Helpful advice for Exclusively You crafting

THE BASICS: Exclusively You is Leisure Arts' new line of fashion elements for creating your own unique purses and accessories. There are purse handles, panels of faux leather and mock croc, embellishments, hardware, and how-to publications. Helpful advice for Exclusively You crafting THE BASICS: Exclusively You is Leisure Arts' new line of fashion elements for creating your own unique purses and accessories. There are purse handles, panels of faux leather and mock croc, embellishments, hardware, and how-to publications.

WORKING WITH FAUX LEATHER AND MOCK CROC:

CUTTING: These materials, which come in 8.5" by 11" panels, can be cut easily using ordinary household scissors, a craft knife, or a rotary cutter and ruler.

WORKING also use papercrafting punches orAND MOCK CROC: Experiment first with WITH FAUX LEATHER dies to cut special shapes. You can

scraps. CUTTING: These materials, which come in 8.5" by 11" panels, can be cut easily using ordinary Pinking shears craft knife, or a rotary cutter and ruler. household scissors, a and other decorative-edge scissors also can be used. For best continuity of the decorative edge, don't fully close the scissors; make a partial cut that ends the pattern where it is easiest toalso use cutting, then re-positionor dies to andspecial shapes. Experiment be combining You can re-start papercrafting punches scissors cut continue cutting. If you will first with layers that have decorative edging, plan ahead before cutting so the edges of the pattern will scraps. match up best. and other decorative-edge scissors also can be used. For best continuity of the Pinking shears When cutting detail areas, such as forscissors; make a flower, cut that ends the pattern where it is decorative edge, don't fully close the leaves around a partial consider whether the shapes can be cut from a single piece; then re-positionyou want a leaf on two sides of If you will youcombining easiest to re-start cutting, for example, if scissors and continue cutting. a flower, be could plan a strip of material that is theedging, plan ahead between the leaves, to simplify assembly willthe layers that have decorative width of the flower before cutting so the edges of the pattern of layers. up best. match For smooth cuts or seams, sucha pencil or chalk to mark your cutting, punching, thesewing lines When cutting detail areas, use as for leaves around a flower, consider whether or shapes can on the wrong side of piece; for example, if you want a leaf on two sides of a flower, you could plan be cut from a single the panel. a strip of material that is the width of the flower between the leaves, to simplify assembly of the layers. For smooth cuts or seams, use a pencil or chalk to mark your cutting, punching, or sewing lines on the wrong side of the panel.

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Any time you will be whipstitching an edge, it will look neater to use a hole punch or punching tool instead of piercing the material with the hand needle; if not using a punching template designed for your particular project, it is best to plan and mark the hole locations on the wrong side so your holes will be evenly spaced. Place the holes at least one-fourth inch from the edge for sturdiness. (Some handy tools include our one-fourth-inch Craft Punch and our Punch-N-Stitch system, which provides a sharp punching tool, grid template, and protective mat.) If you will be joining pieces with whipstitching, plan ahead so the holes will line up. Do not use pins to temporarily hold pieces together, as the pin marks will remain; instead use tape, paper clips, clothespins, or other clamps. Craft or fabric glue works great to adhere mock croc and faux leather pieces together.

SEWING: For even stitches on mock croc or faux leather, be sure to use a size 12 sharp needle in your sewing machine and standard sewing thread. Sew at a moderate, consistent speed. A non-stick presser foot will glide over the leather as you sew.

Backstitch at the beginning and end of each seam. When seams meet at corners, stop stitching at the seam line instead of sewing to the edge; end by backstitching or pivot with the needle down and sew in the new direction. After turning the item right side out, carefully push out corners and use your fingers to press the seams smooth. If a project calls for topstitching to hold pieces together, you can glue them together instead and mimic the topstitching with a permanent pen. Test pen on a scrap piece first.

WORKING WITH KNIT OR CROCHET DESIGNS:

There are several ways to combine the knit or crochet sections with the faux leather or mock croc sections. You can punch holes in the material and join yarn with single crochet stitches or by picking up knit stitches. You can punch holes along the long sides of a wide strip of material that you will wrap around the knit or crochet section and whipstitch in place with matching yarn. Narrow strips of leather or croc can be woven like ribbon through a mesh or eyelet row of knit or crochet. You can experiment to find other methods. When adding a cloth lining, fold the top edge under and hand-sew inside the purse using coordinating sewing thread. When planning an item that features felting, be aware that results can vary greatly between different yarns. You will need a non "super-wash" yarn with at least 50 percent wool content. We recommend that you make a gauge swatch and felt it.

FREE FOR YOU from Leisure Arts, Inc. 2007 All rights reserved. These instructions may be photocopied and shared with your friends. They may not be kitted or sold. We have made every effort to ensure that these instructions are accurate and complete. We cannot, however, be responsible for human error, typographical mistakes, or variations in individual work. These tips were compiled from various Exclusively You project books, including Embellishments & Charms (#4476); Knit Handbags (#4479); Crochet Purses (#4477); and Accessories & Purses (#4478). To see the full line of Exclusively You faux leather and other products, visit the Exclusively You Boutique at www.leisurearts.com. Page 2 of 2

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