Fabric Scrap Basket Pressing

May 12, 2009

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As an aside to my Fabric Scrap Basket tutorial, I thought I would talk about how I get my sides so crisp and square.  I press.  A lot.

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When I first finish sewing the basket together, this is what it looks like.  Very rounded from the top.  Not very “basket” like in the boxy sense.

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First I start by folding the sides in toward the center and pressing with the iron along what would be the bottom edge.  When I’m pushing the side into the center, I make sure to push it in only so much as to have the end of my sewing of the side be where the bottom edge is.  I know, sounds confusing.  Blow up the picture and see what I mean.

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Then I fold the sides to each other and press the corner seam.  Really well.  On all four corners.

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Finally, I lay it on its side and iron the sides to help with any wrinkles.  This helps to give it a nice, crisp look.  Some of it of course has to do with my using a stiff sew-in interfacing, but even with softer batting you should be able to have it sit a little more like a box with square edges, instead of round.  Cause then that wouldn’t really be a box, would it.

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Then of course you’re suppose to stuff it with all sorts of fun stuff.

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…it’s so hard to get anything done with views like this sitting in front of me while I’m drafting and typing.  Maybe it will rain tomorrow.

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Just in case it’s a day or two before I post, I have to share my son and his scrap pile.  Moments like these make three sleepless nights worth it.  My little man is on the mend and I’m looking forward to a good half-way decent nights sleep tonight.

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