Special-Use Fabrics for Simple Sewing

Sew Simple with Rectangles and Squares as seen on Sewing With Nancy Zieman

Special-Use Fabrics for Simple Sewing

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Many special-use fabrics are available on the market and make it possible to create functional items easily. Learning when to incorporate each end-use fabric will allow you to sew more efficiently and effectively. For example, try clear vinyl and quilted heat-resistant fabric. These unique fabrics are the stars of the Sewing With Nancy program, Sew Simple with Rectangles & Squares—the third episode. Watch online by clicking here.

Sew Simple with Rectangles and Squares as seen on Sewing With Nancy Zieman

The third episode focuses on a few of the 12 complete projects featured in Sew Simple with Rectangles & Squares.

Sew Simple with Rectangles and Squares, a new 3-part Sewing With Nancy series

Here’s a preview of the projects you’ll see demonstrated during the show.

Jewelry Caddies

I began this episode with a Jewelry Caddy duo, which fits all of the standards set for this show. The caddies use two sizes of fabric rectangles, specialty fabric (clear vinyl with a ribbon accent trim), and all the sewing is done with straight stitches. Best of all, the projects are attractive and very practical!

Sew Simple with Rectangles & Squares as seen on Sewing With Nancy Zieman

Closet Organizer

How about adding extra storage to your home without assembling knock-down furniture or remodeling a closet? Create portable, compact closet organizers with double-sided quilted fabric, clear vinyl, and ribbon trim. It’s another straight-stitched project that can hang in full sight or hidden behind a closet door.

Sew Simple with Rectangles and Squares as seen on Sewing With Nancy Zieman

Portable Ironing Blanket

Use the same dimensions and many of the same fabrics as the jewelry caddies to make a portable mini-ironing blanket. Use it next to your sewing machine for quick presses. Or, create a larger ironing blanket, any size of your choice, with the same transportability. It could easily be used as an ironing board substitute or for travel. Either way, you can custom-make these projects easily with my sew simple techniques.

Sew Simple with Rectangles and Squares as seen on Sewing With Nancy Zieman

Watch Sew Simple With Rectangles & Squares (Part OnePart Two, and Part Three) oSewing With Nancy online.

To watch Sewing With Nancy on your iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone, download the app.

Sew Simple with Rectangles and Squares, a new 3-part Sewing With Nancy series

Fabrics by Riley Blake Designs

A special thank you to Riley Blake Designs for providing the fabrics for this program. Look for fabrics by Riley Blake Designs at your favorite retailer.

riley blake designs

Nancy Zieman's Giveaway

What’s your favorite project from this series? A random winner will receive a copy of Sew Simple with Rectangles & Squares.

Bye for now,

Nancy Zieman The Blog

Content in this feed is © copyright 2016 by Nancy Zieman and may not be republished without written permission. You’re welcome to forward the email to a friend or colleague but it’s not okay to add the RSS feed automatically as content on a blog or other website.
Make sure you are subscribed to my enews mailing list so you won’t miss a thing. Sign up here. Join us on Facebook, plus a host of other social media channels. Connect With Nancy today!
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

70 Comments

  • JaneH
    February 25, 2016

    I love the portable ironing blanket. It is a great tool next to your work surface.

  • Rosalinda Call
    February 25, 2016

    I really like all (3) project. But my favorite is the closet organizer.

  • Nancy
    February 25, 2016

    I’m preparing for a sewing retreat with friends and would love to take along the portable ironing blanket. Great idea!

  • Diana G
    February 25, 2016

    Thanks for the chance to win !

    Its a toss up between the jewelry roll and the portable ironing blanket. As both would be great for on the go !

    Again, thanks !

  • Diane C
    February 25, 2016

    The portable
    ironing sheet

  • Cindy b
    February 25, 2016

    I love the jewelry caddies

  • Catherine Stiele
    February 25, 2016

    I like the closet organizer, would be handy to have!

  • KayZee
    February 25, 2016

    I like the jewelry caddy. I think it’d be a great gift for those who travel.

  • Mary Smith
    February 25, 2016

    Who wouldn’t love to have the ironing mat? What a perfect way to just sit and sew with the mat on one side of your machine and a small rotary mat on the other side. I might just be able to sew and finish my project in one sitting!

  • Linda E in AZ
    February 25, 2016

    that closet organizer would be great since my closets are a mess!
    thanks!

  • Shaela
    February 25, 2016

    The jewelry roll is my favourite-it’s traveling with me now!

  • Susan Snyder
    February 25, 2016

    I love the jewelry organizer. It will be a great item to take when I travel and a wonderful gift to make for friends.

  • Peg G
    February 25, 2016

    The ironing blanket would be the most useful for me.

  • Cyndi
    February 25, 2016

    I think the jewelry case would be fun. You could make one for each trip or special event!! They would also make a great girlfriend gift or a great way to give someone a necklace.
    Thank you for the give away!

  • Florence D
    February 25, 2016

    I think the portable ironing blanket would be great to make. I could use it when doing paper piecing right at my machine.

  • Donna Fecteau
    February 25, 2016

    I think that the first thing I will make will be the portable ironing mat. I belong to a quilting group and it would be nice to have my own ironing spot. however, I also love the jewelry caddy and plan to make one for myself.

  • Beverly Smith
    February 25, 2016

    One of my favorite projects from the Sew Simple Rectangles and Squares would be the portable ironing blanket. Great to take to classes and also to have next to my sewing/embroidery machine. One of your other shows was about “In the Hoop” flip & sew blocks, placing an ironing pad under the hoop to iron back the sewn pieces, removing to continue embroidery, then repeating the process. I’m currently doing some paper-piecing with the sew, flip, press
    method which would be another great use for the portable ironing pad.

  • Joyce Jensen
    February 25, 2016

    Portable ironing blanket – a neat idea to take to classes.

  • ROBIN, TX
    February 25, 2016

    The portable ironing blanket, for sure!

  • Leslie
    February 25, 2016

    The portable ironing blanket is by far the best item to make. I can take it anywhere… classes, workshops, even for travel for small touchups.

  • Dee-Ann Gniewek
    February 25, 2016

    I would have to start with the Ironing Blanket and then the Jewelry Roll Up.

  • Barb Johnson
    February 25, 2016

    I will be making the closet organizer – will get all my flip-flops organized and in one handy spot

  • Connie L.
    February 25, 2016

    Love all of your ideas…would probably sew up all of the organizers.

  • Ruth Lutz
    February 25, 2016

    Nancy,
    I love the portable ironing blanket! What a great thing to throw into a suitcase or use next to your sewing machine? Thanks!

  • Barb Johnson
    February 25, 2016

    I will be making the closet organizer – get all my flip-flops organized in one spot

  • Joyce
    February 25, 2016

    I think the closet organizer is my favorite. I would make a few for gifts, also.

  • Kim H
    February 25, 2016

    I LOVE the Jewelry organizer! Not only that, I need it!!!

  • Liz O.
    February 25, 2016

    First of all thank you for all the video tutorials and the fantastic ideas! I love all of them but right now I am going to try the closet organizer, it is a fantastic idea for keeping quilting or sewing project materials tgether for on the go, I only would replace the top oppening with a zippered pocket to keep notions stored. I also need to make the pattern weights and the gadget pillos/stand… I will be very busy sewing with squares and rectangles, thank you again for the oportunity to lear and win!
    Have a wonderful day!

  • Linda
    February 25, 2016

    Wow, I really need the closet organizer for my shoes. I have just the place to hang it!

  • Ann S
    February 25, 2016

    The Closet organizer is quite versatile I can see storing my stabilizers in it and hanging on the wall. That’s my favorite

  • Mary B
    February 25, 2016

    I agree with so many others, I could find so many ways to use the ironing blanket. Love it !!

  • Karen L.
    February 25, 2016

    The portable ironing blanket would be handy for any quilter/sewer espcially if they like to go to classes or retreats. For those of us who like to be organized, the closet organizer would be super.

  • craftygramma
    February 25, 2016

    I plan to make the jewelry caddy but use it for EPP handwork; I am currently making hexagons and don’t love the carrier I bought for them!
    thanks and well wishes

  • Cheryl
    February 25, 2016

    The portable ironing blanket would make a great gift for someone going off to college or anyone living in a place with limited space.

  • Pat
    February 25, 2016

    The ironing blanket is my favorite. I is just the thing to have next to the sewing machine for easy press as you sew.

  • Caroline
    February 25, 2016

    Yep, made that portable ironing mat,, and everyone loves it!

  • Peggy
    February 25, 2016

    I really like the portable ironing blanket. This would be of great value to use on my work station.

  • Starla
    February 25, 2016

    Boy, do I need to make some closet organizers! The see-through vinyl would be very helpful.

  • SaralynN
    February 25, 2016

    The wallpocket is wonderful. It could replace a basket in the kitchen used to keep papers that go to the office.

  • Faye
    February 25, 2016

    All of these are great and would make wonderful gifts, too!
    The ironing blanket is the one I would like to try first.

  • Rhonda D in KY
    February 25, 2016

    The ironing blanket would be a perfect project for me. I have my sewing machine in one room and the rest of my quilting supplies and cutting table in another room. Thanks for all the inspiration you provide and the chance to win one of your books.

  • Bev Hancox
    February 25, 2016

    my favorite project from the series is the tote bags. I’ve made some for spring and summer and they’re also handy at the grocery store for “bringing home the bacon”.

  • Dawn
    February 25, 2016

    I like the portable ironing surface for taking a quilting class. On the other hand, I could use the shoe organizer also.

  • Mom C
    February 25, 2016

    I like the weekender bag, but the closet organizer looks very interesting. Always looking for a better ironing mat too. Thanks.

  • Jan N.
    February 25, 2016

    The closet organizer is my favorite. I would use it to store my rolled up interfacing.

  • Sharon Kirry
    February 25, 2016

    I really like the ironing mat as its so portable.

  • Martha Hood
    February 25, 2016

    Good afternoon- think the first one I would make out of today’s list is the closet organizer for my yarn or material- instead of shoes- thanks for the ideas

  • Deanna
    February 25, 2016

    The closet organizer is my favorite. You could use it for so many things.

  • Gail Beam
    February 25, 2016

    So hard to choose which project to pick. I love the closet organizer because it could be used to hold so many different things. When I travel to my daughter’s house I have to take a portable sewing bag with me that includes everything you need to sew with, as she always has things for me to repair and her sewing equipment consists of one needle, scissors that do not cut, and those teeny tiny spools of thread. This would be perfect for a travel sewing roll up bag. Love this new video and tutorial!

  • Karen
    February 25, 2016

    I do admire that portable ironing blanket. Right now I am using a folded up towel but the heat resistant fabric has some distinct advantages. i am away from my home and at my elderly parents a lot and a full sized ironing board is a real trip hazard. Thanks for the great idea for a simple solution!

  • Lorij
    February 25, 2016

    The organizer and ironing blanket. The organizer is very needed for right now. I have a little space and a lot of sewing things.

  • Bonnye
    February 25, 2016

    The ironing blanket would be perfect for me. I have to walk in the other room to use my iron. This portable ironing blanket would allow me more time to sew.

  • Marty
    February 25, 2016

    Jewelry Caddied will be perfect gifts for the young career women on my list!

  • Berenice
    February 25, 2016

    I need the ironing mat!

  • Carol Netzler
    February 25, 2016

    My favorite is the ironing mat. Perfect for travel and quick pressing.

  • Nanette Edmonds
    February 25, 2016

    I love the jewelry caddy!!! Use at home or on the go….

  • Ola Norman
    February 25, 2016

    I like the ironing blanket.

  • Dawn Weideman
    February 25, 2016

    Love the ironing blanket! Much better than the one I purchased.

  • Renea
    February 25, 2016

    i really like the closet organizer. thanks for the great giveaway.

  • Linda Rupe
    February 25, 2016

    I love the ironing blanket. Ironing is so important, I think everyone should have one of these next to their machines.

  • Kay Statom
    February 25, 2016

    I love the ironing blanket. It saves time and space when I am not making a large project and it is easy to store

  • Maureen Higgins
    February 26, 2016

    I love the cosmetic bags. So easy but so pretty. My friends and I are all turning 60 this year. I’ve decided to make a bag for each of us to celebrate our big year. Thanks for the inspiration!

  • Margie V.
    February 26, 2016

    I like the closet organizer as it could also be useful to store rolls of stabilizers.

  • Tina
    February 26, 2016

    I t,hint the ironing mat is the most useful project for me. Great ideas. Thanks so much!

  • Karen
    February 26, 2016

    I like the totes and bags best, but really all of them are great.

  • Patricia
    February 26, 2016

    I like the Portable Ironing Blanket best.

  • E. Ann
    February 27, 2016

    Love the ironing blanket. Would like to make one small and a larger one to fit my space in sewing room. Thanks!!

  • Lillian K
    February 29, 2016

    I like the portable ironing blanket that I can take on trips and to quilt retreats and sew days.

  • Lillian K
    February 29, 2016

    I like the portable ironing blanket that I can take on trips or to sewing classes

  • Miz Marsha in TN
    March 5, 2016

    I love the jewelry organizer. It would be such a nice gift, especially if you monogramed it.

Post a Comment