Knitting / Crochet Bag

I was asked to make a bag for someone to carry around their knitting items. 

This is what I came up with.  A round bottom bag that has multiple pockets around the inside (some are very small in order to accommodate needles easily)

I didn't take pictures at every step, but I will walk you through it!

I started with a dinner plate.  Yep, the bottom circle shape is my largest dinner plate that I traced out onto the outer and the lining fabric.  I also cut out two circles of liner padding.

Next, I measured the circumference of the circle (the total inches all the way around).  I cut out my fabric in that length and the desired height (mine is about 20 inches tall).  Cut out the same in liner fabric.  I cut my liner fabric about 5 inches taller so it would overlap at the top to get a nice crisp border.  Also cut out two padding pieces to create a nice shape.

Measure how tall you want your pockets to be.  I made them 2/3 the height.  Cut twice the amount you need so you can fold it over to create really sturdy pockets.

Cut out some handles and padding for them.

Pin the pocket fabric to the liner fabric.  Mark out your lines to sew for the pockets.  I use chalk to draw out my lines since it washes out easily (or brushes off).  Sew down the lines.  You could start the sewing at the top of the liner but I just sewed from the top of the pocket

Sew the handles into a tube, turn right side out and top stitch along the edges.

Attach the bottom circle to the sides for the outer fabric.  Repeat for the inner fabric.  I pinned and sewed around the circle and then stitched the side closed so there wouldn't be an excess of fabric.  You will keep one padding to one circle and one padding to one rectangle.  In the end there will be two padding pieces for each section.   (You can also see in the background another project I am working on and will post later.)

Put the right sides together and stitch around, leaving an opening to pull right side out.  Since I had the excess at the top of the lining, it created a nice overlap.  Stitch the opening closed.  Top stitch close to where the liner fabric and the outer fabric meet for added strength.

Don't forget to add your personal tag!

I sewed an X on each handle where it attaches to give it extra strength.

Now you have a lovely bag!

With lots of room to tote your projects around

Wine Bottle Bag

This project comes from the book "Fabric-by-Fabric One-Yard Wonders"

The image in the bottom left corner of the cover is actually the project I made: wine bottle bags.  It comfortably holds 6 wine bottles with some room for a corkscrew and other small odds and ends.  It is a fairly easy project that doesn't take too long. 

Here you can see the 'pockets'

Picnic Basket Redo

I found a wonderful picnic basket at goodwill the other day.  It had a liner that had seen better days.  I took out the liner and cut it up into a pattern.  Then I sewed my new liner.  I have it attached to the basket with ribbons tied together. 

I love how it turned out!

Dr Who inspired curtains

I was asked by a friend to make curtains for her sons' room.  She picked out the fabric, which is Dr. Who inspired (her sons are big fans).  I stitched up the sides, bottom and top and cut strips to sew onto the top.  They are 3 panels and each panel has 4 strips to hang from.

Chicken Baskets

This post will show you how to create a chicken basket. 

This is a really easy project and should take only about half an hour to an hour, depending on your skill level.

First, print and cut out the patterns.

Pattern Piece One

Pattern Piece Two

I suggest not cutting the batting to precisely the shape.  You can trim it down at the end. 

Start by putting the right sides together of the fabric and linking with the batting on top.  sew them together, trim and turn right side out.  Do this for the other side, the oval and the beak as well. 

With the right sides together, take the two chicken pieces and sew them together.  Leave the bottom and the back of the chicken open to create the basket.

Sew the oval piece onto the bottom

See the opening?

Stitch on the eyes.  I did this at the end so they were placed  precisely.  You may want to add the eyes before sewing the pieces together.

Stitch the beak on.  If you used batting in the middle, you wont have to stuff it.

And done!

Dr. Who Tardis: Progress Shots

My son's best friend wanted a tardis for his birthday.  He didn't give me much to go on, so I took off with the project!  I do not have a pattern to share, I made it up on the spot.  However, it is mostly geometrical with details so it shouldn't be too hard to figure out.  Here is my process:

Here are the pieces.  The accent pieces on the tardis are black strait stitches sewn on.  I added the windows and the window details along with the top black strip.  I debated hand stitching "Police Public Call Box" along it, but thought that I would need more planning than I had time for.

The other pieces of the tardis: the bottom, top pieces and the velcro strip to close it.

Sew the pieces together and turn them right side out.  Don't forget to sew the velcro strip on - and check that it is facing the correct piece and will correspond with the other side of the velcro.

Put the insides in.  I used plastic canvas but I feel that it wasn't stiff enough and would choose something else next time.  Hand sew closed.

Here are the top pieces.  The little piece was a plus sigh shape that I sewed windows onto and stitched up the sides.  The middle piece is a square with one inch sides.

Pin the middle piece to the top piece.  hand stitch in place leaving a small opening. 

Stuff slightly and stitch closed.

Stitch top piece on and stuff.

hand sew the four sides together

Closer view

Here it is stitched together.  Make sure not to stitch the door closed.

Stitch on top and bottom - don't stitch the door.  Make sure it can still swing.

Finished product

The birthday boy with his new Tardis!  It was definitely bigger than I first thought it would be! (as most of my projects are)

First look at his new Tardis.