Placemats to Purse

Happy Monday!  I have a really fun project to show you today.

Placemat purse

A repurposed placemat purse.

I bought these placemats at Pier 1 last fall to repurpose into a purse, and after sitting on my craft room shelf for most of a year, they were finally transformed.  Aren't the colors great for fall?  The strap and lining fabric was a remnant of home decor fabric I got on clearance for just a few dollars, and I think it compliments all the colors in the placemats nicely.  I was going to make a tutorial, but got ahead of myself and didn't take that many pictures.

Oops.

I sewed the ends of the placemats together so the fringe would hang down from the bottom of the purse.

Cell phone pocket

One of the sides has a pocket for my cell phone.  There is elastic at the top so my phone won't slip out on its own.

I made a pocket on the front of the purse body under the flap.  This is where I keep the all the necessities (like Joann and Hobby Lobby coupons), and my home made lip balm.  Easy access, baby!

Zip pocket

The inside has a zip pocket on one side...

and segmented pockets on the other.  I made two skinny pockets for a pen and pencil, a larger middle pocket, and a pocket to put my reading glasses in.  (Not that I need them or anything.)

To give the purse shape and to keep it from looking slouchy, I put a piece of Timtex in the bottom and tacked it down in a few places.  It works great.

The only thing I wish I would have included was a ring to clip my keys to.  I'm still trying to figure out how I can add one without tearing one of the seams apart.

This turned out great for my first attempt at a purse.  I am really loving it, even though it is a little bit on the large side.  I don't carry a lot of 'stuff' in my purse, but this one is big enough to hold my camera too, and that is a plus.

It's even big enough to hold a kitty!  Hi Moonshine!

I made this up as I went along, but if you have questions about measurements or anything, just let me know.

K

Microwave Bowl Potholder and Tutorial

About a month ago, I was a guest blogger over at 2 little hooligans, and I thought I'd share my post with you here just in case you missed it.  I am working on another similar project that was requested by one of her readers, and I will share it with you as soon as I have it finished.

Microwave Bowl Potholder

Do you cringe every time you have to remove a hot bowl from the microwave, afraid that you will burn your fingers, or worse yet, drop the bowl and spill the hot contents on you or your kiddos?  Well fear no more because today I am going to show you how to make a bowl potholder so you don't even have to touch that hot bowl!

Here is what you will need:

2 coordinating fat quarters (100% cotton)
100% cotton batting
cotton thread
sewing machine
quilting ruler and mat or scissors
pins
fabric marker
chopstick or bodkin for pushing out corners

You want to make sure you use 100% cotton materials because synthetic fibers could melt or catch fire in the microwave.  Be sure your batting doesn't contain scrim or glue.

To figure out how big to cut your squares, measure the outside of the bowl from one edge to the other.

Then cut one square from each fabric, and two squares of batting to this measurement.  My bowl measured 10", so my squares were 10".

Place one fabric square right side up on top of a batting square, and quilt them together by sewing an X with a straight stitch diagonally to opposite corners.  Repeat for the other fabric square.  (Yes, I switched fabric on you!)

Now your are going to make darts in the centers of each side to give the potholder a bowl shape.

Fold the quilted square in half to find the center for the dart.  I found the best way to do this was to line it up on my quilting mat grid and mark the stitch line with a fabric marker.  I came in 1" and down 2 1/4" for the dart.  Pin and repeat on all four sides.  Repeat for other quilted square.

Sew along marked lines, back tacking at the ends of the darts.  Trim seams.

The two halves should resemble square bowls at this point.

Pin the bowls right sides together, matching corners and dart seams.  Using 1/4" seam, sew together, leaving about 3" open for turning.  I always put two pins at the opening to remind me where I am supposed to stop.

Trim corners.  Turn right side out, push out corners, and press.

Topstitch around the edge, and you are done!

This is what the outside looks like.

This is a pretty forgiving pattern, and if you have an odd shaped bowl you are trying to fit, the darts can be adjusted to the length or depth you need.  Just test the fit of the bowl before the darts are sewed, and make adjustments as needed.

These work great for making hot cereals or reheating foods in the microwave.

They can also be used as an insulating pad for cold foods like ice cream, so your lap and hands don't freeze!  They should only be used in the microwave, though, and are not for use in a regular, toaster, or convection oven.

I hope you all enjoy this quick and fun little sewing project!

K

Ruffled Case for MacBook Pro Tutorial

I have been wanting to make a case for my laptop ever since I got it for Christmas.  I needed something to cart it back and forth to the workshops Apple offers when you purchase one of their products.  Anything for an excuse to sew something!

I went shopping for some fabric the other day, and ended up buying laminated fabric.  I have used fusible vinyl before as a substitute, but the laminated fabric is so much nicer.  It is much softer and doesn't seem to crease or get scuffed as easily as the fusible vinyl.  It is a little pricey, so I was a little scared to cut into it.  I finally got up enough nerve, and I am happy to say it turned out much better than I had anticipated.  Lookie...

Here is how I made my case.

My measurements are for the MacBook Pro 17" computer.  If you have a different size laptop, you will need to adjust the measurements.

Here is what you will need:

2/3 yard outer fabric
2/3 yard lining fabric
fusible fleece
22" purse zipper (or one about 4" longer than the width of your computer)
rotary cutter, cutting mat, quilting ruler or scissors
sewing machine, thread, pins
gathering foot (optional)
zipper foot

Cut two 13"x18" panels each of your main fabric and lining fabric.
Cut 4 strips of main fabric 2"x40" for the ruffles.
Cut 2 strips of main fabric 3"x13" for the handles.
Cut two 12"x17" panels of fusible fleece, and fuse to wrong side of lining fabric following manufacturers instructions, making sure to leave 1/2" border on all edges.  This is to keep the seams from being too bulky.

Using your gathering foot, gather the 4 strips down the center to make the ruffles.  If you don't have a gathering foot, baste down the center of each strip using the longest straight stitch on your machine.  Don't back tack at the ends.  Gently pull the bobbin thread to gather fabric, working from both ends.

Mark the main fabric panel at even intervals where you want the ruffles to be.  Mine are about 2 1/2'' apart.

Sew the ruffles in place and trim excess from the edges.

Center zipper on top edge of main fabric, right sides together, and pin in place.

You will need to clip the edge of the zipper tape so it will round the corner of the fabric and extend down the side a little.

Using a zipper foot, baste the zipper to the fabric using a scant 1/4" seam.  Start and stop at both ends of the zipper tape.  You will sew the side seems later.  (No photo)

Close zipper and pin to other main fabric panel making sure to line up the corners of both panels.  Clip the other edge of the zipper tape for both corners.  Baste in the same manner as before.

Now you are going to pin the right side of the lining fabric to the wrong side of the zipper.

Sew in place just inside your basting stitch, which should now be a true 1/4'' seam.

This is what one side of the lining sewed in place will look like.  Repeat with the other side of the lining fabric.  Trim and clip corners.

At this point, you will have the zipper sewed in to the main fabric and the lining.  Hang in there, you are almost done!

OPEN the zipper.

Next, using a 1/2" seam, you are going to sew the main panels right sides together from one end of the zipper, down one side to the bottom, across the bottom, and up the other side to the end of the zipper.   ***Make sure you OPEN the zipper BEFORE you sew all the way around.***  Don't ask me how I know!  :)  Check to make sure the ends of the zipper tapes made it into the seams.

Repeat this step with the lining, but make sure to leave an opening (about 4") on one of the sides or the bottom to turn the bag right side out. (no photo)

Trim and clip all the corners, turn the bag right side out through the hole in the lining, and top stitch the opening closed.

Sew each handle right sides together using a 1/4" seam.  Turn right side out.  I stuffed a piece of cotton batting (1 1/4"x13") into each handle 'tube' to add a little softness and structure to them, then top stitched along each edge.

Pin handles a couple inches down from the zipper, and sew in place.

And that is it!  You have just made a one of a kind case for your laptop!

The back side.

Ruffles galore!


I have to say I think this is my greatest sewing achievement to date without a pattern.  I hope you were able to follow my directions, and let me know if you have any questions.

K

Linking up at Craftomaniac Monday Link Party,  Making the World Cuter Monday, and Do Something Crafty Friday

Amy Butler Barcelona Skirt

Remember the little sneak peek I gave you of one of my sewing projects?  Well it's time for the big reveal.

I fell in love with Amy Butler's Barcelona Skirt pattern as soon as I saw it.  I really dislike paying full price for patterns, but I didn't even think twice about paying an arm and a leg for this one, and it was so worth it.

Here is the first skirt I made.

I used fabric from the Blossoming line by Kathy Davis for Free Spirit.  Don't you love the colors?  I got many compliments from strangers the first time I wore it, and since I have enough fabric to stock a small fabric store, I thought I'd make another one.

I had originally purchased this fabric (from Hobby Lobby) to make a different style skirt, but it worked well for this pattern.  I love that the layers are not finished seams and the edges fray a little.  I altered the pattern for both skirts in that I didn't line or hem them.  I left the bottom edge to fray just like the other layers.

Which one is your favorite?

K

Ribbon Belt

Want a great way to jazz up a pair of jeans without altering the jeans themselves?  Make yourself a grosgrain ribbon belt!

I love ribbon and hoard it for my cardmaking, and I figured out a way to make a D-ring belt out of single sided grosgrain ribbon so that the right side shows on the back side of the ribbon when it is pulled through the D-ring.

Did I lose you there?

Let me show you what I mean...

You will need:
single sided grosgrain ribbon
2 D-rings the same width as your ribbon
sewing machine, thread
HeatnBond
iron

First of all, you want to seal the ends of your ribbon so they don't fray.

I passed the ends of the ribbon right next to the flame of a candle, not in it or it may catch on fire.  The heat  next to the flame is enough to melt the ribbon slightly to prevent it from fraying.

Pass one end of the ribbon through both D-rings.  Turn the end under, pin in place, and sew.

I made a double row of stitching for a little extra security.   Sorry about the bad color on this photo.

Cut a piece of HeatnBond the exact width of your ribbon, and as long as you want the end to double back on itself.  I made mine a little over 8".

Carefully place the HeatnBond on the back side of the ribbon, paper side up, and lined up at the end of the ribbon.

Press according to package directions using medium heat and no steam (about 2 seconds), then let cool.

Peel the paper from the HeatnBond, double the ribbon back on itself making sure both the top and bottom edges are even, and press in place (about 8 seconds).  I had to press a little longer to get a good bond.

And that's it.  You are done!

Now you can go impress your friends with your jazzy new belt!

K