by Sherri Sylvester | Dec 18, 2013
Hi again! I’ve been getting some big projects ready to show you – but until that happens (might be next week!) I thought I would share a little gift wrap idea I came up with this summer.
I’ve been waiting to use this again and Christmas gifts are the perfect place. I don’t know about you, but I hate using clear gift wrap. It’s tricky finding the right size, and it always ends up looking messy. So I decided to try sewing a bag and it worked – with no messy ending involved!
Grab some clear gift wrap from your local Dollar Store – here’s how to make one.
(Step 1) You will need to take a few measurements from your item/s. Measure and write the Gift Width, Gift Height and Gift Length down on a sheet of paper.
(Step 2) Figure out the cut size of your clear wrap (very easy math!):
- Width (A) of the clear wrap = Gift Width + Gift Length + 1″ for seam allowance
- Height (B) of clear wrap = Gift Height + Gift Length + 5″ to provide extra to tie the top of the gift
(Step 3) Now that you have your measurements:
- Place a piece of clear wrap approximately twice the Height (B) on a lint free cutting surface. (Static held my wrap to my cutting mat – which helped a lot.)
- Fold the wrap in half, crease well, and line the fold up at the bottom of your mat.
- Cut the Width (A) and Height (B) – do not cut off the fold. Use an old rotary blade or paper cutting scissors!
(Step 4) Sewing the sides.
- Grab a school glue stick. Fold both long edges under by 1/2″ and glue. Make sure your glue is the type that dries clear before you start!
- Fold the bag back in half along the bottom crease.
- Stitch along the sides with a 1/4″ seam.
(Step 5) Creating the bottom of the bag (Boxing the corners).
- Fold the bag so the side seam lines up with the bottom crease.
- Make a line perpendicular to the side seam that is the length of your “Gift Length” (from Step 2)
- Fold along the line to crease well, then fold in the opposite direction and crease well.
- Pull apart the bag and push the creased portion into the inside of the bag. Be sure to tidy the corner by pushing it out with a dull object. Basically you are turning the newly creased section inside out to hide it inside the bag.
- Line up the creased lines on the outside of the bag and stitch with a 1/8″ seam allowance.
All done!
Now, straighten your boxed corners on the inside of the bag, arrange your gift – throw in a few sparkly pompoms for good measure – tie and you’re done!
by Sherri Sylvester | Dec 9, 2013
I have had the inclination to call this a “Tote-torial” all day, but it wouldn’t help anyone find it on Google – so I have resisted the urge. If you haven’t been introduced to this Mini Tote yet you can check the previous post for more information and enter win it! This tote is part of the 11th Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day. There are giveaways being hosted all over the world!
Since today is also Made by Me Monday – I’m posting a tutorial for this lovely fully-lined little tote! It is quick to stitch up and is a wonderful and easy-to-sew gift. I love that the trim embellishment on the front can make a plain tote into something much more fun!
Ready to make one?
You will need:
- 2 pieces of outer fabric – 14″x14″
- 2 pieces medium fusible interfacing – 14″x14″
- 2 pieces of lining fabric – 14″ wide by 13″ tall
- 2 pieces handle fabric – 3″ wide by 20″
- 2 pieces medium fusible interfacing – 3″ x 20″
- 15″ long piece(s) of sequin trim, or trim as desired
- Optional: 1/4″ cording for the handles – 2 pieces 18″ long
- your general sewing gear
Here we go!
Step 1: Interface the outer fabric and handles with your medium fusible interfacing by following the manufacturer’s directions.
Step 2: Make the handles. There are two options for the handles – with or without cording. I used a piece of cording to make my handles stiffer and so they had a rounder shape. They would look great (and be a lot faster!) without it as well. Follow whichever you’d like then continue on with Step 3.
Without cording: (a) Fold each handle in half lengthwise & press. (b) Unfold and fold each lengthwise edge to the middle (pressed) fold line. (c) Fold the whole handle in half again. (d) Top-stitch close to both handle edges. Set the handles aside.
With cording: (e) Fold each handle in half lengthwise & press. (f) Unfold and fold each lengthwise edge to the middle (pressed) fold line. (g) Fold the whole handle in half again. (h) Centre the cording lengthwise on the handle, it should be 1″ from either end. (i) Fold each handle over and push the cording toward the folded edge. Pin along the length of the handle. Top-stitch each handle on the open edge, making sure the two folded edges match up as you go. (You can use a zipper foot to make this easier) (j) Push the cording toward the newly-stitched edge (away from the folded edge), pin and top-stitch the second side of each handle. (k) Done! Set the handles aside.
Step 3: Cut & Sew the Outer and Lining Bottom Seam. (a) Cut out 2 1/4″ squares from the BOTTOM right and left corners of your 2 outer and 2 lining pieces. (Make sure to cut the lining correctly – it is 14″ across and 13″ high.) (b) Pin and stitch your trim on as desired. I used 2 1″ cream sequin stripes on either side of a 2″ tan stripe. (c) Line up the outer and lining pieces right sides together. Pin across the bottom of the outer pieces. Pin the lining as well, but leave a 3″ opening in the centre of the seam. Stitch across the bottom of the outer pieces with a 3/8″ seam allowance. Stitch across the lining with a 1/2″ seam allowance, leaving the 3″ gap open. (d) Press the outer seam open if desired. Press the lining seam back on itself along the opening area. This makes it easier to line up once it is turned as per this trick.
Step 4: Sew the Outer and Lining Corners and Side Seams. (a) Match the outer right sides together, pin and stitch the side seams with a 3/8″ seam allowance. (b) Match the lining right sides together, pin and stitch the side seams with a 1/2″ seam allowance. (c) Match up the bottom and side seams at each outer and lining corner, pin and stitch with a 3/8″ seam allowance for the outer and a 1/2″ seam allowance for the lining. (d) Turn the outer right side out.
Step 5: Stitch the Top of the Bag and Attach the Handles. (a) Place the outer inside the lining with right sides together. (b) Mark each side of the lining (front and back) at 3 1/2″ from the edge. (c) Pin the handles (1 handle per side) where the marks are. Use 2 pins each to make sure they will be sewn on straight. (d) Pin the lining and outer together, matching side seams. Stitch with a 3/8″ seam allowance.
Step 6: Finishing Up! (a) Turn the bag right side out through the hole in the lining. (b) Line up the edges of the opening in the lining. Pin and stitch close to the edge or hand-stitch closed. (c) Push the lining into the outer and down into the bottom of the bag. Make sure the outer folds 1/2″ down into the inner bag. Measure and pin around the top of the bag. (d) Stitch around the top of the bag 1/8″ away from the top edge of the lining. I chose not to stitch over the trim – so I began and ended the stitching on either side of it.
All done! Take some fun photos and post them with the hashtag #alongforthreadride! I’d love to hear your thoughts on the tutorial and how your tote turned out.
by Sherri Sylvester | Dec 3, 2013
I had so much fun making this week’s project last night. And if you follow on Instagram you got a sneak peek! I’ve been wanting to make a Christmas project for a few weeks now – so what better way to start December than to make a Rudolph? I admit, it’s a bit creepy if you think about it – having Rudolph’s head on our wall… but if you don’t think too much it’s ok!
I ran into Elisa’s (Charming Doodle) Deer head tutorial and knew I would have to give it a try. The instructions are really simple – and it is a lot easier to make than I expected. I love Elisa’s flowered version, but knew it would not stay on my wall long if I gave it a try. My husband and I co-make our decor decisions and it would not have made the cut! Thankfully I found some stashed fabric that is perfect, and still gives the same effect. (I think it was destined for a tote bag and there is still some left!) The fabric is burlap-ish with a brown velvet floral design printed on it. If I remember correctly it was an end that I picked up for $2 or $3 in the ends bin at Fabricland.
The antlers are gold dupioni silk. Ridiculous you say? Yes, maybe – but it was the perfect colour! I bought the silk in a hurry a few years (and a lot of sewing experience) ago and made a disastrous shirt project. It’s still sitting in my sewing pile upstairs! Meanwhile I used a few scraps to make these antlers and they match so well. I love the texture the irregularities in the silk gives to the antlers.
Amazingly, I only did two things differently than the original tutorial (hee hee!). When I turned the antlers right side out the first time I did not clip my curves. Because the silk has almost no stretch the tight corners in the antlers were puckered, so I had to turn them wrong side out again and clip my curves. Other than that the instructions are great and very easy to understand. I was a tad fooled by their simplicity, though. Simple does not mean quick for this tutorial! For example, I didn’t realize that the direction, “Turn the deer head right side out and stuff the antlers tightly with fiberfill”, would take me about an hour! The antlers proved to be trickier to fill than I expected – especially since I could not find my chopstick and had to use the end of a pen. The second thing I changed is to make the ears from fabric instead of felt – so I cut them a tad larger and sewed the two (interfaced) pieces together and turned them before sewing them on.
I love how “John” turned out! My husband has named him and I think it fits! He also suggested the faux evergreen wreath around him, which adds lots of character. Now John is ready to greet everyone who comes in our door. And his nose is remove-able so he’s a year-round deer too! If you want to make a tiny deer tree decoration Elisa has posted instructions on how to re-size the pattern – how cute would that be!
What do you think? Are you going to try it or is it too strange or daunting?!
by Sherri Sylvester | Nov 8, 2013
When Warp & Weft introduced their Sewing Society I was excited to find three new Canadian bloggers that I hadn’t heard of yet! One of them was Cynthia Frenette, whom I’ve been following ever since. She writes cynthia f – a highly addictive blog – trust me I know! Aside from that she is a quilter, illustrator, designer and artist in general. If that is not enough, she keeps Made In Magazine going and has designed fabric for Robert Kaufman. And I’m sure there is more I don’t know!
As I was saying, her blog is addictive, and one day I stumbled on the post of her latest project – a pouch pattern – that asked for pattern testers. I’m super happy to have volunteered and gotten to make it! Aside from raving about how great this pouch is (truly!), I can honestly say it has great directions. I was excited to read through the well-thought out instructions and find they were very easy to follow.
The clear window gives this pouch the great feature of having two “fronts”! You can choose an amazing fabric for the back quilted panel and the lining – because it shows through the window. Score! I was excited to use my Fabric Spot Tsuru bundle for both pouches. Which is a good thing, because I only had one snap hook to use for the handle, and now I can swap it based on whichever I’m using at the time!
I love the size, it is even large enough to fit a regular sheet of paper – so you are able to carry printed pattern sheets and your sewing supplies at the same time! I really would like to make a few more of these to fill with “kid stuff”. It would help keep them occupied when we visit my family via plane in December. And it is easy for them to see what is inside – key to not digging through your bag too much in an enclosed space!
The pattern is almost available and I will most definitely tell you when it is so you can make 17 of these for yourself (or as a great Christmas gift!). Hope you have a happy Friday and a great weekend. See you on Monday!
by Sherri Sylvester | Oct 10, 2013
A few weeks ago I wanted to make a birthday gift for a sewing friend. I’ve had this basket in my head for a while now, ever since the scalloped hem emerged everywhere in sewing land! I thought it would make a cute gift with some handmade bias tape and buttons. And, I can’t lie, I was in NEED of a project to sew with some of my Warp & Weft Koi stash! It’s been sitting for far too long and I was dying to make something with it.
I think this little basket even qualifies as zakka! I’ve been intrigued by zakka since reading the blog tours for Patchwork Please (Ayumi Takahashi, Pink Penguin), and Zakka Handmades (Amy Morinaka, Chick Chick Sewing). I think I might be a bit late to the game, but I’m okay with joining the “trend following” masses – the projects are so pretty!
Here is the definition of zakka according to Wikipedia:
Vague enough for you?! Zakka could be almost anything!
I used a little piece of almost every piece of my stashed Koi in this project, leaving out only my daughter’s favorite “The Way of Flowers” for another special project! “Don’t be Koi” for the bottom of the basket, “Scalloped Edge – Gray” for the sides and “Pennants Waving – Ivory” for the inside and top edge detail. Rashida Coleman-Hale outdid herself on this line – it’s gorgeous. You can see the whole (GOTS organic certified) line here. And the deep purple “Don’t be Koi” adds to the just-emerging quilting cotton purple palette. For some reason, not many designers have focused on using purple until now.
I think I am going to make a few more of these with Rashida Coleman-Hale’s Tsuru fabric line. Hopefully using up some of my gorgeous fat quarters I bought from Fabric Spot in the spring. Maybe in different sizes – taller, wider, nesting baskets? Maybe one with a handle? I’d love to know what you would make!
by Sherri Sylvester | Jul 15, 2013
Okay, I know I have talked about these pouches before – hmmm… lots! And I know that you already know that I love them – they make a great quick gift idea. But they also use a technique that I have found really useful, so that is why they are front and centre again today!
Noodlehead Open Wide Zipper Pouch
Funny thing, this blog started (1 year ago now) with an Open Wide Zipper Pouch, here. Since then I have posted a few I’ve made here and most recently here. That given, so far I have only made the smallest of the 3 sizes that Anna provides a tutorial for. As usual with Anna’s tutorials the photos are easy to follow, the directions are specific and everything looks super polished when you are done. I can’t say enough good about her tutorials and patterns. Try this pouch even if you have not installed a zipper in a project before. Her instructions make the process really simple and will leave you wondering why you hadn’t used them before!
Now, on to our technique.
Whenever I stitched something in the past that had to be turned right-side out, I was always irritated by the uneven edge that was left to stitch up, and it would take a long time to evenly fold the seam allowances to the inside.
I found that if I took a second to fold and iron the seam allowance before turning, the edge was already marked – without all of the extra fiddling and folding.
Here’s what I mean, using the Noodlehead Open Wide Pouch. The opening is in the bottom of the lining. (Sorry for the orange dots – it’s a bit hard on the eyes!)
(1) Fold the seam allowances open to both sides. (2) Iron them flat. (3) Turn the pouch, take a look at the precisely folded edges on the opening! (4) Match and pin your ironed and tidily folded edges. (5) Stitch close to the edge to close the opening. ~ Wasn’t that easy!
This also works on flat items, like the Super Hero Cape. Just fold both seam allowances up and iron (use lots of steam to get a good fold). Then turn and top-stitch or hand-stitch the opening closed.
Come back tomorrow for Sew Essential #5. (and click here (if you haven’t already) to enter to win some Tula Pink fat quarters!)
