Well, we all know that school is starting back! Whether you are doing online schooling at the comfort of your home, or you have a child going off to college, this is the perfect project for you!
The edges of this mouse pad can be finished using either your sewing machine or your serger. This will determine what thread you will use for edges. You can also choose to do a rectangular shape or circle mouse pad. Clarrisa will give you step-by-step instructions below!
Supplies:
· ¼ yard of cotton fabric
· 17”x width of fusible Stitch n Shape
· Thread to finish edges-
- For serger-One cone of decorative serger thread-I used wooly nylon. Two cones of
standard serger thread.
- For sewing machine-One spool of either standard sewing thread or one spool of Floriani
Embroidery thread
· Quilter’s Select Glue stick
· If using a sewing machine to finish edges-Two 11”x 11” pieces of Floriani Heat n Sta
stabilizer
· If using a sewing machine to finish edges- an applique stitching foot for your machine
· 90/14 Denim or Microtex Chrome needle
· Fray Block
Cutting:
For rectangular pad cut two pieces of Stitch n Shape 8”x 9 ½”. Cut one piece of fabric 8”x 9 ½”.
For circular pad find something to use as a template to trace a circle. I found a bowl in the kitchen or you can use a container, a lid or whatever you find that is about 8”-9” in diameter. Trace two circles onto the Stitch n Shape and cut out. Cut one piece of fabric the same size.
Prepare Stitch n Shape:
1. Using your Quilter’s Select glue stick, run a line of glue around the outside edge of one
piece of the Stitch n Shape on the non-fusible side.
2. With the fusible side down, place the other piece of Stitch n Shape on top of the glue
lining up the edges. The pieces should be non-fusible to fusible sides.
3. Fuse fabric to fusible side of Stitch n Shape piece.
If using a sewing machine to finish edges-fuse two pieces, one on top of the other, of
Floriani Heat n Sta to back of the fabric/Heat n Sta piece.Use a Teflon pressing sheet on
the ironing surface when fusing to keep fusible from sticking to ironing surface where
exposed.
Outside edge stitching:
For sewing machine,
1. Wind a bobbin and thread your machine with either the standard sewing thread or the
embroidery thread.
2. Attach Applique stitching foot to your machine and a 90/14 Denim or Microtex Chrome
needle.
3. If your machine has built in applique stitches, select a wide satin applique stitch. If your
machine does not have a built in satin stitch, select a wide zig-zag and decrease the stitch
length to about a 1. The stitches need to be close together.
4. Experiment- Using scraps of the Heat n Sta and your fabric, make a small piece of the
Heat n Sta/fabric/stabilizer “sandwich” using the above steps. Place edge of the
“sandwich” under the pressure foot with the right side of the stitch stitching off the edge.
Using a medium speed, stitch around the entire edge of your sample piece adjusting if
necessary. If your stitching is too sparse you may need to decrease your stitch length and
conversely if the stitching is too dense and not moving forward you will need to lengthen
your stitch. Keep in mind that you can’t put any pull on the “sandwich” while you’re
stitching and you may have to give it a little push to keep it moving along. When turning
corners, stitch off the end, turn and back up stitching to beginning of corner stitching over
the end of previous stitching.
5. Using settings from above experiment, stitch around the edges of either your rectangle
piece or your circle.
6. Use a drop of Fray block on all corners and ends.
For Serger,
1. Set your serger for a 3 thread wide overlock.
2. Place your decorative serger thread in the upper looper and standard serger thread in the
left needle and lower looper.
3. Adjust your stitch length to about a 1. You may have to adjust this depending on your
thread. Once again you may want to experiment.
4. Stitch around entire edge of either your circle or rectangle. Using a blunt needle, thread
tail end threads back through previous stitching.
5. Use a drop of Fray Block on all corners and ends.