Octopus Tote Bag

 I am sooooo excited to share this tutorial with you!  It's on the Therm O Web blog today!!   I have been working like crazy to get it done!  We are ocean lovers at my house.  In fact the octopus is my daughter's favorite animal!  This tote bag is made with heavy canvas and accents of Blend quilting cottons.  The blue fabrics have the feel of water.   This project uses Therm O Web's  Spray n Bond, Fusible Fleece and Heat n Bond Lite.

The tentacles wrap around to the side/back of the bag.

 I love the back - it's cute even plain!

Coming soon, a coordinating zipper pouch!!!

Patriotic Tote Bag Tutorial

Today my Patriotic Tote Tutorial is on the Therm O Web blog!  Click here to read how you can make one of these fun totes for summer!!  This tote is the perfect size for the beach, the pool, or the park.

My Favorite Zipper Pouch {tutorial}

I am excited to share the pattern for my "Favorite Zipper Pouch". 

I love my fabrics from xo.gigi fabrics!   I needed a few gifts and whipped up some zipper pouches.  I have made lots and lots of zipper bags.  This is the one I always go back to.  It holds a lot but isn't huge.  I have probably made over 50 of these! 

Are you ready??

Prepare the bag:

Iron the fusible fleece to the wrong side of the outer bag fabric.

Measure a 1 1/2" square and cut a notch out of the bottom corners of the outer pieces and the lining pieces.  This will create the pleat in the bottom of the bag.

Prepare the zipper:

I like to put little tabs on my zipper so the zipper is not directly sewn into the seam of the bag.  It reduces bulk and helps it lay flat.  I always measure my tabs larger then cut them down.

As you can see, I like to buy larger zippers than I need.  You can always cut them down for smaller projects!

Cut off the metal ends of the zipper.

Sew one of the prepared tabs to the end of the zipper.  Backstitch several times over the zipper teeth.

Now measure over and sew the tab on the opposite end of the zipper.  There should be 1" of tab on each side.  The excess will be cut off in a minute.

Use your zipper foot and sew along the zipper.

Now you do the same process to the other side of the zipper.  Place the zipper face down on the right side of the outer fabric.  Line up the edges.  Layer the lining on top right side down. (pictured below)

Sew the zipper using the zipper foot.  

Finish the bag:

Top stitch about 1/8" next to both sides of the zipper.  This will hold the fabric in place and it won't catch in the zipper.

Make sure the bag is unzipped!!!

Turn the bag right side out.

Stuff the lining down in the bag and press the bag as needed.  Done!!!

The Bella Clutch from Clover & Violet

 The cute girls at Clover & Violet are offering this darling clutch pattern for free.  Click HERE to check it out!  I sewed one up last night and the pattern is easy to follow and it is super cute!!  You should make one!!

 

I didn't add a strap to mine as I will use it inside my purse.  I also quilted it with batting.   I love how it is puffy and can stand up on it's own!  I choose these colors because I only had purple zippers on hand - yikes!  better order some more!

Holiday Boutique

 My 8th grader is going on a class trip to Catalina Island.  I like to have my children "earn" their money for camps and trips.  We came up with the idea of sewing items and selling them at her school's Holiday Boutique!  We should have started sewing before December but we got it all done! 

...and the boutique was held on the COLDEST day of the year!  BURRRRR!!

 We made all these cute zipper pouches.

 ...and Ruffled Tote Bags.  Ella and I split the work almost 50-50.  She is a great sewer, pinner, presser, and ruffler!!  Oh, and she choose all the fabrics!

 We also made taggies, sunglasses cases and other little pouches.  She's almost earned all her money!!