Teacher Gift

Sorry about the not so great picture.  I was trying to take this before I sent the kids off to school.  I spent most of last night trying to get it done.  Kirsten's Student teacher is having her last day today and the last couple of weeks have been way to busy to get anything done.  So I scrambled to the store yesterday thinking I would just get her a gift card or give her some handmade cards I already have made, but when I was there I saw this tote bag that was a blank canvas.  I had seen this idea on UCreate and thought - I can do that. And it will be easy.  I cut the fabric into 4 inch strips and roll hemmed the edges both top and bottom.  Then got out my ruffler and ruffled the top edge on both.  Followed the instructions from Ucreate and then added the pink rickrack.  I was trying to figure out what type of bow to make when I remembered I had seen a rickrack rose and thought.  Perfect.  That is just what I wanted.

I found the tutorial at Crafting Chicks.  They are pretty easy to make.  I loved how it looks on the bag.

The tote bag was only $3 at Joann's (with my coupon) and all the rest of the stuff was scraps.  It was practically free.  LOVE IT!!
Kirsten was so impressed this morning.  She said.  That Ms. D loves pink and black.  (Guess I am just lucky.  All I knew was that she liked pink.)  This turned out pretty cute and I am thinking I might need to make one for Peter's teacher and teacher aide.  We will see, I have two weeks to get those done and the one I bought material for Mrs. Duffy.


Speaking of not getting anything done.  I had to wipe away the cobwebs from this blog.  It has been awhile since either of us have posted.  It has been a slight dry spell around here.  Not much crafting.  More pinning then crafting I might say.  But this has been the kick in the pants I needed.  It was so much fun to make things and see your handiwork loved by your daughter.  Now on to the house work.  That won't do itself.

Another bag? ! ? . . . . let's call it a purse

I finally made my own purse.  I bought the fabric months ago . . . I think I bought it back in February.  It is the same fabric I used on my Spring Wall Hanging .  I fell in love with it and decided I was going to make a bag for myself.  Then life happened . . . 1st trimester sluggishness . . . birthday presents to make . . . other projects to make . . . LIFE.   I also wanted to wait until Liberty had figured out all the bugs in the pattern we had been using.  The bag turned out marvelous.  I used Liberty's hand bag tutorial as the basis for what I made.  I made the bag 20 inches wide (it is huge - but I'm going to need it with a baby on the way) and each of the pieces to make the front of the bag is 8 inches tall.  I decided also to conquer my fear of zippers and try a zipper pocket. 

I looked online and found a bunch of different tutorials.  But this is the one I found to be the easiest at Sew Mama Sew.  I took the old zipper out of my purse that was dying and put it in here (that is why it is pink).  I was quite impressed with how easy it was and quickly it came together.  I LOVE having it in my purse.  I always hate not having a zippered pocket for those things we like to hide.  Of course I made a million other pockets for things I don't really want to have floating around the bottom of my purse.

After I got done making this I decided to make a gathered clutch.  I used the tutorial on Noodlehead to make a matching clutch.  I made it really simple and instead of making the cardholder and divider I just added a simple one card pocket.  I'm not going to use it for a wallet, just to hold items that I don't want wandering around the bottom of my bag.  Like JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby and Kohl's coupons.

I still have some left over fabric . . . ummmm . . . what can I make????  A key fob, a matching diaper holder, a cover for my calendar. . . . the possibilities are endless.  But is that a bit to much matchy-matchy???

More Activity Bags...and Pattern information

I made a few more of these fun activity bags and thought I would included the pattern pieces for your information. The bags go together very similar to this tote bag tutorial, except the pockets are on the outside {instead of inside} of the bag. I'm sorry I don't have any pictures, I know Amy is making one so I will have her take pictures as she goes and we will add them later. Please contact one of us is you are confused.

MAIN BAG FABRIC: {half of the outside will be covered with the pockets}

CUT 2 - 13"x14" for main bag
CUT 2 - 13"x14" for inside lining
CUT 2 - 13x14" Fleece to line bag

CUT 4 - 14"x4" - for sides {2 are lining}
CUT 2 - 13"x4" - for bottom {1 is lining}

OUTSIDE POCKETS

CUT 4 - 13"x7" for pockets {2 of these can be lining fabric}
CUT 2 - 13"x2" for top of pockets
CUT 4 - 4"x7" for side pockets (two of these can be lining fabric}
CUT 2 - 4"x2" for top of side pockets
OPTIONAL: Line outside pockets with thin flannel for more stability, if desired cut 2-13"x7" and 2-4"x7" of flannel.

HANDLES

CUT 2 - 24" x 6" for handles
CUT 2 - 24"x 2" FLEECE to line handles

OPTIONAL: I included a pocket inside from scraps that were left over. Mine was about 6"x5".

I'm sorry I don't have any pictures of the process....I was trying to hurry so fast, I forgot to take any. We will add them as soon as possible, but here are a couple of finished bags.

Activity Bag

I made this for an older boy {mine is 11}...and finding fabric was a little tricky, they don't make much for older boys.

I used the idea from Moda Bake Shop and re-designed my bag for an older boy. I used the same basic idea as this tote bag tutorial {minus the ruffle} and added the marker/colored pencil slots on the outside of the bag. I made the pencil slots 3/4" on one side and 1" on the other side. I wanted colored pencils to fit nice and snug and not fall out. The sides are also pockets, so the pockets on the outside go all the way around. There is one small pocket on the inside, just a left over scrap piece.

I'm very happy with how it turned out.

A couple of fun totes

A friend of mine asked me to make her some totes for her girls.  She wanted them a little larger then the monogrammed totes I usually make.  I found a pattern in the same book that Liberty used for her laptop bag.  It is actually the same pattern, but I didn't add the flap or make the handles the same.  Here are the measurements of each of the pieces I used.
Front and back panel:  14 inches (width) by 13 inches (height)
Side pieces - 5 inches x 13 inches (x2)
Bottom piece - 5 inches x 14 inches
The handles are 6 inches by 22 inches (x2)
The ruffle is 2 1/2 inches by 44 inches (x2)

The pocket is 9 inches x 9 inches.

Here are some close-ups of the pocket and ruffle.

Didn't they turn out cute???  I hope the kids like them.  I lined them with the same outer material and flannel.   I think if I were to make it again I would use fleece rather then flannel to make it a little more stiff.  They are pretty good size and will hold a bunch of books, markers, coloring books and probably a small doll.

Hand bag tutorial

Let me just preface this with saying that making a tutorial is a LOT of work. I should probably have written this as a pattern. Thank you to all of you who continue to make tutorials and give us so many wonderful ideas to inspire our creativity.

This is a tutorial for a handbag lined with LOTS of pockets inside. I have made this same version in several different heights and widths. I took pictures with the taller version, and I will give you the changes at the end to make it the same size as my red bag.

Cut fabric as follows:

OUTSIDE:

CUT 2 - 7" x 17" bottom piece {dark fabrics, twill, denim, courdaroy}
CUT 2 - 2" x 17" middle trim piece {twill, cotton, add interfacing if not as sturdy as other fabric}
CUT 2 - 2" x 17" interfacing {Optional}
CUT 2 - 8" x 17" top piece {PATTERN fabric, twill, home decor fabrics}

INSIDE:

CUT 2 - 14" x 17" Lining {twill, cotton, bottom weight}
CUT 2 - 9" x 17" Pocket lining {I use the same as the lining fabric}
CUT 2 - 9" x 17" Pocket {I use same Pattern fabric from outside of bag}

HANDLES:

CUT 2 - 6" x 25" - {I use same fabric as the bottom piece, i.e. denim, twill, dark fabric}
CUT 2 - 3" x 24" - Fleece {any color as long as it doesn't show through}

PADDING:

CUT 2 - 15" x 17" - For padding bag {any color, great for extra scraps}

Ok, now that you have everything cut, get yourself a diet coke and get ready to sew.

ALL seams are 1/2" seam allowance.


Let's start with the OUTSIDE

Iron interfacing to 2" trim piece {this is optional, but gives it some stability especially if your trim piece is not as sturdy as the other two pieces}. Sew trim to top pattern fabric, right sides together.



Sew bottom piece to the other side of the 2" trim piece, right sides together.



Topstitch on both sides of trim piece, I turn my seams into the interfacing, so it adds the extra bulk under the trim piece.



Repeat for other side.

Now take each side and add fleece for padding. I like to topstitch again along the edge of the trim {not directly on the trim piece, on either side of it} to help hold the fleece in place. I also stitch it onto the entire piece with a 1/4" seam allowance, just to keep in place until I sew it together.



Now pin two outside pieces right sides together. Make sure to match up the trim on each side so it will be lined up when it's all put together. Sew around 3 sides, leaving one long edge open for top of bag.

This part used to make me VERY nervous, but it will work I promise. Cut a 3" square out of the bottom two corners. This will make the boxed bottom for your bag.



Now fold box cuts into each other matching up the side seam with the bottom seam. Sew seam together making a 6" bottom for your bag.



Turn bag right side out and the OUTSIDE IS FINISHED!!!!! {you might want to take a break now, and get a snack!}



INSIDE LINING AND POCKETS

Start with one pocket lining and one pocket outside {9" tall pieces}. Sew right sides together to make the top edge of the pockets. Open seams and press. Topstitch across the top edge. Repeat for other side.



Now take the lining piece {right side up} and lay the pockets on top. Line up across the bottom edge.



Measure up 3" from the bottom and sew a straight line from side to side. {I mark it with a disappearing ink pen to make sure it's straight} This will make the bottom of the pockets and will line up with the box cut we did on the outside.



Now decide where you want your pockets. I like to do a 3" one on each end because they will line up nicely with the corners of your bag, but sometimes this will make your other pockets too small. Measure out and mark all your pockets. Keep in mind the pockets on the opposite side, I like to make the larger pockets on opposite ends of the bag so they don't hit each other inside the bag. {hope that makes sense} I took a picture of the back side so you can see the pocket lines. Make sure you backstitch a couple times at the top and bottom of the pockets to reinforce them.



Lay both lining pieces {right sides together} and line up the pockets. Sew around 3 sides leaving the top open. Now you will do the same 3" box cut. Make sure it's UNDER the pocket line. Cut box cut. Line up seams and sew together.



Now the INSIDE IS FINISHED!!!!! {Wahoo!, do you need another snack, or maybe a break? Don't worry, I'll be here waiting!}



Now put the lining on the OUTSIDE of the bag. Pull the lining all the way to the top. The lining should be 1" shorter than the outside, this will make the inside lay flat and not bunch inside the bag. Make sure you lave a large enough space to turn, about 5-6" between the seams. {I mark my space with double pins so I don't forget}



Sew with 1/2" seam allowance around top edge. Turn and pin top edge closed. I like to pin all the way around to help keep it tight while I topstitch it. Topstitch around top edge.



Now your ENTIRE BAG IS FINISHED!!!!!! {Let's add the handles and your done!}

HANDLES

Start with 6" piece and lay fleece right in the center of the wrong side. Fold up ends 1/2" to finish ends.



while keeping the ends up tight, fold the sides up like a taco. Make sure they are nice and tight and even with the fleece. This will make your handles even all the way down. If you are using denim or twill you can iron this step to make it line up and even.



Now fold up your handle right in the middle so all the raw edges are on the inside and pin all the way down. Sew with a 1/4" seam allowance around all 4 sides {starting with the open side}.



Now it's time to sew the handles to the bag....and your done. Find the middle of your bag. Mark with a pin. Measure the same distance from each side of the pin. Mine are 3" from the pin {so 6" apart from each other}. Sew handles on with a box pattern. Make a large square as close to the other seams as possible. Then sew an X across the middle. This will reinforce your handles.



AND YOU ARE FINISHED!!!! Go fill up all your pockets and take a shopping trip!




VARIATION: If you want your bag smaller.....deduct the size from the top pattern piece. My original one was 16" wide {instead of 17"} and it is only 12" tall. I basically just take 3" off the top pattern piece. You can leave the pockets the same size, but they come up a lot higher inside the bag. Now that I have made this one, I really like the taller one better. It stays more closed at the top and less avaliable to other people.

Have fun! Let me know if you have any questions or if anything is unclear!