Sassy Tote Bag for the Sewing Expo Tour!

I'm flying to D.C. on Wednesday to the Sewing Expo for Hancock Fabrics to demonstrate The Tulip® Dye Techniques Kit™ and the Tulip® Cordless Heat Setting Tool™ with the Tulip® Glam-It-Up!™ Iron-On Crystals™ combined to create a cute and sassy quilted tote bag and a mini quilt wall hanging.

The Sewing Expo is part of a national campaign to bring inspiration, motivation, education and personal satisfaction to everyone who enjoys sewing, quilt making, embroidery, embellishment and related needle arts. I can't believe I get to be a part of this amazing event.

So, to design the sassiest little bag with dyed fabric, I first have to grab my supplies at the iLoveToCreate design studio and dye my little heart out. I decided to create 3 of the 5 techniques in the kit for my projects.

Our house in Clovis has a darling patio out back with a ceiling fan, and it's just begging to have a little dye party, so I got the fan buzzing, and laid out my kit. I grabbed 2 kits, because I needed 12 yards of fabric for the tote, the quilt, and the demo swatches.

First step? I washed and dried all the 100% cotton fabric to take out the sizing and prepare it for the dye.

My steel sink is perfect for mixing the dyes. They're great because all I have to do is put on my gloves and then fill all the bottles with water (the dye is already in there) and shake.

Scott set up a table cover with plastic trash bags. Of course he used bungies to hold it down. I call him Bungy Man. (When I'm not calling him Zip-tie Man.)

I started with the shibori technique and since my project is so humongus, I taped the 2 tubes together that come in the kits.

Then I laid it under the fabric and scrunched it up. The shibori tube holds the fabric up so that you get that cool look, and keeps it from puddling. You'll see!

Now, the dying begins. I squirted it onto the fabric along the top of the tube. Then, I moved the tube over about 8 inches and repeated until I was at the end of the fabric.

Voila! I hung it on the clothesline and replaced the trash bag with a new one for the next color.

Woohoo, the brush technique was amazing. I simply poured my dye out of the bottle and into a disposable bowl, dipped my brush from the kit into the dye, and made crisscross strokes all the way across. Loved it.

After changing the trash bag on the table again, I was ready for the spray technique. This was soooo easy and fast. I made little hills and valleys with the fabric, then used the spray top from the kit to spray away.

I don't know what the neighbors think, but it sure gave them a colorful view while the dye set for 4 hours. Last step, wash and dry the fabric separately and then make my little tote bag.

I love how the cotton dyed fabric turned out and it feels good, not crunchy. I'll be posting the project at iLoveToCreate.com with all the instructions right away.

The crystals were uber easy to apply with the heating tool, and I think they added a little sparkle-farkle to the bag. Like I said, super fun, and a little bit sassy with the crystals and in bright, happy colors.

Come see me at the Sewing Expo in Chantilly, VA! I'll be there Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the Hancock Fabrics booth. Look for the gal with the bright green tablecloth and the happy smile.... I'll show you how to dye fabrics for your quilting and sewing projects, and our cute little cordless heating tool for jazzin' up your projects.

See you there!
Pattiewack

Knitted Revamped Earrings with Crystals!

With just a few knit stitches and some added sparkle, an otherwise undesirable pair of earrings are easily made Mod. Dig into that jewelry box for a tired, ol' pair of tarnished hoops and some scrap yarn, and turn them into revamped ear baubles. No waste + New Wearables= Good Stuff. Here's how!

Materials

Old Pair of Hoop Earrings

Scraps of Sock Yarn or Sport-Weight

Two, Size US 2(2.75mm) or 3(3.25mm) Double-Pointed Knitting Needles

Tapestry Needle

Fabric Fusion (optional)

Tulip Cordless Heat Setting Tool

Iron-on Glass Crystals

Knitting Directions (Make 2)

Cast-on 3 stitches onto left-hand needle. Lay needle with stitches on top of earring, at one end of hoop.

Take the working yarn (the one connected to the ball) and bring it UNDER the hoop; knit stitches. The yarn will now be connected to the earring and the stitches will be on the right-hand needle.

Slide stitches to opposite end of needle and switch hands so the needle with the stitches and earring are in your left hand again. Bring working yarn back around behind the stitches and under the earring and knit the stitches again (this technique is known as knitting i-cord). Continue in this manner until earring is covered.

Bind off. Weave in ends. If necessary, add a dab of Liquid Fusion to the back, to keep woven-in ends in place.

Bejeweling How-to

Place a glass crystal onto desired place on the earring. Place pressure on crystal with the hot, heat setting tool for 15-20 seconds (or until secure). Repeat around; evenly spacing crystals.

Craft.Rock.Love,

Vickie

Vickie Howell is a mother, designer, author and crafty spokesperson.  Her latest book, AwareKnits: Knit & Crochet Projects for the Eco-Conscious Stitcher, hits stores in October. For more info go to:www.vickiehowell.com

Our heat tool was on The Fashion Show on Bravo!

The other day, we were flipping through channels when we came upon our very own Tulip® Cordless Heat Setting Tool™ on Bravo's The Fashion Show! They had a great challenge where the contestants were each given a backpack with contents that described a particular high school clique. They ranged from jock, to mean girl to tree hugger. They were then asked to create a graphic tee for a student presidential election based on that clique.

One contestant had "Preppies" and decided to accent his shirt using crystals (we're not %100 sure they were ours, but the Tulip® Glam-It-Up!™ Iron-On Crystals™ were created to go hand in hand with our heat setting tool)! Check out the heat tool and our crystals in the fashion aisle the next time you are there! It's a super cool that lets you apply mini crystals quickly and easily, just like James-Paul did on his pink and black design!