Sewing Project - ReUsable Bag - Quilted Swirl

 

I made another ReUsable Shopping Bag today.  

I started with the 12.5 inch quilted square I picked up at the ReUse Center this week.   I backed the square with a 14" square of white 100% cotton. I chose to do this because the yellow fabric was thin and showed the pattern of the turquoise fabric through and with a finished layer I could create a pocket. I top stitched the swirl to the white cotton by following 2 of the diamond shapes in the quilting.  I then, used the technique of self binding to finish the edges.  That means bringing the white to the front and folding over and again and top stitching down. I mitered the corner with a technique I research a while back for napkins. Perfect Mitered Corners Tutorial. 

I then chose a turquoise microfiber cloth which matched well and created it with finished seams on the inside to a final width of fourteen inches. I sewed the quilted swirl to the front of the bag (should have done it before the sides).  I left a piece of the top edge open and created a pocket by top stitching are tall rectangle following the quilted pieces.

I created the handles by hemming the ends, pressing in half then in half again and top stitching the ope and folded sides. They were 19" long by .75" wide. I folded the top edge of the bag 1" then again another inch and sewed it down with the wavy decorative stitch. I placed the handles 4" from the edges and sewed them down the 2 inches they overlapped the bag. 

I created a skirt for the top of the bag with a double layer of white cotton and a double layer of turquoise microfiber. I serged the cut edges.  I folded over the serged edge about 1" along the finished top edge of the bag and top stitched in on.  I then folded in the serged short ends in and top stitched the 2 of them together on the side seam of each bag. 

I used white thread for this project.

Sewing Project - Book Sleeve - Blue Abstract

I found this cotton poly fabric at the thrift store and thought that would make a great bag. I liked the blue abstract pattern at the top which was different than the rest.

Cut the outer fabric, flannel padding and the ivory lining cotton poly fabric to 9 x 12 inches. Quilted the outer fabric to the padding with a wavy decorative stitch. Sewed both side seams on both pieces.  Managed to cut handles 3 x 12 inches with similar pattern.  Folded both edges in then again in half to make .75 inch wide handles. Top stitched left and right edges with ivory thread.

Placed the handles 3 inches from the edge and pinned, added the elastic on the back piece and tacked those down with a bit of stitching and checked their orientation o make sure I got it right.  Then pinned the two pieces together and sewing the top seam leaving a gap to turn out the piece. Back to flat elastic. 

Top stitched the top edge to close the gap and finish the edge.  

Added a vintage button just the right color.

For information on the "My Bag" Line

Advent Begins - "Christ"mas is coming

I was not home on Sunday to hang my Advent Calendar so I dug it out today.  My sister made this for several years ago and every day I move a character or element into the scene until baby Jesus is placed in the centre.

I so enjoyed my Being Present for Christmas class this fall. I now have the book The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp to read every day.



I have Cinnamon Vanilla in my wax warmer which fills my place with a festive scent.

I also have several versions of other versions of advent calendars.

Christmas Card Challenge - March - Hearts

I started with the quilted heart.  I started with a piece of card stock onto which I glued scraps of designer paper in Christmas colors.  Once it was dry and pressed I cut the heart free hand as I did not have a die large enough. I added stitching to the heart with a black marker then embossed it with the Cuttlebug Victoria folder.  I printed the stitched frame onto ivory card stock.  I then put the holes in between with a push pin.  I roughed up the edges with a distress tool.  I layered a piece of colored card stock between the stitched frame and the card front.  It's edges were distressed as well.  I mounted the heart above the greeting with 3D foam tape.  I added a button with green thread tied onto it, held in place with a Zot.