An orange skirt from Mum

I have the best Mom. (Known to you all as Grandma G, faithful commenter on my blog posts.) I said, "Mumsy, would you pretty please sew me a pleated orange skirt?" And so she did. I picked McCall's M5591 as the pattern and my Boardwalk print as the fabric since I had some extra yardage. It's home dec weight, so it was an experiment to see what sort of skirt would result. A cute one, it turns out! It's a little bit heavy for summer, I suppose, but I don't care about things like that.

I recruited my husband to take a couple pictures. I'm not a good poser, and thus I have only one arm and one leg in the photo above. But you get the idea.


Look, it has pockets!


And Mum sewed a sweet surprise inside— the selvedge from this print.

For anyone interested making this pattern, here are her comments on McCall's M5591:

The first thing I would say about this pattern is that I don't know how a person is supposed to know what size to buy! I thought most garment patterns have body measurements on the outside of the envelope, but this one had none. Fortunately, the envelope contained four sizes, so Jess was pretty sure one of them would fit her when she bought it. One did, but not the one she thought. Not even close. ;) So the first thing to note is that if you buy this pattern, don't go according to your regular clothing size! Once you get to the pattern pieces inside, they give measurements as to the waist measurement, etc., for each pattern size. I don't know if the large McCall's pattern catalog in the stores has a size chart or not. I would certainly hope so!

The instructions are pretty straight-forward and easy to follow. I'd say it would be helpful to have some sewing experience before making this skirt, because it doesn't include some little things like finishing seams or which way to press them, etc. The only thing I found to be a little challenging was the zipper. Don't let this be your first-ever zipper installation! It was challenging because of the pleat in the center back where the zipper goes. Mine ended up not quite as neat as I'd have liked it, but I didn't redo it because I thought it might not turn out any better the second time... and because I didn't feel like ripping it out and doing it again.

One last quick tip, if you decide to make this skirt: If you use the version where the pockets are in the side seam, make sure that they are turned toward the front of the skirt when you sew on the yoke. It will save you over an hour's worth of seam ripping and resewing. Ahem. ;)

A handful of new sewing tutorials

If you haven't poked around Sew 4 Home lately, you might be missing a recent burst of free sewing tutorials. They're posting projects that show off some new fabric collections on the market. Check out a DIY color-blocked duvet cover and bolster pillow, above.

Or get free patterns for making vintage-looking kitchen stuff, including a pleated apron, oven mitts, and a toaster cozy. You know, just in case you've cranked your air conditioning up too high and your toaster gets chilly.

Here's a triangle-patterned table runner project. Find even more tutorials right here.

Sewing book: Happy Home

Chronicle Books has recently released Happy Home: Twenty-one Sewing and Craft Projects to Pretty Up Your Home by Jennifer Paganelli, the designer behind Sis Boom Fabrics. I peeked at a review copy from the publisher and snapped pix of my favorite projects: a duvet cover with piping, a pleated bed skirt, patterned boxes, and floor-length drapes.

Make them with Sis Boom fabrics if you adore an explosion of candy-colored florals and wish you lived in a garden. Or choose geometric prints and lots of solids if you love a modern look and wish you lived inside a Room and Board.

Many, though not all, of the book's projects are classic enough that you can achieve any decorating style by switching out fabrics. That's the beauty of sewing it yourself— you can make it exactly how you like it instead of settling for what's in the store. Plus you'll be so proud you can hardly stand it. I remember the first time I sewed a pillow out of fabric I designed. I thought my head was going to explode, I was so pleased.



Other projects in the book include party bunting, pillows, a tote, an apron, laundry bag, dog bed cover, pillowcase, fabric-covered headboard, and bed canopy. Written instructions are accompanied by illustrated diagrams, and a couple of printed sewing patterns come in a pocket inside the front cover. Bright, cheerful photos of finished projects are peppered throughout. Happy Home is available here at Amazon.

Free sewing tutorial: Geek Chic iPad Case

Hello, everybody! I'm back from my travels. I hope last week's orange round-up didn't scald the retinas of those who prefer other hues. I've got a freebie for you today, and you can make it in any color you like (though I do recommend orange).

The Geek Chic iPad Case is a sewing project from Lisa Lam's book A Bag for All Reasons. You might know Lisa from her site U-handbag.com. Since I have a bag addiction, this book with 12 different sewing patterns makes me super happy. They're modern, clean, and make smart use of hardware. I've seen tons of bag and purse patterns that combine appliques, ruffles, and patchwork in a crazy mess. Cool if you like that sort of thing, but I prefer simplicity. Let the fabric be the star, I say! So I'm a fan of Lisa's lovely patterns. Want to try out a free project from her book, compliments of the publisher?

Download the Geek Chic iPad Case tutorial here.
Download the flap template here.

If you dig it, you can purchase the whole book here. Happy sewing!


(Photos from A Bag for All Reasons.)

Make a simple, stitched vinyl wallet

My hubby Alex likes to carry around a slim, fold-in-half vinyl wallet sometimes, but his isn't quite the right size to fit a dollar bill folded in half. He has to perform some kind of weird origami quarter-fold to make cash fit, so I thought I'd see if I could make a better one.

Tragically the fabric store didn't have orange vinyl, but I made do. I used one color for the outside and another for contrasting pockets. (I folded the wallets a little bit crooked in the photo above so you can see a hint of pocket peeking out.)

These would be simple gifts to whip up as graduation presents or Father's Day gifts, and especially fun with cash or a gift card tucked inside.

The measurements I used:
Outer piece = 4.5" x 6.5"
Each pocket = 4.5" x 2.5"

Or adjust as needed to make business card holders, recipe card holders, you name it.

On the outer piece, get crazy with your sewing machine and stitch some lines using contrasting thread. I made some straight stitches on one version, then tried one of the fancy stitches on my sewing machine that I never use.

Instead of backstitching to secure the ends of the decorative stitches (that's unsightly!) pick at the last stitch on the reverse side until you can pull the thread from the front side back through and then knot the loose ends. Secure all the stitches this way.

Then sew on the two pockets by stitching around the edges of the wallet. When you're finished, slice off any overhanging bits with a rotary cutter and a ruler to tidy up the edges.

Modern cross stitch patterns

While browsing on Etsy I bumped into Tiny Modernist, a shop selling cross stitch patterns for little mid-century items. Make four-inch Barcelona chairs, Airstream campers, and more. Cute stuff! I'm not a cross stitcher, but if I were, I'd grab one of these PDF patterns for five bucks.

A handful of sewing tutorials

New tutorials are constantly materializing on the internet. So if you like material, here are a few sewing projects you might attempt!
Retro travel bag by Melissa Mortenson at Riley Blake Designs
Sweet little coin purse from Sew Spoiled
Shoulder bag by Sew Christine
Simple envelope pillows at Teal & Lime

DIY projects using vinyl

Vinyl is fun—you gotta love edges that don't fray! I'm pondering a couple projects, and in the meantime Googled to see what other people have been up to. If you're into synthetics, check out these tutorials explaining how to make your own vinyl goodies.

Drawstring coin purse at Between the Lines (use leather or vinyl)
Bowls made from vinyl records by Skulls and Ponies
Vintage vinyl record dessert stand from Bubby and Bean
Vinyl DIY handbag straps by Emmaline Bags
Braided cuff bracelet at The Craft Patch
Zippered clutch from Until Wednesday Calls
Chuck Taylor vinyl pouch by Gerbera Designs
Patent "leather" vinyl tote at Sew For Home

Links to free Japanese sewing patterns

The other day I spent some time poking around Japanese Sewing Books, the blog of Yifarn, a mom of two girls in Singapore. Like many of us, she adores Japanese sewing books for their distinctive aesthetic. Along with articles on how to use the books and a glossary of common terms, the website offers lots of links to free sewing patterns.

Yup, they're all in Japanese, but it's possible that clever sewists might have enough to go on to make some of the projects. I'm definitely not one of those people, so I'm content just to admire the pictures. The projects above can be found here, here, here, and here. Also useful: quilters can find free patterns in English here.

Some DIY tutorials to attempt

For inspiration, check out these spring make-it-yourself projects:
Clay flower vase decoration from Centsational Girl
Laminated fabric umbrella tutorial at Mod Kid
DIY clothes hamper by Ikat Bag
Pouf ottoman pattern from Better Homes & Gardens

Free diamond tote bag sewing pattern

Check out this cool diamond tote bag tutorial with a free PDF pattern, available right here at Misusu. The pattern was created by Elles, a Dutch fashion designer and passionate DIY-er. She plans to open a shop soon full of PDF baby & toddler DIY patterns. By the looks of things, it should be lovely!

Meet my Two Zip Hipster

My Mum sewed up another of Erin Erickson's Hipster bags, this time in the Dusk colorway of my Sticks fabric. It features orange zippers requested by moi. The strap on the bag is adjustable so you can carry it over your shoulder or across your torso.

See? All my orange stuff fits in it. Notebook, calendar (yep, I'm old school like that), and my iPad. (P.S. If you need this orange iPad wallpaper, grab it here.)

This baby is going everywhere with me. Thank you, Mum!

DIY macaron coin purse

An addendum to the list of things to sew in the last post: check out these little macaron coin purses. One hundred percent adorable! I want to eat them up. Get the instructions here from Joanne at Craft Passion. You know her. She's the same genius who provided directions for the self-zipping coin purse.

Sewing tutorial round up

Check out these bag, pouch, and apron instructions, graciously provided by the people of the internet:
Naughty secretary bag tutorial at Sew Sweetness
Urban jungle bag pattern, also from Sew Sweetness
Laminated messenger bag tutorial by Sew Can Do
Boxed pouch how-to from Terrabyte Farm
A Kindle slip case project by Charm Stitch
Shannon's apron instructions from Buttercream and a Sewing Machine

And a bonus: If you share a link to designer Tanya Whelan's pretty new book Sew What You Love, you can choose a free bag pattern to download. Find out more right here.

Pattern review: Bucket Bag

My mom, known to you guys as frequent commenter Grandma G, just finished sewing up a Bucket Bag from Keyka Lou's PDF pattern. She used Skiff in Dawn from my Outside Oslo fabric collection and lined the bag with some Artee cotton duck in Turquoise.

The pattern has an oval bottom, so it really is sort of like a bucket—a cute one with a big pocket on the outside and a nicely proportioned strap. Mum added a magnetic snap since a closure is always nice. And I love the button with its coordinating scallops.

My niece Courtney, who creatively modeled the bag after Mum finished it, stated that the fabric looks like trimmed fingernail bits. Excellent. Exactly the look I was going for.

Mum writes:
"It was a pleasure to sew a bag from a pattern that didn't have me tearing my hair out because it was so complicated! I really enjoyed making this bag. The instructions were very detailed, yet clear and easy to follow in a numbered, step-by-step format, with photos to illustrate every step.

I would highly recommend this pattern for anyone just beginning to make bags. It'll get you started in the right direction and you'll learn a lot about the bag-making process. I'd also recommend it for more experienced bag makers, just because it's easy and fun! And no matter your skill level, you'll end up with a very cute bag. I love the shape of it as well as just the overall look.

The next time I use this pattern, I'll probably add a pocket or two inside. Also, I might skip the darts on the outside pocket, because unless something is stuffed into those dart areas, they tend to have a dented/dimpled look (kinda like a bra that's not quite filled out, y'know?). I'd trim the pattern piece so that it remains the same shape, just minus the darts."

Purchase the Bucket Bag pattern right here, and check out other Keyka Lou designs here. All patterns are available for instant download, and most are a mere $5.00 through 11/27/11!

Six little pouches to sew

Make some cute little cases with these sewing tutorials:
Laminated bag by Linda Turner Griepentrog at Sew Timeless
Tissue cases from Very Purple Person
Snappy coin purse by Rashida Coleman-Hale at Sew Timeless
Pear coin purse from Craft Passion
Bunting cosmetic bag at Just Another Hangup
Zip it up pencil case from Craft Passion

A random comment. Why do fabric stores and sewing websites adore puns more than any other industry does? It seams sew peculiar. Though possibly eye doctors give them a run for their money.

Make simple tote bags with The Purl Bee

Outside Oslo, the fabric line I designed for The Needle Shop, is now stocked at Purl Soho. A beautiful store in New York City, Purl Soho has an equally lovely blog that showcases projects made from the goodies they sell. Check out these Oslo tote bags that take just twenty minutes to whip up. Find a link to the instructions in The Purl Bee post right here.

Sewing with Oilcloth book and free patterns

I'm always attracted to the oilcloth section in fabric stores. So shiny and retro and wash-offable. But I always stop short of buying any since I don't know what to do with it. I just received a review copy of Sewing with Oilcloth by Kelly McCants, and it's got 20 DIY sewing projects for oilcloth and laminated cotton. Download a couple sample project tutorials at the end of this post!

The book offers lots of tips and tricks for working with oilcloth. Should you pin it? Iron it? Wash it? How do you finish bias trim? Will your sweaty legs stick to an oilcloth cushion on a hot summer day? Wonder no more. (Well actually, that last question is not addressed in the book, but the rest are.)

I haven't tested any of the directions yet, but everything is super cute. You could sew a makeup bag.

Or a box cushion.

Or an apron, wallet, storage bin, baby bib, messenger bag, or the farmer's market tote above. In fact, you can download a printable PDF (5 MB) with instructions for that tote here. Or get PDF instructions (27 MB) for the book's chalk cloth table runner project here.

Make a self-zipping coin purse from a ribbon

Look what came in the mail today from my mom. That's some 7/8" ribbon I designed. Attached to a zipper. And lined with fabric on the back.

You start zipping, around and around.

And you get a coin purse!

These are made following Craft Passion's ingenious tutorial right here.

Grandma G's notes: "I followed the directions pretty much to the letter on the sewing-themed pouch, except that I did a traditional backstitch because I wasn't clear on exactly how she did hers. For the squirrel one, I again did the traditional backstitch because it ends up looking like a sewing machine stitch, and then I sewed by machine where I could to save a little time. The pouches don't need to be lined, but I'm glad I did it. Not only does the lining give a more finished look, but it also adds to the stability of the pouch."

Thank you, Mum! I already know what I'm going to use these for.

Fabric sighting: laptop bag tutorial

I was delighted to see a beautiful tutorial using some of my Outside Oslo fabric at Sew Mama Sew today. The lovely Joy Kelley of How Joyful demonstrates how to sew a padded laptop bag. The more I studied the photos, the more I realized just how special this bag is: it can levitate. I want one! Learn how to make it here.