pads, Oven MitsConsists of hollow Polyester fibers needlepunched through Mylar. The hollow fibers resist conductive heat while the Mylar resists radiant heat.

The walking foot is amazing.... no more slipping and sliding of the layers, and it made it much easier to machine sew the binding too.

I can see more non-wonky pot holders in the future.


28 comments:

Melanie Gray Augustin said...

The pot holder and apron are gorgeous - I love the colours and the polka-dotted trim.

Mmm... walking foot... I have so much to learn about sewing machines...

Sherrin said...

sounds like a walking foot could be a good investment...

your potholder and apron look great too. :o)

Michelle said...

I LOVE my walking foot. I couldn't live without it. Yesterday my sewing session consisted solely of 4 hours with the walking foot, quilting through layers of sunnyboys and boxes for soxes.

I really like what you have made! I wondered what to use for potholders - and now I know!

Drewzel said...

This is all good! I want a walking foot too, as well as stuff to make potholders. hmmm, xmas gifts.

"if i only had chocolate"... I'd give you mine if you were here at work with me! xx

Cass said...

Cam love your apron and potholder and yes a walking foot is great. I need to get one for my new machine

Cathy {tinniegirl} said...

Oh, I love the potholder. I think I need a sewing session with Curlypops and her fabulous walking foot.

Jenny said...

Lovely fabrics and lovely potholder-great job as usual.

Lexi:: PottyMouthMama said...

They are gorgeous - love them. Someone lucky will snaffle those up. That pot holder looks perfect. Go Curlypops.

Selina said...

Lucky school fete getting those goodies!

Ulla said...

Lovely apron and matching pot holder! I couldn't do without a walking foot! My Pfaff has a built-in walking foot which can be used with most normal feet like the zipper foot (I love that!) but not the button-hole foot or of course not the embroidery and mending things. It is quite small, just fills a small gap in the back of the sewing foot. My new big Husqvarna has a big removable walking foot (the usual type) and I have learnt to use it as well.

Michelle said...

great colours and ideal for fete day...
don't you just LOVE a good fete...

Sarah said...

Yay you have used it and it works. Once you have one you will never turn back!

Gosh you are so good doing such lovely things for the fair!

Rachael said...

They look great. I am going to use a walking foot for the very first time this Xmas(when I am home at mum's). How exciting! My husband doesn't share the joy of this...

Beth said...

That pot holder is gorgeous. After all this talk of walking foots (feet?) I think I must get one. They sound so useful!! Yes, insulbrite is hard to get a hold of. I just did a big order of it from Autmn Threads recently (http://www.autumnthreads.com.au/) as I'm making a few pot holders for Christmas presents this year.

Amy Badskirt said...

I love your potholder. I've got a walking foot, but I haven't mastered it as well as you have!! it looks so professional!!

muralimanohar said...

The potholder rocks. I can't make even bias binding to save my life. :p

Stacey said...

I can honestly say the pot holder you made for me is not in the least bit wonky!

A Spoonful Of Sugar said...

Love the fete goodies - the colours are so vibrant! I recently purchased some insul bright but am yet to use it. Now I have seen your pot holder, I am inspired to give it a go!

JuliaB said...

Nice fabric! I am debating whether or not to get myself a walking foot . Certainly looks here as if it's worth it... x

Taccolina said...

I'm in the 'wouldn't be without mine' camp on the walking foot question. I used to have a lot of trouble getting multiple layers of fabric to lie flat without bubbling and rippling, but it seems to stop 99% of that, and off we go...

Nathalanes Place said...

Everything is just so beautiful.

Ellieboo said...

I love that apron - so colourful - I would never want to get it dirty if it were mine. Aaah the school fete - you have brought back fond memories of my school fetes which involved a serious amount of maypole dancing!!

Anonymous said...

They are sure to be best sellers!!
Thanks again from the boys xxx

Kirsty said...

You are such a good auntie Cam. Everything looks great & the walking foot results speak for themselves.

Michelle said...

Couldn't agree more - the walking foot is aaammmaazing! The pot holder and apron are divine - great vibrant colours! I must get some of the Insul Bright, it would be available at Spotlight, do you think?

Cindy said...

I so have to get myself a walking foot. More amazing fabric goodness, I love your aprons, the pool fence has never looked prettier.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for posting such a lovely blogs, I totally loved your designs and I am going to share this fabulous piece of information with all my friends and I will also use this walking foot design

Anonymous said...

I love your designs a lot and I just want to know where you get these innovative ideas from and I liked the bright use of colours which you have used.