This is for Sew Mama Sew’s favorite sewing tip list. I do a lot of clothing sewing so I usually prewash every piece of fabric I buy. I hate washing it and losing a few inches worth of fabric to shredding on the ends. Especially the higher-end quilting cottons; they seem to shred the worst. What I do now is serge both raw edges when I get the fabric home and voila, no more shredding. Then I can pull the fabric from the dryer and fold it up neatly without trimming all the little thread balls off the edges. Much easier. Without a serger, a zig-zag stitch or overedge stitch would also work.

I’m in the middle of making up my own version of this bag. Usually I go on a rant about how most Vera Bradley stuff is so old lady looking and so stinkin’ expensive and I have no idea why it is so popular, especially with dancers. But I got a flyer in the mail with the Cha Cha bag on it and thought it was actually kind of cute. But not $58 worth of cute. That and the bag itself is pretty small. So I set to making it myself. I found some cute fabric at Joann, drew up the dimensions and started sewing. It’s about halfway done. I’ve got all the ruffles attached and the thing is heavy. Not so good. But, if I can figure out a good way to interface the outer layer it might work out. I also want to put in an interior zipper pocket and a cell phone pocket. Size-wise, it’s going to be about the same size as the dance bags I’ve been making. I just need to find some faux-leather straps and I think the look will be complete. I definitely know why I buy patterns instead of drafting my own. I’m not much for knowing how things go together. But, everything is a learning experience. I do know that now that I’ve sort of figured out my ruffler, I love it. There is no way I’d do all those ruffles by hand.

I made a dance bag for a friend’s daughter like the one I made for Allison. The next one I make, I will have to come up with a better way to get the pockets to go around the corners better. Maybe a pleat on the bottom of each one. I borrowed a friend’s embroidery machine to do the name and since she is looking to sell it, I might even buy it from her. Not that I have anywhere near the room for another machine but it would be nice to have.