My sewing guardian

When I was younger, I used to collect figurines. Until I was probably in high school, my mom would always get me a new Dreamsicle figurine for Christmas. I have all kinds, but my favorite's probably still a little green dragon one that is beyond cute. With only an exception or two, I haven't gotten another one in ten or so years, but this year, in light of my new passion for sewing, my mom found one she couldn't resist:

I call her my sewing guardian. She sits on my fabric storage bookcase right behind my sewing machine (my sewing table's too small, and I knew she'd get knocked off for sure). I love her.

Some clutch clutches

Look for a few more posts in the coming weeks about the rest of my handmade Christmas gifts. These lovelies were some of the first gifts I made, all the way back in November. When I saw Noodlehead's Gathered Clutch tutorial featured on Sew, Mama, Sew's Handmade Holidays list, I knew I had to make them. And all the talk about these guys in the blogosphere has proven I wasn't the only one drawn in; these must have been one of the most popular tutorials of the holiday season.

They were super quick to put together, and I love the way they turned out. All of the fabrics were purchased at Joann's (sorry I don't remember what they were!). Note: this is a great fat quarter project, too! I chose not to do the optional card lining on these because I thought it would make them more multifunctional for the girlfriends who received them, but down the road, I make one for myself as a wallet. I love how many options there are for combining different colors and fabrics, and I can't wait to make more!

Pretty new bag

I made this bag back in the Fall. You may remember this bag that I made for one of my mom's coworkers, and she liked it so much that she asked me to make another one in a different shape. She wanted something more like a slim tote, with a long, skinny handle, a simple pocket, and a snap to close it. So I created this:

I got the general measurements and basic techniques for the tote from a great book called Bend-the-Rules Sewing. Matt got it for me when I was just starting out, and it's really helpful for beginners. I also finally learned how to make a lined pocket (it's so simple and easy, it's ridiculous that I didn't do it before) and used it for the first time on this bag. It was also the first sew-in snap I'd done, and it turned out pretty good.

I wanted to add a bit more room and depth to the tote, so I boxed the corners, which I learned to do on this bag. (The pattern in the book doesn't do this.) Finally, I finished it off with a strap of my own creation. I took two lengths of double-fold bias tape and adhered them using a strip of Steam-A-Seam 2. Then, I stitched two lines down the length of it in contrasting thread to match the red of the bag fabric. It was plenty sturdy for anything she'd want to carry in the tote, but it was still thin and something different. I really liked the way it turned out. The fabrics were both from Joann's, but I'm sorry to say I can't remember what they were.

She liked the bag so much that she asked me to make another just like it. This one will be green on the lining and black and white outside. I'm sure you'll see it soon.

Happy New Year!

We rang in the new year by enjoying a fabulous five-course meal with friends at Fond. What a great way to start the year!

 Happy New Year, everyone!

Lined drawstring wine bag TUTORIAL

In my build-up to Christmas, I mentioned I was planning a tutorial for one of the gifts I was making, and now is the time to deliver. I made these wine bags for some friends of mine and loved the way they turned out:

I had a lot of trouble finding a tutorial online for these that I really liked, so I thought I'd make one myself. I took bits and pieces from several online tutorials (I am most indebted to Dana's hobo sack tutorial over on MADE (it's how I figured out how to do the drawstring at the top) and the wine bag tutorial from Gator Gracie) and ideas from a wine bag I already owned, from which I took the measurements and the idea to move the ribbon casing a few inches down instead of having it along the top seam, as most of the tutorials I found do, and as I did for my drawstring gifts bags. Since this is my first tutorial, I'm sure I missed some things along the way — I'd really appreciate any comments with suggestions or feedback.

Want to make one of your own? Then, let's get to it.

What you'll need:

• Linen (cut 4): 5.5” x 7”
• Fabric for the middle part of the outside bag (I suggest quilter's cotton.) (cut 2): 5.5” x 7”
• Letter (cut 1 from lining fabric): I used the alphabet letters found here and blew them up 200% on my copier. Feel free to use whatever fonts/sizes you want.
• Lining fabric (cut 2): 14.5” x 7”
• Ribbon (cut 2): 1/2” x 22” (Be sure to pick a sturdy fabric ribbon, as this is how'll you'll carry the wine.) 
• Matching thread (I used a light one so it would blend into the linen when I made the casing, but you could use a coordinating color if you wanted it to stand out. Sorry the light color doesn't show up very well in some of the photos.)
• Pressing cloth and fusible webbing for applique.
• All seam allowances are 1/2”.

First let's make the lining. Place the lining pieces right sides together. Pin.

Stitch around the sides and bottom, leaving the top open. Important — also leave a 3-4” gap open in the bottom (you'll need this for turning later — you can see in the picture below that I forgot to do this on this bag and had to pull out the ol' seam ripper later). Be sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of each stitch. Remember, all seam allowances are 1/2”.

Trim the edges, clip the corners, and press.

Now on to the outside of the bag. Place one piece of linen on top of the middle fabric piece, right sides facing. Pin.

Stitch across the top.

Place the middle piece right side up and open the linen you just sewed down (the piece on the right in the picture above). Place the second piece of linen on top of the middle fabric piece, right sides together. Stitch along the new "top" (the left side in the picture above).

Place the piece right side down and press both of your seams open. This will ensure they lay flat and make for easier sewing later on.

Flat seams!

Flip piece over and press again. We want it to be really nice and flat. Repeat this process with the other side of the outer bag.

Ok, now for our letter. I'm going to do the most basic of run-throughs on machine applique. If this isn't enough or if this is your first time doing a machine applique, I recommend you check out this tutorial over on Sew, Mama, Sew! or this one on Little Birdie Secrets (less detailed, but still very helpful). Pictured above, I've already applied the fusible webbing to the back of my letter fabric and cut out the fabric letter with the fusible webbing on the back. 

Remove the paper backing from the fusible webbing. (Don't forget this! For some reason, I have trouble remembering to do this, and I've ruined more than a few letters this way.) Position the letter where you want it on top of the middle fabric and cover with a damp pressing cloth. (I just use a scrap piece of natural white cotton fabric.)

Press for 10 seconds with an iron on the wool setting, then gently remove the pressing cloth.

The SMS tutorial linked above tells you to use a satin or buttonhole stitch. I used a zigzag stitch instead, like the LBS tutorial suggests. Any of these are good options. Set your machine to your chosen stitch and adjust your stitch length and width accordingly. I used 1 for my length and 4 for my width. I suggest testing your stitch on a scrap piece of fabric first to make sure it's what you want.

Beginning with your needle on the inside of the fabric (on top of the letter, not the middle panel fabric), slowly stitch around the letter.

Follow the SMS tutorial's instructions for going around curves. She has a great explanation and pictures. Be sure to backstitch just a little when you get back to the beginning. Press your stitches when you're done.

Now let's put the outside bag together. Place the two outside bag pieces right sides together. Pin around the sides and bottom. (Make sure you choose which end to make the bottom depending on the orientation of your letter — you don't want it to be upside down when you're done.)

Measure down 1.5” from the top side (the left side in the picture above) and pin. This is where the top line of your casing will be later. Measure down another inch from that pin and pin again. This will be the bottom line of your casing. Repeat on the other side.

Here's a close-up of the pins. Sorry I didn't get a picture of this step, but sew along the sides and bottom of the outside bag using the same 1/2” seam allowance. DO NOT sew between your double pins. Be sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of your stitches. So, starting at the top, you'll sew 1.5”, stop, and restart on the other side of your double pins, continuing around the bag until you get to the other set of double pins, where you'll stop again, skip over the pins, and sew your final 1.5” to the top.

Press, trim, and clip your corners. Be sure not to trim the fabric between your double pins! You'll need this to tuck in and cover your ribbon holes later.

Turn the outside bag and press again. Then, insert the outside bag into the lining, right sides facing. Your outside bag will be right side out, and your lining will be wrong side out.

Pin well, lining up the side seams to ensure a polished and straight final product. Stitch around the top with the same 1/2” seam allowance.

Press. Pull the outside bag through the hole in the bottom of the lining to flip them both right sides out.

Topstitch or blind stitch the hole in the lining closed. Press. Stuff the lining into the outside bag and press again.

Now for the casing. Find the holes you left in the sides of the bag. If necessary, push the extra fabric into the hole and press to ensure a smooth edge on the side.

Pin just above and below the holes on each side so you have a gauge of where to sew. You're going to sew two parallel lines straight across the bag from pin to pin.

Sew a line around the entire bag, hitting just above the top pins. Sew a second line around the entire bag, hitting just below the bottom pins. Backstitch. Press.

Now for your ribbon. Attach a paper clip to one end of one of the ribbon pieces.

Push the ribbon into one of the side holes and wiggle it through the casing to the other side.

When you reach the other side, just push the paper clip right back in and continue wiggling it around the back of the bag until it comes out on the side you started on.

Ta da! You've got one done — you're almost there!

Repeat with the other piece of ribbon, except start on the opposite side of the bag (the left side in the picture above). When you get to the side where your first ribbon is sticking out, just go right on past it and return to the side where you started. If all of this is confusing, Dana's explanation in her tutorial might be clearer.

Tie the two pieces of ribbon on each side into a small knot and trim the ends of your ribbon. (I usually angle it.)

You're done! Put a bottle of wine in that baby and get ready to see the smile on your friend's face (or your own). Enjoy!

World, meet Hooty

Remember this post a few weeks ago about the wonderful Hooty pattern I bought from Melly & Me? Well, he's ready to make his big debut: World, meet Hooty!

I LOVE the way he turned out. This is actually the first of two Hooties I made for Christmas presents — one for my little sister Houston (who we call Houdie — get it?) and one for our niece Jesselynn. I made them both from the same fabrics. The body is Ann Kelle's fabulous Owls in Bermuda from the Urban Zoologie collection and the wings, tummy, and feet are from scraps I had (sorry I can't remember the names — I'll try to find the selvages at home and update this), all of which was bought at my local Jackman's. The eyes, ears, and beak are all white felt.

I think he's the cutest little thing. The first one sat on one of our living room end tables for several days before being shipped to California, and even Matt, who was originally skeptical, was so enamored of him that he asked if I would make him a blue and gray Rice owl for his office. I said yes, of course, so add that to the January project list.

Hooty, shake your tail feather!

A new challenge for a new year

Speaking of bags, I’m so excited about the new challenge I just found over on Jem Jam. She’s hosting a Style Stitches 12-Month Challenge. Amy Butler’s new book, Style Stitches, has 12 chapters of amazing bag designs, so the idea is that we’ll work our way through the book over the course of a year, one bag each month. Since I just got the book for Christmas, I figure it’s the perfect way to dive right in. Check out the challenge yourself, or keep an eye out here for my first bag in January. Oh, and check out the book, too — it’s awesome.

It's in the bag

Last year, before I knew how to sew or owned a sewing machine, I decided I was going to wrap my Christmas gifts in fabric. I used different fabric wrapping techniques I found online, and it worked well enough. I was happy to save the wrapping paper, and it was something fun and different.

But this year, I own a sewing machine, and I know how to sew, so just tying some fabric around my gifts wasn’t going to do. For all of the gifts I gave in person, I made little drawstring bags:

I was partially inspired by Sew, Mama, Sew’s Green Grocery Bag Challenge and partially just wanted to step it up from last year. Next year, I’m hoping to expand to create bags for all of my gifts, including the ones I mail (sorry if you missed out this year!).

I used the simple drawstring bag tutorial from Happy Things, and it was SO easy. I found that with the darker fabric, I didn’t need to line the bag to avoid it being see-through, and I figured it was better not to waste time and money lining it if it wasn’t needed. (If you’re interested, Happy Things has several tutorials for various lined drawstring bags, too: here, here, and here). Matt even cut most of the fabric for me (these were completed in the final crazy days before we left for Texas, and I was happy to accept all the help I could get), and he did a great job.

I love the way they all turned out, and they were a big hit at the final Christmas Day unveiling. Bonus — since we flew to Texas for Christmas, these were also way easier to pack in a suitcase than lots of stiff boxes would have been. Oh, and I love the fabrics I got from Hawthorne Threads. They're from Riley Blake's Doohikey Designs Hooty Hoot collection (Argyle in Blue and Starburst in Blue), and I love that they have a modern Christmas-y vibe without being too Christmas-y.