Search for New Supplier

I’ve been on a search for another supplier, partly because of tariffs. In the process I ran across another woven interfacing! Although there are many out there, finding one that could compete with wovenFuse is difficult to do! But seems the Lord leads me to even better than I’m expecting or looking for!

My first challenge was to find a comparable woven product to the main competitor. I needed to find something that was same “quality “

But less expensive for my group members so they could join the Sew-Alongs in my previous craft group. But what I found was wider, 45” compared to competitors 20”, greater fusibility, and gave more body as end result! That was an awesome find!

Better than the Best

This time around I was looking for a product comparable to my product, wovenFuse! I was doubtful I’d be able to find such a product since everyone keeps telling me there’s nothing better than wovenFuse! But the search was on for a “comparable “ product. And lo and behold…a better product??? I ordered enough for my testers to put it to the test and all reports came back saying “buy it!” “Can’t wait to start using it”! “It’s better than wovenFuse!”

Whaaat?!? Better than the best?? So I started the process of buying the new product, thinking I would switch new with old completely. But there was also a price factor I had to consider.

But…my estimation of how long my current stock would last before I received new stock was off. It takes a longer time to ship by sea but that’s what I did to try to keep costs close to what I was already charging. And y’all know I try to do my best with costs. But because it helped cost wise, but still cost me more, I will need to charge slightly more for new.

And another factor I had to consider was that original wovenFuse is loved by many! I’ve had some issues in this last year but I’ve finally got my old supplier using higher quality inspections to make sure we get best quality going forward. So with that in mind, I may sell both!

Shipping Delay

Bottom line is my calculations were off as far as how much stock I’d need in this transition, and shipping orders of wovenFuse or wovenFuse2 from my store may be delayed for 2 weeks or so! Not sure I can handle that but I’ll find out since both shipments due about then, and I’ve only got 2 pks of wovenFuse left at this time! Eeek! Decovil still available to ship immediately!

Sooo….hang with me till we get my new wovenFuse2 launched and I’m able to sell both options! Also, watch for my testers’ reviews to be posted!

Thank you all for all of your support!

Blessings,

Barb

I cut an approximate amount of fabric. I’ve seen videos of waterproofing with odicoat on the fabric already cut out of pattern they are making but I wasn’t sure if the process would shrink the fabric so I chose to cut the pattern out after the process is complete.

Next, press your fabric well. If there are creases in your fabric, they’ll remain permanently! You’ll glue them in!  So press all creases out first. Also, watch for any small stray threads. I was intermittently skiving leather by hand in between waterproofing (since you have to wait an hour between applications). Note to self…not a good idea to skive ANYWHERE near waterproofing!  I was constantly picking tiny green flecks from the glued fabric!  

Place your fabric on something to protect your work surface. I chose to use aluminum foil.  Fabric may stick to surface median so lift after each application to make sure its not stuck. Aluminum foil was a good option. 

For my first one, I followed Andrie Designs video https://youtu.be/vvHan-zuRzw and used a paint brush with bristles that are only about 1/2” wide. The video i watched said that is recommended size or could get out of hand. I’m not sure on that. Seems a wider brush would make it easier but you might be applying more than necessary and that isn’t good for best results. Object is to just thin-coat project. (Which i discovered after my second attempt)

Apply odicoat in one direction… I chose horizontal for first coat. Holding one side edge, brush continuously spreading the odicoat thinly. I learned from this step and I’ll elaborate soon.  

Wait an hour.

Ok, time to apply second coat. It shouldn’t take as much according to Andrie Designs. And you’re going to apply this coat in vertical direction.  This is to make sure all fibers get coated.  Again, let dry and hour.

Ok last coat. Paint it diagonally this last coating. Then allow to dry for 24 hrs.  

In the meantime I learned a lot from my own experience. I had painted a second piece of fabric. And feeling confident i knew what I was doing now, I painted it horizontally, waited an hour and went to do second coat. Applied second coat…waited another hour. This time I noticed I had applied too much and had left a few bubbled spots!  You can’t remove without making a mess of the protection odicoat provides!  Plus I noticed that instead of enhancing color of this fabric, it lightened color!  

Well needless to say, this experimental piece was trashed! Lol!  Lesson learned…use minimal amounts of odicoat… particularly on second and third coats!  This picture really doesn’t show true color of fabric. It actually is bright like the “after” pic. But point is, too much will lighten/dull your fabric.

Last step

After drying for 24 hours, you’ll need to set the finish by pressing it.  Set your iron on silk. You don’t want to damage the odicoat seal. (Again, I forgot this temp setting step and started out with a higher temp!  Might be why I don’t think my finish is quite the same as Andrie Designs!). Cover your fabric with a pressing cloth or parchment paper, and press in circular-like motion for about 30 seconds. Flip your fabric and repeat this process…which I forgot to do! Lol!    

End result:  Well after watching Andrie Designs video again, not sure my finish is as smooth and shiny as hers!  But..I went ahead and started my classic zip around wallet!  

Deciding on zipper color can be challenging ? 

Ready for the “false stitching” top stitching around the edge. First picture is more color accurate!  

Stay tuned for part 2!

I’m currently getting ready for Christi Lee to start our Sew-A-Long featuring maggy55 Classic Zip Around Wallet. These CZW were done by Marlys Fry-Sellmeyer. Aren’t they gorgeous?! I’ll take the middle one!!

Facebook Group

This SAL starts July 3 with cutting and prepping, and runs live (or follow on youTube) once a week. What I found when promoting the SALs was there were some who would ask about costs, state they couldn’t afford supplies, or I’d pick these clues up in everyday posting. We had so many on retired, fixed incomes, or disabled (me for one) which made gathering supplies difficult for them. I created a Secret Sister Team.

Not the usual exchange type of Secret Sister, but a team willing to share with those less fortunate in order that they too could participate in our sew-a-longs! I’ve always seemed to have ample sewing supplies so I was participating also. But I found, when it came to sharing my sf101, I couldn’t. It was only 20” wide so it took double the yardage of your pattern fabric. It was just too expensive to part with and I cheated. I subbed a lightweight non woven interfacing! Shame on me! At that time I didn’t realize the importance of woven interfacing! And my finances were very limited. I did feel bad about doing that, so I went on the hunt for a comparable substitute! I did a lot of searching, buying samples from lots of international companies to find a good product.

I finally came across a product I felt was close to what I wanted. I put together a test team and we went to work comparing the two. The biggest difference right off the bat was the width of my new find, which was 45”! That was a big advantage! Out of all of my testers, only one came back with a negative comment. It stopped me in my tracks, but no one else agreed. I did a lot of soul searching and continued to get more samples because I wanted the best product for my members. But I kept going back to the one we put to the test. There was a minimum amount I would be required to buy, but I decided to bite the bullet and give it a try. But because I’d have to buy so much, and with the encouragement of Vickie from So You Need Hardware, I decided to sell it!

I posted a pre-sale before it arrived, and the orders started coming in! My big error…I estimated the wrong amount that would fit in a flat rate padded envelope! I sold 10 yard packages but only 8 max would fit! So my first sales cost me (I ate the difference) quite a bit in shipping! But…being new to selling, new to business matters, I was learning as I went! I’ve always said God gave me this business. He knew my needs would change when just a few months after the birth of my company, I lost my husband. Had it not been for my little business, founded due to needs of others, would become my source of social security supplemented income, and my own need! I would not have survived on my own without it. It amazes me still the handy work of God.

I’ve had lots of hills and valleys during my 2 years of business,

but God has sustained me!

Another interfacing I had tried years before because I’d heard it was a super quality, professional finish bag-making product, was Decovil. It’s expensive, but the results pay for itself in the long run. You won’t get a more professional finish with any other products. There are times, places for other products, but on the whole, these two products give best results. And I soon was able to add that to my inventory. I only sell the 2 products because they are the products I believe are absolutely the best for quality, professional results in bag making.  See Our Store

I posted a contest to have my group name my product. Mary Jo Bertolino chose WovenFuse…and won the prize for naming! So this is how wovenFuse came to life. Little did I know when I started that my product would outshine the competitors! But that’s the reviews that have been coming back ever since inception. I thank God for my little business He gave me, for always protecting and sustaining me!

Happy sewing everyone! Ill be back with sewing tips and ideas soon. Until then, don’t forget your wovenFuse!

Follow me on instagram:  @barbsbagsgotinterfacing

And join my Facebook group:  Barb’s Bags…got Interfacing?

Order Pattern

AffiliateLink to Purchase the Swoon Celine Pattern If you choose to make a purchase with this link, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you! Shop Swoon Patterns: https://swoonpatterns.com/?ssp=453

TimeStamps for Video:

• Introduction = 0:00
• Step One – Prepping = 0:27
• Step Two – Front Zippered Pocket = 3:55
• Step Three – Front Panel = 17:53
• Step Four – Gussets = 22:36
• Step Five – Handle Connectors = 38:51
• Step Six – Finish Exterior = 45:12
• Step Seven – Main Zipper = 51:40
• Step Eight – Lining = 1:02:55
• Step Nine – Closure Straps = 1:13:57
• Step Ten – Handles = 1:33:24

See More Patterns & Tips Here

My dad made me take a public speaking class in high school because of my shyness.  I took it, wrote my speeches, handed them in, and took an incomplete for the course.  Many years later I attended college and had to get transcripts from high school. That class was still showing incomplete!  I always thought incompletes turned to an F. Well i guess technically it did cause there’s  no credit for an incomplete!

At 38 I had 4 kids, a retried husband who decided I needed to go to work since the kids were getting more expensive.  He gave me a choice of working in the mills or going to school. I chose school. Going thru the college catalog, nothing appealed to me except nursing!  Yes!  I would become a nurse!  My first clinical I was pushed into my patient’s room by my instructor!  I was scared to go in because I’d be forced to talk to him one on one!  My instructors all tried to weed me out during the whole program because they thought I wouldn’t be a good patient advocate!  But…I persevered and came out 2nd in my class, a class that started with over 30, and ended with 17 graduates!

That was an Associate Degree in Nursing. I wanted to further my education and get my BSN. But I found it was a total struggle because of the horrid treatment I received during my 2 yr program. When I said they tried to weed me out (and they told me they did at end of program) they made it so hard, so humiliating in every way they could and it made it way too difficult for me to stick with yet more college.  Another factor that kept me from pursuing further education was that a speech class was required!  And we already know how I love speaking in public! Lol!  So it would be years before I could bring myself to go back to school.

But life has a way of changing all your plans. I worked as a nurse for almost 10 yrs. then discovered a knot on the right side of my neck. I was told by Drs it was thyroid cancer and very treatable. Surgery was planned. But surgery resulted in a change of diagnosis. It was not thyroid cancer. It was metastatic squamous cell cancer with an unknown primary site. A smoker’s cancer and I’ve never smoked!  Radiation was my only option. And that knocked the life out of me.  It also did so much damage I had to have a g-tube for nutrition, and a year and half later, a trach so I could breathe. My esophagus occluded, as well as my throat was nearing occlusion.  That was 24 yrs ago. I still have a trach and g-tube. But God has been awesome to allow me 24 years I never thought I’d ever see, 7 grand kids I feared I’d never even meet!

So my nursing days were over. I started taking classes periodically, trying the waters to see if there was something i could do while having a disability. I decided to conquer my fears and I actually took a speech class!  It was different than I’d imagined. Demonstrations for one thing. I did it!  I conquered my fear!  Didn’t get me anywhere but it was such an accomplishment to finish that class …with an A no less!

So that’s the story of how much of an introvert I am. Nursing was my love. I love nurturing, caring for others. I miss it. But I’ve learned that life continues. We can face it head on…and accept our limitations, focus on what our capabilities are, or we can spend our lives focusing on what we no longer have, and lead a lifeless life!  I choose to live!  God didn’t put me on this earth to feel sorry for myself and waste my life in self pity!  He gave me a voice…maybe a voice in writing only but a voice none the less!  So here I go, blogging!  Using the “voice” I was given!

I hope you follow along as we continue with some exciting sewing thoughts and tips!  This was just an introduction to my blog, my life. I find sewing to be healing, stress relieving!

Until next time…happy sewing y’all!

I just came across this blog that not only gives bag making tips, it gives tips on tools and supplies. It is called
The Nosy Pepper. It give tips on reducing bulk when making bags, tips on using domestic machines, and even tips on inserting zippers.

Cyndi is a mother of two, who loves to make things. As many of us, she is addicted to Pinterest and Instagram, and loves to learn new things. She recently wrote a post on where to purchase interfacing, and this is where I came across her informative blog.

In her post from Monday, April 16, 2018, “Where to get the best prices on Interfacings”, Cyndi shared that the best place to purchase Wovenfuse was from our store GotInterfacing!

Wovenfuse:

Gotinterfacing.com:

This product has seemingly taken the bag making world by storm. I use it and I personally love it. It gives all the body of Shapeflex and is easier to fuse and typically costs much less. At 45″ wide you get 2.25 % more than the 20″ Shapeflex. The only downside is the shipping costs. At 7.90 for a Flat Rate, it’s not unreasonable but you don’t get the perk of free shipping that you can get from other retailers, so I will factor the shipping into the costs. A 7 yard pacakge of 45″ wide woven fuse will run you 32.40. Compared to the 20″ wide Shapeflex, that’s 2.05 a yard. If you are able to purchase in bulk, you can get 37 yards shipped for 141.15 that works out to 1.70 per yard when adjusted to the 20″ shapeflex. LOWEST PRICE 1.70 per yard.

Thank you Cyndi for your support!