Made in CHINA vs. Handmade

I have been neglecting my blog.  I wish I wouldn't do that! Sew easy when life and a business get active. Something has to give; something has to be put on hold.  Since I’m not willing to put my family life, friends, or my business on hold, my blog suffers.  I HAVE been very busy creating and if you are a SEWHAPPYDESIGNS or ICANQUILT Facebook friend, you have seen my business progress and viewed many of my creations.  If you are a FB fan, thank you very much, if not, come on over and join the gal running with scissors in the cave, known as “SEW” or “SewHappy”. 

I have been wanting to blog on this particular subject for some time.  I’m a HUGE fan of HANDMADE and repurposed items and saving the environment whenever humanly possible. If you are a fan of handmade or create handmade items you may share my sentiment about this post. Click on the pictures for a larger view, if you wish.

The best selling item in my Etsy SewHappyDesigns Shop is my handmade microwavable baked potato bags.  I received a handmade one from a good friend and the first time I used it I was really excited about the results of my potatoes.  Nice and fluffy - and done in a fraction of time than the oven.  I often decide at the last minute that I am going to have baked potatoes, and can throw them in my bag, hit the potato button on my microwave and viola, in a short few minutes I have the rest of dinner complete!  I researched making the bags and had some trial and error in cutting the right size fabric, purchase of the right muslin for the interior, and the sewing and construction process.  I have always taken great care in picking my all cotton fabrics (and prewashing them), cotton batting and cotton thread.  The last year of making my bags I have used cotton batting purposely created for the microwave for additional safety measures.  I feel I have perfected the bag to the best of my ability and I love making my microwaveable potato bags.  Looking for new fabrics is the most fun.  Of course, I’ll take any excuse to purchase fabric! I like picking themed fabrics…mostly kitchen themed for my bags.

I’m really not sure how long microwave potato bags have been around that are Made In China, but I heard they were out there, most likely before handmade ones.  I, however, had not seen one in person until Irecently came across one at my local JoAnn’s shop .  I purchased one to compare to my own handmade item.  Here is my comparison report:

The first thing I notice right off the bat is that it is constructed of 100% polyester except for a mere 15% cotton in the lining.  WTH?  Why would you put something polyester in the microwave? The next thing I notice is the thick white print on the front of the bag with the WARNINGS and INSTRUCTIONS.  Yup, it’s been heat stamped on - once you put that baby in the washing machine it’s gonna flake off faster than you can say Made In China (by somebody who probably gets paid 10 cents an hour to make  it).  I set it down and see that the sewing is off, it’s crooked and disproportioned.
It just.feels.cheap.



It costs me $10.99 and even though I had a discount coupon, was not allowed to use it on this item. Now let’s compare this sweat shop manufactured item to something handmade by someone who strives to pay attention to detail and sew something of quality. 
First, notice that the SewHappy bag is LARGER.  Let’s take a look at the sewing and detail on the SewHappy bag.  Can you tell the care taken with the sewing?  How about the fabric and presentation of the bag? I also have the directions and warnings on my bag, but they are not printed ON the bag.  With SewHappy, you also have a choice of many designs and the offer to make one CUSTOM just for you.  I have made custom bags and have had great feedback on the purchase of them.  My bags are currently $10.75 plus a minimal shipping charge in my Etsy shop.  I have been told they are worth every penny I charge, even though you can find handmade microwave potato bags cheaper on the internet.  The inside seams of my bag are all finished with an overedge stitch to prevent raveling when washed and it also gives another reinforcement stitching of the seams.  If you would like to see the favorable comments, I’ll link you up here.  I have sold as many as 10 to ONE customer.  That’s right.  Sweet Leslie in NJ kept coming back for another, then a couple more, then a few more.  Friends and family were so pleased with her potato bag gift!  I’m so grateful for those that have left feedback on them.  If you have purchased one from me, thank you sew much for choosing SewHappyDesigns.  I am working on other items for the SewHappy Etsy shop.  I make and sell many items other than the bags.  I create items for local shops as well.  I have a line of patterns you will find on my IcanQuilt website.  You may purchase the patterns in my SewHappyDesigns Etsy shop.  Many items you can view right here on this blog.  Search under My Creations to find most of them.  

Which is more appealing to you?

Keep calm and sew stuff
Cindy 
AKA SewHappy 

Some googles on the subject:

KOMO news tested the Potato Express made in China with a ho-hum result:

http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/Potato-Express-Does-it-work-234528881.html

Burning characteristics of synthetic fabrics:

http://www.tensiontech.com/tools_guides/burning_characteristics.html

PS In case you are wondering, the bag is going to be returned to the JoAnns store.  I can buy a yard of lovely premium fabric with that $!

WIP Wednesday

My Adirondack "Loon on the Lake" quilt is FINISHED  - no longer a WIP! Happy, Happy, Happy Dance!!  Good Golly Miss Molly, it sure was hanging around forever a long time.  There are way too many hours invested in it to sell and I'm pretty sure I won't be attempting another one.  Sew, I'm going to put it in the man cave....McStevie's office.  We did a makeover on that room 2 years ago and I haven't put anything on the walls because I wanted it to be decorated in a bit of rustic, manly look with ever so slight female touches.  Stay tuned as progress of the room will be revealed, hopefully before the fall is over.  Still a couple of pieces I am looking for to complete the look.

 ~You should be able to click on any of the pics to enlarge~ This is McKenna Ryan's pattern from Pineneedles.com   I took this class from Sandi Verbridge a few years ago with my sister, Nancy.

A close up of the quilting...I enjoyed quilting the trees! Not so much the borders.

 A couple of weeks ago I made my IcanQuilt Reversible Curvy Table runner pattern in pretty fall colors.  This past weekend I made a matching candle mat from my IcanQuilt Reversible Candle mat pattern.  Nice to get those finished too!

Table runner with matching candlemat...fall colors.  This is going to be a gift.

Close up of candle mat quilting.  Sorry, forgot to take pic of the reverse fabric this time.

WIP Wednesday

 

 Been jumping all over the place with projects lately.  Sometimes that's how I roll!  It has been so hot in the north country that the basement cave offers relief, even though air conditioners are all ablaze on the first floor!  I have thrown up some recent WIP projects on a design wall so that they can stare at me until I make the move to finish them.



I made progress on my Adirondack Loon on the Lake quilt this weekend.  The quilting is going slow, but I'm really moving toward the end now!  Hoping to have it all done by next weekend.  Wish me luck!  That WIP has been around a few years!

Blessings,
SewHappy Cindy

WIP Wednesday

Several microwavable potato bags waiting patiently to be sewn for the SewHappy shop.  The three in front are not far from completion. They will have to wait....just a bit more.  Had to bump them down the list.  It's temporary.  Oy, I need a mini-me!

WIP (Works in Progress) Wednesday (Yes it's only Tuesday, I'm an overachiever) :)

I have been trying to do a little subtle redecorating in between other sewing projects.  Giving the living room some spots of color. I found some paisleys and some blue that I fell in love with from a collection by Legacy Studios     from Joann fabrics.  This fabric is rich and washed up great so I knew I was gonna love it!  I showed you a "10 minute table runner" and the long custom table runner I  made with the fabric back in these posts.

This weekend I finished a mat for my favorite table.  The table was made for me by the husband of my friend Karen who used to attend my classes.  Jim is an expert woodworker and basically built a home from the ground up and most everything in it.  Karen and Jim are awesome friends, but now live at the other end of the moon map - in Florida.  I think of them whenever I look at my table and I look at it many times a day because it's the first thing you see when you walk in the living room.  I really hope we can visit them sometime in the not-so-distant future. 

Back to the mat.....I chose to do the mat in only two colors, but reversed it to the larger print so I would have a choice with decorating. It's made from my Reversible Candle Mat pattern.  I've made literally hundreds of them and never get tired of making them. (Sorry about the background mess, it's messy in the cave these days.)   :)

 

I have one more table to cover.  (Then I can get the Christmas mat off that table...lol.) I'll be using the same fabric theme but need to pick an easy pattern.  I am covering a space that is approximately 20x20.  I think I'll try some half and quarter square triangles on this one!

PS -I also used those fabrics to do a little project at my Quilt Peeps meeting last week.  We were making a folded star potholder.  Mine was a bit bigger and heavier, but I really like it. I'm anxious to finish it. I only have to put on the back, do a little quilting to hold, and the binding.  Just need to carve out a little time.  (Yup yet ANOTHER WIP not yet finished. :(   I used a pattern I found here at Bronze Wombat. Thank you Jennifer in Austrailia! 

WIP (Work in Progress) Wednesday

It's been awhile since a WIP post.  Life got crazy for a bit.  I had a little health hiccup and other "stop you in your tracks" moments. Now back to life in the cave, sewing up a storm.  Fun things.  Something for ME! Can you believe it! Just a little lap size cuddle quilt!

Sew....we got a new leather chair for the living room.  It has no arms and I was sure it was probably too big for the spot, but after having it hang around a day or so -  I. love. it!
Only problem I had was it looked a little naked.  It has this cute back and, well, it needed something.  I made a soft and cuddly rag quilt for it this past weekend.  It was FUN to make, went really fast (9.5 inch squares), is super soft (Robert Kaufman flannel- to die for) and I'm pretty sure the chair said "you complete me" when I laid it over the back! 
I'm on to making a matching pillow, it's half way done- the newest WIP!

PS If you have never made a flannel rag quilt, you really need to do a google and get yourself going on one.  The first one I ever made was a twin size and I put batting in between the layers,as the pattern said.  It was the last one I have made that way...too stiff.  I love just the two layers...much softer and much faster to make.  I've made several.  Baby rag quilts make up really fast if you need one in a hurry - and are quite adorable.

WIP (Work in Progress) Wednesday

 (Click on the pic for closeup)
 I've been working on these quilt blocks for awhile. I've loved this "Road to California" quilt pattern for a long time and eventually it will be a queen size quilt.  Thought I would put it up on my wall to see how it's going.  Now that I have it up and edited the pic, I know I'm going to change it a bit.  I just love this colorway, so I have a vision and will get there with it eventually. 

 And, I made MORE progress on my Loon on the Lake wall hanging this week.  I've quilted the trees, the main water and the clouds.  Still more to quilt. 
        (click on the pic for closeup)

 I took time out to try the 10-minute table runner on youtube.  It was fun, fun!

WIP (Work in Progress) Wednesday

So the good news is... I have made progress with my custom table runner.  I got it "sandwiched" and turned and have the first row of quilting (3/8 inch in from the seam) with some pretty variegated thread. I still have the rest of the quilting to work out in the body.  Click on the pic for a close up.

The bad news is...I put it on the entertainment center for fit and discovered it is not going to cover the entire entertainment center top like I planned.  When I added the two extra rows on the end to accommodate the points and then cut on the 90 degree angle, I created an opening also on the table because of those side points.  (See HERE on my pic for the corner.) So my goal of something pretty that COVERS the entire table fell through.  Color me NOT sewhappy!  The table is cherry wood. Eventually those corners will leave a mark because the wood will change with light. And THAT was the point of covering it completely with something pretty.

Lucky for me I still have enough of those fabrics for a do-over.  This means I WILL have a nice long table runner for my dining room table, which isn't a bad thing...just NOT my intention. Oy, I'm disappointed.  I've made worse calculations, I guess.  I'm going to get this quilted and take a little break with these fabrics before the do over.  I'll show you a pic next week of progress....done...hopefully.  :)

WIP (Work in Progress) Wednesday~~

Progress made last week....all but the last two rows of squares on each end.

Progress made Monday, all end squares sewn.

More progress from Monday...the ends shaped and cut, now ready to "sandwich" and quilt.  It will now sit until the weekend, but I'll be back to show progress next Wednesday.  I'm hoping I will have it finished!

 

This is a table runner quilt for our new entertainment center, my latest WIP.    I have done the math and decided on this fast fly- by- the- seat- of-my- pants custom pattern.  I will be making one with the same fabrics for new coffee table and end table.
Hope it all comes together like I have imagined.

IcanQuilt it Curvy

Been having some fun with my latest pattern, IcanQuilt it Curvy Reversible Tablerunner.   This is a nice fast, easy beginner pattern.  You can quilt, add some applique or rick-rack, or just top-stitch for your quilting.  I have several ideas for more tablerunners coming.  It's a great pattern for a large print.  Here are a few that I have made.  Which one do you like best? (click on the pics to enlarge for detail)  Some of these will end up in my consignment shop over at Painfull Acres.

Pretty summer pattern, quilted with flower pattern.

Reverse rose color w/close-up of quilting.

Dark rose fabric with lighter rose pattern...quilted with rick-rack.

Reverses to green.

Pretty red hearts fabric, quilted with rick-rack.

Reverse in red leaves.

Lovely summer print, quilted all over with pink variegated thread.

Reverses to a pretty rose fabric.

A pretty pink paisley quilted with white rick rack.

I love the reverse of this with all the great inspiration!

Love, love this large fall print, this one is quilted with two rows of top-stitching.

A close up of the material.

Reverses to Christmas fabric, cute little gingerbread.

Did I say I love this fabric?  The large flowers are quilted, following the flower pattern on this one.

Close-up of the quilting.

Reverses to a pretty batik.

Note that I often use variegated thread on my projects.  I like the way it blends and adds a little somethin-somethin.

I love teachers!

I love teachers!

Many of my family members (daughter, daughter-in-law, nieces, and more) are teachers.

I love to sew things just for teachers and am always on the lookout for “teacher fabrics”.  Here are some of the fabrics I currently have in my stock.  Click on the picture for a larger view.

Below are a few of the items I have made for teachers thus far.  I have other ideas for projects and would love any input you may have, especially if you are a teacher, so don’t hesitate to give me a comment on your idea.  Also, I love to do custom orders, so if there is something I can make for you, please use my contact form!

 

towel/potholder sets

(plastic bag holder)

You’ll find these in my Sewhappydesigns artfire shop. Link here.

Baby Boom

Making items for my shops sometimes gets put on the back burner when there are babies to sew for! I wanted to share some of the baby items I have quilted recently. Most were gifts, one was a special order for a good friend.

A new little baby boy will receive this small quilt of blues and matching set of burp cloths soon. This one was not made with a pattern, just a "let's roll with it" attitude. I knew I wanted to embellish it with the large ric-rac. I've been looking for a project to put the ric-rac in since I bought it.
This set of burp cloths were for Ceanna, an online friend and sweet new mommy, personalized for her little bundle of joy, Olivia.
This quilt was made for my niece Christy, (and Ya-Ya member) for her 2yr old daughter Kara, who is a sweet little "monkey". I gave her and her brother the little book, Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed and they loved it. I saw the pink monkey fabric for this quilt and new I needed to make it for her. Check out this cute video on Five Little Monkeys!

This quilt and set of burp cloths was made for niece Sara. Her little Ellie was born on Christmas Day! Sara is a fan of lady bugs, so this pink flannel ladybug fabric was ideal for her shower gift.
The quilt is a "rag" quilt, this is the back with the rag part showing. Below that is a picture of the front. This type of quilt is fun and easy. Each block has a flannel front and back, quilt the block and then put all the blocks together and snip one side. Give it a wash or two and the snips fray and the quilt gets really soft. Thus, the "rag" reference.


I was commissioned by good friends - Jenny and Carol, Jenny's Mom to create a quilt with pictures and quotes for a special niece/granddaughter of theirs. Jenny and Carol picked the fabric and I took it from there. It turned out lovely and they were very pleased.

The back had such pretty family words on the fabric. Hope you can read them - Love, Celebrate, Hope etc.
I SEW love to make gifts for babies!!