Why use pressing spray for your pret-a-porter?

We’re making a pretty, practical portfolio enabling all kinds of crafty handiwork on the road. Both whimsical and stylish, you can embellish and fill it with whatever your talents and interests dictate. Mine will be filled with English Paper Piecing (EPP) supplies and possibly, small embroidery pieces. Let’s get the cutting and quilting underway.

Cut
ultra firm, two-sided fusible interfacing       13″ wide x 23″ long
muslin                                                                14″ wide x 23″ long
lining fabric                                                       14″ wide x 23″ long
main fabric                                                        14″ wide x 23″ long
batting (4 pieces)                                              15″ wide x 25″ long
for Inside pocket                                               6″ wide x 10″ long

The most accurate cut has to be the ultra-firm interfacing. Ensure this as straight and true on all sides as possible.

For the outside of the portfolio, fuse muslin to one side of the interfacing, and batting to the other. On the batting side, it’s a good idea to also press the linen fabric. This won’t fuse the linen to the interfacing, but it will create a smooth quilting surface while protecting the batting underneath. When the fusing is complete, spray the batting side with 505 spray and fix temporary fabric adhesive and smooth the linen to the batting.

This quilt sandwich has a center that is slightly smaller than the muslin and the batting. There should be a border of at least one inch all the way around the interfacing.

Repeat the fusing with the lining fabric, and spray baste the lining fabric to the batting.

Set your machine up for quilting with the walking foot.

Start in the middle of the outside body of the portfolio and quilt vertical lines, ½ʺ apart, using contrasting thread, if desired. Sew the entire length of the fabric.

I find that starting in the center of the work, and then alternating left and right of the center line as I quilt keeps the tension even overall and reduces the amount of pulling and stretching. Most of that is already eliminated by using the walking foot, but every little bit helps.

When the outside is quilted, set it aside, and repeat the quilting process for the lining side.

When both are quilted, give each a good press with steam and a pressing spray called Flatter. Not only does this product help create a smooth fabric, it also smells amazing! I tried Yuzu spray. It has a light, but lasting citrus fragrance.

Trim the fabrics so that they form a 1″ border around the interfaced base.

Create neatly pressed corners by bringing the corner tight to the interfacing and finger press (see photo). Take your time to make this as neat as possible. Press with lots of steam and use Clever Clips to preserve the crease.

Do this for all 8 corners. Then, press the long sides to the wrong side of the lining and the main linen piece. Top stitch ¼ʺ from the outside edge. Press.

Fold the outside in half and press. Use large clips to preserve the crease. Repeat with the lining piece.

That’s all for today. Meet up with me tomorrow when we get to the good stuff: embellishing the front of our Pret-a-Porter Portfolio.