Family Tree Pillow

What a great idea for a family tree pillow, you could even personalize it with names.  This is also a great way to use up scrap pieces of fabric

Cute blanket idea too.

Tote Bag

  From: http://www.noodleheads.blogspot.com/

 Here's a fun tote bag project I thunk up (yes, thunk) the other day. Of course there are tons of ways to make a tote bag, but I thought this one was fun and gives you a lot of options no less!

Whether you like things scrappy or streamlined, this bag is ready to go when you are. Take it to the library or to the park, it's big enough for all the essentials.

Ready to make one (or a few?!)

Materials:

1/2 yard exterior fabric
1/2 yard lining (if you choose to use any)
1/2 yard for straps, or cotton webbing or a handle type you prefer
bias tape - handmade or store bought
thread, sewing machine
water soluble pen
pattern pieces!! {I set it up to print on an 11x17 piece of paper, if you're using letter size you'll have to tell the printer to tile full pages.}

{1/2" seam allowances throughout, unless indicated differently}

Cut and prepare pieces:

Cut two pieces from the main pattern piece out of the exterior fabric. Also cute two pieces of the lining fabric if you're using a lining. You don't have to use a lining the way the bag is constructed, but if you want to use a lighter weight fabric on the exterior, you'll probably want to use a lining.

Cut two pocket pieces. One of which will be the lining of the pocket.

Cut strap pieces: cut two pieces 6" tall by 24-27" long, depending on how long you want your handles to be.

Cut reinforcement pieces: these are on the inside of the bag, they can add a decorative or fun touch if you'd like, cut two pieces 3" tall by 13" wide. Iron one long edge of each piece WRONG sides facing by 1/2"

Make Straps:

Take the long strap pieces, fold in half the long ways, and press. Open up, fold raw edges to the center crease and press.

Fold in half again and press.

Sew down the length of the strap with the first row of stitching at 3/8" and the second line of stitching at about 1/8" on each side of the strap. Repeat for other strap. Set aside.

Make pocket:

Make these as patchworky as you'd like. (And, sorry, I didn't take pictures of making the pocket, let me know if you need help on this.) Place pocket pieces RIGHT sides together, sew using a 1/2" seam allowance all the way around the edge of the pocket, leaving a 2" opening on the bottom side of the pocket piece. Clip corners and turn right side out through the hole you left at the bottom. Press. Topstitch on the TOP edge of the pocket only. I did two rows of stitching about 1/8" and 1/4" from the top. Set aside.

Assemble bag exteriors:

Take your exterior pieces (making sure you've marked the corner darts - those little pizza shaped pieces - on each piece with a water soluble pen) and sew the darts in the corner of each side of the exterior pieces.

Align the two edge dots with fabric RIGHT sides together and stitch along the line to the upper dot of the 'wedge'. Repeat this for both corners for all main bag pieces.

If you're using a lining, take the exterior pieces and place them RIGHT sides together with the lining pieces and pin together. If you're NOT using a lining read on...

Pin the pocket to the front of one exterior piece, making sure it's centered.

Sew pocket onto front of one exterior piece. I used two rows of stitching along the pocket sides and bottom.

Align strap pieces with the raw edges of the top of the bag, spacing them equally from both sides, leaving about 3.5" between the straps (see the tiny little red arrow line above). Be sure not to twist the strap at this point!

Next, align the reinforcement piece with the unfolded edge at the top of the bag.

Pin and sew using a 1/2" seam allowance.

Flip and press so that the WRONG sides are facing.

Topstitch at the top of the bag and again at the bottom of the reinforcement strip. Repeat for other side of bag.

Finishing the bag:

Take both assembled exterior pieces and place them WRONG sides facing (or lining RIGHT sides facing if you chose to do a lining).

Baste along both sides and bottom of bag using a 1/2" seam allowance.

Trim seam allowances to about 1/4" from the basting line of stitches.

Next, take your bias tape and sandwich it along the sides and bottom of the tote and sew into place. Be sure to tuck in the raw edges of the tape by folding them under. Sewing on the bias tape can be a bit tedious, especially with thinner bias tapes (I made my bias tape strip 1.75" wide), but just take your time and go slow, this is the part that will really show the quality of your work!

That's it! Fill it with books, sling it on your shoulder and you're off to the library!

{Just wanted to add that for the patchwork/scrap type bag, I made my own bias tape with scraps as well as some of the strap piece, the pocket, and the reinforcement pieces. The pocket was made using nine 3.5" squares and sewn using a 1/2" seam allowance.}

Terms of use: For personal use only please.

Laptop Sleeve

From: http://www.crapivemade.com/2010/07/zippered-laptop-sleeve-tutorial.html


Supplies:

Outer fabric
Lining fabric
Fusible fleece
Zipper (approximately 4” longer than your laptop)
Embellishments
 

Measure your laptop, wrapping your tape measure all the way around.
Mine measures 18.5” X 24.5”. (Yes, it’s tiny.)

Split both of those measurements in half. In my example, that would be 9.25” X 12.25”. Add 1.25” to both of those measurements. In my example that’s 10.5” X 13.5”. We’re finished with the math. Cut 2 pieces from your outer fabric this size. Cut 2 pieces from your lining fabric this size. Cut 2 pieces of fusible fleece this size. I then trimmed 1/2” off all around my fusible fleece because I didn’t want the bulk in my seams.

Embellish one of your exterior pieces as desired now. I’m including directions for exactly how I made mine, but feel free to change that up to personalize your laptop sleeve.

Cut a strip of fabric 3.5” wide and then press under 1/4” on the top and bottom edges.

Position on the front of your laptop sleeve and stitch in place along both edges.

Cut a strip of fabric 3” high by at least twice the width of your laptop case. Fold under 1/2” on both long edges and press.

Run a long gathering stitch (do not backstitch) about 1/4” in along both long edges. Pull your bobbin threads to gather evenly. Position in the middle of the larger strip and stitch in place.

(I made the decorative flower using these directions on WiseCraft. It’s attached to a pin and is removable so you won’t see it until the final pictures.)

Iron your fusible fleece to the wrong sides of both pieces of outer fabric, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Take your zipper and place it face down and centered along the top edge of your front piece. You should have excess zipper on both ends.

Pin the zipper in place in the center. In order to get the zipper to go around the corners nicely, you’re going to make a few shallow snips along the part you need to bend.

Keep on pinning around both corners. I like to use A LOT of pins.

Baste the zipper in place. I used white thread so it would show up better for photographic purposes.

Position your lining fabric directly on top of your front piece, right sides facing.

Sew just inside of your basting line. Turn your pieces right side out. Press your exterior and lining fabrics away from the zipper.

Close the zipper. Position your other exterior piece on top, so the sides are even. Slide it up until it’s even with the zipper and pin. Unzip and repeat the zipper installation steps for the back half of the case.

Here’s what you’ve got now…nice neat zipper and ugly unfinished seams everywhere else.

Pull your exterior fabrics over so the right sides are facing, like this:

Keep turning until you’ve got both exterior pieces facing and both lining pieces facing.

Don’t be alarmed by the hot mess it appears to be right now. You’re *almost* there!

Reach up between the exterior layers and undo the zipper a few inches (big enough to fit your hand through and reach to undo the zipper the rest of the way later).

You’re going to sew ONLY on the exterior pieces. Fold, pull, and otherwise maneuver the lining pieces out of the way. You’ll be sewing from one end of the zipper to the other.

In the above picture, you’d sew from one pin, down around the bottom edge and then up to the other pin.

Repeat with the lining pieces, BUT leave a 4-5” hole in the bottom (again, big enough to fit your hand through).

Stick your hand way up in there and grab the bottom seam on the exterior fabrics.

And pull it out through the hole.

Close up the hole in the lining. I usually pull it all the way out and machine stitch close to the edge, but you could hand stitch if you prefer.

Vintage Pillowcase Halter Dress

From: http://www.potholes&pantyyhose.com/

Today, I wanted to show you how to make a super easy Vintage Pillowcase Halter dress using an oversized pillowcase and a little bit of elastic.

The dress is oh-so comfortable and best of all, it's machine washable with no ironing needed.

Here's what you'll need to make your very own Vintage Pillowcase Halter Dress:

• An oversized pillowcase
• Tape measure
• Straight Pins
• 1/4" elastic (about 25-35" in length)
• Scissors
• Iron & Ironing board
• Seam Ripper (if you are as experienced as I am)

Cut the seam from the bottom of the pillowcase and fold over the material 1 1/2" and iron flat. Next, cut the folded material (which is a total of 3") from the pillowcase. Do this same procedure twice, creating two strips of material.

Cut the seam from the side of your strips, opening them flat. Iron the strips with right sides together. Sew the strips separately with the right sides together, allowing for a 1/4" seam.

Turn the strips inside out (I use a chopstick to shove the material through) and iron flat. These strips will facilitate both the halter and your belt.

Fold the material on the bottom of your pillowcase over 1/4" and iron flat. Next, fold the material 1" more and iron flat. Sew what will be your top hem, leaving an opening for the elastic.

Measure your chest (above your breasts) and subtract 6". This will be the amount you will need of elastic. I needed 25" of elastic (now you know all of my secrets).

Using a safety pin, feed your elastic through the opening in your top hem. Remember to hold onto the tail end or round and round she goes...

Once your elastic has been fed through the top hem, sew the two ends of the elastic together. Next, sew the opening closed in your top hem.

Slip on your halter dress and find the center at the top of your dress. Measure from center, around your neck and then back to center. I needed about 22" of material for my halter. Using one of your strips, cut the amount needed for your halter, saving the excess.

Sew your halter onto the center of your pillowcase (my center was at 9 1/2"), making sure not to sew onto the elastic, following the same seam line as before.

Feed the excess of your cut strip into the untouched strip and sew it together. Sew each end closed of your now one complete strip. This will be your belt.

Slip on your dress, tie the belt and enjoy!