An Exotic Sewing Adventure with Color Catchers

Have you seen StudioE’s new Color Catchers collection in your local quilt shop yet? A free quilt pattern using this collection is available here, but this plush, two-sided fabric can inspire beautiful garments too!

Our guest blogger today is Marilyn League, a creative seamstress and art quilter from Memphis, TN. Marilyn has extensive experience in tailoring, garment sewing, pattern making, fitting and alterations that includes mens- and womenswear, bridal attire and even costumes for the royal court of the acclaimed Carnival Memphis.She seeks out unique construction techniques and has a library of books and reference materials to prove it. Marilyn has served on the Board of Tennessee Craft-Southwest, is a member of the Uncommon Threads quilt guild and member and Past President of the Memphis Sewing Guild. Living by her philosophy that every day should be a learning experience, she shares a sewing adventure on the StudioE blog with a tutorial for creating a ruana with Color Catchers.

An Exotic Sewing Adventure with Color Catchers                                                       Guest blog post by Marilyn League

When I saw the Color Catchers yarn-dyed flannel collection from StudioE Fabrics, I knew I had to make something fabulous!! But it had to be simple… to show off the rich colors and imbedded softness of the yarn-dyed weave. One of the best garments I’ve ever seen for its simplicity and elegance is the ruana—an ancient wrap from South America, worn by natives in the Andes Mountains. The shape of the ruana lends itself to easy-sew projects for sewers and weavers, as it is basically a rectangle with an opening in the front.

There are commercial patterns available to make a ruana, but using a template to cut the front opening is simple enough. I started with a two-yard length of the most luscious lime green—which in my mind and in my wardrobe is the “new neutral”—or you can choose another color or weave pattern from this enticing 20-piece collection. First, I cut a paper template three inches wide and 36 inches long, tracing around a small plastic cup to obtain a smooth curve for the neckline.

Then, I placed this paper template along the lengthwise fold of the fabric, so the curved edge was halfway to the middle of the two-yard length.

Once you’ve cut the front opening, the raw edges need to be finished in some way. I serged the front and lower edges, but left the selvedges as they are. Why make extra work for yourself? Plus, the selvedges look very nice on their own.

After serging the raw edges, I used a sewing machine to turn them under and straight stitch them. If you so desire, the serging can be left on its own as an edge finish. If you don’t have access to a serger, the edges can be finished with a double-turn rolled hem on the sewing machine.

Then you are finished! This took less than one hour to complete. You’ll have a lovely wrap that’s perfect for a chilly day, an overly air-conditioned restaurant or a car ride so you’re not so bundled up in a coat or jacket. And you have a variety of options for wearing your ruana. Wear it with jeans and a T-shirt to dress up a bit. Wear it over a simple dress to give it some drama. Throw one side over the other shoulder for REAL drama! Notice that Color Catchers is a two-sided fabric, so BOTH sides look good.

The choices for constructing or customizing your ruana are endless. Here are some ideas:

• Instead of cutting the edges straight across, curve them.
• Use a contrasting thread for serging all around.
• Zigzag stitch with a coordinating or variegated thread on your sewing machine.
• If you have gobs of time and want a really special garment, buy extra fabric that matches or contrasts, and finish the edges with bias strips. Oh, wouldn’t that be runway worthy!

I hope you have enjoyed my little sewing adventure. Stop in your local quilt shop or independent sewing center, buy a few yards of Color Catchers by StudioE Fabrics and get inspired to have an adventure of your own.