Roxane Cerda - kraft-tex Style: Sew 27 Projects

Publisher: Amy Marson Creative Director: Gailen Runge Art Director: Kristy Zacharias Editors: Lynn Koolish and Joanna Burgarino Technical Editors: Debbie Rodgers and Gailen Runge Cover Designer: Kristy Zacharias Book Designer: Katie McIntosh Production Coordinator: Jenny Davis Production Editor: Joanna Burgarino Illustrator: Jenny Davis Photo Assistant: Mary Peyton Peppo Styled photography by Nissa Brehmer and instructional photography by Diane Pedersen, unless otherwise noted Published by Stash Books, an imprint of C&T Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549 krafttex is versatile, durable, and, most of all, fun to work with. Its an eco-friendly paper-based material that is a wonderful substitute for fabric, leather, or vinyl. And it is perfect for portions of projects, such as the bottoms of bags, corners, handles, straps, and the like, that will take a beating when used regularly. It also makes a great transition from fabric to hardware, as on Heather Givanss . krafttex is 100% recyclable. krafttex is 100% recyclable.

The plant used to produce krafttex is registered in the DIN EN 16001 Energy Management System, which, among other things, is an aggressive program to manage natural resources, conserve energy, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Detail of hardware on krafttex Care and Feeding krafttex can be machine washed and dried. If you are combining krafttex with fabric or trim and are planning to wash your finished piece, be sure to prewash and dry all pieces before cutting and sewing. Directly out of the package, krafttex is smooth and a little stiff, which is ideal for projects in which you want a crisp, paperlike appearance, such as on the . Detail of die-cut krafttex snowflake However, many of the designers whose projects are featured in this book said that they truly fell in love with the material after they washed it. krafttex requires no special care, making it super easy to incorporate into any project without worry. krafttex requires no special care, making it super easy to incorporate into any project without worry.

It can be ironed on any setting without burning. And several designers found that krafttex wipes clean from most spills, making place mats and table runners no-brainer projects for this material. Jen Carlton Bailly even smeared a finished piece with blackberry jam, and it still wiped clean! Machine and Hand Sewing krafttex can be sewn by hand or by machine. When sewing two or more layers together, consider using a heavy-duty needle. Designate a sewing machine needle for use with krafttex and store it pinned to a scrap of krafttex when not in use. Because krafttex perforates (similar to vinyl), it is best not to sew back and forth in one place too many times, or the material will tear.

To secure the stitching at the beginning of a seam, place the presser foot and needle about in along the seamline, then stitch backward to the edge, and then proceed to sew forward along the seamline. Start from beginning; stitch backward to edge and then forward. Machine stitching can look very decorative on krafttex. Check out Jen Carlton Baillys for some great examples of how stitching can add detail and interest to your finished piece. Detail of machine stitching Tip Experiment with perforating! Try some of the decorative stitches on your sewing machine without thread for fun, quick, and easy embellishment. When working with krafttex, dont use pins, as they will leave visible holes in your finished project and will also likely distort the shape and cause your pieces to come together unevenly.

Instead of pins, you can use quilting clips, paper clips, binder clips, basting glue, or glue dots. Hand Embroidery You can hand embroider directly onto krafttex. Use the thinnest needle that will accommodate your desired number of strands so that the needle holes will not be overly visible. krafttex is stiff enough that you dont need to use an embroidery hoop. Check out Alyssa Thomass . Cutting and Embossing You can cut krafttex with anything that cuts fabric or paper.

You dont have to have specialized leather tools or knowledge to work with it, but you can still get the look of leather. You can create with it using basic tools that most crafters/sewists have at homescissors, sewing machine, craft knife, die-cutting machine, embossing tools, punches, and more. Creasing, Scoring, and Folding Creasing, scoring, and folding can help you achieve the desired look or functionality in a finished project. Scoring before folding also ensures a more polished look to your finished piece. Folding without first scoring can result in wrinkling along the fold and uneven folds. To score, simply place a ruler along the desired fold line and run your preferred scoring tool, such as a bone folder or dull butter knife, along the edge of the ruler, applying firm and steady pressure as you go.

The krafttex will then fold easily along the line, without wrinkles or bumps. Detail of hand embroidery Tip krafttex is a paper product, and, like all paper products, it tends to dull blades. Its best to designate a pair of scissors or a rotary cutter to use only on paper products and another to use strictly for fabric. Adding Color and Texture Distressing There are many ways to distress krafttex to add texture and a worn, weathered lookyou can wash it, crumple it, burn the edges, and sand the surface with sandpaper. Other Decorative Options You can also try the following: Print on it with an inkjet printer. Paint it with acrylic paints.

Dye it with COLORHUE or Procion MX dyes. Color it with shoe polish. Wax it with paste wax. Ink, draw, and stamp on it. Making the Projects in This Book Unless otherwise stated, yardage for krafttex assumes a roll width of 1819. If the designer has not indicated otherwise, the project can be either hand sewn or machine sewn on a standard machine.

All projects assume you have a basic understanding of sewing and have handy a needle, thread, scissors, and basic sewing supplies. That said, have fun! Be creative! Use the projects in the book as a starting point for your own creative adventures. krafttex will add a whole new range of options for your crafting and sewing projects. Vegetable Basket Place Mats Finished place mat: 18 13 Can you ever have too many place mats? Especially ones that are almost indestructible? Woven from strips of krafttex, with just a touch of embroidery, these place mats certainly fit the bill. Artist:Alyssa Thomas