Front Zip Pouches with Shoulder Straps

So, I'm not sure where this week went.  If you read my last post, you know that I was iron-less - I had lots of plans for nap times BUT um, well, uh, yeah, my house is still not clean and organized, I have no new crochet or embroidery projects to share, I didn't organize or order any photos, I didn't try new recipes (though I did pin some new ones) - yep, so many big plans and nothing!

But the new iron arrived yesterday so I was back to it and made 5 bags!  What was that number again?  5!  And why did I cram 5 bags into 2 days of sewing?  Well, my kids have three birthday parties to go to this weekend and a few coming up so I got on a roll.  These are fairly quick to whip up - I think the most time is spent selecting and cutting the fabric. 

There are so many zip pouch tutorials out there so I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel but here are some pics/words/tips about my process.

Supplies:

Note 1.  For the front zip pouches, I actually start by measuring my zipper.  I find them easiest to make when I use a zipper that is longer than the width of the bag so that all metal parts fall outside the fabrics and can be chopped off.  

Note 2.  I use cotton flannel or batting as a middle layer.  I actually have never used interfacing in any project so I can't comment on how that would work for these.  

Note 3:  I used two different methods for finishing the bags.  I'll talk about both both.

My measurements for this bag were approximately the following.  Depending on how close I sew to the zipper and various shifting throughout the project, I usually end up having to trim at the end.

Front pieces:

1.  Outer Fabric 9x3 (this is the total measurement after patchwork, etc.)

2.  Flannel 9x3

3.  Lining 9x3

4.  Outer Fabric 9x9

5.  Flannel 9x9

6.  Lining 9x9

Back pieces

1.  Outer Fabric 9x12

2.  Flannel 9x12

3.  Lining 9x12

10 inch zipper

30 inches of cotton webbing 

1.  Start by making your Outer Front Bottom piece of fabric by sewing together scraps to make a finished size of 9x9.  You can foundation piece the scraps to your 9x9 piece of flannel if you wish.  Or you can make a few quilting lines to attach it to the flannel after piecing together the front.  Do the same for the Outer Front Top (9x3) and the Outer Back (9x12).  You don't have to attach the outer fabrics to the flannel but at least iron them together so they are somewhat attached.  From now on, when I refer to outer fabric, I'm referring to the outer fabric attached to the flannel.

2.  Lay your Outer Front Top on your table right side up.  Put your zipper on top of that right side down and make sure the fabric is centered so that the little metal parts on the zipper are on the outside of your fabric.  Place your Lining Top right side down on top of the zipper.  I like to have the zipper a bit below the top of the fabrics so that I can make sure I am getting through all the layers.  I use the zipper teeth to guide my stitching so I'll know that the zipper is being included even though I can't see it.  Use your zipper foot if you have one.

*Not all my photos are from the same bag.

3.  Pull back the fabrics so that wrong sides are facing.  Take your Outer Front Bottom and lay it down right side up.  Take your zipper (with tops attached) and lay it right side down.  Take your Bottom Lining and lay it right side down on top of the zipper.  Make sure all your sides are lined up and stitch to the zipper.

4.  Pull back the fabrics and top stitch on both sides of the zipper.

At this point, you can choose one of the following ways to finish the bag.

5.  Put together your back by placing your Outer Back and Lining together wrong sides facing.  If you haven't already, quilt a few lines to attach them together.

6.   With your zipper open, stitch a little bit over the end of the zipper to secure.

7.  Take your cotton webbing and attach it to the top of the Outer Front Top.

8.  Take your Outer Front (with attached lining) and your Outer Back (with attached lining) and put them right sides together.  Cut off excess fabric including both zipper ends (you should be able to cut off the metal parts from both ends and then you won't have to worry about sewing over metal.)  Sew around all four sides (your zipper should be open!)  You can reinforce your stitches over the zipper ends and handles if you like.  Clip your corners and finish off the raw edges since they'll be showing (zigzag, serger, binding - I've even tried french seams on all but the top where the handles are attached.)   Using the zipper opening, rearrange the bag so that the right sides are on the outside. 

That is one way to do it.  However, yesterday, I did a web search about finishing the raw edges and I found this tutorial on Projects by Jane.  It took me a few tries but it works great and the raw edges are all fully encased.  To do the bag with the straps like I have it, just go to her step 7 where she has you attach all the layers and sneak the straps in there (attached between the outer front and outer back when they are right sides facing.)  You'll then have to move the straps around while doing her other steps to make sure you don't sew over them.  Also, I find that if I cut my lining about one-half of an inch longer than the outer fabrics that it is easier for me to sew the gap at the end (which I prefer to do by machine) - not sure whether that really makes a difference but it worked for me.  

And since I love looking at pics of fabrics on all of your blogs, I thought I'd post one of my recent acquisitions.  I have specific plans for a couple of these and some I just ordered small cuts of to stockpile for an I Spy Quilt.

I was so happy to be able to sew again!  However, my machine was acting up again today so . . .


Please check out my Links page to see where I like to link my posts.

A Little Scraps Bag and A Precious Quilt

I've decided that little tote bags are one of my favorite handmade gifts for kids - they are relatively easy to whip up and the kids can actually use them.  I also like making them because I can experiment with different patterns and techniques without having to commit to making a whole quilt.

And that is my middle daughter's foot in the photo staking claim to this bag!

I put this together by taking the linen-y fabric and a piece of batting and, using a strip of masking tape as a guide, stitched a grid.  I then cut out little rectangles of fabrics to fit in each box and used my free motion foot to applique the shapes to the background.  (Is it still called applique if I use the free motion foot to outline the scraps???)

I used home decor weight fabric for the back and straps and then lined it with regular quilting cotton.

I also got started on my first QAL.

When I read about the My Precious Quilt -A-Long on Kelbysews, I knew I had to join since I've had a yard of Momo Wonderland in my stash pretty much since I started sewing that I've been saving for some reason even I don't know (Kelly even mentions Wonderland as an example - guess I'm not alone!)

As I'm completely hooked on HSTs, I decided to try another HST quilt.  I added in many of my other favorite fabrics and this is what I came up with.  I only used a small bit of the Wonderland maybe I'll make a trio of small quilts with it?!?

There is also some Mendocino in this quilt.  The Mendocino is another one of those fabrics I bought when I first started sewing.  It was on clearance and I only bought one yard!!!  Well, and one yard of the orange.  I think it was less than $5 - oh, well.  Live and learn.  I definitely didn't realize what a find it was.   My daughter loved the fabric and at her request, I immediately used it to make a skirt for her - um, the first skirt I ever made so it wasn't even a good skirt - just great fabric.  Well, the skirt is a bit too short now so I reclaimed the fabric and upcycled it to use in this and a future project.

To make this quilt, I first cut up a bunch of squares and randomly put together fabrics to make a pile of HSTs.

  I put those to the side and cut out strips from the same fabrics.  I pieced the strips together.

And then cut it into strips.

 I then took the strips and the HSTs and arranged and rearranged until I liked the pattern.

Then I added in the white fabric as sashing to piece it all together.  It was kind of like figuring out a puzzle.

I wanted to try something new with the quilting so I did diagonal lines of varying widths along the whole quilt, horizontal lines about 1/2 inch apart along the bottom third of the quilt and vertical lines about 1/2 inch apart along one of the sides.

Oh, and I used some Jennifer Paganelli Pinwheel stripe fabric for the backing.  

And here is the very beginnings of my next small quilt using my "precious" fabric:

Linking up to 

Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Finish it Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts

Sew and Tell Friday at Amylouwho

Serenity Now

Weekend Wrap Up Party at Tatertots and Jello

Once Upon a Link Party at Family Ever After

The Accidental "T" Quilt

I very much enjoy making mini, doll, and baby quilts.  Not only do they make great gifts but with three girls in the house, these sizes get lots of use.  I also love how working on small quilts gives me the chance to try new things and experiment without a big commitment.

One of my favorite small quilts to make is what I'll refer to as my "improv, a little bit wonky, log cabin style, see where it takes you" mini/doll quilt.  It is a great way to use scraps and is a quick project (well, quick when you don't stop every few minutes to take photos!)  Here is how I do it:

Piecing:

I start by cutting a piece of batting in my desired size and shape.  For this quilt, I decided to go with a 24" square.  I chose the size because I used a batting scrap and that was the size with the least waste.   I haven't used many different types of batting - actually, I think I have only ever used Warm and Natural Cotton Batting.   I stock up when Joann's has it on sale online with a free shipping deal (I don't have a Joann's store near me.)  I don't know if all battings are like this but what is great about this brand/type is that the fabric kind of sticks to the batting when you smooth it down.

Second, choose two small scraps and place the first one wrong side down on the batting and the second piece right side down on top of the first piece.  Sew 1/4 from the right side edge.  Open and press.  You can iron as much or as little as you want throughout the project.  If you choose not to iron, just finger press the fabric onto the batting if you are using a batting to which the fabric (at least kind of) sticks.  Today, I was in the ironing mood so I ironed several times.  

Take another piece of fabric and place it right side down on the piece of fabric on the right.  Sew with a 1/4 inch seam.  Open and press.

I like to arrange the fabrics with the tiniest bit of the bottom fabric peeking out so that I make sure to catch both pieces when sewing.  This is because I use scraps and uneven pieces when making this type of quilt.

(Note - you might prefer to more securely attach each piece of fabric to the batting by sewing on the opposite side from the seam after you open and press.) 

Turn the batting and choose a scrap that is long enough to cover the bottom of all three pieces of fabric that are already attached to the batting.  Place it right side down perpendicular to those fabrics and sew a 1/4 inch seam.  Open and press (I'll stop writing open and press since you probably get that you do that after every piece of fabric is sewn.)

Rotate the batting clockwise and choose or cut a piece of fabric to cover the length of the fabrics already sewn to the batting.  (You can also sew a few scraps together to get the length you need.)  Attach and rotate the batting clockwise again.  Keep doing this until you have about 2 or 3 inches of "empty" batting left on each side.

I sew scraps right sides together to make strips in the needed lengths.

I measure the length I need by placing the new fabric on top of the already stitched pieces.

I even was able to include some of my favorite fabrics even though I only had tiny scraps left.

Again, just make sure you can see the bottom piece so that the stitching line is in the right place.

This method makes it easy to cover up mistakes like forgetting to cut off the selvedge. 

Border:

For the quilt I'm making for this post, I decided to add an off-white border around all four sides.  However, I've also made this quilt by completely covering the batting using the log cabin method with no sashing or border and I like that look as well.

Because I didn't want the seams to show from some of the darker color fabrics around the edge, I first attached a narrow piece of the border to all four edges and then attached the 3 inch strip on top of that. Another method would have been to leave a wider seam on the border by placing the border  right side down completely covering the bottom piece of fabric.  I don't know which method works better to cover the seams, the second would have been less waste but I didn't think about it in time.

If you can see the darker fabric under the border, use it to line up your needle.

I stitched too far over when I attached the wider piece of border so I just stitched again using the first line as a guide.

Much better the second time around.

The Quilt Sandwich:


For the backing, I just cut a piece of fabric about 1" wider on all four sides than the batting.  I put that piece of fabric wrong side up and placed the batting/fabric combo right side up on top of that.  Now, please don't cringe but I don't baste my layers when making this type of quilt.  Two of the layers are already attached and as I said, I feel that the fabric sticks well enough to this type of batting when I am making a small quilt.  That said, if you prefer, baste using your favorite method.

Quilting:

I don't have a hard and fast rule about where I like to start quilting - middle or edge.  I decided to do straight line quilting (well, I tried for straight but got wonky) and decided to start quilting from the middle out - after first attaching my walking foot.  For the side of the quilt that goes under the throat of the machine, I just rolled it up.

Tried for straight but got wonky!

Part 2 coming soon:
 
I only was able to get about 3/4 of it quilted before the baby woke up.  I'll hopefully get to finish it and complete the binding tomorrow so this is Part 1 of my how I did it.

The "T"?!?

Oh, and why am I calling this the accidental "T" quilt?  In the middle of making it, I realized that I inadvertently made what looked like the letter "T" in the middle of the quilt with the smaller scraps so I started using wider and longer pieces to highlight the "T" since there is a special little "T" in my life who would love this quilt (wow - that was sure a long sentence!)  I wish I knew how to draw on the picture to show you the "T" but hopefully it is obvious.

 

The "T"

A finish, a small project, and thoughts on blogging

When I started this blog a few weeks ago, I figured I would post everyday.  I mean, I thought I had lots of ideas of what to write about in addition to blogging about my current projects and entering QALs, etc.  Clearly that has not happened but for a good reason.  Upon learning that I was starting a blog, my two older daughters decided they wanted to start blogs as well and I have to say, I find myself spending the majority of my computer time helping them.  Not so much helping them with the content (they have their own ideas of what they want to post) but on designing and redesigning their blogs, taking and editing pictures, and showing them how to make their poetry into wall art for the posts.  It really is fun blogging with them and I like how I am learning how to do these things alongside them.

We especially are loving finding all sorts of fun fonts and papers to download to embellish their photos and words and I'm really enjoying learning more about photography (and am fortunate to have three very willing models!)  However, I'm still working on how best to photograph my quilts and works in progress - there seems to be lots of shadows in the photos taken inside.  It seems lots of bloggers take their photos outside so I'll try to figure out a way to do that when it is just me and the baby (unfortunately, my 5 month old isn't much help in holding up quilts for display - fortunately though she is all about modeling hats and clothes and laying on top of the quilts . . .)

And lastly, in blogging news, I opened a Twitter account but I haven't tweeted anything yet because I don't really know yet what to tweet.  I'm new to twitter so I'll have to check out some other blogger's feeds to see how people use it.  I also opened a Flickr account and posted a few photos of random projects from around my house.  As I said, I'm learning how to take photos of the stuff I make so I plan on taking and posting more pics soon.  I also put up a link to my Pinterest account.  Even though Pinterest is huge in the blogging world, most of my friends and family haven't figured it out yet so I'll be writing this out for them.  I love making stuff that I've pinned - here is a pillow that I saw on Pinterest and then made recently.  The idea came from this lovely French blog Stipa & Alpaga.

I upcycled an old maternity shirt that had a hole in the collar and then just added a strip of fabric to the back so that I had enough length for an envelope back.


In quilting/sewing news, I finished the quilt from my charm pack.  I really do love how the binding brings it all together.  And as long as I don't look too closely, I like how it came out and my daughter loves it.  Her only issue was that she expecting a quilt for her bed, not for her doll.  If she only knew.

And I decided to do a quick project this morning while the baby was napping. I bought several yards of Folksy Flannels a few months during a great sale and have loved working with it - it is so wonderfully soft.  I've been wanting to make a lightweight stroller blanket so I used two of my last three yards of the flannel to do so.  I just put the two pieces right sides together, sewed around the edges, turned right side out, and  topstitched around the edge.  And then, just for fun, I used one of the decorative stitches on my machine to add a small border to the edges just inside the straight stitch.  Cute and easy!

Okay, the baby is already up and sitting on my lap so that's it for now.