Silhouette Shape Challenge: Stenciled Whale Bag

Hi everybody!  I was making this tote last night because my current church bag is seriously falling apart!  I saw this bag on MADE, and loved it.  I found the very same napkin sets at Target in a blue/green variety.  I also picked up the red pack, but that tote is still in progress…well I made it, picked it apart, and am waiting to re make it. :)
Enough chit chat----onto the finished bag!

Front before stenciling

Back of bag

I decided that the blue side would be super cute with the free whale shape from last week, and then I could enter the weekly challenge!  I fired up my silhouette this morning, applied a vinyl stencil…

Quickly painted (and even left a mess on the desk!)

Used a hair dryer to quickly semi-dry the paint, peeled off the vinyl, and Tada!

A super cute whale on a super cute bag.

I would have hung it up to get a photo, but it’s still drying! 

I used a swirl shape by Miss Kate for the waves instead of the included waves.  Overall, I love the bag and will soon fill it with all sorts of busy activities for my one year old at church!

Thanks for reading!

~Lynette~

p.s. I’m also participating in a challenge with the blog Silhouette Challenges.  Anything goes this month, so enter if you’ve made something with your silhouette! Details HERE.

13 in 2013 Update: Mini Tote Bags

Hi everybody!  I’ve been working on my 13 projects for the year.  I’ve enjoyed having some direction in the projects I make.  I certainly do extras, but it’s fun to have some sort of plan. 

Mini Tote Bag.  (Taken next to a bottle of Mod Podge so you can see that it really is mini!)

First up, is the Mini Tote Bag.  We got a disney resort themed scrabble game for Christmas, and to hold the letter tiles is a super cute mini-tote bag.  It was so adorable that I needed to make one.  This one didn’t completely end up the way I had envisioned, but it still works.  No tutorial, because I was totally sewing on the fly, but if I make another one I may take note of measurements and share. 

I use this tote to hold little strips of paper for the class I teach at church.  The strips of paper have questions that we answer each week to get to know each other better.  It’s a great opening activity to get the class moving.

That’s all for today.  I’ll be back soon to share another project.

Thanks for reading!

Lynette

Tutorial Tuesday: How to Make a Reversible Bag

Whew!  This tutorial has been in the works forever!  A reader contacted me in May requesting a tutorial, and I am just now getting it posted.  Problem is, that while I was happy to make the bag, for my own use I needed a bigger one!  In the process of enlarging the pattern, I came upon some snags.  So I’ll share both the small and large pattern pieces, with instructions for both.  So you get a little 2 in 1.  I hope it’s worth the wait!
**UPDATE:  The Pattern is ready, just leave your email in a comment (or make sure your email is attached to your profile) and I will send it to you ASAP so you can get started!**
 *I am still getting the pattern pieces ready, and hope they will be done by Friday.  So gather your supplies, and I will hustle to get the patterns done! I will let you know.  I am not sure how to upload a pattern in blogger, so just comment with your email and I will get it to you once it’s available*

This bag is perfect for an everyday purse.  The smaller version was wonderful to keep my wallet, phone, keys, a notebook, and small book in when needed.  The larger version is more roomy to keep my favorite water bottle in, bills, and other necessities that I’ve grown accustomed to by using larger purses.  The bag can be made to be reversible, which is very handy!  You can customize this bag anyway you’d like.  If you prefer zipper pockets, they are easy to add in.  If you want a pen organizer, go for it!

Want to make your own?  Let’s do it!
For the Small Version You’ll Need:
(approximate yardage-it also depends on how many pockets you add)
1/2  to 1 yard of outer fabric
1/2 to 1 yard of liner fabric
Small Pattern (Leave me a Comment and I’ll email you the pattern)
For the Large Version You’ll Need:
(approximate yardage-it also depends on how many pockets you add)
1 1/4 yards of outer fabric
1 1/4 yards of liner fabric
Large Pattern (Leave a Comment and I’ll email the pattern to you)
Fusible Interfacing (I can’t tell you exactly how much because I figured this part out as I went and pieced it after the bag was assembled!) ;)
For BOTH Versions You’ll need:
Matching Thread
Sewing Machine/Supplies
Zippers tutorial for zipper pocket here by jcarolinecreative start at step #12 (if desired)
Magnetic Snap  tutorial here by Craft Apple (if desired)
Adjustable Strap Hardware  tutorial here by You SEW Girl! (if desired)
Velcro or buttons for closures on pockets (yes…if desired!)
*Note:  I’m not picky with seam allowances, so I will not specify what I used because I can’t remember.  When I make bags, I’ve found it doesn’t matter as much as it does when I’m constructing a piece of clothing.
Well that was a complicated list.  I promise it’s not that hard!

Pin the pattern to your outer fabric.  Cut out, leaving a small amount of fabric for seam allowance.  Cut out 2 outer fabric pieces, 2 liner fabric pieces, and for those of you making the larger bag, 2 interfacing pieces.  If you want to be more accurate, you can cut against the pattern and the bag will end up a tad smaller-but I promise it will still be big enough.

While you still have a long strip of fabric available, go ahead and cut out what you want to use for your strap.  I think I ended up cutting a 2 inch strip along the width of the material.  I will not be showing details on the strap in this tutorial because it was a disaster this time around.  I usually use this method as described on the instructions for the Simple Six-Pocket Bag by Better Home and Gardens.  You can make your strap any width you want, and still follow the directions linked above.

If you want to make inside zipper pockets, cut these pockets out.  I cut mine 10 in. X 12 in.  I cut two so the bag would truly be reversible.

Cut out the cute pockets.  I did not enlarge the ‘cute pocket,’ pattern for the larger size.  I just eyeballed it, and added on extra fabric as shown above.  Do this as well if you make the larger bag.  I promise it’s not as hard as you think it is!

I cut two panels for each pocket. So if you want two pockets, cut out four pieces. This will allow us to have lined pockets.

So now you should have two outer pieces, two liner pieces, pocket pieces (rounded and zipper depending on your choices) and material for your strap.  If you are making the large bag, you should also have two interfacing pieces.  You should apply your interfacing now if you are going to.  I ended up piecing it on after I had assembled everything and realized I needed it, and it was a mess!  So just do it now, and be happy you don’t have to do what I did!
Now would be a great time to also assemble your strap!  If I leave it until the end, I find it’s hard to get it done.  If it’s ready when the bag is done, then I can just put it on quickly.  I made mine adjustable this time.  Here’s a great tutorial I used from You SEW Girl!  I made my strap about 45-50 inches long, and it worked great.  I had to piece some material to make it work, but it just added visual appeal to the bag!

Now we’ll get out pockets ready so we can assemble the bag!  Take 2 rounded pocket pieces and place them right sides together.  Sew around the edges, leaving a small section for turning.  I like to leave the straight edges unsewn for turning so they can come together easier after turning.  do this for both rounded pockets.

Iron the unsewn part down inside the pocket, so it looks like it’s sewn shut.  Then use a straight stitch across the top of the pocket to close it.  I did a decorative stitch across the top below the straight stitch which you can see in the next picture.  This is optional.

Now we’ll sew the pockets onto the bag panels.  I did one on the outer fabric, and one of the liner fabric as shown above.  I just eyeballed where to put it, but you can measure and center it if you’d like!  I stitched two lines to make it look a little more finished.
2 bag panels ready, 2 more to go!

If you want to insert zippered pockets, go for it!  I am not going to attempt to explain this, but I will say that it is super easy.  I always follow this tutorial  at J Caroline Creative starting with step 12 (as it’s a whole bag tutorial).  Just go down until your zipper pockets are installed nicely.

Now we’re going to assemble the bag!  Lay your outer pieces right side together.  I folded one panel over so you could see what I was doing, but it should look like this…

Do the same thing with your liner pieces (pictured below)


Now, take the pile of the liner panels and place them directly on top of the outer panels.  Pin.

Sew around the bag, leaving the top unsewn, and about an inch at the top of each side for turning and topstitching the bag.

Now turn the bag so the outer panels are on the outside.  I didn’t take pictures of this, and I don’t know how I would have, but I probably should have! What you’ll do, is you’ll grab one of the outer panels, and the three remaining panels, and turn it.  Then it will be the way you want.  I hope this makes sense!  If not, just try something until you have it the right way!
Then pin the liner and outer fabrics together, folding them down so the bag looks finished, as shown above and closer up below.


Then sew those folded edges down, and you’re almost done!  I always miss a piece while I’m doing this step, so I always go around twice.  It looked nicer this way as well.

(A close up of the double lines on the top of the bag.)
Now all you need to do is sew your strap on, and you’re set.  Some people like to sew it one when top stitching the bag, but I don’t because I’ve been taught to sew it on after to keep the straps on better.  I just stuck the straps inside the bag about an inch and sewed back and forth a few times. 

And now you’ve got a brand new purse, just the way you’ve always dreamed of!
Please let me know in the comments if you have questions!  This is probably the most intense tutorial I’ve written so far, so let me know.  If you make one, I would love to see it!  My email is attached to my profile, so you can find it easily.
Happy Sewing!
~Lynette~
P.S.  What is your favorite must have on a bag?  The adjustable strap, the inside zipper pockets, a key hook?

Grandview Bag

A few months ago I participated in the Purse Week Contest over at A Lemon Squeezy Home.  I loved looking at all the beautiful purses, and especially loved the winner’s design.  Thanks to Emily at The Boy Trifecta she made a tutorial for the Grandview Bag, and I decided that my sister would love one for Christmas.  I asked her what was important in a bag for her, and she gave me several suggestions.

She wanted a bag that was fancy,

with an adjustable strap,

a magnetic closure,

a key holder hook thingy,

and a inside zippered pocket!

Whew! That was enough to make me tired just thinking about it, but I went about gathering my supplies and went at it.  I’d never done an adjustable strap with hardware before, and was up for the challenge.  I had also never done a magnetic closure, but I knew I’d try for my sister.

I found the fabric at Joann’s, and then finally a few days before Christmas sat down and started working on the bag.

Here it is, all ruffled and fancy and ready to go!

Here’s a peek at the inside zippered pocket, magnetic snap, and the key hook.  I took the hardware off a broken strap to make it adjustable.  I used this tutorial to do the strap, and this tutorial for the magnetic strap.  Both tutorials were great and made the new “scary,” tasks very easy and manageable.  The tutorial for the bag is in two parts, so click here for part 1 and here for part 2.

Well there you have it, my handmade Christmas gifts for 2010.

Bag for Purse Week!

This week is purse week over at Lemon Squeezy Home!  I’ve been working on this purse since August off and on, and I finally put the finishing touches on yesterday.  I’m glad this contest came up so I could get my purse done!  I did the same style as I usually do, but the front pocket is nearly as big as the bag.  I also designed the strap so that it’s adjustable, and left an extra loop at an end for a key holder.  Embellished with ribbon strip sewed on and a bow to finish off the look!  Hope you like it as much as I do!

Inside, you can see the key loop, my purse organizer, just regular pocket (brown one), and the zippered pocket.

Guess what?!  It’s Friday!  Enjoy your weekend, I definitely will!

Makeup Organizer!

Hi there!  I absolutely LOVE my purse organizer I made a while back.  I just put it in my backpack when I’m ready for school, and then I switch it to my purse when I’m shopping or doing non-school related things.  I love it SOOO much…that I decided I’d make another one for my makeup!  You see, with my very mobile life, I’m always traveling (if I’m not moving). :)  I’ve needed a new makeup bag for over two years.  I wanted one with pockets so I could see everything at once, and I actually made one this summer but it was a definite fail.  So I gave up for a couple months.  And this last week I realized I could make another purse organizer and make the pockets perfect for makeup.

Here it is!

I love the fabric, that it’s not my usual brown and pink! :)  Now I can set it out on the counter and grab as I need and instantly put away!  I’m thinking of making a little bag for me to put this in for travelling.  We’ll see when I have time for that! ha! :)  The only thing that I don’t like about this is that I somehow got a lighter weight interfacing than I used on the last organizer, and it’s a little flimsy, but it’ll be okay for makeup stuff.  Want to make your own, here’s the link for the tutorial I used.

I wonder what the next thing one of these babies will be useful for!

Scrappy Summer Wallet

Here’s a picture of the wallet I made to match the purse organizer.  I love it!  Click here for the tutorial from Lola Nova. 

This tutorial was pretty easy, but I lined up the panels wrong and ended up sewing the ruffle to the back of the wallet.  I simply glued a ruffle on the front, and nobody knows but me and you! :) 

This wallet has room for my cash (I did alter the pattern a little to make one long pocket and two card sized ones), and cards.  If I made this again, I would probably put interfacing in all the panels, just to make it more sturdy.  I plan to make a zipper pouch for extra gift cards, and an additional one for all that spare change.  (But we’ll see when I have time to do that!) ha!

Purse Organizer

Hi gals!  I’ve been neglecting my blog lately, and I have a whole bunch of posts scheduled for the next couple weeks to get us caught up!  I hope I can remember to get everything posted that I’ve done.  First up is the purse organizer.  I found the tutorial here, and I love it!  It was nearly the easiest tutorial I’ve ever followed.  I love the results.  I made a coordinating wallet that I’ll show you later in the week (well, it’s in the pictures, but I’ll show you more in detail later) :).  The organizer fits all the essentials that I’ll want in any bag.  When I head up to school with my backpack, I’ll just tuck the organizer in and I’ll be set!

Tutorial: Washcloth Camera Clutch

I was wandering around Family Dollar a few days ago, and came across a wash cloth for 96 cents.  I have a simple point and shoot camera (my husband calls it the brick), so finding a case for it is tricky.  Not to mention I can't have one of those adorable neck straps for my camera!  This clutch can hold my camera, extra batteries, and an extra memory card.  It took me longer to choose which color of washcloth to buy than it did to make the silly thing!  Here’s a quick (less than 30 minutes) tutorial for you! 


You’ll need:
A washcloth
A tiny hair band (or the elastic rope looking stuff..how’s that for a proper name?)
A button (I did a cute one because I didn’t want to embellish too much)

First: Fold your washcloth in half.  I chose to keep the design from showing, so I folded it so it would be on the inside of the bag.  The corners had a funny curve to them, so I hid the funny curves inside.  I pinned it because of the curves.
Second:  Pin the elastic between the two pieces on the side you want to be the flap of the bag. 

Third:  Sew the flap side and the long side of the bag.  If you leave one side open (don’t sew it), you’ll have a little pocket in your bag.

Fourth:  Fold your bag to the right side for your camera.  You’ll be folding the washcloth in (about) thirds.  Pin the sides and sew. (Be sure to backstitch!)

Fifth:  We’re almost finished!  Now we just need to sew the button on.  Mark with a pin where your button needs to go, using the elastic as a guide.  Make sure you sew the button on just the outer fabric.  If you sew through both pieces of fabric, you’ll sew your pocket shut! :( 
Embellish as desired.  I can see fabric flowers, ruffles, all sorts of prettiness!  This is just the basic idea.  I have a couple other ideas using washcloths.  We’ll see if I end up trying them! :)
Linking to these parties.