I was asked for the pattern or source for a pattern for the heart shaped bowl, but I don't really have one. I've been making wrapped baskets and bowls since the early 80's.
I began by wrapping a 50 foot hank of clothesline cord (purchased at Walmart) with leftover selvedge edges that were torn from my purchased yardage, after washing. Mine are about 3/4 inch wide or less, and you can use fabric strips as well. I pin where the strips overlapped (when joining a new strip). You can wrap as you go, but I usually wrap when watching TV. If you want a planned bowl, you wrap as you go, so you can change the colour to form a design. I like the random, scrappy look!
The trick with these is to make sure that the free end of the wrap is on the right-hand side when sewing, so that the bowl forms to the left as it grows.
I used a multiple stitch zig-zag at the widest width, but a regular zig-zag is also fine. I began with about 4 inches, then folded it back. I also bent it like a "V" when I began to stitch. The first few rounds are difficult, and you have to make sure that you take your time stitching around the tight corners.
When I figured the bottom was big enough, I began tilting the bowl with my left hand, as I continued to stitch the cord, and it magically shapes the bowl. When I get near the end, I trim the cord on a slight angle, and then wrap passed the end. After I get the final round sewn, I continue to sew to enclose the top edge of the final round. If your finish isn't too neat, cover it with a button, charm, yo-yo!
I know that there are a couple of new books on these type of projects, called "Its a Wrap" I think. Give it a try, and have fun!
A few days without needle and thread, and I go into withdrawal. I sat and wrapped some selvedge edges around a hank of clothesline cord while vegging in front of the TV, too tired to do anything else. Today, I managed to squeeze in a few minutes at the sewing machine to make a coiled basket as part of a house-warming gift to DS2 and his girlfriend when they move in together, sometime in July.
These are selvedge edges from fabric that I bought in Nov/Dec last year, to complete some projects. I always remove the selvedge after washing my fabric and then press it lightly before folding for storage. I crochet "rag rugs" with the strips, and use them for these baskets. I figure that I paid as much for the selvedge as I did for the rest of the fabric, so why not make use of it all!
I have no idea how much fabric it takes to make one of these, so I guess it doesn't count against my stash.......
Once I get organized for the Community Quilts workshop on Saturday, I'll have to get my pinwheel Stack n Whack quilt out to finish the quilting. I may also do a bit of piecing on another project as well, since I have room to set up both machines and can switch between them when I want. Now I just have to get some audio books from the library to listen to while I work!
DH and I attended the NQA show in Columbus OH Thursday. As always, we visit all the quilts first, and there were lots of them! They had a special exhibit of tree quilts that were varied and wonderful. Best in Show was awarded to the same quilt that won at Paducah - apparently she turned down the $20,000 prize so she could keep the quilt! We had a quick snack then visited the vendors. My tote bag was getting heavy by the end of our visit, and the last booth we visited was one selling packages containing 5 x 1 yard pieces of coordinating fabric. I spotted a sale basket, and scored a 5 yd bundle for $10, and an odd assortment of leftover yardage that held 10 yds for $30. I wish I had visited earlier when there was more variety, but then I would have had to carry it around. Between the show and various quilt shops that we have visited this week, I have quite a selection of fabric to add to the stash!
By this time we headed out of town to visit the Longaberger Homestead in Frazeysburg OH (about an hour east). The site is beautiful, and we enjoyed the factory tour. I don't collect Longaberer, but have a good friend who does, so I sent her a couple of pictures.
We'll be heading home early tomorrow morning. I'm looking forward to some home cooking again! My fingers are itching to get some quilting done as well!
DH gave me a kit for this table runner for Christmas. It is from Connecting Threads, and is the Desert Rose Runner, using their Aqua Terra fabric line. The applique is done by hand, and then machine quilted. The colours are more accurate in the basket picture - still trying to adjust the colours correctly!
I used the selvage edges from the fabric, as well as a few others in the same colours to make a matching basket. It will make a nice addition to my fall table.
