Upcycling: Velvet Curtain into Travel Booster Seat Bag (for 2 seats)

We chose the old velvet curtain for this project because velvet is sturdy and soft, and the color is dark and will hide some travel marks.  We wanted a bag to hold the booster seats and possibly make it easier to get through the airport.  If that's possible.  

 To make it, we stacked the two booster seats together then cut the curtain to fit around while still giving space to get the seats in and out.

I added a pocket for a card with our contact info.

Snaps go across the opening (they are black).  

I made a strap from the top of the curtain because those rings are so cool, and we can hang a name tag from there, or strap it to another bag through the holes if needed.  To make the strap, I hemmed the width of the cut side (the other side still had its hem).  I used a box stitch to attach it.  I chose the length by trying to walk while having the full bag over a shoulder.  It is shorter than I expected.

Wish us luck traveling!

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Simple Twenty Minute Tote with Exterior Pocket Tutorial

These are so quick, and they are quicker still if you choose not to include the exterior pocket.

First, choose a piece of fabric to fold in half as the main body fabric and cut it to square it up (actually it is a rectangle, but you need to make the corners square).  Then choose a pocket size and fabric, and cut the pocket and the straps.  The straps will be about 14" by 2".  Check your length by imagining holding the bag.

Press the edges of the pocket under on all four sides.  Stitch the top hem.  Pin it to one side of your main tote piece.  Stitch it around the three unsewn sides.

Now fold up your bag and stitch the two sides together.  Press the top hem under and stitch it.

To make the straps, which are 1" wide,  press them inwards with the edges hidden inside.  Then  stitch up and down both sides.  Next, pin and attach the straps to the bag using a box stitch in four places. Make sure the attachments across from each other are actually directly across from each other.

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Amy Butler Blossom Handbag

This is the free Amy Butler Blossom Handbag Pattern for her "Blossom Handbag."  The photos of hers are gorgeous, and it din't seem as, er, hefty as mine turned out.  It's just a lot of fabric all in one bag.

It's just ok.  In addition to how much is there before you fill it, the top flap doesn't close nicely unless it is full.

I added a side interior zipper for my wallet.

I like the detail where the straps attach to the bag (where it looks like a larger hook).

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Upcycle Birdseed Bag into two Totes

We recently emptied a bag of bird seed and I thought it would be fun to make it into a bag.  It ended up as two little totes.  The boys each have claimed one and want to bring them to the farmer's market for their goodies.

Tote 1:

This is the back of the bird seed bag, stitched together.  Then I pinched the bottom corners (from the inside) and sewed across them to give it a structured bottom.

The handles are made of the sides of the birdseed bag folded in half and stitched together.  I used a box stitch to attach them to the tote.

Tote 2:

This is the front of the birdseed bag with the same pinched corners stitched across as with the first tote.

But with this one, I used canvas material from my stash for the handles and for a credit card/ money pocket.  

To make the credit card pocket, I took a rectangle of fabric and folded it in half, right sides together.  Then I turned and topstitched it together to make a patch pocket.  I added a snap.

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Pattern Review: Zip-Top Tote Bag from Warehouse Fabrics Blog

This free zip top tote pattern is from the Warehouse Fabrics blog.



I used a quilter's cotton for the outside, a metallic thin fabric for the lining, and old sheet for the inside of the zippered interior pocket, and buckram for the interfacing.

I didn't do the cargo pocket she recommended for the outside, and did a patch pocket with a seam in the middle and a flap over it with two snaps instead.

On the inside, I did an interior zipper pocket on one side and a patch pocket with a seam for a pen pocket on the other side.

I like the bag overall.  It is a nice size and weight, and I like how I did the pockets.  The strap is a little long for me- it could be a full 6" shorter and still be ok.

The directions were decent and the pattern pieces fit together.  I struggled with getting the buckram through the turning hole because it is so stiff, and how to use the interfacing was unclear in the directions.

I also attached the lining to the zipper differently than she explained. I did this because I made the error of topstitching the zipper down when I attached it to the exterior pieces.  Then my zipper tape wasn't available when she told me to attach it to the lining.  Oops.  Instead I tucked my buckram in under the lining, flipped my lining over the edge, and did a second topstitching layer enclosing these pieces.  It worked fine.

I also missed the part in the directions to leave a hole for turning and had to rip myself one. I don't like how bags look with a turning hole in the lining; I much prefer to close them with the topstitching at the top opening.

When attaching the sides before turning it, the zipper sides didn't quite line up. I think the top edges where the zipper lines up look a bit sloppy and would look nicer had I made a continuous seam up the side rather than skipping the zipper itself when I was doing this long seam (this will make sense when you actually do it).

All in all, it's a nice pattern. There are a few jumps to other instruction sets, which is annoying, but it make a fine bag.  Next time, I will do shorter straps and hide the ends of the zipper into the side seams better.

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Ladybug Backpack - Toddler - with Chest Clip

I made my older son a toddler backpack, and he never liked it, and we got rid of it.

But then my little toddler son started asking for a ladybug backpack after we started talking about Halloween.  So I took out the old indietutes pattern and got cutting.  He chose the fabrics, of course.

 

I added a snap.

When he got it, he asked me why it didn't have a chest clip.

So I had to add one for him.

To do this, I marked where it should go, then hemmed fabric and stitched it to the straps.  I added snaps to these pieces.

 

 

 

  

 

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DIY Kids' Purse

This little purse was really easy to make and is reversible.  It's also a nice size for the little ones to use.



To make one, first cut 4 pieces of fabric rounded on 3 corners and about the size of half a piece of printer paper.  If this makes you anxious, you could draw a template first. Make sure they are all the same size and shape.

Next, stitch 2 of each color together on the rounded sides, right sides together.

Then make the straps- mine were about 16-18" long.  Remember that an inch gets hidden when you are deciding on the length.  To make them, cut your fabric 2" wide. Fold it in half and stitch it together however you'd like (turn and pull a tube or iron a seam and stitch it on the right side, or serge it so the seam is visible- your choice).

Tuck the 2 sides of the bag together, right sides together.  Then tuck a strap into each side and make sure it's not twisted and pin it on each side, leaving about 1/2" to go into the seam.

Stitch around the top of the bag, reversing a few extra times over where the straps are attached and leaving a 3" hole for turning.

Pull the bag inside out so the straps are out and one side of the bag is inside the other.  You may iron the top seam flat if you wish.

Topstitch around the opening, closing the turning hole as you pass. Use a wider stitch for this (I like 3.5).

Attach your label and a closure of some sort (I use Kam snaps).

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More Bike Bucket Bags

I have made this free bicycle bucket bag pattern from Noodlehead a couple of times (here - then modified that one here, then made it again here).

This time, I made two at the same time.  They were meant to be for the boys' bikes, but I cut the fabric so long ago, then didn't stitch them up, then we got other baskets, that now we thought to put these on the big wheels, but haven't done it yet and they are just carrying them around the house with dolls and loveys in them.  I am enjoying not having the cut fabric sitting on my desk!



The first one is made with quilter's cotton on the inside and outside and buckram as the stabilizer.  Again, I had trouble with the top binding laying flat.

The second is also made with quilter's cotton and buckram.  I like how the buckram holds the bag steady in both.  You can also see that I haven't put the snaps on yet to attach it to the bike (or velcro).  I wanted to measure it against where it is going before making the attachment mechanism.

 

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Pattern Review: Favorite Purse Pattern by Melly Sews

Though adorable (and with a ton of useful pockets), this bag was really frustrating.  It is from Melly Sews and is her "Favorite Purse" pattern.

Positives of the pattern were that the pieces all fit together and it is a nice size.  Actually, now that I think about it, my outer pleated pockets didn't fit just right over the main body piece and I had to cut them down.

Negatives were the way she explained how to do the zipper pockets (it made me think of why people hate zippers!) and their linings.  Her explanation of how to do the binding and side circles was also inferior (see how I skipped both).

I also like how the bag has a main zipper, although how she attached the handle could have been more discreet and it doesn't make sense why she laps the edges of the main body zipper under towards the end.

The straps are fine- the whole package got a bit thick in my machine at the end- but at least her explanation made sense!  The others were a bit brief- even for an "intermediate level seamstress" like she recommends to do this pattern.  I quite like the adjustable strap.

All in all, I'd say give this pattern a skip.  The directions are understandable enough but there are far easier methods for accomplishing many of the tasks (like the Hobo Bag, for example).

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Purple Poolside Purse by Delia Creates

The Purple Poolside Purse by Delia Creates was a bit of a headache to make, though I do like the finished product.  It is a nice size for a large tote, and I like how the straps are short and keep it close to the body. I also like the waterproof material on the outside to keep the contents dry, since I usually put it on the inside so I can store wet items of clothing.  She even accounts for the need to carry wet items with the exterior waterproof pockets.

It does have some faults.  For one, I put some heavy things in it, and the straps tugged, leaving the space under the straps (where it meets the bag) sagging below.  I need to stitch the straps to both sides of the bag here.

When making it, I didn't understand how the exterior pockets worked, so they ended up not meeting the straps perfectly and this could look a lot nicer.  I don't like how the straps aren't long enough to go all the way to the bottom on both sides.  Next time, I will cut the straps a lot longer so they will go into the bottom seam.

I also ended up needing to adjust the bottom size (mine was a lot shorter lengthwise than she specified, and I had to cut some off as I was stitching).  I don't love when bags have the bottom as a separate piece, since you end up sewing with odd corners, an issue she also acknowledges.

For the interior, I added a zipper pocket on one side a la J Caroline Creative's Hobo Bag and did a large patch pocket on the other side.

I like how she has you make the interior and exterior, then attach them together at the top. I did orange thread on the top for the exterior and green below for the interior and I like how this detail turned out.

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Pattern Review: The Frou Frou Bag

The Frou Frou Bag was fun to make and just challenging enough that I learned something new without getting too frustrated to quit.

I actually learned two things: 1. how to make an adjustable strap; and 2. how to make ruffles.  While learning how to make ruffles, I learned how to make binding.  I have read about it, but not actually ever made it on the bias properly (not that bad, actually... a bit time consuming, but easy enough).

The directions were clear- although in one place, she said to repeat the steps for the large flap for the small flaps, and I put the snap on the wrong side of the flap (long instead of curved side) because I was doing it from memory instead of scrolling back up.

The tutorial is loaded with photos, too, which makes it easy to follow.

I stopped following as closely when we got to the interior because she only has two pockets on each side.  So I added a zipper on the inside using this tutorial ~ I loathe a bag without an interior zipper pocket for my wallet.  I also added a key fob inside.

She also has you leave a hole in the lining for turning and I didn't put it together this way.  I don't like bags with exposed seams on the inside.  I knew that closing that hole would make an exposed seam.  Instead, I put the interior inside the exterior and pinned them and topstitched around the whole bag, letting the topstitching close the bag.

All in all, this is a good bag.  It was fun to make, has an adjustable strap and plenty of pockets, and it is cute. Pin It

Pattern Review: Indygo Junction In-Style Suitcase Bag IJ913

I was so excited about this bag.  The photos of it make it look so cute and sharp.  I was so excited that I actually bought the specified size of the D rings (I usually just find something that is similar in my stash).  I also bought buckram to use in place of the polyester foam, and I actually bought medium-weight interfacing (I have a bunch of lightweight interfacing I usually use).

But this was an awful project.  I think I would be less annoyed if it were a tutorial, but I spent $10 for the pattern.  I would think that a paid pattern would be better than this, and I am sorely disappointed.

Why did I hate this project?



 1. The raw seams are exposed inside.  They are serged or zig-zagged, but still... exposed seams in a lined purse? C'mon.

2. The pieces are all cut using eighths of an inch.  Really?  Can't we work in fourths or halves of an inch?  Must we be that precise?

3. You had me buy a really long zipper then cut off a third of it (inches on each side).  Why not just specify the size of the opening?

4. The inner pockets look bad.  It is actually clever in theory how they are attached.  They are lined up with the sides and bottom on each side, then your seams to attach the straps on the outside double for the inner pockets.  But why waste the inch on each seam of usable pocket space? Why not just do a bag lining with proper pockets?

5. The instructions are too brief.  I am not one for over-explaining, but they are hard to understand.  The diagrams aren't marked with right side up and down, and the two versions of the bag are marked by the colors of the example bags rather than their redeeming features (i.e. just call one version a single exterior pocket bag and the other version a double exterior pocket bag instead of "green" and "purple").


6. The handles have exposed seams.  They are tucked under and serged or zig-zagged, but still-- I want to make a polished bag.  The roughness looks bad.

The construction method of the top zipper area was actually pretty cool: they have you put in the zipper, hidden between the exterior and interior layers, then cut the whole panel to size.

I also found how they have you use the medium interfacing on the pockets to be unusual.  To make the pockets, they have you fold a large piece in half long-ways.  Then a piece of interfacing is ironed onto the fold, with about 2 inches on each side.  This adds a nice amount of crispness to the edge.

I ended up trying to "save" the inner look of the bag by covering all my seams with fold-over elastic (FOE) I happened to have in the same color.  Before I did this, my inner lining was fraying like crazy-- even through my zig-zags.   I couldn't imagine using the bag and getting yellow fuzz every time.

So (no surprise here), if you are considering this bag, I'd say give it a skip.

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