Arrow iPad case

Alex has taken over my old iPad case, so Mum sewed me a new one from Orchid Arrows. The pattern is Erin Erickson's Gadget Guard, and I love it. Nicely padded with Soft & Stable, but not bulky. A perfect fit for my antique iPad.


The pleated pocket on the front can hold a charging cord, pens, small notebook, cash, love letters, or photos of your hamster.

The pattern has options for putting the zippers on the long or short side, leaving the pocket off, and sizing it for any device up to one inch thick.


Of course I requested orange zippers to go with the purply-pink arrows, but the turquoise zips Mum put on her own case with the navy background look almost as fabulous.


P.S. I just learned that Erin's patterns are all 25% off through Sunday, May 11. Correction: Monday, May 12. Go shopping!

A cute wallet pattern to sew

Look what my mom (alias Grandma G) sewed me: a couple Get Carded wallets from the pattern by Erin Erickson of Dog Under My Desk. I know you just exclaimed out loud when you saw the cuteness, didn't you? I did when I opened the package.

I have a big vinyl wallet that's slowly disintegrating, and I wanted something trimmer and lighter to put in a small bag or carry in my pocket. So I convinced my mom to make me a Get Carded. Then I looked for fabric on Etsy and was dazzled by all the prints at Fresh Modern Fabric. I couldn't make up my mind between Skinny laMinx's Free as a Bird and Lucie Summers's Summersville Brush Strokes, so I sheepishly asked Mum for two wallets because I'm a greedy, greedy person. FMF mailed her the fabric, and these finished goodies just arrived at my house!

The wallet pattern uses just a fat quarter each for the lining and the exterior, so check out the pretty fat quarter bundles at Fresh Modern Fabrics. Or concoct your own order if you need something different than the combos listed. Such a lovely shop! Go there.


You might turn into a wallet-making machine like Mum. Look— she just keeps going, and she's not done yet. I've created a monster.


The wallet pattern offers three variations for the coin pocket: a flat pocket, a pleated pocket, or a gathered pocket, with a wrist strap or without.


Throw your loose change in there.


Put your driver's license in the clear pocket on the other side. If you don't want your mug showing, the pattern has an option for a fabric pocket there instead.


Then fill all the interior slots with credit cards and cash.


Mum says these are a piece of cake to make. All the cutting is straight lines so it goes fast and there's no hand sewing, only top stitching. She's a big fan of Erin's patterns and says the instructions are so clear and there are so many photos demonstrating the project that you just can't go wrong. (And Grandma G is a tough critic— not all patterns are created equal, so if there was anything wrong with this one, I'm sure I'd hear about it.) The pattern is for sale right here. Enjoy!

"Make Me Up Before You Go-Go" pattern review

My mom, also known as Grandma G in the comments around here, sent over pictures of a new bag she just made using the Make Me Up Before You Go-Go zippered pouch pattern by Erin Erickson. She used the Wildflower canvas print from my Outside Oslo fabric collection, and here's the result.


The design is for a big makeup bag that opens up wide enough to see all the way to the bottom. You could use it to store craft supplies or toys. Or instruments of torture like Mum shows in her photo.

(Apparently these tools are also used for sewing; read about them on her blog if you're curious.)

My favorite part about this bag: she quilted the tulips. They're puffy!


Mum provided some comments on the pattern, which I'll share here:
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I went into this project with every confidence that the pattern would be a good one, because I've sewn from some of Erin's patterns and tutorials before, and I know she does a meticulous job of pattern writing and sews many prototypes before she calls a pattern good enough. I wasn't disappointed! She did an excellent job of writing this one and also of taking many photos to demonstrate her instructions.

I had a little confusion when making the inside zippered pocket. I couldn't visualize how it was going to turn out, but I went ahead and did exactly what she said and followed the photos... and sure enough, it turned into a perfect pocket.

The hardest part of the sewing was putting the binding around the ends of the bag. I had to really do some wrangling (reminiscent of making that infamous Weekender Bag, but not that bad) around those corners, and I admit I picked out some stitches and resewed in a couple of places. Of course, I made it harder by choosing to do it the opposite way that Erin suggested in the pattern... I sewed on the binding from the outside of the bag, because I wanted to make sure my neatest stitching was on the part of the bag that would show the most. I'm glad I did it that way.

Other than that, the rest of the pattern was pretty easy to use. I thought the quilting made for a fun, attractive touch. I'd say if you've had some bag-making and/or binding experience, you could easily sew this project.

Erin has a lot of cool patterns in her shop, and I know she's been working on a fun wallet pattern that should be out soon. In fact, she just wrote a post about how much she prototypes during her pattern writing process. It's very interesting, and it shows all the hard work she puts into her patterns. Read the post and see all the variations for that new wallet here. I just may have to give that a try, too, when the pattern's released!
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DIY stitched fabric notecard

I was rummaging through my fabric stash for guest room pillow possibilities, and I found a little piece of this vintage print. Tiny uniformed guards — so cute! I stiffened the fabric, printed a quote onto plain cotton with my inkjet printer, and stitched the whole works together with a paper insert for writing a message.


The best way to make stiff fabric that I've found is to use Stiffen Stuff (I bought this bottle at Michael's). Mist both sides of the fabric until it's damp. A plastic garbage bag makes a good work surface for this.


Then let the fabric air dry, or for immediate results, microwave it on a paper towel for about 30 seconds or until dry. Don't worry if the fabric gets crumpled up as your turntable spins it around. Press it with an iron until it's nice and flat.


See? The fabric should stand up by itself. If yours feels too floppy, mist on another layer and microwave again.


To print text onto fabric, I set up my document and inkjet printed it on a test piece of letter-sized paper. Then I positioned the plain fabric over it and taped down the leading edge that feeds through the printer first (you MUST tape this edge or you'll end up with a snarl!) I taped the bottom edge down, too, for extra security. Then I reprinted my document onto the fabric. I used unstiffened fabric for this, since it doesn't need the extra structure.




I cut the quote down to size and picked at the edges to fray them a bit for extra character.


Then I trimmed the stiffened fabric into a rectangle and folded it in half. The notecard needed a paper insert for writing a message, so I cut a piece of coordinating paper to the same size.


Then I zigzag-stitched the quote to the front of the notecard and tied the loose ends of the threads together on the reverse side. I used a straight stitch across the fold to attach the insert to the card and tied off the loose threads on each side.


A stationery set with different messages and fabrics would be a really fun gift for someone, right? Add coordinating envelopes and tie the bundle with a ribbon. Cuteness.

Roundup of free bag tutorials

If you're in the mood for some weekend sewing, take one of these free purse and pouch tutorials for a spin:

Ruffled pouches with decorative stitching at See Kate Sew (yup, those black and white patterns are THREAD.)
See-through vinyl pouch at Bonjour Quilts
DIY backpack from Petit a Petit & Family
Oilcloth pool tote with mesh pocket by Sewbon
Patchwork pencil case from A Spoonful of Sugar
Foldover tote at The Sewing Rabbit

Have fun! I'll be working on some curtains for our guest room this weekend. Unless I decide to spray paint some stuff. Or concoct wall art. Or pick up some patio furniture. Or shop for light fixtures.

DIY stitched greeting cards

Recently I stumbled across Stitching Cards, a site that sells downloadable e-patterns for embroidered greeting cards and bookmarks. Most patterns are a dollar or two, or you can raid the freebie section for some floral designs and an alphabet. I've seen 70s-style string art making a comeback on Pinterest— with these, you can try something similar on a small scale.


If you dig the idea of stitched cards but don't have the patience to do it yourself, check out Jeni Shirley's line of paper-and-thread creations. A source of inspiration!

Make hexagon-shaped pillows

Have you seen Diane Gilleland's kaleidoscope pillow tutorial over at Spoonflower? Each pillow is sewn from two fat quarters of fabric. They're nifty.

Frame purse inspiration

For Christmas my mum (Grandma G) asked for metal frames for making a couple of clasp clutches. We bought her frames and glue from While Baby Naps at Etsy. Looking forward to seeing the outcome!

There are tutorials all over the internet for this type of bag. Sew 4 Home has just posted a tutorial featuring Joel Dewberry's Notting Hill fabric collection, above. Find the how-to for those right here.

And for further clutch bag inspiration, check out these fun items from various Etsy sellers: Phone clutch from Octopurse, Squirrel and Striped purses from Misala, and Cars bag with handle from Oktak.

How to sew cases, bags, and buckets

Check out these instructions for making things that hold other things. Maybe you know somebody who needs a handmade gift?

iPad or Kindle cover tutorial at Craft Buds
Pleated tote bag PDF from The Long Thread
Geometric DIY painted totes from Collect & Carry
Round fabric storage buckets by Film in the Fridge

Find even more things to make at Sew 4 Home, like this laminated tote with a zippered pocket or a round pillow that reminds me of peppermint candy and grandmas.

How to make an infinity scarf the lazy way

Scarves are everywhere, which makes me want to resist them since everyone is doing it. But they're so comfy and nice and make you feel like you're wearing a cozy blanket. If you close your eyes, you can pretend you're still in your bed. Plus you can wear old jeans and a worn out t-shirt, and as soon as you add a scarf, your surprised friends will tell you how nice you look. At least that's what happens to me.

So I went to buy couple more at the mall, but was not impressed with $20+ price tags. Instead I found seller FABULACE on Etsy and bought a couple pieces of knit jersey for about $3 a yard. The piece I cut up for this scarf was 1 1/2 yards long by 60" wide, so that's enough to make two scarves!

There are a million infinity scarf tutorials on the internet, but the ones I saw all involve hand sewing where the loop joins together. That's for lovely people who are patient and care about doing a really nice job. This thing will get all wadded up around my neck, so I'm thinking no one will see that I sort of cheated and did not care about doing a really nice job.

I cut a rectangle of fabric 22" wide by 1 1/2 yards long.

I folded it in half lengthwise with the right sides together. I sewed along the open edge to create a long tube.

Then I turned the tube right side out.

To join the open ends together to form a continuous loop, on one end I turned the raw edges to the inside about 1/2". I stuffed the other end of the scarf inside the opening and pinned them together, then sewed along the pinned edge.

Keep the seam behind your neck or hidden under a loop of fabric, and nobody will be the wiser.

Free sewing patterns and tutorials

If you've got fabric yardage crawling out from under your bed waiting to trip innocent passers by, it might be time to use some up. (Possibly that's just me.) These DIY bag and clothing projects might put some of that surplus to good use!
Backpack at Hart & Sew
Backgammon skirt by Ellen Luckett Baker at I'm Feelin' Crafty
Half apron with jumbo pockets from Sew 4 Home
Little Grey Dress at Un Petit Design (plus FAQ here)
Reversible tote bag at You Can Do That Dot Me, based on this tutorial
Little Betty Bag from The Mother Huddle

Triple-zip pouches you can sew

My mom (known as Grandma G in the comments around here) sent over photos of pouches she made using the Triple-Zip Pouch tutorial from A Quilter's Table. Has anyone else tried it out? Looks like fun! I asked Mum if she had any comments or notes on the tutorial.

She said:
"I don't have a lot to say about this tutorial. Simply put, these pouches were FUN to make! I loved how each layer was added on, step by step, and suddenly you turn it right side out, and it becomes the pouch! With THREE (easily installed) zippers! I think the design was brilliant, and the tutorial was clear-cut and easy to follow. You have to pay close attention to the details and follow them exactly, but once you get the hang of it, it goes together quickly!

I eliminated the fusible fleece, since the fabric was home dec weight, and it worked out just fine, except that it made the upper corners a bit more bulky and harder to turn out, but IMO that's no big deal.

I also love that the tutorial is available in a PDF file, so I could download it to my iPad and work from there!

Thanks, Debbie, for a great tutorial! I'm off to make another pouch!"

Mum used a lot of exclamation points there, so that means she liked it. I'm embarrassed to say I had to think long and hard what "IMO" might mean. She's cool. IMO.

Tutorials for small things to sew

For some handy coasters, cases, and bags, check out the following DIY sewing tutorials. Thanks for sharing these, kind citizens of the internet!

Felt laptop sleeve at Just Crafty Enough
Block coasters by Abernathy Crafts
Pieced hexagon coasters from Canoe Ridge Creations
Grocery bag that folds into a strawberry at Craft Passion
Gift card pocket from Making the World Cuter
Zipper pencil case by Craft Passion

Make a felt hot air balloon mobile

Hot air balloons are floating all around the internet lately. I'm not sure they'll ever reach owl status, but their popularity is certainly on the rise. Make a colorful hot air balloon mobile from felt using How Joyful's free pattern (via Craft Gossip). Or if paper is more your speed, try the gorgeous woven versions at PaperMatrix— they've added new designs #3 and #4, plus a basic video tutorial on how to assemble the balloons.

DIY zippered pouch with gusset

Those who like to sew small, cute things (as opposed to large, ugly things?) might enjoy the zipper card pouch tutorial from Joanne at Craft Passion. My mom just tried it out and here's the result. Adorableness! Mum, did you put your Discover card on top because you knew I'd like the orange ball?

You can store some credit cards or a bit of cash in there.

Or put in some wallet-sized photos of your favorite grandchild to show off to friends and family. If you don't have a grandchild, maybe you have a pet or a houseplant.

Satchel sewing pattern review

My mom, known to you guys as Grandma G, has made another bag! This is the "Too Cool for School Satchel" pattern from the book A Bag for All Reasons by Lisa Lam. The fabric is my Skiff print in Dawn. How fun is this? I'm always a sucker for hardware on handmade bags since it makes them look smart and professional.

Along with photos, Mum has provided a review of this pattern in case anyone else wants to give it a try. About this "Too Cool for School Satchel," she says:

This is a very cool bag, and it isn't as hard to make as it might look. Yes, there's a lot of fiddly work to it, with all the flap and strap tabs. They take some extra time and careful sewing to get the shape consistent, but they're not really difficult.

The hardest part was sewing around the curves, especially attaching the front pocket to its gusset, since there were a number of layers, and the curves were smaller than those on the main bag body. But again, it's just a matter of taking your time and sewing carefully to get a nice curve. I used binder clips to hold the thick layers of fabric together, which you can see in the photo, and that worked really well.

I'd recommend this pattern! The instructions are very clear and easy to follow, and everything you need to know is included in the book. The hardware adds so much for making the bag look great. One thing I would note when buying the buckles is that Lisa's buckles have a little bar across the male end for threading the tab through with no sewing needed. The ones I used did not, so I had to stitch the tab down, though it's not a big deal... just something to be aware of. If I'd had enough rivets on hand, I would've used them instead of stitching. I did add rivets to the strap tab (which you can't see in the photo), as Lisa did on her bag.

I would change one thing if I were to make the bag again. When carrying the bag, it tends to pivot at the points where the strap is attached, so it leans forward or backward. I think I would attach the tabs closer to the top of the gusset, even though all the satchels of any kind I've seen in photos online have the tabs lower like that. Maybe there's something else that would keep the bag from leaning one way or the other? Any ideas?

Sew a modern orange quilt

I'm not really into quilts unless they are 1) handmade by my Gram or 2) very modern, geometric, and simple. Kirsty from You Had Me at Bonjour just sent me a link to her baby quilt tutorial, and I can't resist sharing this one. It's orange and cool! Pair this coziness with a white Eames rocker* and your nursery will be looking hip.

Find the quilt how-to right here.
*Eames rockers are expensive and not entirely comfortable, but will increase the odds of getting your nursery featured in a decorating magazine. The top priority of every new mom, I'm certain.

DIY pouch sewing tutorials

In the mood to whip up some cute little mini-bags? Try these pouch and clutch tutorials:
Pleated clutch made with hand-drawn fabric at Charm Stitch
Open Wide zippered pouches by Noodlehead
Flex frame pouch with patchwork hexagons from Where the Orchids Grow