Changes, changes, always making changes around here.  I posted a mini studio tour a while ago, and naturally, I started changing my studio around the next day.  I decided that I need to be able to watch TV in the living room while I sew- I’ve never loved factory-style production and 9 seasons of X-Files makes sewing go so much faster!  So I moved my table around only to realize that I was also staring at a blank wall.  I made things pretty, but then of course they get messy again.  I meant to make it super duper photogenic, but yesterday the light was good and I thought, what the hey, I’ll take some pictures.  So here’s my new wall and some extra stuff.

I’ve opted to leave in the nitty gritties.  My studio is a sun room that used to be a porch- so if anyone has any idea what those mystery holes might be,  please share!

The nice thing is that from the ground all I can see is the cute stuff and the mystery holes are mostly hidden from view.  I love STUFF so much, but over time I’ve learned how dangerous it is to hang onto it (thank you, Grandma, thank you, Hoarders), so I try and keep my collections to a minimum now.  Most of my clutter is fabric (see photo below), and even that I try to control.

Here’s my notions and fabric wall in its natural state- part mess, part tidy.   I’m still working on unifying my bias tape stock so that I can take pictures of it for you.  My studio is now home only to creativity.  I keep my stock and packaging materials in the office,   which is now located on the other side of the living room in what used to be the guest room.  It needs a major re-do.  Puke-tan walls and atrocious 1990′s jewel tone moon and stars wallpaper trim must be overcome before I can photograph any of it.

Well, until next time!

As a sewer and maker of beautiful bias tape I have probably cut, sewn, and ironed over ten thousand yards of bias tape in my professional career, and whenever I sell in person the question that comes up time and again is- What is bias tape?  Even my sewer pals are a  bit intimidated and confused by bias tape, what the heck it is, how you make it, what it’s really called, and what it does.  And it’s no wonder because there are so many different terms and ways to make binding, and so very many unfortunate misdirections along the way!  So I’d like to show you what’s what and what does what!

What is bias tape? What’s the difference between bias and straight binding?
Binding is a folded fabric trim which is sewn over the raw edge of fabric.  Bias tape is a kind of binding made from strips of fabric that are cut on the bias (diagonal). There are many names for bias tape, and bummer-drag, they are kinda confusing. 

What I refer to as bias tape is also called bias binding by some.  Cross grain refers to  binding which has been made from fabric cut horizontally, or widthwise.  Straight grain binding is made from fabric cut vertically, or lengthwise.  Because of potential for confusion, I’m just going to stick with Vertical, Horizontal, and Bias for the purposes of this post. Whichever name you use, each binding has its own qualities which you’ll learn to recognize as you use them.

As you can see with the striped fabric, the way you cut the fabric makes a big difference in the final product. The difference is not as obvious when working with solid or all-over pattern fabrics, but with the stripes you can really see how different the cuts are and you get a good idea of how the grain of the fabric affects the binding when sewn.

The bindings are almost exactly alike when sewn onto a straight edge, but very different when sewn onto curves (The blue lines show you the vertical grain of the fabric).  The bias tape hugs the curves beautifully, while the horizontal  binding has less give, and the vertical binding has the least give.

If you’re making bindings for yourself, vertical cut, and horizontal cut bindings are the simplest to make, and work great for projects that only require straight edges.  They make nice, stiff edges for quilts, but don’t do so well on curves.  Bias tape is the most time consuming binding to make and it requires the most fabric of the three, but it’s my very favorite to work with.  Bias tape covers straight edges perfectly, hugs curves beautifully, and is actually the strongest of the three, because it provides the most thread coverage at the edge.   The triple-action duty makes bias tape my favorite of all bindings, and is the reason why it’s the only kind I carry in my shop!

When shopping for bindings pay attention to the direction of the threads in the fabric.  It might sound crazy, but if you look closely you can see the threads running diagonally on true bias tape, while the thread on straight bindings runs horizontally and vertically.  Can you see the diagonal threads in the bias tape below?

To find beautiful pre-made bias tape visit my Etsy Notions Shop or my Flagship Store.  You can also find Polly Danger bias tape in select craft and fabric shops.

I’ve made a lot of bias tape in my day. Thousands of yards. Maybe tens of thousands of yards. And most of it has been straight forward quilt weight cotton, but dear friends, I’m venturing into the world of TEXTURE! I was shopping the other day- not even for fabric, I swear- when I stumbled upon two fabrics with a print too pretty to ignore- so I took them home with me and made them into some of the prettiest tape I’ve ever made. One little lovely is made of a super soft flannel, and the other is a light voile with swiss dots! They are now posted in the shop.

I just can’t resist the urge to use alliteration!  Anyhow, I took my little break, and honestly, it was so great.  No Twitter, no parental phone calls, minimal random web browsing- if only my brain could always run so smoothly!  But through it all, the thing I missed the most was the blog.  I kept reaching for my camera- I mean so many things have happened!  Seeds sprouting, biscuits being made, Petina getting a haircut- but I digress.  I wanted to show you my latest, greatest cutie!

The Spring Bunting Kit comes with everything you need to make the simplest, easiest bunting ever!  For my bias tape buddies who are afraid to bias- this is the project for you!  I’m telling you, I almost didn’t post these because I kind of want to make them all for me!  Where can you purchase it?

Well, I’m having a wee SALE over at Ye Old Etsy Notions Shop to celebrate my 400th sale (20% off of everything)!  So I’d say that’s the best place to purchase it until Friday!    Purchases over $15 get a special handmade gift.

On that note, I return to my calm brain, biscuit making, and morning puppy snorgles.  It’s so good to be back!

Oh to have an extra four hours a day . . .  or four less hours of sleep!  Last week I hit a time wall- not like a Dr. Who time wall, but more of a  “Wow, I have no time to work” time wall.  I realized that I need to spend my days sewing and sprinkle in some blogging, rather than the reverse, which is what it’s seemed like I’ve been doing for the past month.

Long story short- I really want to spend more time making stuff!  So even though I feel like I was sort of on a roll, I’m going to take it easy on the blogging.  This doesn’t mean my blog is going away, and it doesn’t mean I don’t still love you!  I’ll still be rocking the tutorials, but I’m working on presenting them a bit differently . . . I think I see video cameras in my future . . .

So in short, keep your peepers on the blog and know that I’m happily working on projects and goodies for you lovely readers to enjoy!  MWAH!

We don’t often get guest submissions around here, but the very sweet Betsy from Bunny in the Blossoms has offered up this adorable felt flower tutorial.  I’ve seen these cuties around, and always thought they looked so tricky to make, but Betsy’s here to show us just how simple they really are!  Thanks, Betsy!

School’s still crazy busy for me, but who isn’t busy? These are my little felt flowers. Simple, simple let me tell you.  Not a lot of time needed! The world is opened for creativity once you make them!

Here’s what you need:

• 1 sheet of felt
• hot glue gun
• Scissors
• pearl beads ( optional)
• fun green fabric ( optional)

Step 1. Cut felt into a long strip about 1/8 to 1/4 of any inch thick.

Step 2. Holding the center, wrap it into a spiral.  Put little dabs of glue in between strips to make it stay together while wrapping (very handy if you have help at this point of the show).  If you twist the felt while you are wrapping, it makes for cool texture in the “petals”.

Step 3. To reinforce the bottom cut out a small circle of felt and glue it to the bottom of the flower. To make it pretty I glued pearl beads to the middle. Cutting out leaf shapes out of a fun green fabric can also add something to your little beauty.

Now it’s time to be creative! I made barrettes. What are you going to make?

If you’d like to see more sweet tutorials like this one, you can find Betsy’s work at the Bunny in the Blossoms Blog!