Tutorial Week: Snap Change Purse

Snap Change Purse

In the beginning the idea was to make some matching wallets, checkbooks and change purses.  So far, I’ve only done a tutorial for a checkbook cover, I haven’t quite figured out the wallet yet, but here’s a quick change purse tutorial (with snap closure).

What you’ll need:

            Sewing Basics

            Less than a fat quarter

            One set of snaps

            Little bit of interfacing

(I forgot to take pictures of all the steps, but this is a very easy project, you’ll get the idea.)

I started by cutting 2 fabric pieces and 2 interfacing pieces 5 inches by 9 inches.  After that to make the curved flap, I folded the fabric in half long ways and free-handed a cure starting 1.5 inches from the center and going down about an inch from the top of the fabric. 

After I was happy with the drawn version, I clipped the curve and unfolded the fabric. 

Next I interfaced both the exterior and lining fabric pieces then lined them up with right sides together.  I then snipped the second pieces curve so that it matched the already contoured fabric. 

Stitch all the way around, leaving a small opening about 3 inches in width at the un-contoured short end (blue line).  Clip the corners and cut small slops around the curve (red lines), for better turning

Flip right sides out and iron the corners crisp.  Next run a seam along the open edge at about a 1/8 inch seam allowance to close the opening (blue line)

Fold the un-contoured side up approximately 3 inches and pin in place. Iron it to make the fold crisp, and then fold the contoured side down 1.5 inches.

To mark the snap placement, I used my seam ripper to put a small hole through the fabrics to mark the center of each snap, and then lined the snaps up that way.  By doing this, it ensures the snaps come together without making the alignment wonky. 

I used my trusty hammer and snap attacher to put on my snaps.

Next, run a line of stitches around the entire thing, with the pocket folded, but with the contoured edge open like this (liked pictured below, red line is this seam; blue dotted line was the last one):

 When done, snap it closed and enjoy!

 

Here it is pictured with the matching checkbook.

tutorials are a comin'

so, in the works i have quite a few tutorials coming up, i'm thinking of breaking my "tutorial tuesdays" rule and going all out for maybe next week, i feel like being personally creative lately, instead of just ripping off other's blogs and doing their tutorials and/or mccall's or simplicity patterns.  so lets say, next week (scratch that, i'm going for it. THIS week), tutorial week, (because it will be quite hard to get the tutorials done in time to finish up this week)   i did add a tutorial page tab, and sooner or later will be making some cute photos to accent my designs, we're working on it.     just to let you know, big things to come.    Hint:  burberry inspired on a budget coming this weekend :)

30 Day Challenge: Day Eleven

Day 11 - A picture of you and your friends.
(yes i know i skipped a few days, but those were boring, and i didn't get time to get on to post)




some of my friends from the last concert we went to last may (i was 6 months pregnant or so here, it was the day after my birthday!)

Tutorial Tuesday: The Crib Rail Protector

When my nephew entered his teething phase he chewed on anything he could get his mouth on, including his expensive crib.  So much so that it looked like it belonged in a dog pound and not a toddler’s room.  I figured that we needed to do something to stop him from relentlessly eating his crib (and to protect my daughter’s crib, before she got her mouth on it).  Cue: the crib rail protector. 

What you’ll need:

The Basics (machine, pins, thread, ruler, scissors)

2 yards of your choice of fabric (though I made mine with only a yard and piece it together to get the right length)

2 yards of your choice of coordinating ribbon

1.5 yards of batting (60 in wide)

First:  Prepare your ribbons, buy cutting 8 pieces 9 inches long. 

Burn the edges of the ribbon quickly with a lighter to seal the end so it doesn’t fray

Cut 2 pieces of fabric 15” x 54”   (If you’re using less than 54” of fabric, I just pieced mine together to make that length, it only took 1 yard completely of fabric)

Cut your batting (depending on how thick yours is to begin with will determine how much you’ll need.  I used 3 layers of   1/4 inch batting.)

Face both fabric pieces right sides together.  Then stack those on top of the batting

Insert your ribbons in between the right sides of fabric.  4 on each side, one 2 inches from each edge and then about ever 16 inches from there on (making sure to match them up for the opposite side.)

Sew around the edge, leaving a few inches open at one of the short ends.  (I used a 1/2 inch seam allowance)  and trim your corners

Flip it inside-out and iron flat, 

(its like birthin' a baby)

top stitch the open side (you could also hand stitch this, but I was going for quick and not worried so much about neat, heck, baby is going to be slobbering all over it)

(finished Product)

Then attach to the crib, make sure you tie the bows tightly so they can’t come loose.

I added a pocket (mostly to cover the seam) for paci storage.

We can NEVER find paci’s in the middle of the night when we need them, so this helps immensely. 

30 Day Challenge: Day Eight

Day 08 - Short term goals for this month and why.


Wellllll If we go by the rest of this month (being that its the 28th) I would say I still want to finish some awesome pot holders, at work, I've been jotting down ideas like crazy, i just keep thinking of some cool things to do.    If we go by the next 30 days concept of "this month"  I want to finish making a birthday gift for a lucky 1yr old, i want to try and get my Etsy shop up and Running, and i want to do some serious blogging (and working on tutorials to come) that seems like a good goal, wouldn't you say??

but this weekend's plan?
1) bang out AT LEAST 3 more cute pot holders.
2) start Tyler's Birthday Present
3) work on the Burberry inspired dress I have dancing around in my head
4) Look into making some cute crib bedding and a bed skirt for the little girls bed
5)make some cute checkbooks and matching change purses and coffee cozies

Mission for tonight...

Make some ADORABLE pot holders!!!   There's a contest running at Prudent Baby for a new sewing machine:  project runway inspired Brother Machines, and I want one, No, I NEED one.  My sewing machine broke last week, (boooo) so I've been working with a gimp sewing machine. My amazing husband told me I was allowed to get a new one (w.h.a.t.e.v.e.r. one I wanted. Yes, love him!) with our tax return money, but I would much prefer to win one.  I know the odds are very low, but it’s all worth a try in my opinion.  I’m thinking a piece sign one, maybe a valentines inspired one, maybe a retro looking one,  who knows.  I’m going to go all out and try and win, they said as many entries as you want.  So that’s the next project.  Maybe I'll even do a tutorial one if I make a cute enough one up.  Either way, I'll post what I made :)

This Is My Stash.

This is my Fabric stash.  I thought it would be fun to take pictures of it to show everyone what i have stockpiled.  My husband thinks I have too much,  though he didn't say that directly.  His exact words after I brought it all out so that i could photograph it was "do you think you'll need to get anymore anytime soon".  Not said sarcastically or anything and he's really good about letting me buy anything i want, but i guess when even he thinks I have too much, I really do have too much...   But this is my stash :)

My Designer fabric from Debbie Mumm....  I LOVE her designs:

My Cotton Woven (with my one interlock thrown in):

My fleece, Canvas, and Corduroy:

My Flannels:

My (very extensive) Fat Quarters Collection:

These pictures are motivation to get some work done using fabric I already have (though i do know have to buy some cream or white jersey fabric to do a project).  That way, my husband doesn't have a heart attach next time I pull it all out.  He had no clue how much there was, because i store it very neatly in closed bins and baskets... maybe I should have waited to take these pictures for a day he wasn't home hahaha.

30 Day Challenge: Day Seven

Day Seven: A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you

My Daughter is my inspiration for everything.  She changed my life in more ways than any other person and I wouldn't give it back for anything.

Project Three: Diaper Bag

Project Three: Diaper Bag

I decided I kind of hate my diaper bag.  It was one of those cheapy 25 dollar diaper bags from Babies ‘R Us.  So for project numero tres I decided on making a new diaper bag for myself so I would be carrying diapers in style from now on (and boy do I get a lot of good comments about this bag!)

I found the Tutorial for this project on a blog I follow and I just loved the look of it and I knew in my stash, I had the PERFECT three prints for this project.

I started By Cutting out all the pieces I needed for this and ironing on the interfacing for each piece.  I interfaced both shoulder straps, all the exterior fabrics (including the pockets) and double interfaced the bottom to add stability. 

After getting these done, all I laid out all the fabric parts for the front and back outside of the bag and pinned it together,  then sewed the straps on stopping about 1 inch from the top of the bag on both sides of each strap piece (4 stitch lines on each side of the bag total).

I then attached all the exterior pieces together and sewed everything based on her model in the tutorial.  If I would have done this again, I would have finished each seam about a ½ inch from the end of each side so that the perpendicular piece attached easier.  After doing the outside, I did the inside piece as well (the same way then put the bag together with the exterior of the bag sitting inside the interior of the bag with right sides facing.

After that, I sewed around the top (I sewed all the way around and left my flipping spot open in the lining so that that spot wouldn’t be as visible when I flipped it and sewed it shut). 

Once done wit that I flipped the exterior inside and top stitched around the to opening of the bag, (this is why I stopped the strap stitching about an inch from the top, so I could more easily to this stitching). 

After that, done, fill ‘er up and off we go J 

I have to admit, I reallllly love this bag.  I’m throwing around the idea of making myself one to put my things in for work as well.  Though if I would make another, I would definitely do it in a thicker fabric like a canvas or a duck,  (I like the idea of a duck since you can get those in really fun prints too) that would give the bag a little more structure than even the interfacing could give it.  What do you think? Adorable?

30 Day Challenge: Day Six

Day Six: A picture of the cast from your favorite show

I'm pretty much obsessed with several TV shows... but by far, i find myself involved more in this show than any, (though i'm a huge "Grey's Anatomy" and "Gossip Girl" fan too)

30 Day Challenge: Day Five

Day Five: A Picture of Somewhere... You've Been To.

This is the vew from the top of a pretty high mountain I climbed in the process of GPSing for work in October of 2008.  Its a little town (mostly farmland for raising cattle) about an hour out of a bigger (still TINY) called Craig, CO i was there for a month and every day was an adventure.  This place was beautiful.  when we got up there, after basically rock climbing the entire way up, we decided to take a break and enjoy the scenery.  Every time I look at this place I smile.

Project Two: Checkbook Cover (tutorial)

Checkbook Cover Tutorial

This will be my first in a series of tutorials.  We’ll call it “Tutorial Tuesday”.  Each week I’ll try to post a new design by me or a way to personalize someone else’s design.  We’ll see how things go; like I said before, this is a constant work in progress. 

Without further ado—The Checkbook Cover

This is an easy 15 minutes from start to finish project and is a great gift for anyone.  I came up with this design after my plastic checkbook cover (you get for free) ripped.  All you need is all your basics (machine, scissors, thread, pins, iron, etc), 2 fat quarters, and less than ½ yard of interfacing (I used medium weight fusible, in this tutorial I only interfaced one side since the other side was a thick duck cotton, if you’re using two regular cotton weaves, I’d advise to interface both sides)

First, cut an 8”x14” rectangle out of each fabric and a rectangle of interfacing per outer fabric.  Iron the interfacing to each fabric’s wrong side.

Lay them facing right sides together and sew all the way around with a ½ inch seam allowance (I always like how much flatter the seams look when you flip them with the larger seam allowances.)  Leave a 3-4 inch opening at one of the short sides (for flipping).

Clip corners so that it will lay flatter

Turn right sides out, making sure the corners get pushed out.  I use a closed pen to do this.  Then iron flat.

Stitch an 1/8 inch seam along EACH of the short ends (for continuity and to close the seem used to flip it)

Fold each seamed end down 2 ¾ - 3 inches toward the center and iron again

With seams folded up, stitch a 1/8 inch seam around the entire thing. (This will make the pockets)

Fold in half with the pockets on the inside and iron it again.

Viola! You’re done.  Insert your checkbook and drop it in your purse.

30 Day Challenge: Day Four

Day Four: A habit that you wish you didn't have.
(As you can tell I don't have internet at my home because its wayyyy to expensive for its own good, like 80 a month for me to have internet at my house, so I’m going to be picking up today) 

I would like to call my bad habit, proCRAFTination, well it should be more like not just for crafts, but for any sort of project in general.  Sometimes I get my mind set on doing something be it sewing a new bag to rearranging my living room, and I have to do in right then.  I may skip a meal to do it, I may not get to bed until 3am... but I have to finish it.  Sometimes I should be doing other things like cleaning my kitchen/bathroom or paying attention to my husband, but until I get it done, those things are on the back burner for me. 

30 Day Challenge: Day Three

Day Three: What you would find in my bag. 

sewing patterns (i know, who does that???)
pens
wallet
check book
eye drops
glasses
medicine
hand sanitizer
tea bags

My Tools

My Tools

I thought I’d introduce you to the tools I use.  Most of them are nothing special, and very afford able.  This goes to show that you don’t need expensive tools to get the job done.  (Even though I have my eye on an expensive machine and I’d looooove to have a serger sometime in the future). 

This Is my Workspace:

It is just a plastic/metal folding table positioned in the corner of my living room.  One of these’s days I’d like to have a special craft/sewing room, but I doubt that will ever happen.  I also kind of enjoy being out there in the living room.  That is where my family spends our time.  That way I don’t feel like I’m squirreled away from everyone. 

My machine is nothing special, just a Singer Simple model 3116.

18 stitch patterns, very basic.  I bought this almost 10 years ago, when money was tight, I was young, and I wasn’t sewing as much.  Since then, I’ve wanted to upgrade… but I just can’t bring myself to get a new machine.  I’d like a Janome 7330 Magnolia.  It’s a nice machine that is computerized, a lot quieter than mine and has 30 stitch options.  But it is also a 350 dollar machine on Amazon.

My other tools I have are my self healing cutting board, for a while I was cutting straight on my table, which I didn’t really care about.  It was a cheap table we had in our basement for a long time, but I find everything cuts better on that mat.  I’m glad I spent that money... especially since I got it on sale 50% off with a coupon, I love coupons.

I also recently got a thread set on sale (again, yay sales!), 26 spools of Gutermann’s thread in a nifty plastic case. They all have rods through them to keep them in place and once I run out of a thread, I can just replace it with another spool.  It makes it a lot easier to match thread, that way I don’t have to buy a special spool each time I get a different color fabric (which happens quite often). 

I also made myself a ribbon holder, so that when I need some, I just pull out as much as I want and cut.  Right now it’s just my ribbon threaded onto a ribbon hung from 3m hooks.  I would like to get a dowel rod and make something more permanent, but most of the time; I am just too lazy to head out to the hardware store to get something started.  

I have my snaps organized by style and size in the little white circular tuber-ware.  Those were the best dollar store finds I’ve had in a while. 

I have a nifty chest style basket that I keep all my fabric stored in.  It keeps it organized and looking nice, instead of all over the floor like it used to be. (Another sale find from Michael’s) 

This is where I keep all my works in process, things that need bias tape, snaps, or reworked.  Mostly these are things that I’ve gotten frustrated with and put of to the side to finish at a later date when I’m not as irritated (or in the case for the snaps, when the baby is a wake so I don’t scare the living crap out of her when I use my hammer… one of these days I’ll actually buy snap pliers haha) This is also (conveniently) my ironing board.