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These cute little bags can be used for practically anything – makeup, knitting projects, organizing your tote bag. The box bag is the perfect size for a sock knitting project. I have provided a tutorial below on how to make a lined version of this bag with no unsightly raw seams.
The pyramid bag was a larger version of a fun pattern by Nicole Mallalieu, which I followed exactly to her specifications except for making it bigger. Unfortunately, the Web page with the instructions (supposedly found here) is not up and running right now. Perhaps it will be soon. (more…) |
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Posts Tagged ‘tutorial’
Lined geometric knitting bags
Sunday, February 14th, 2010Lined gadget case tutorial
Saturday, February 6th, 2010
 Gadget case |
OK, so I’ve already shown you how to make a big, roomy bag. And, naturally, we put pockets in for phones and such. But sometimes you need a separate pouch for your phone or MP3 player.
Here’s a lightly padded, velcro-closure gadget case with a cute little strap that you can open and close, in case you want to hook it around something, like a belt loop or purse strap. |
Rolled edge on a serger
Sunday, January 24th, 2010
 rolled hem |
Lately, I’ve been into using cloth napkins. Not only do reusable napkins save paper, but they just make you feel good. I’ll use them when I’m on my lunch break at work, eating something nuked in the microwave and completely not fancy. I’ll use them with my oatmeal in the morning or my cheese and crackers at night. You can make your own napkins using a rolled hem. One nice way to do this is on your serger. In a future post, we’ll do a rolled edge on a regular sewing machine. (more…) |
Pleated, lined handbag
Saturday, January 16th, 2010
 Roomy, pleated bag |
Making your own fabric bags means you’ll always have unique accessories. I have lots of them, and I get compliments all the time. They really stand out. This bag is pleated and nice and roomy as a purse. I have made this style in both a smaller and larger size, but neither ever seemed just right. This one I made somewhere in between. It holds all of my day-to-day purse stuff, with room to throw in a book or bottle of water, to boot.
I took this out today and somebody complimented me on it and wanted one. See? That’s what I’m talking about. So worth making! (more…) |
How to insert a magnetic snap into a bag
Saturday, January 16th, 2010
 Magnetic snap |
Magnetic snaps make great closures for handbags and totes. They’re clean-looking and offer quick and easy opening and closing of your bag. They’re easy to install, but if you don’t take a few precautions, you could end up with strained, torn fabric. Let me show you how I do it. (more…) |
How to make a non-turn strap
Saturday, January 16th, 2010
 Look Ma, no turning! |
What’s worse than making a thin tube and then having to turn it right-side out? Uh … nothing. Here is a painless, turn-free way to make a nice, neat strap for a handbag or tote. (more…) |
Sewing a curved edge
Sunday, January 10th, 2010 |
Ever have two pattern pieces that are supposed to be sewn together but are actually curved in opposite directions? You wonder how they are possibly supposed to fit together. Sometimes you’ll see this in shaped seams, like a princess seam on a woman’s top that must make room for the bust. Sometimes, in the case of this tutorial, it’s a flat seam (meaning, not convex) that is rounded for visual effect. It’s really not hard to do, and I’ll show you how. (more…) |
Chicken or the egg quilted potholder tutorial
Sunday, January 10th, 2010
 Mitt/potholder combo |
You can make your own oven mitts and potholders for practically nothing. And why do we love sewing, people? Because we can choose our own fun fabrics, that’s why. We aren’t limited to the options at Target. We are limited only by our imaginations! Who knew handling hot pots could be so inspiring and exciting? Let’s go try it out. (more…) |
Buttonholes: do not fear them
Saturday, December 26th, 2009
 It's not so hard |
For a long time, I hated doing buttonholes and I hated doing zippers. So I had a bit of a problem when it came to making closures on garments. The thing is, I’m not really ready to go for an all-velcro wardrobe or elastic waistbands, but in 50 years? Who knows.
When I first got my machine and began sewing, I was tackling a lot of new techniques all at once, and the buttonhole was a bit intimidating. I was actually pretty bad at them until recently. I am embarrassed to admit this, but after I broke my automatic buttonhole foot and didn’t replace it, I thought that my only option was to do them freehand. I’d mark the buttonhole on the fabric and then try to do a wide zigzag on either end with narrower zigzags down the sides. Inevitably, it would be extremely crooked and nasty looking. That’s when I finally took the darn manual out and learned once and for all how to do a proper buttonhole. (more…) |
Make an ironing board cover
Saturday, December 19th, 2009
 Ironing board cover |
If you have an extra-wide ironing board like I do, you know it’s hard to find new covers for it. And when you do, they are usually just plain muslin. This could be the easiest sewing project you ever do, and it works for any size of ironing board. All you need is your old cover to use as a pattern. Best of all, you get to pick the fabric!
I chose a ticking fabric that reminded me of the old days. Like the pillows my grandma would have had. This one is a light wheat color. (more…) |
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