Wedding Gifts

As promised, here are the goodies I was working on for my sister's wedding gifts.

This dishmat was based on this tutorial and inspired by this post.

The 4 towels are based on the towels in this post.  The hotpads are from this tutorial.

Table runner inspired by this tutorial.  It is rather small because they have a small table!

I think she might just end up with the prettiest kitchen at the University!

A new bag

I bought this pattern quite a while back.  It wasn't really my style.  My love of all things Amy Butler dictated that I must buy it.  (Crazy, I know!)  I decided to make it for a friend.  It was quite easy.  Tons of ironing interfacing- but I am used to that, having made many an Amy Butler bag in the past.  The hardest part of this pattern is sewing the strap to the band, and the bands to the main body of the bag.  This is because of the curves.  I countered this by using a stay stitch and then clipping before sewing it together.   It is a great bag for someone who is starting out.  I highly recommend it!

This is the first one I made.  It was for Marianne's birthday.  Kristin offered to take it if Marianne didn't like it.  Unfortunately for Kristin, she did like!  The fabric I used was Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane.

It has been a few months now.  I planned to make a bag for my sister, but somehow the instructions got lost in our move to the desert.  I decided to make a bag for myself to be sure I knew how to put it together before starting her bag.  I only made a few mistakes on this one.  Sure am glad I made this one first! I used Amy Butler's Midwest Modern and Midwest Modern 2 fabrics for this bag.

This is the bag for my sister.  I used Heather Bailey's Pop Garden fabrics for it. I am excited to take it to her next week.  She is getting married!  I can hardly wait.  I am going to be making some goodies to dress up her kitchen.  I will post those after the wedding.

So if you like a nice big bag, this is a great one!  It is easy to make, and even easier to wear.  You will end up with plenty of scraps for more projects.  Large scraps!

Many people use it as a diaper bag as well.


**** This makes a great personal item when traveling via airplane.  With new restrictions on checked baggage, it is nice to have a LARGE "personal item" or purse.****

Make It Monday

I was reading along in Google Reader on Thursday when I came across an awesome tutorial.  I stopped what I was doing and got out my fabric scraps.  I knew exactly for whom I would be making it.  It was quick and easy.  I am thinking it might be the perfect gift for my many sisters this year (I have six).

Are you curious yet?

Here it is:

 

This gathered clutch tutorial by noodlehead is so wonderful!  The above picture link is directly from noodlehead's blog.  Thanks for the awesome pictures.  So click on the picture or any of the links in this post to head over and get started on your own gathered clutch!

So, I made this project on Friday.  I used the scraps from previous projects from Pop Garden by Heather Bailey and Lotus by Amy Butler fabrics.  It was very easy to follow the instructions in the tutorial.  I did do a few things differently.  On the inside pockets, I made it so that the cards could go in sideways allowing for 3 cards to fit across.   I also went back and sewed the lining an 1/8 inch inside the original seam so that it would fit inside the bag a little more nicely.  

Here is my finished clutch:

Diaper Clutch

 

This is a very simple and useful project, borne from my desire to save money and also be organized.  My friend Laura came over and talked me through it and helped me make a sample or 2, and now we've got a tutorial ready for all you that want your own diaper clutch.

Diaper Clutch

• Supplies: You will need the following items:

• 3 pieces of 8 1/2" x 11" printer paper
• scissors for paper
• pencil
• tape
• ruler
• fabric tape measure
• scissors for fabric
• pins
• thread
• sewing machine (obviously)
• 2 coordinating 1/4 yard pieces of fabric
• velcro

**This tutorial uses a 1/2" seam allowance unless otherwise specified**

Section 1: Make A Pattern

Although you can make this without a pattern, I've found it's much easier when it comes to cutting and getting angles and curves the same if you use a pattern.

• For Front Piece:
• Using 1 piece of paper, draw a curve in one corner.

• Fold the paper in half the long way an cut both layers of paper along curve line.
• Open paper out, this is your pattern for the front section of the project.
• For Back Piece:
• Tape the remaining 2 pieces of paper together the long way so it is 15 1/2" long.

• 
  
  
  At the top, make a mark 1 1/2" from the left side of the paper. Repeat for the right side.

• Measure down 5 1/4" from the top of the paper. Using a ruler, draw a line across pattern. This is your tab fold line.

• Using a ruler, connect fold line at right edge of paper with right side mark. Fold paper in half the long way, and cut along line.

• Using the front pattern as a guide, cut a curve in the bottom corner, then open flat. This is your pattern for the back section of the project.

Section 2: Cut the Fabric

**For purposes of the tutorial, I will be using Hop Dot-Tangerine from Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane Collection as my lining and Welcome Road-Pink also from Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane Collection for my outer fabric. I will reference them yellow and pink for the remainder of the tutorial.**

• Layer a single layer of each fabric then lay the pattern on top of them. You can pin the pattern to the fabric if you wish.
• Cut around each pattern through both layers of fabric.
• You should now have 1 pink back piece, 1 pink front piece, 1 yellow back piece, and 1 yellow front piece.

Section 3: Assembly

• Front
• With right sides together, stitch top edge of front pieces only. Open flat.

• With right sides up, stitch seam allowance to yellow lining 1/8" - 1/4" from original seam.

• With right sides still facing up, measure 2 1/4" from original seam in center of pink fabric. Mark with a pencil.

• Center bottom edge of hook side of velcro rectange on mark, then sew 1/8" from all edges of velcro to attach.
• Back
• With right side facing up, measure 1" from top in center of yellow fabric. mark with a pencil.

• Center top edge of loop side of velcro on mark, then sew 1/8" from all edges of velcro to attach.
• Fold down top edge of yellow fabric 1/2" toward wrong side of fabric. Press. Repeat this step on pink fabric also.

• Putting Sides Together
• Layer back pink fabric, right side up, then with wrong sides together layer front assembly with yellow side up. Last, layer back yellow fabric, wrong side up.
• Pin into place.

• Stitch around 3 sides leaving folded top side open for turning.
• Trim seam allowances to alleviate bulk. Turn right sides out.

• Stitch opening closed 1/8" - 1/4" from edge.

You're finished!! That's all there is to it.

So, according to my assessment, this project costs less than $6 and it takes less than 1 hour. Hmmm, I don't know about you, but that's definitely worth making myself instead of buying one.

If you have any questions, please contact me at kristinslearningmoments@gmail.com.

Oh, did you want to win one?  Well, all you have to do to win this diaper clutch is comment.  If you want another chance to win, become a follower of my blog.  For one more chance to win, post about this tutorial on your blog, and link back to me in your post.  Comment to let me know you did.

This giveaway will close on Friday, March 12.  I will announce a winner on Make It Yourself Monday!

Happy Creating!

*fabric purchased at Piece By Piece, Eugene, OR.  Other supplies purchased at Jo-Ann Fabrics.