by Sherri Sylvester | Mar 24, 2015
I am thrilled to let you know that I’ve been able to make a free tutorial for Cloud9 Fabrics! The Time Warp Tote is created using Jessica Jones’ Time Warp fabric line and Cloud9 Cirrus Solids. I love the amazing retro-look fabric.
This tote bag is a great size for carrying just about anything. Plus it’s got a great little pleat in the centre so you can add a little pop of colour if you want. It’s fully lined in a fun way, though it took me two tries and much seam ripping to sort it out!
Ready to make one? You can access the downloadable pdf on the Cloud9 Fabrics “Make it Sew” Project section. (Love the geeky reference there!)
Bark cloth is so soft and lovely to work with. It’s thicker than quilting cotton, but has a nicer drape than canvas or home decor fabric. Just make sure you finish your edges. It does tend to fray because of the loose weave. I can see an amazing retro set of curtains made with them too – the floor length ones, with the pleats at the top. *swoon*! Too bad Jessica did’t pick the colours to match my living room!
I’d also really recommend the Cirrus solids. Super soft as well and yarn dyed. So they look amazing too. I am loving the yarn dyed options lately. They really add an extra layer to the colour in the fabric. (P.S. The entire Cirrus Solid collection is currently available from my sponsor Fabric Spot.)
I’ve got another Time Warp Tote I am excited to show you, and it comes with a little tutorial! I’m 100% certain you’ll see another one after that. It is the perfect size for a gift and my kids’ teachers might be the lucky recipients of some canvas de-stashing by me!
I love working with Cloud9 Fabrics, they were amazing through the whole process. I was fortunate to be introduced to them through Esmari from Warp and Weft and Elizabeth Olwen, who’s Wildwood line inspired the Forest Glen Satchel pattern. (And I just saw on Instagram that she’s got a new line in corduroy coming out this fall!) I have to say once again that the collaborations and connections I’ve been able to make through sewing/blogging have been so much fun. The DIY community is so generous and kind. I am truly grateful to be a part of it.
by Sherri Sylvester | Mar 14, 2015
Alright – poll? How much did you get sewn so far during Selfish Sewing Week? Me? ummm… a big fat Zero! But I did sew this Seafarer Top last weekend (with 3/4 sleeves, tutorial coming soon!) and I LOVE IT. It’s so comfortable. I think I may have worn it more than half of the days last week. And yes – I did wash it (at least once) in between!
I bought the Indie Sew Mini Spring Collection recently. It’s made up of the Sailor Top, The Marianne Dress and the Seafarer Top from Sew Much Ado. I fell in love with Abby’s girl version of the pattern – the Skipper Top – when I was on the pattern tour a few years ago. It was only natural to get the women’s top as well!
Here are a few things I love about it:
- This shirt is such a great easy wearing style.
- It’s easy to put together – with out any set-in sleeves you can stitch one up in about an hour.
- It’s knit, so easy wash and wear is not a problem.
- You don’t need a serger for this one!
- Since knits usually fit great the first time around, I don’t usually make a muslin for them. (YAY!)
I always get into conversations with people about the cost of sewing. It used to be that making clothing was more cost effective than buying it. Now, especially with the “fancy” quilting and organic cottons, this is not so much the case! However, on occasion I am happily surprised. I found the sweater knit I used in this top on sale for $5/metre. Since I used just over a metre, it technically cost me about an hour and a half, some thread and $6.00 for the fabrics – win, win, I’d say! And it seems to be washing well – and I’m hoping the fabric will hold up over time.
Thoughts on the pattern:
- It is a pdf pattern – easy to print out and tape together. No tracing involved!
- The steps are very clearly illustrated with clear, easy to follow photos.
- Abby includes professional tips, like adding clear elastic to the shoulder seams.
- There are lots of options – hemmed vs banded neckline, sleeves & hem. Optional Hi-Lo hem. Super-cute pocket.
Thoughts on the fit:
- Again, knits are easy to fit because they stretch – making a very satisfying project if you measure yourself correctly first!
- The length is purposefully long, and easy to lengthen or shorten.
- I made a small, based on my measurements, and it fits perfectly.
- Dolman styles can be up-sized easily to wear with a baggier fit, without any alterations to the pattern.
Things I might change next time:
- Grade the waist out to a medium so the hips are looser, but it really depends on how much stretch is in the knit I’m using.
- I’d love to try making more of a boat-neck shaped neckline.
- I might use some thicker sweatshirt fleece and re-print and cut a medium-large to wear as a comfy at-home shirt. (Who am I kidding, I’d likely wear it everywhere!)
I picked up a perfectly striped XL men’s shirt yesterday, so I’m hoping to make another one of these shirts soon, exactly the same as this one. That will bring the total of shirts I’ve made myself (that I can actually wear out of doors!) up to 4 in the past month or so. I’m pretty excited about that!
Reader Feedback: What have you made yourself lately? Hint: It doesn’t have to be clothing!
Disclosure: I had way too much fun making the photos on this post. You can relax now, there are no more unexpected silly photos. I promise to be more sane next time! Oh, and I did not receive this pattern or any compensation for this post, it’s just really great. And Abby is amazing too! Sew Much Ado is one of my all-time favorite blogs. (Gorgeous photos!)
by Sherri Sylvester | Mar 9, 2015
I’m excited to finally share a pouch pattern and tutorial with you! I figure all good sewing blogs generally have a free pouch tutorial and here’s mine. It’s high time after 2 1/2 years! My sponsor Double Decker Fabric supplied the fabrics for this project. Aren’t they gorgeous?! They are listed below if you’d like to get some with the discount she’s graciously offering as well. (Find it below!)
This pouch has been in my “ideas” envelope for a good long time now. The front curves form a unique area that frames your favorite fussy-cut fabric. There are so many possiblities for it! My husband says the shape looks like a Cat’s Eye – and that’s how it got its name.
The finished pouch is 8″ wide and 5 1/2″ deep. Perfect for those miscellaneous things you need to carry around. Pretty things like nail polish, jewellery and makeup, or useful things for jotting down ideas on-the-go! It would be a unique entry for one of those handmade #pouchswaps I see all the time on Instagram too. We’ve used ours already to hold markers and paper for the kids on a trip out for dinner.
* Update: Don’t feel like sewing a pouch yourself? Buy one from a licensed Cat-Eye Zippered Pouch seller! Check out the sellers list. Are you a shop owner? You can buy a Cat-Eye Zippered Pouch seller’s license as an instant download. *
I love the little leather tassel. It adds a bit of extra oomph to the design, I think! It’s easy, and you can add it to any zipper you like – not just this pouch. I’ve included a little trick for how to get the thick leather through the itty-bitty hole in the zipper pull at the bottom of the tutorial!
Head on over to Double Decker Fabric and use the code” march10″ to get 10% off your purchase (including sale items!) for the entire month of March. Discount expires Tuesday, March 31, 2015.
Double Decker Fabrics provided the following Art Gallery fabrics free of charge for use in this project. EMMY GRACE from Bari J: Painted Ladies Flutter, Budquette Dayspring, Knotty Rain (lining) WINGED by Bonnie Christine: Aves Chatter Shine, Nesting Blooms Cool, Wingspan Melon (lining)
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You can now purchase a 10 page instant PDF download of the Cat-Eye Zipper Pouch Pattern!
| Cat-Eye Zipper Pouch Pattern Sample Page |
This PDF includes:
- Granny’s Sewing Basket – notes and tips to make sewing this pouch easier! ()
- 7 tidy instruction pages with 41 high quality photos and 3 pattern pages
- Check boxes for each instruction & the materials listing, for those of you who love lists!
Aside from these great features, purchasing this PDF supports Thread Riding Hood. Thank you very much!
*NOTE: This link purchases the Cat-Eye Zippper Pouch PATTERN. If you are looking for the Seller’s License please find it in the shop.*
CAT-EYE ZIPPER POUCH PRINTABLE PDF PATTERN: available for any donation!
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HERE WE SEW!
As usual, please feel free to use my patterns/tutorials for your personal projects and gifts and for charitable fundraising events. Please do not sell anything made with this pattern. If you are interested in making them for sale, please contact me and I will set up a license for it in the shop. * Update: The Cat-Eye Zippered Pouch Seller’s License is now available!
Materials:
- 1 fat quarter outer fabric
- large scraps of fabric for pleat & lining
- 9″ zipper
- medium weight fusible interfacing
- scraps of 1/4″ ribbon or about 3″ x 1/2″ of leather for zipper pull (if desired)
- PATTERN PIECES: Free download, click here.
Printing the Pattern:
- Download the Pattern Pieces using the link in the Materials listing. Print out all 3 pages of the pdf on letter size (8.5″ x 11″) or A4 paper. Important: Do not select “fit to page” when printing, make sure you print at the original size. Once you have printed the pages, measure the 1″ test square to ensure the pattern is the correct size.
Prep:
- Trim and discard 3/8″ from the bottom of the Zipper Side INTERFACING (NOT the fabric!), to reduce bulk in the seam allowance. Fuse to each Zipper Side.
- Adhere 1 piece of Outer Back interfacing to wrong side of the Outer Back fabric. Set second interfacing piece aside.
Helpful Notes:
- If a more structured pouch is desired, you can add interfacing to the Front Inside Pleat, Lining and Outer Sides . Be sure to trim ALL SEAM ALLOWANCES (3/8″) off the interfacing before adhering. The added thickness makes it hard to stitch and the front does not lie flat where the layers come together.
- Note that you can top stitch both outer and lining together along the zipper side, but the top corners of the pouch will not lie as flat. I have made one pouch each way. I like only top-stitching the lining to the zipper tape best – it is cleaner and has nicer corners. This is what I have instructed in this tutorial.
- There is a 3/8″ seam allowance allowed throughout unless otherwise noted.
Here we sew!
Pouch Front:
- Place Front-Inside Pleat right side up. Match outer curve of both Outer Front Sides right sides together (RST) with the Pleat fabric. Stitch curves with a 3/8″ seam.
- Trim/clip seam allowance along the curve.
- Turn, press well & top stitch starting about 3/4″ from the ends of the curves. I like to leave a little bit of the Pleat fabric showing along the curve edge. It acts a bit like faux piping.
- Fold the Pleat fabric RST along the two marked lines. These were the side markings from the fussy-cut template.
- Lay the front sides and pleat over the Outer Back interfacing piece you set aside. With the Pleat folded, match the Outer Front Sides to the shape of the interfacing.
- Fuse interfacing as per manufacturer’s instructions. Press well.
- Cross the Pleat ends as desired (see photograph). Baste into place with a 1/4″ seam.
Finish Pouch Front/Back:
- Match bottom (un-interfaced) edge of a Zipper Side to the top edge of the Front Pleat & Sides RST. Match the edge of the second Zipper Side to the top edge of the Outer Back RST.
- Stitch with a 3/8″ seam. Press seam towards Zipper Side. Top stitch as shown.
- These pieces are now called BACK and FRONT.
Zipper Ends:
- Fold Zipper End in half. Top stitch the folded edge. Cut it in half to make 2 pieces that are 1″ square.
- Lay the zipper along the top of the Front or Back for easy measuring. Glue (use this trick!) or baste one Zipper End at each end of the zipper according to the length of the outer.
Install the Zipper:
- Fold the pouch pieces in half temporarily along the zipper edge. The Outer pieces should be RST. Match the Zipper Side edges and pin to prepare to sew the pouch sides.
- Unfold, refold and pin all edges so the Outers are RST and the Lining pieces are RST. The pins from the last step should hold the zipper teeth down on the lining side.
- Stitch the outer edges of the pouch with a 3/8″ seam, leaving a 4″ opening along the bottom of the lining. Take extra care and stitch slowly through the zipper tape and teeth. Once I am sure my stitching is straight I like to double-stitch over this area to make sure it is held securely.
- Clip or Trim the curved corners of the Outer and Lining with pinking shears. Grade or Trim the excess zipper length. Use Fray Check on the zipper tape if desired. Press the lining seam allowance up to prepare for turning.
- Turn the pouch inside out through the opening. Push out all corners/edges and press.
- Match the edges of the Lining opening. Stitch across close to the edge or slip-stitch by hand to close.
- Push the lining into the pouch.
Attach the Tassel:
- Cut a 3″ long piece of leather into 1/8″ strips, or gather two 3″ long pieces of 1/8″ ribbon.
- Thread an extra 6″ excess piece of ribbon or string through the hole in the zipper pull.
- Place the leather or ribbon strips through the loop in the excess ribbon.
- Gently tug and wiggle the leather/ribbon through the hole in the zipper pull using the excess ribbon.
- Remove the excess ribbon and thread the ends of the leather/ribbon through the loop on the right side of the pull. Tug the ends of the leather/ribbon until they are tight against the zipper pull.
Press the pouch again neatly and VOILA, You are finished, Enjoy!
I’d love to see your creations! You can share your projects on Twitter and Instagram @sherrisylvester with the hashtag #alongforthreadride or #threadridinghood, or post them on the Thread Riding Hood Facebook page.
Thanks for reading! Follow along to get more great tutorials and posts:
As usual, please feel free to use my patterns/tutorials for your personal projects and gifts and for charitable fundraising events. Please do not sell anything made with this pattern. Thanks!
Don’t feel like sewing a pouch yourself? Check out these Licensed Cat-Eye Zippered Pouch Sellers.
Are you a seller that would like to buy a Licence to Sew and Sell the Cat-Eye Zippered Pouch? You can buy a license in the shop and receive an instant pdf download!
Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Double Decker Fabrics. They are also a Thread Riding Hood sponsor, I always share my honest opinion. Thanks for reading!
by Sherri Sylvester | Feb 19, 2015
I love the chance to use a new pattern, and this one is no different! It’s my stop on the “Extraordinary Girl” pattern tour, and I get to review both the women’s and girl’s version of this pattern from Filles à Maman. This post is also a futile attempt to show you all 5 of the shirts I’ve made without over sharing and too many photos! (These shirts are addictive.)
Hang in through everything and there’s a list of blog tour stops for more inspiration, and a giveaway! {Disclaimer: I received these patterns as part of this blog tour. All opinions are my own, I wouldn’t have made 5 of these if I didn’t like the pattern! Thanks for reading.}
I love the name of this shirt. I thought it was strange at first, but when I wore it I thought about the name and it actually changed my mood, for the better. It seemed the perfect thing to put on my kids too. They are extraordinary in so many ways! I decided to focus on my youngest today, but I did make a fifth shirt for my oldest as well that you can kindoff see on Instagram (it’s behind the flowers).
I haven’t used a pattern from Filles à Maman before, and I was so happy to find it was well laid out and easy to follow. The instructions for the girl’s and women’s patterns are the same. By the 3rd shirt I got the time to make one (with a serger) down to 1 hour. I can’t complain about that – it included cutting time!
I did use my serger for every seam, except the black one I made for myself. That was the last one I made, and the seams are more precise so it fits much better than the green and gray one. I will likely use the sewing machine for each seam, then serge to finish my edges on my shirts in the future. The serger works just fine for the girls’ clothing, since the fit doesn’t need to be as exact.
Both patterns cover a wide range of sizes. The women’s pattern is sized XS to XXL. The girl’s comes in sizes 12 months through 14. All steps in both patterns are well illustrated and the instructions are very clear. If you have a good handle on sewing knits you will not have any trouble with this pattern.
The sizing is true to the measurements as well. My 4 1/2 year old daughter is wearing a size 5 with the sides graded out to a size 6 to better fit her frame. The length is a 6, since she wears a lot of leggings, I like longer shirts! My shirt is a size small with the sides graded out to a Medium through the waist to the hem, and I used the Large length – again with the long shirts! Though, I think we are long-waisted, so the extra length adds just enough extra to compensate. This shirt also has a slight high-low hem, super comfortable, and I love how it looks.
I managed to use only stashed fabrics and my shelves are a little bit more empty as a result – hooray! I finally got to use the castle scene knit I let my 3 year old pick out over a year ago. It arrived and was so bright I couldn’t bring myself to use it. Now that I have I wish I had made something with it sooner – the shirt turned out just right to match her happy personality! The gray and green in my shirt are solid jersey knit from Jo-Ann Fabric. The purple print is as well, it’s slightly sheer and works perfectly with a tank top underneath. I really like how the three-quarter sleeves turned out on that one.
Apparently, we were supposed to look serious in this photo. #whenkidstakeover
The Ann Kelle mermaid shirt was a bit of an experiment. Actually, I had totally different knits pulled out to make her second shirt – but I wanted to try something. Something that incorporated this sewing trend to add a bit of gold to everything! I decided to make the back and top yoke panel out of a woven fabric. And I used a stretchy gold fabric for the front and back neckband. SO much more fun that way! The green striped fabric is a woven I up-cycled from a large t-shirt.
Since the pattern calls for knits I was nervous that it wouldn’t fit, so I added 1 1/2″ to the centre back when I cut it out. Amazingly, and hooray, it worked. Though I would cut at least one size larger through the top of the shirt if I did it again. The shoulders really are too small because the woven fabric doesn’t stretch like a knit would.
Summary? Buy the pattern (it’s only on sale until Friday the 20th!). It’s great and I really like it a lot. I’ve already got another one waiting to be cut out. It’s purple, with bunnies – for my 7 year old , ’nuff said!
Find more inspiration from the other stops on the blog tour here:
The Extraordinary Girl Shirt Patterns are on sale during this blog tour – February 16-20. The Girl’s or Women’s Pattern is $9.79 $7.00, the Girl’s & Women’s bundled together is $19.58 $13.00.
There are two prize bundles full of patterns for you to win! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter, the giveaway is open until February 20, 2015.
Bundle #1:• Filles a Maman 2 patterns winner’s choice
• Sofilantjes – 1 pattern winner’s choice
• Julie pattern by Muffin Head
• AimeLea & Finn – 1 pattern winner’s choice
• FABulous Home Sewn -1 pattern winner’s choice
• Fancy Schmancy – 1 pattern winner’s choice
• E+M Patterns – 1 pattern winner’s choice |
Bundle #2:• Filles a Maman 2 patterns winner’s choice
• Sofilantjes – 1 pattern winner’s choice
• Fancy Schmancy – 1 pattern winner’s choice
• MCM Studio Designs – 1 pattern winner’s choice
• MandyK Designs -1 pattern winner’s choice
• Striped Swallow Designs – 1 pattern winner’s choice |
a Rafflecopter giveaway
by Sherri Sylvester | Jan 18, 2015
Happy Monday to you! After the 4 Cargo Duffles from last Monday and the Handbag last Wednesday + the book giveaway (open until Monday Jan 19th at midnight!) Seems it is a good idea to follow up last week’s inadvertent “bag week” with the Cargo Duffle Zipper Pocket tutorial I promised. Plus it seems like a good time to let you know who won the last giveaway!
This pocket was created out of a need for something quick and secure. While making four of these duffles I figured it would just take too long to make the folded and stitched and lined cargo pockets the original pattern calls for. I also am not very good at attaching snaps – so avoiding that seemed best as well!
This pocket is created to work well on any bag that has a separate bottom base. The separate base covers the bottom raw edge of the pocket. All of the other raw and zipper edges are finished. The front of the pocket is lined and the ‘back” of the pocket is the bag’s front outer fabric. You could fold the bottom raw edges of the pocket under before stitching and use it on any other type of bag as well.
Before I get too far, I want to let you know who won the Sew Sister’s Quilt Shop giveaway from last week. The fortunate winner is Beth T. She’s going to get 10 fat quarters of Tim Holtz Eclectic Elements in the mail soon! Thanks so much to Sew Sister’s for the giveaway and of course congratulations to Beth! What a nice surprise!
On to the tutorial!
You will need:
- One 12″ zipper
- One 13″ piece of 1/2″ double fold bias tape
- Outer Pocket: One 13″ x 6.5″ piece of quilting/cotton or similar
- Lining: One 13″ x 6.5″ piece of quilting/cotton or similar
Here we go:
- Place the outer fabric right side up. Open the zipper and align it along the top (long) edge of the outer edge with the zipper slider down. Pin/Glue in place. Baste if desired.
- Align the lining fabric right sides together along the top edge of the outer and zipper tape. Pin/Glue in place.
- Stitch along the top edge, through the lining/zipper/outer with a 1/4″ seam allowance. I used my regular machine foot and moved the needle as far as it can go to the left so as to avoid changing to my zipper foot!
- Once sewn, open up the lining and outer so they are wrong sides together. Press the edges next to the zipper tape.
- Sandwich the unfinished side of the zipper tape inside of the bias tape. Make sure it is at least 1/8″ away from the zipper teeth on both sides. I use glue to keep it in place before sewing. You can also use pins.(There is no need to finish the ends of the bias tape.)
- Stitch the bias tape close to the bottom edge.
- Fold the bias tape to the lining side on the open end and pin the zipper along the top edge so the teeth stay aligned in the next step.
- Fold the outer and lining right sides together and pin along the short edge.
- Stitch the pinned short edge with a 1/2″ seam allowance. Be careful when stitching over the zipper teeth. Back-stitch well at the corner. Trim the corner to reduce bulk.
- Close the zipper at least half way. Fold the zipper in half wrong sides together and pin the end to keep the teeth aligned in the next step.
- Fold the outer and lining right sides together and pin along the short edge. The zipper teeth should be facing the outer pocket fabric.
- Stitch the pinned short edge with a 1/2″ seam allowance. Be careful when stitching over the zipper teeth. Back-stitch well at the corner. Trim the corner and zipper tape to reduce bulk.
- Turn the zipper and pocket right sides out and push out the corners.
- Mark the placement of the Cargo Duffle exterior bottom accent piece. Align the zipper pocket in the centre of the Front so the bottom edge will be 1/2″ under the exterior bottom accent piece once sewn.
- Open the zipper and pin the bias tape in place.
- Unpin the pocket outer and flip it up to access the bias tape. Pin it in place at the far right side (pin is circled), being careful to keep the bias tape straight. I used my quilting lines as a guide.
- Fold the Front over so the pocket bias tape lays flat more easily and pin the opposite end in place.
- Stitch the bias tape along the top edge, next to the previous line of stitching. Folding the Front of the Cargo Duffle as you sew so the bias tape and pocket lay flat while you are stitching.
- Re-align and pin the pocket in place. Stitch the short sides of the pocket up from the bottom to about 1″ under the zipper. I stitched across and back down as well to secure the pocket better.
And you’re finished! Stitch on the Exterior Bottom Accent and continue with the original Cargo Duffle instructions to finish your amazing bag.
by Sherri Sylvester | Jan 14, 2015
Today I’m posting over on Sew Can She as part of the Sewlebrity Sewalong for Caroline’s book “Just for You”, written with Sarah Markos. I get to be the first Sewlebrity, eek! (Check out the giveaway later in the post!)
As part of the sewalong I made the Sweetly Gathered Round Handbag by Delia from Delia Creates. It’s a great bag – really big and super cute. Use your stashed favorites to make it and you can take them everywhere with you – or at least wherever your purse goes! The inside of the bag has a welt hidden zipper pocket and a divided pocket – great for organizing. And did I mention it’s large?! Not too large to carry around – but large enough to stash quite a bit of fabric on a fabric shop run, if that’s what you have in mind!
Check out my post on Sew Can She for more about the bag, the book, and a mini tutorial about how you can add a vinyl base to it (and why you might need to!) And people… I MADE THE HANDLES, and it wasn’t that hard! Not sure if it sounds that exciting to you? But it will change how I look at sewing vinyl and handbags. I think we’ll be seeing a lot more vinyl on the blog in the future!
The Sewlebrity Sewalong is happening all year over at Sew Can She. The book “Just for You” has two projects for each month – 24 patterns in all! Grab a copy of the book and sewalong with each project’s Sewlebrity. Enter a photo of your project before the end of the month and get a Sewlebrity button in the mail – you can collect one button each month you participate. Really and truly – Caroline will send you a button – Happy mail fun!
Caroline is giving away one copy of the book “Just for You”!
This giveaway is open to everyone, internationally from today (Jan 14th) until midnight on Monday evening, January 19, 2015. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter – and if you don’t have Facebook to sign in with, just use your name and email address. There’s a “click to enter” no social media login entry too! (US winners will receive a hard copy of the book and Canadian/International winners will receive the e-book.)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure and Privacy Policy: I received an e-copy of “Just for You” as part of this sewalong. I will never recommend or highlight a product that I do not love, and my opinions will and have always been my own. Thanks for reading!
