Project 5: Circles.

Now that things are slowing down in our household, I’m trying to catch up on my Home Ec projects.  This next project is actually a bunting project, as pictured below from the Home Ec class:

However, I personally didn’t like the idea of round bunting.  The main skill that was meant to be learned from this project was fabric circles, so I went ahead and made 1 circle and framed it in an embroidery hoop to hang on the wall as a simple piece of ethnic art.  I’m hoping to use the skill of making fabric circles for a future quilt or blanket project.

I made my fabric circle with some vegetable dyed fabric from India.  I then sewed the circle onto a piece of sheery blue cotton voile.  My past Home Ec projects can be found here (pin cushion, cloth napkins, drawstring gift pouch, reusable grocery bag).

hung with family photos

Project 4: Reusable Grocery Bag.

Another Home Ec project completed!  After recently making a tote bag for Heather, I knew I wanted one for myself for those Tuesday trips to the library with my girl, or a trip to Roots Market — this reusable grocery bag is the perfect size for children’s books, or for fresh fruit and veggies if you prefer to use your own shopping bag at the grocery store.  The outer fabric is a sturdy vintage cotton canvas I picked up at a thrift store a couple years ago.  The inner lining is some good ol’ linen — the project didn’t call for an inner lining, but I thought I would go ahead and add one to sturdy the bag and for visual appeal.  I’ve been incorporating linen into more of my work as of late because I love it so much.

I really do love the vintage/urban blend of the bag.  Although I do have a hang-up when it comes to handmade handles, I dunno, just never liked handmade cloth handles.  I think for a future tote bag project I may want to add leather handles instead — just my own preference.  I’m also really pleased with how the inside of the bag turned out — I love the X joints on the handles, and the seamless look of the linen against the vintage fabric.  My past Home Ec projects can be found here (pin cushion, cloth napkins, drawstring gift pouch).

a few of our favorite books — ABC’s by Charlie Hopper, The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle, and two 100 year old versions of Little Women and Riley Child-Rhymes from my dear hub for our 3 year anniversary last year

Project 3: Drawstring Gift Pouch.

For my next Home Ec project I made a medium sized drawstring gift pouch. Instead of wrapping a gift with paper, I created this pretty pouch that acts as a bonus gift and reusable bag!  The main part of the pouch is made from a reproduction french provincial cotton and the upper band is made from linen.  For the drawstring I used twill tape which more or less feels like ribbon.  My past Home Ec projects can be found here (pin cushion, cloth napkins).

front

back

inside

filled with cloth diapers

I used twill tape for the drawstring

freshly cut dogwood blossoms from our backyard woods