Jul 20, 2012

a sewing pouch tutorial | vintage inspired

So remember a few weeks ago, I posted about the gift I sent to my giftee for the Handmade Gift Exchange?? Well... I have a secret: I really love making things! OH, not a secret?? OK. Well, I  especially love making things if it's a surprise gift for someone. Like, really really enjoy it.
So I contacted Linda and let her know that if anyone backed out or couldn't fulfill their gifter duties, I would be happy to step in and make another little something. Sure enough, Linda contacted me moments after my message was sent and needed help. YIPPEEE!
This giftee mentioned how much she loved to hand quilt and embroider... so... here is the gift I made her:



A little sewing pouch. There's a place to hold all your pins, needles and safety pins, and a pouch for scissors and thread and whatever else you need to keep on hand.


My inspiration for this project came from my best blog friend (and first Gift Exchange partner), Andrea. She rocks at embroidery! I remembered this post Andrea had written about a little sewing clutch she stitched up and knew it was what I wanted to make.
And I did... but, some how, after sewing it all, turning it inside out and top stitching, It looked like a 5 year old made it! Everything was slanted to the right and basically it just SUCKED! Nothing like Andrea's stellar Gettin' Stitchy Wit It clutch. So I took her basic idea, and made something similar.



Then packaged it up with a few of my cards and some twine and gift tags made out of vintage inspired paper.


After sending off this little beauty,  I felt sad and wanted one of my own. So I made one for myself. Good thing, because I documented the basic process this time around and can now share with you how to make a vintage inspired sewing pouch of your very own.



What you'll need:
Outter Fabric
Inner Fabric
Felt
Scrap fabric- for pouches and appliqué
Lace, button, cord and any other trimmings.


Start by cutting your fabric.
Outter fabric- 17" x 7"
Inner Fabric- 17" x 7"
Pouch- 5" x 7"
Pin holder- 4.5" x 7"
Felt- 2" x 7 "






After you have your fabric cut, hem the top of your pouch. Then sew the fabric that will hold your felt by folding it in half, right sides together and sewing the long sides together using 1/4" seam. Turn inside out and insert your piece of felt.


Lay out all your pieces and start pinning into place. As shown.






You can play with your scrap pieces and other trimmings to see where you want them on your outer fabric. I did this by folding the outer piece into thirds and using that as a guide. Once you get everything looking the way you like, pin it into place. (Note that there will be a 1/4" seem allowance after sewing it together)


Head back over to the sewing machine and start stitching/appliquéing  everything into place. You may have to take out some pins and move things around to get each piece of scrap stitched properly. I used a decorative stitch, but any stitch would work.
Add your button. 






For the inner fabric, you will pin your hemmed pouch on the bottom, and your pin holder (felt inside) in the direct center. Be sure to stitch down any other trimmings you'd like.
Stitch down the top of the pin holder.
If you'd like to keep your scissors and threads separate in the pouch, go ahead and mark where you'd like the scissor pouch to be and stitch down that line. (You do not need to sew up the sides of your pouch, as it will be stitched when we attach the outer and inner fabric)






Once everything that needs to be stitched is done and the pouch is pinned, attach the cord to the top of the outer fabric, taking note of where the button is. 


Next, place the outer and inner fabric right sides together and pin. Using a 1/4" seam allowance, sew the two pieces together... leaving the top open and unstitched for turning. 






Turn inside out and top stitch all the way around, closing up the turn opening. 
Thats it!










Close ups:



















What do you think? It came in handy the other night while I was embroidering this announcement! I'm in love.


If you make one, I'd love to see photo's of what you come up with! If you are confused on any steps or feel like I've left a step out, please email me!!!


Go be crafty and make something ;)

Jul 2, 2012

Business Card Display | DIY

My business cards just lay on my desk, and half of them end up getting scattered and lost. I've been wanting to make a holder for them for everrrr, and yesterday I finally did!



What I used:
Altoids tin, some lace, twine, a few strips of washi tape for decorating the  outside and making the mini bunting.
(The washi with the writing "love it - want it" is actually from the SMASH line. I got it on sale for $1 at Target!)

It was super fast and easy to whip up, using only tape! That's the fun with decorating with washi, there's no cutting or gluing, just rip and place. 
To adhere the lace, I covered the inner-top with washi tape- then covered that washi with strips of double sided tape. Lay on the strips of lace (starting at the bottom), press firmly and there you have it.
The bunting is just a piece of twine with strips of washi folded over, then cut into shapes.


It's perfect, because I need my cards out and easy to access daily, since I add them to all of the orders from the shop. It's more of a display than a holder, which will be great at all those indie craft shows I plan on attending (::sigh:: one day).


Altoids tins are GREAT for repurposing projects! Check out my Pinterest board full of fun inspiration. My favorite pin so far is this Travel Painting Kit! Just a NOTE: I'm not the first person to think of using an Altoids tin as a business card holder, I've been seeing them everywhere... but they're not a new idea either... just check out creativeKISMET's holder from over 3 years ago!


I'm totally loving the new kraft business cards and just as happy with the little quotes on the back of each card (except for the missing E at the end of Shakespeare... which I photoshopped in so I wasn't bombarded with emails... ya win some, ya lose some. hah)


What do you think?
What's your favorite way to repurpose an Altoids tin?

Jul 1, 2012

What I Made | Summer 2012 Gift Exchange with Craftaholics Anonymous

Have you heard of Linda from Craftaholics Anonymous?! I'm sure you have, but if not, you should get to know her! Not only is she super crafty and the owner of a to-die-for craft room, but twice a year she holds a handmade gift exchange, one in the summer and the other right before Christmas. This is my 3rd exchange, and I'm never disappointed! The basics are, you sign up, draw a name and make that person a gift. Someone draws your name, and they make you a gift. Easy peasy, right?!
If you missed out on this one, go over and sign up to get a reminder for the Winter exchange; which starts November 1st. Go ahead and check out the photo's of all the fun gifts made this time around over in the Flickr group and at Linda's link party. I'm beyond positive you'll find some great inspiration from other craft lovers! Plus, it's never too early to start thinking about those Christmas presents ;)

My giftee turned out to be Courtney, a SAHM of two, who lives 2,500 miles away in the beautiful state of Washington. After stalking her Elfster likes and Pinterest account, I knew what I wanted to make her. An apron; she had a few pinned and liked, and I figured an Anthropologie Tea & Crumpets apron knock-off would be perfect!

Tutorial for apron by Kelly @ Sewing in No Mans Land

Of course I wanted something to go with the apron, and what better item to accompany an apron than a recipe book?