Sew Inspirational

Fabric Bowls & Baskets

The amazing BERNINA Double Cord Feet #59 and #60

The main purpose for the Double Cord Foot was to give you the ability to attach two heavy cords onto a project, both at the same time. This would be very suitable when creating bag handles and for many applications in home furnishings. Because the Double Cord Foot  comes in two sizes it allows you to use a variety of different widths of cord, giving you more flexibility and creativity. Bernina has also made the feet available for older models of Bernina.

Double Cord Foot #59: for cords with a diameter of 4.0 - 6.0 mm
Double Cord Foot #60: for cords with a diameter of 7.0 - 8.0 mm

As an additional option, the Double Cord Feet can also be used for piping using either one or two cords or even two different types together eg. covered and pre purchased.  Textile coil pots and baskets are also a great way of using the foot. The foot allows you to sew the two pieces of wrapped cord together without having to worry about holding them into position. It allows you to focus on creating the shape of your bowl; basket or anything else you are making as the two tunnels on the underneath side of the foot keeps the cords together and feeds the cords so that they stay together. This takes the worry out of knowing if the cords are attached when you are finished.

Attaching two pieces of cord at the same time using either a monofilament thread or a matching sewing thread. A variety of different stitches can be used depending on how much you want to see the stitching. Most people use an open zig zag stitch as well as feather type stitches, this will depend on what your machine you have.

• Step 1- Covering cord with bias cut fabric to make covered piping.
• Step 2 - Inserting the piping into a seam. This is were you could add another piece of piping that could either be covered  the same way either  using the same colour or a contrast to add more interest.

Below are the instructions to create a basic fabric bowl but for more creative inspirations on how to make more wonderful projects using the double cord foot, take a look at the book “It’s a Wrap”, it comes highly recommended.

How to Sew a Fabric Bowl

Depending on the size and shape of your bowl you choose to make will depend on how much fabric and cord you will require. To help you calculate the amount you of fabric and cord needed : a small bowl takes about 6mtrs of bias cut fabric approx 4cm (11/2”) wide and 4mtrs of #8 cotton piping cord.

Cut your bias cut fabric into strips approx 1mtr long, if you have them any longer they will only get all twisted up when you start wrapping your cord. You have to join more often by doing this but it is a lot easier in the long run.

Note: You can also cut your fabric on the straight grain if you would prefer a more uneven look.

Set up your sewing machine with a sharp needle such as a size #80 Jeans needles or a #80 Microtex needle. A sharp needle ensures that you can sew through all the thicknesses without a problem. Thread machine with same thread top and bottom, using a variegated thread is also very effective. Attach your normal straight stitch foot #1 and select a straight stitch to get the coil started then change over to the Cording Foot #59 or #60 depending on the size of the cord and select either a zig zag stitch or a feather stitch. The zig zag stitch will make the cord more rigid were as using a feather type stitch that will stitch on either side of the cord as well as in between the two allows the cord to be very flexible.

The basic idea of making a bowl is to create a coil that gets bigger and bigger as you wrap the cord with fabric. It takes a little co-ordination but gets easier as the coil gets bigger.

To start, cut one end of a fabric strip on a 45 degree angle. Fold the fabric down over the end of the cord, encasing the top of the cord. Start wrapping the fabric around the top of the cord, pulling gently to stretch the fabric. This helps mould the fabric and keep it firm as you wrap around to cord. Wrap enough cord to make a small coil. You may need to hold it together with a few pins to help you get started.

Place the small coil under the foot and sew across the coil from one side to the other, do this several times to hold together.

Change foot and stitch as indicated earlier. Start sewing at the point were the cord is unattached. Use your needle down function on your machine to hold the cord in place and start wrapping the cord for approx 10cm then sew. Continue doing this until you have the size of the base you require for your bowl.

   

To create the sides, hold the bowl on a slight angle and continue the same way as you start sewing up the sides of the bowl. If you pull a little on the cord as you sew it will help create a steeper side.