Binding Clip Bag Tutorial

I seriously love binding clips and use them all the time. I didn’t love the plastic box they came in. The box opened awkwardly, and I was constantly spilling the clips all over the floor.  I finally had it one day and decided to come up with a better container option.

This little container is way cuter, and the medium thick interfacing allows it to stand nice and stiff.  The round shape helps it roll with the wild, hands flying, circus that sewing can sometimes be – without any spilling! Kind of like an adorable weeble-wobble (remember those?)

I’m sharing a very basic tutorial today, meaning you’re  going to have to draw your pattern pieces, and use your creativity!

1. Make your pattern shapes. 

You’ll need a hexagon with sides measuring      1 3/8 “.  And your side piece measuring 4 3/4″ tall, and ends measuring 1 7/8″ wide. To accomplish this side shape- cut a piece of scrap paper 5″ x 4 3/4″ – fold in half, open and draw    1 7/8″ lines in the center on the 4 3/4” ends  then draw a curved line meeting at your lines. Fold in half and cut out your shape.

2. Cut your fabrics. 

You’ll need 6 outer fabric pieces, 6 lining fabric pieces, and 6 fusible interfacing (medium thickness) pieces.   1 each of outer, lining, and interfacing of the hexagon shape.

3. Iron your fusible interfacing to the outer fabric pieces. 

4. Sewing pieces together. 

We need to leave the ends of the side panels unsewn 1/4″ on one end to give us a seam allowance to sew in the hexagon piece to make a bottom. If using directional fabric make sure to leave the bottom open 1/4″.

Mark the 1/4″ seam allowances 1/4″ from the bottom with an erasable marker (I used frixon heat erasable marker.) Then begin to sew panels together, stopping and back stitching at your marks.

Continue sewing panels until they are all joined, and you have a ball shape.

Repeat with the lining pieces.

5. Adding the hexagon bottom. 

There are two ways to go about attaching your hexagon to the bottom.  1. If you’re an awesome seamstress you can pin and sew with your machine using 1/4″ seam.  I tried this and it was hard for me!   2. This method worked best for me – draw your quarter inch seam lines all around your hexagon, pin in place, and hand sew on the line.

6. Finishing

Place the lining inside the outer bag, wrong sides together. Hand baste around the top, using a 1/8″ seam, stop when you have basted three panels, but don’t cut the thread.

You are going to draw a half moon shape using an erasable marker. I just eyed this until I liked how it looked.  Then cut away the fabric on the line, and continue basting the rest of the way around.

Add your binding, and any embellishments you like, fill with cute things, and enjoy!

Farmhouse Tables

I’ve been enjoying my farmhouse table my Dad made me for many years. It’s held up to 2 kids, many homework sessions, countless meals, craft sessions, nail paintings, holidays, and good times.

Dad asked me if I would post a pic of his tables here just in case anyone in the Michigan area would like a farmhouse table of their own. He is retired now and loves being in his workshop. He has two tables ready, they can be stained any color. They measure 32″ x 72″ (or 3 by 6 feet.) If you are interested let me know!

Shop Update

I’ve posted some new goodies in my Etsy Shop. (link in sidebar)

later gators!

Melissa

Embroidery Floss Folder Tutorial

Hi friends! I know it’s been a bit since last we spoke, and I really need to catch up with you all. I hope your summer is going well!

I’ve been doodling around with hand embroidery quite a bit these last few weeks as I find it’s very easy to do in the car, or at the beach while watching the kiddos.

I kept dragging around my projects and floss in a draw string bag that kept getting all tangled up.  The solution? An Embroidery Floss Folder! Yeppa!

Here’s a quick and dirty tutorial if you need to make one too!

Supplies:

*10 x 14.5 inch  of one each-

Exterior, Lining, Medium weight fusible interfacing, Soft N Stable

*Package of binding for pockets (or make your own)

*2 strips x WOF for binding exterior

4- 2 x 14 .5 inch strips of vinyl  ( I think mine was 16 gauge ?)

A hera marker, non-stick presser foot, binding clips

Step One

Iron your medium weight interfacing onto the back of your lining fabric. Set aside

Step Two

Cut your pocket binding strips into 15 inch strips.

Using binding clips to help hold the binding on your vinyl pocket pieces, top stitch the binding onto all four.

Step 3

Use a ruler to measure 1 1/2 inches down from the top of your lining piece.  Line your first pocket up with this and use binding clips to hold as you stitch close to the bottom edge. If you have a non-stick presser foot for your machine it may help to use it for this step.

Continue lining the top of your pocket pieces up with the last stitched line and stitch close to the bottom of the vinyl.

The last pocket piece should leave about 1/2 inch of lining uncovered.

Step 4

Using a water or heat soluble fabric marker and your ruler-mark lines at the top and bottom (picture shows only marks at the top, but do the bottom too!) at the 2 5/8, 4 3/4, 7 1/4, 9 3/4, and 11 7/8 inch marks.

Line your ruler up at the center marks first and press the line with a hera marker.

Machine stitch on the line you pressed with the hera marker.

Repeat this process with the other marks you measured -moving out from the center.

Congrats you just made your pockets!

Step 5

Embellishing-  you may chose to patchwork, embroider, or add applique to your exterior.  I added a little bit of this and that to my exterior.

Step 6

Layering-

Lay your lining/pockets face down, lay the soft n stable on top, then the exterior face up.

You may chose to add a snap or magnetic closure at this time.

If not then just use binding clips to keeps your layers together.

Use your walking foot to baste the layers together stitching with a 1/8 seam allowance around the entire outside.

Step 7

Bind your project like you would a quilt.

 

 AND ENJOY!

Later gators,

Melissa

Bags, and Purses, and Totes. Oh My!

I’ve been sewing all sorts of delicious totes and bags preparing for an Etsy shop update.

So fun!

What are you sewing today?

Later gators!

New Tote and some head scratchers

I cut into my Maker fabric this weekend to make this really fun bag.  The pattern is the 241 Tote by Noodlehead.  You can buy it here.

Usually I’m pretty good at figuring out how to make stuff without a pattern, but I kept staring at all the awesome pictures of this bag on the net and thinking, “how in the world does that go together?” It was driving me crazy trying to figure it out in my head, so I finally just bought it. I am glad I did! What a nice pattern. I’m sure I’ll make many more.

I changed it up a little by piecing the main bag panel and I added grommets and a leather handle with swivel clips.  I scored a really nice bag of leather scraps at the craft store for 7 bucks (and I had a 40 percent off coupon which made it even cheaper!)  So now I have lots and lots of leather for purse straps. Cool!

side story:  while I was hammering in the grommets I kept thinking, don’t hammer your thumb Melissa!! don’t hammer your thumb!!! I totally hammered my thumb.  It was all swollen and throbbing like a Fred Flintstone cartoon.

Speaking of head scratchers,  a few other things have had me thinking hmmmm? lately too.

One is this pillow. I love it. I keep seeing it in Home decorating pictures. It’s totally an album block right? We can make a quilty one! But for some reason my brain took forever to figure it out because all the album blocks I’ve ever made are just one row of “steps.”  Then I thought maybe you make in like an Irish chain? no  Maybe like a trip around the world? no  You have to make the album block but instead of making the block you make the whole thing at once laying out all the pieces and sewing long rows.  Right? Or is there an easier way? Maybe I’ve confused you as much as myself. LOL!!!!! =)

Two is my house.

We’re having it scraped and painted the 3rd week of May. You would think it would be fun to pick out new house colors….but it’s a nightmare. We have to live with it for 10 years, what if it’s ugly??? Part of the reason is we have to keep the trim dark and the body light or it would cost 30 % more. We both hate the red, but can’t figure out a good color scheme. We’re spending a small fortune on sample pots to try out and none of them have worked. I thought we nailed it this weekend with a light gray body, dark gray outer trim and a darker, browner red inner trim.  And here is the crazy man I live with….it reminded him of Ohio State colors and he wont have people saying that to him.   Who would see a house and think of sports? UGGG, men. Any suggestions? (about the house, not the man. hehehe)

Hope you have a great week!

Melissa

p.s. I’ve been using Instagram a lot lately. I’d love it if you want to add me and I’ll add you back!  I’m: lussier1971

Farmhouse Glam

I think I freaked some people out with my last decorating post.  Especially my husband and my Mom.  I hope you lovely readers aren’t too put off by the direction my tastes are moving, and that you continue to see something here in my posts, whether  it be quilting or decorating, that  interests you.  And if not we can still be friends!  Just think of it as if your friend got a really bad haircut: you still stay friends, say nice things, and wait for it to grow out! LOL

I can only explain it as I’ve had the some of the same furniture and decor for 12 years or more, and quite frankly I just get sick of looking at it after all that time.  I explained it to my husband as: you wouldn’t want the same stuff in the year 2000 as you would in 1988 right?  I think he is mostly concerned about me spending a ton of cash on new things.

Change doesn’t have to mean buying all new things, sometimes you can just add a little paint!

I got a change bug this week and incorporated some of the design elements I was talking about last time in this little nook under the stairs.

I cut a template out of  cereal box cardboard and traced it on the wall with chalk. I used chalk paint to trace the lines.

Then I *GASP* painted the sideboard with the same chalk paint. I still need to wax and distress it.  It’s looking a little starkly white at the moment.  Added a pretty mirror and some new lamps.

Viola! Something new to look at!

I can add the quilt shelf back when I get sick of looking at it like this, but for now it’s feeling fresh, uncluttered,  and spring like

Enjoy the weekend!

Melissa

Linking here.

Sewing Room Adventures

Woo HOO it’s finally spring, glorious, spring! (or something almost like it.) Enough of a beginning of spring for us to go out and clean up the flower beds this past weekend, and cook out some steaks on the grill.

I’ve been sewing little projects every day waiting for it to be nice enough to go outside.

A new spring/summer purse with bamboo handles and matching wallet.

The wallet took 2 tries, as I was making up the pattern as I went along.  The first one was rather floppy, so I used timtex on the second go around.

I’m in LOVE with the fabric which was purchased at JoAnn’s (I Know!!) I loved it so much a bought yardage to make curtains for our next camper. It reminds me of retro barkcloth.

A little embroidery project that turned into a block that might turn into a pillow?

Trajectory mini quilt that also might turn into a pillow. You can find the paper piecing template for free here.

A Jack Russell Terrier mini quilt in honor of our Sony-the-wonderdog. She’s going to be 17 this year!! I found the block in an old book of mine.  If anyone needs to know, I’m sure I can dig it out and get the title for you.

The frayed edge jacket by Favorite Things. I’ve had this pattern around for years.  I finally decided now’s the time to make this little bugger.  I started out with this prototype that I’m giving to Mom for Mother’s Day, primarily because I had a hunch I would want mine smaller/more fitted, not because I thought the first one would suck! LOL   I have to finish the lining and adjust the sleeve length on hers (picture is without lining, you’ll see lining on the collar and if you roll up the sleeves when done.) then I’m going to start on mine with some awesome new Cotton and Steel fabric that arrived in the mail recently.

Here are the fat quarters I’m making my jacket out of:

So yummy!

Speaking of fabric arriving in the mail. I’ve had a hard time staying off the computer and pushing the buy button!

Here are some fun things that have showed up recently:

Maker by Art Gallery Fabrics:

Some super fun Pam Kitty Garden:

Adorable Milk, Sugar & Flower by Elea Lutz:

I better get back up to the sewing room!

Have a wonderful day,

Melissa

Low Volume Table Runner Kit

Remember this little table runner I made after the holidays? Well I finally remembered to organize the leftover low volume scraps into 2 little kits.

The table runner measures 15 1/2 x 43 inches.  It’s perfect to place under a spring vignette for your table!

Just lay the strips out evenly into 3 rows and sew them up. I quilted wavy lines.

The kits are 12.50 and that includes shipping.

You will need backing, binding, and batting.

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Have a great day! Spring is almost here =)

Melissa

Little Hexie Thread Catcher Tutorial

I’ve been wanting to play with English paper piecing for a long while. Specifically hexagons.  I have dabbled with them in a pattern I wrote a while back, but I would love to make a whole quilt with them someday.

To satisfy my itch, AND create something useful, I made a little thread catcher.

**If you would like a kit scroll down to the bottom**

I’ve needed this little cutie forever. If you ever looked at my floor or table while I’m sewing you would see that I usually just toss the threads willy nilly all over the place. Now I have a little container to keep the place a little more tidy.

Would you like to play along?

First you will need to print off the 3/4 inch hexagon templates. I got mine here .

I used card stock. Print off a 1 inch template page too.  You can use one of the 1 inch hexagons as a cutting template for the fabric.

There are lots of tutorials on making hexies online, so I won’t go into that here.  My little tips are: use a baby rotary cutter to cut your fabric around your 1 inch template, and use a dab of sewline glue stick in the middle of your 3 /4 inch templates to keep the fabric steady while doing your tacking stitches.

You will need 10 Hexies for this project.

Lay them out in a pleasing manor and whip stitch them in a row like so:

You can take your papers out as you go, or at the end. It’s up to you. I took mine out when I was completely done connecting them.

Cutting The Fabric

5 1/2 x 12 1/2 main fabric

5 1/2 x 12  1/2 lining fabric

5 1/2 x 12 1/2 sturdy canvas or interfacing

2 1/4 x 22 binding

Construction

Let’s begin with the lining.

Fold your fabric in half and sew up the edges using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. (all seams are 1/4 inch for this project.)

Then sew the bottom with a 1/4 inch seam.  **At this point if your fabric is directional like mine, pay attention to which side is the bottom.

Next you will box the bottom by fiddling with your fabric until you have a flat  triangle in the bottom corner. Using your ruler measure in 1 1/4 inches from the tip of the triangle, mark a line with a water or heat soluble marking pen.  I use Frixon pens, they rock. Just run an iron over them and it disappears!

Now sew on your line back stitching at the start and stop. Repeat on the other corner.

Trim seams to quarter inch and set the lining aside.

Now lets work on the outside.

Using your ruler measure down 1 1/2 inches from the top (long side) and mark with your marking pen (be sure it is water or heat soluble you don’t want a permanent mark on your thread catcher!)  This is the guide for placing your hexies.

Next center your hexies , pin, and hand stitch.

I use YLI silk thread and applique needles to stitch on.

Now layer your outside fabric onto the canvas.  You can spray baste, safety pin, etc I just used some straight pins to hold the 2 layers together.

 Quilting time! Do whatever quilting you would like , I used 3 strands of DMC floss in pink to go around my hexies.

When you are done you can remove your marking line. In my case I just had to run a hot iron over it.

We are going to construct the outer unit just like we did the lining. Making triangles in the corner, marking a line at 1 1/4 inch, sewing on the line back stitching at the start and stop, trimming the corners off.

Now turn the thread catcher inside out!

Isn’t it cute?

Now grab your lining and stuff it down inside. Use your fingers to push it down into the corners,  and pin the perimeter matching up the side seam. I hand basted a seam around the very top to make it easier to sew on the binding, so the fabrics wouldn’t shift.

Now sew the binding to the outside using a 1/4 inch seam. Turn it inside out to make hand stitch the binding easier.

Turn it right side out and admire your adorable thread catcher!

Pick up all the stray threads you just made and throw ’em in there! =)

Buy A Kit!!!

I have three one left little kits made up if you would like to purchase one.

They are $25.00 which includes shipping.

They include the lining, outer, and canvas fabric, the binding, the pink DMC floss for quilting, and the best part is I’ve already basted the hexies for you!!

Later gators!

Melissa