Pumpkin Drawstring Pouch Tutorial

Is your house the one that all the children in your neighborhood love to trick-or-treat at because you give out amazing goodie bags? If not, then consider using my Pumpkin Drawstring Pouch Tutorial to sew up some fun halloween themed treat bags to fill with candy to give all the ghosts, monsters, princesses, and super heroes that stop by your house this year! They will love you for sure!

Not only are these little 6" x 6" drawstring pouches absolutely adorable sewn in halloween print fabrics designed by Ann Kelle, but they are quick and easy to sew. Plus, they are reusable and ideal for all sorts of other things besides candy. They make great jewelry pouches, organizers for sewing supplies, gift card bags, or even a little first aid kit to keep in the car.

Airport Sling Bag x 2

Have you been following along with the On the Go Bags book tour these last few days? There are lots of chances to win a copy of the book for yourself, plus, you'll see some examples of bags and organizers made from the book.

On Monday, I shared with you my Cart or Stroller Caddy project from the book. Be sure to click HERE to see it and read about my inspiration behind the design. Oh, and you can enter my giveaway of the book there, too!

Today, I'm sharing another awesome project from the book--the Airport Sling Bag--designed by Janelle MacKay of Emmaline Bags. A few months ago, I was asked to sew up a sample Airport Sling Bag for Fall Quilt Market using some new Riley Blake fabrics. I couldn't say yes fast enough!

Tote Bags for Charity + Giveaway

Recently, a friend of mine, Melissa at Sew Like My Mom, blogged about a post she recently read that really moved her.   The post was about a breast cancer survivor who is wanting to help make a difference to others dealing with the disease.  

While I have never walked this path myself or had a close relationship with someone who has, I've had to go for follow up mammograms with the fear that my life could change in an instant.  I've also had relatives who have endured this disease--some have conquered it and others have not.  

So if I can help one survivor brighten the lives of a few more brave women who are battling breast cancer, then I will try! 

image from www.clipartsmart.com

The woman in the post that Melissa shared is named MJ, and her story and mission is to help at least 100 other women (wow!  that sounds like such a big number, but in reality, I know it's not) begin their battle with something given out of love, hope, and support.  

MJ is asking for people to help her cause by donating 100 hand sewn tote bags by Mother's Day, and Melissa has offered to donate one of her patterns from Sew Like My Mom to those of you who make 5 bags and then send her picture proof.  

To read all about MJ's mission, click HERE.

To read how Melissa is encouraging everyone in the sewing community to help, click HERE.

I was touched by not only MJ's story, but also by Melissa's willingness to help a stranger achieve her goal, too.  

I've made my 5 bags using a fat quarter bundle and some scraps of Joel Dewberry's True Colors collection by Free Spirit Fabrics.  If you know me, then you know Joel Dewberry is one of my favorite fabric designers, and I hope that these beautiful prints and bright colors will bring a smile and a sense of hope to women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

MJ only asked for bags to be donated, but I've decided I want to include a small note in each bag to let those women know that I am praying for them and that I care, too.  I cannot imagine what they are about to endure, and quite honestly, I hope I never have to.

I also asked that Melissa please pass the pattern on to one of my followers instead of giving it to me.  She generously offered up a total of three patterns from her shop that are now up for grabs as part of a Thank You giveaway I am hosting.  To read the details of the giveaway and to enter, click HERE.

I hope you'll consider making a few bags and helping out this brave woman, MJ.

Have fun sewing!

The Necessary Clutch Wallet x 2

If you read my post yesterday, you know I participated in a Secret Santa gift swap this year.  I promised to share with you today the item I made to exchange, and I chose to make her The Necessary Clutch Wallet!

I was feeling rather inspired when I found these two fabrics at the local fabric store.  The floral is Social Climber in Gold from Anna Maria Horner's Hand Drawn Garden Collection and the border fabric is Hive in Maize from Joel Dewberry's Bungalow Collection.

You see, my gift recipient is Stef from the blog girl.Inspired!  Stef is so talented and creative that I was feeling a little intimidated. I wasn't sure that anything I could make would be up to the standard of quality that she is accustom to.  I had a hint or two that she liked this shade of yellow, and I know she likes things with a definite feminine touch.  Put this fabric together with the amazing Necessary Clutch Wallet pattern, and I think this gift is a winner!

Stef received her gift earlier in the week and sent me a message saying she thought it was "amazing" and that her husband is even in "awe" of the clutch!  Whew!  What a relief!  I really put a lot of work into making this wallet and an identical one for me to use, so I was overjoyed that she liked it as much as I do!

Secret Santa gift swaps really are fun (and maybe a little bit stressful, too)!

Ok, now more about these wallets!  I purchased the pattern from my friend, Janelle at Emmaline Bags and Patterns, the day she released it for sale, and since it took me six months or so to finally make it, I decided to make two at the same time.

Before now, I had never made a wallet with dividers or zippers in it, and I had definitely never made anything using a twist lock!  By the way, Janelle sells the twist locks along with lots of other bag hardware in her shop.

I wasn't worried a bit because Janelle has the most amazing bag patterns--EVER!  I own every one she has made, and I've made all but one so far.  To see all my other Emmaline Bags, click these links: Emmaline, Teardrop, Steph in the City, and Boyd St. Bowling.  The first two I mentioned are my favorites, and I'm currently using my Teardrop bag.

Although The Necessary Clutch Wallet is small, a lot of preparation and materials go into making it. To make these two wallets, I think I used an entire yard of the floral fabric and roughly a half yard of the hive fabric, plus about a yard and a half each of Pellon Shape Flex (SF101) and Pellon Fusible Featherweight Interfacing (911FF), and a quarter yard of Pellon Peltex 71F.

There were lots of pieces to cut out and then a lot of interfacing to fuse before I even started sewing!  But this was a project I was really excited to finally make, so the entire process was fun. Making this wallet is actually pretty easy, but to sew through some of the thicker sections, you do have to have a decent sewing machine and a lot of patience!  Some of my stitches aren't too pretty where the zippered pocket is sewn to the side (the most difficult part to sew in my opinion), but I can live with it just fine!  Hopefully Stef won't inspect hers too closely!  Ha!

As usual, with Janelle's bag patterns, I always learn a new trick or tip, and this pattern was no exception. Like I said earlier, until now, I'd never installed a twist lock, and part way through installing the first one, I thought I never would!  I followed Janelle's tutorial, but I was afraid to cut the hole as big as she suggested!  I kept having to trim away more fabric until I finally realized she was right, and I needed to cut the hole bigger for the lock to fit!

This pattern provides 12 credit card slots, two pockets for dollar bills or receipts, a zipper pocket for change or a lipstick, plus a pocket in the middle large enough to hold a phone and a compact!

I considered using Janelle's tutorial on adding a thin strap to carry it like a purse, but for now, I think I'll just use it as a wallet or a clutch.  I think I could add the strap later without any trouble.

In the end, I couldn't be happier with the results of both wallets!  I love them!

Thanks for stopping by today, and have fun sewing!

Craftsy Class Giveaway!

Have you ever taken a sewing, crafting, or quilting class from Craftsy?  They are great if you are just learning to sew or learning a new sewing technique--like me!

Today I'm reviewing the Craftsy Quilt-As-You-Go Patchwork Bags Class by Tara Rebman. Craftsy provided me with this class free of charge, but all opinions provided in this post are my own.

As many of you know, I love to sew clothes and bags, but I'm not too much of a quilter.  I've quilted a few small projects, but I am definitely not well versed in "quilting" language or techniques, so I was excited about this opportunity to take an online class to learn a few new sewing tricks and eventually make a bag!

Now, my review today is solely on the class itself.  Presently, I have not had the time to actually try out these methods and the pattern, but I am anxious to do so!  Now to find a little extra time!

The great thing about a Craftsy online class is the flexibility to take the class when you have time to take it.  You can also skip over sections of the lesson that you might already find familiar or replay over and over again parts that you don't!

In the online quilting class that Tara offers, I learned a technique called quilt-as-you-go (QAYG). For those of you not familiar with this term (like me), you essentially take scraps of fabric one piece at a time and quilt them with straight-line stitching onto your batting.  You continue to piece the scraps of fabric together while alternating your stitch direction with each new piece.

Tara not only shows you the steps of the QAYG method, but she also shows you how to create the fabric membrane for a Tinker Tote Bag using this technique.  The pdf pattern for the tote bag is included with the lesson.

The Tinker Tote Bag is a medium to large size bag with built in straps.  Tara provides tips on how to make the bottom of the bag with leather or with fabric, and she gives you a step-by-step tutorial on how to make both an interior slip pocket and zippered pocket as well as how to attach a magnetic closure.

Overall, I'm very impressed with the class and the pattern.  I learned some new quilting terms and techniques that I can't wait to try out when I find time to make my own Tinker Tote Bag!  I think I'll get a little practice first by making a pot holder like she shows you how to do as well.

This Craftsy Craftsy Quilt-As-You-Go Patchwork Bags Class is great for either someone wanting to learn to quilt or a quilter who wants to learn to make a bag!  And today, you can enter a giveaway for a chance to win this very same class from Craftsy!

To enter the giveaway to win the Quilt-As-You-Go Patchwork Bags Class by Tara Rebman, just sign up for Craftsy using the link below, or if you are already a member, simply sign in using the link for an entry. Only one entry per person.  The winner will be selected at random and announced here and on my sewVery Facebook page next Wednesday, August 28th!

CONTEST IS OVER
and the winner is
CHELLE (aka KWEENBEE)

Once you've signed up for Craftsy and entered the giveaway for the QAYG class, be sure to click the link here for the FREE Mastering Zippers Class!

FREE Mastering Zippers Class

Thanks again to Craftsy for allowing me to review this great class.  I can't wait to make my own QAYG Tinker Tote Bag!

Bag Blog Hop

Do you love to make bags and purses?  Then join this Bag Blog Hop for inspiration and to find others who share your passion!  The Bag Blog Hop was started by ChrisWDesigns and is easy to join.  Find the instructions straight from the source here.

What do you have to do?  It's simple.

1. Add your blog link below by clicking on the "Click here to Enter" link and follow the easy steps to add your blog.

2. Click on the "Get the Code Here" link shown to grab your copy of the code and add it to your blog!  Please include these instructions so new members will know what to do.

3. Grab this button:  (Right Click and Save)

and pop it in your sidebar linking to your Bag Lovin Blog Hop post so that we can leave this blog hop open and people can keep finding it and hopping on.

After all 3 steps ahve been completed, your link will be approved by ChrisWDesigns and added to the blog hop.

That's it!

The Envelope Clutch

Have you signed up the See Kate Sew's Envelope Clutch Sew-a-Long yet?  Better hurry.  After you sign up for the sew-a-long, you can find the free pattern here on Kate's blog.

I was a little hesitant to sign up at first thinking that I wouldn't have enough time to put a clutch together, but this bag super quick and easy to make!  Love it when a project is like that!  Don't you?

To make my Envelope Clutch, I used some fabric I had on hand.  The outer fabric is a heavy cotton denim that was a remnant from a pair of jeans I made my daughter a couple of months ago. I fused decor bond to the back of it to help the bag maintain its shape. The way I cut out the bag, the grain of the denim is on the diagonal and gives the finished clutch a little more visual interest.

The interior is a premium quality quilting cotton remnant I picked up at Joann's a while back.  Sorry I don't have the official name, but I think they still sell it.  (Update:  The fabric is a Keepsake Calico print called A Fuji Afternoon Umbrellas) I fused regular light weight interfacing to the back of the lining for a little extra support.  I find the colors and the umbrella pattern to be warm and fun, and it was a nice departure for me to use the print on the interior of the bag and the solid on the outside.  Here are some other purses and bags that I've made--Teardrop Bag, Steph in the City Bag, Emmaline Bag, Patchwork Purse, Charm School Handbag, and these three Sweet Pea Totes (1, 2, and 3).

For my Envelope Clutch, I did change up a couple of the details.  First, I used a magnetic snap in lieu of a button closure.  I avoid making buttonholes at all costs unless it is absolutely necessary!  However, the first time I put the bottom snap on, I measured incorrectly and had it placed way too high!  When I moved the snap down into the correct position, I was left with two small holes to cover up on the exterior--hence the sewVery label strategically placed!

Second, I'm really not a clutch kind of gal.  When I am out and about, I need both hands free in order to grab things at the store or to hold hands with my kids.  So, I added a gold metallic braided trim to the clutch as a purse strap.

To do this, I installed two large gold grommets on the back roughly 1" down from where the top folds over.  I ran the trim through the holes to the inside, zigzagged the ends individually and then seared them with a lighter before overlapping them and stitching them together again.

I'm very pleased with how the strap looks from the outside, but how the two pieces are connected on the inside looks real rough!  After consulting with some friends, I think I've decided to make a little fabric sleeve out of the lining fabric to wrap around the connection.  I just didn't get around to it before I took these pictures and wrote up this post!

Well, that's it!  Pretty simple even with my two slight modifications.  I've already added my photos to Kate's Envelope Clutch Sew-a-Long Flickr group.  Have you?