Denim purse tutorial

Materials

• 4 inch purse frame
• Denim scraps
• Fabric scraps for sides of coin purse, lining and hexies
• Download Denim coin purse pdf pattern (pdf)
• Download Half inch hexagon pattern (pdf)
• Stranded cotton to attach frame to purse or glue if using a purse frame that has to be glued

How to make hexagons

Notes: all seam allowances are 1/4 inches.  Add the seam allowance to the pattern line.

This pattern is made for a 4 inch wide frame. If your frame is wider or narrower, just place frame on top of the pattern and draw proportionally around the lines, inside or outside, adjusting for the width of frame.

Cut all your pieces,as per instructions on the pattern, adding 1/4 in seam allowance.

Sew 9 or 10 hexies and stitch in groups. Learn how to sew hexies.

Pin each hexie group to each denim side.

Stitch to the denim with a hidden stitch.

To remove paper hexagon turn over the denim piece, make a few cuts, trim excess denim fabric and remove paper.

Lining

To make the lining, pin pieces together, in twos, and stitch along the line.

The lining is now ready.

Now stitch the exterior in the same way, alternating denim and pattern fabric.

The exterior is done.

Now with the lining inside out and the exterior inside out, place the exterior inside the lining.

Stitch along the top edge leaving a 2 inch opening to turn purse inside out.

Turning purse inside out through the opening.

Voilà!

Now it’s time to stitch the purse to the frame, or glue it.

The hardest part is to stop it from moving. I used pins but you could thread and large stitches that go from the lining to the exterior and wrapping around the frame.

Then just stitch the frame to the purse using stranded cotton or some strong thread.

I addes a self covered button to cover the point where all the pieces meet which was a bit untidy.

It is a cutte frame and it is a good size too. It could be a make a small make up bag.

Follow me napkins

A set of 6 napkins of my favourite media services.

I’m not the most active crafter in social media though I use several services to share my work. That’s how my Follow me napkins came about. Follow me!

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Flickr
• Pinterest
• tumblr

Materials

• 6 store bought white napkins
• Double sided iron on interfacing
• Fabric scraps for the icon background
• White fabric for the logo

Download Follow me napkins (pdf) pattern.

Instructions

Print and cut out all the pattern shapes.

Trace 6 squares using the pattern.

Cut 6 squares.

Cut all icons with care.

Important:  All icons need to be traced over double sided iron interfacing from the wrong side. See photo below.

Then iron double sided interfacing on to the white fabric.

Cut logo carefully on the line.

Remove the paper to reveal the adhesive side.

Place logo on the background square making sure placement is in the right angle. And press following manufacturing instructions.

Now using black thread and machine free motion, embroider around the edge of the icon. I went around the edge about 3 times, maybe 4 in some areas.

You could use some fabric stabiliser to top fabric from puckering. My stabiliser of choice is just plain printer paper.

Now applique the square to the napkin.

Use printer paper as stabiliser placing it on the wrong side of the napkin.

Pin 3 layers well.

Stitch around the edges 3 times.

Turn over.

Remove the paper.

Pinterest napkin is done!

5 more to go.

In order to save iron on double sided interfacing -it is quite expensive after all- I traced all the other icons on one single line as per picture, pressed on fabric and then cut out the shapes.

Now Twitter’s turn.

Same deal as before. Use some paper as interfacing.

The paper is easy to remove.

Skype’s logo is a bit tricky to cut. Make sure to use a small pair of scissors.

Tumblr.

LinkedIn.

And Facebook.

Upcycled denim pants travel bag with improv patchwork

This is not only a bag with improv patchwork but also a sort of improv travel bag too. I don’t have any clue about how to construct pants or any garment. The way I went about doing this was rather approximate as you will see. I am not going to give any sizes of fabric, jeans or whatever because it will depend on the size of the pants you use. Before you start, align the top of the waist jeans together and pin. Believe me it makes things better if you do this.

I started with an old pair of jean. This pair in particular had pockets lower than the start of the legs. I wanted to preserve the pockets so I cut the pants lower than the pockets.

Then I cut each leg bit individually as per picture.

I pinned both sides, from each leg together. The point of this exercise was to get a straight piece of jeans. I drew a straight line of where the seam should go.

I stitched along the line.

I turned the pants around and did the same thing on the other side. In both instances excess fabric needs to be trimmed off.

This is the resulting piece from step one.

Now trim both front and back as per picture. Make sure the rectangle is the same height on both right and left side.

Improv patchwork

There’re many of ways of doing improv patchwork. I have posted tutorials on improv patchwork before. For this bag,  I stitched pieces of fabric together of approximately the same length until I got a bigger piece. Then I put it aside.

I continued to stitch bigger pieces from smaller pieces.

You will need to trim pieces as you continue to piece. For instance I stitched a rectangle on an an angle in the piece below.

Then I trimmed it to fit with the rectangular shape of the larger piece. I usually try to get to a rectangular or square piece because then it is easier to assemble the different pieces.

By this stage I thought I’d have enough for the bottom of the bag.

I started to assemble the pieces and trimming them into a rectangle.

When you trim your pieces they can be reused to square other improv pieces. Do not throw anything away.

Prepare the denim pants.

You need to decide how big you want your bag to be and then decide on the size of your improv patchwork piece. My improv patchwork is about 7 inches wide by the width of the pants. I made a large strip/rectangle and stitched it into a tube. Then I placed the pants inside the patchwork tube and aligned the bottom edge.

I pinned well.

I stitched along the edge leaving 1/4in seam allowance.

That’s it. The bottom is attached. I pressed the seam well.

Then I turned the bag inside out and pinned along the bottom edge to make the exterior sac.

I stitched all along the bottom edge leaving 1/4 inch allowance.

Time to box the corners of the bag. My photos aren’t great on this step so if they don’t make any sense please check Sew 4 home tutorial. Place the bag as per picture below and mark 2 1/2 in from the corner.

Stitch along the line and cut off excess fabric.

Do on both sides and voilà! Done!

Lining

Usually I stitch the lining by machine but this time I don’t want to stitch the lining all the way to the top of the bag but just up to the waist band so I hand stitched the lining. Also I added batting to the lining for the same reason I hand stitched it to the bag.

I measured the bag and cut 2 lining pieces in quilting cotton. I squilted both pieces separately.

Then I placed both pieces right sides facing together and stitched around 3 sides leaving the side that will go up open.

The lining also needs to have boxed corners. Do as you did for the bag.

The handles are heavy duty and store bought. I’m tired of my handles and straps deteriorating within a few months of using a bag. Place the handles about 6 inches apart. Pin. And stitch now.

Place the lining inside the bag, fold the top in and slip stitch around the waist.

Done!

This is it.

Big enough as a weekend bag or a beach bag.