Tea Dying Cotton Fabric

February 4, 2014SewingElaine

Last month, a customer asked me to make her a cross body messenger bag and a matching Two Zip Wristlet. No problem. Then she asked me to make it from black and beige fabric. Just black and beige. She prefers paisley and polka dots. Yikes! I spend a fair amount of time looking for and at fabrics, and I wasn’t able to recall a vast selection of paisley and polka dots in black and beige.

Surely there had to be something available at my local quilt shop. But there wasn’t. I found black and beige polka dots, but how boring! I left the shop with two yards of the same black and white fabric that I had used to make my niece’s diaper bag. I reasoned with myself that the white wasn’t really all that white, and the print included paisley and dots. Three out of four isn’t so bad!

As I was driving home, an idea flashed in my mind. I’m sure the idea was from God. It was certainly the answer to my prayers for just the right fabric for these projects. The idea was this: tea dye. I just knew it would work!

Here’s a travel bag that I made with the fabric in black and white:

And here’s the black and beige wristlet:

Isn’t it pretty? I have to admit that I wasn’t all that enthused about black and beige since I love bright colors and cheery prints, but I really like this tea-dyed fabric! It has a classic look, and it’s perfect for the lady who ordered it. The tea dying was fairly simple, and it’s a process I wouldn’t hesitate to use again to achieve just the right color of fabric.

In addition to the wristlet, she wanted a cross body messenger bag. This particular messenger bag is made from a pattern that I designed myself for my friend Ann who described to me exactly what she wanted.

It’s a smaller bag measuring approximately 8″ x 9″ x 1.5″, but it has plenty of room, too. This particular messenger bag has a zippered pocket in the front under the quilted flap.

Four pockets line the inside of the bag. These interior pockets are large enough for a checkbook or sunglasses.

I added a pocket to the back of the bag, too. This pocket that is free from any kind of closure is so convenient for keys, coupons, or a shopping list.

These bags are on their way to Florida, and I sure hope the recipient likes them as much as I do!

What do you think of this black and beige fabric?

A Zip And Go Bag

January 28, 2014Pattern, Purses, Sewing, Zippersadjustable strap, cross body bagElaine

I never sew without a pattern. Some people think that anyone who knows how to sew can just whip projects up out of thin air, and some seamstresses are gifted at that. I’m not one of them. I never sew without a pattern. Never.

With all of the great patterns for sale, I don’t ever really need to sew without a pattern. One of my favorite pattern designers is Erin Erickson who blogs about and sells her PDF patterns at Dog Under My Desk.

My most recent project made with one of Erin’s patterns is this Zip and Go purse, and I love it!

The Zip and Go is a small cross body bag that measures approximately 9.5″ tall X 7.5″ wide. It has a 30″-55″ adjustable strap.

This Zip and Go bag doesn’t hold a lot, but it will hold the essentials. The long cross body strap makes this the perfect hands-free bag. I still love my wristlets, but sometimes I don’t want a wristlet dangling from my arm. For those occasions, I now have this Zip and Go!

The main section of the purse measures 9.5″ x 7.5″ and the front pocket
measures 6″ x 7.5″.

This Zip and Go is now my go-to bag for shopping. It holds a bit more than my wristlet, but it’s not at all heavy or bulky. I’m definitely going to make one is bright colors for spring and summer!

When would you use a Zip and Go?

Diaper Bag or Travel Bag

January 25, 2014Baby, Gifts, Pattern, Sewing, Zippersdiaper bag, travel bagElaine

This is the latest diaper bag (or travel bag) that I made using the Traveling Tote pattern from Palm Harbor Patterns. My sister commissioned me to make this bag for her youngest daughter who was expecting a baby around Christmas. My niece and her husband opted not to find out the sex of their baby ahead of time, and that made choosing a diaper bag style and fabric a bit of a dilemma for me.

Since my niece would be carrying the bag for two years or so, my sister and I decided that we should let her in on the color and pattern selection. My niece decided on a classic look rather than a cute, kiddie print diaper bag. She asked me to find a black and white print and accent it with a pop of red contrast.

She also requested a zipper closure instead of the usual magnetic snap that I use for this pattern. I decided to use a red zipper, too, to coordinate with the red trim band on the front and back of the bag.

The back of the bag has a zippered pocket, and I chose to use a red zipper for that, also. To me, the bag looks more like a girl’s diaper bag than a boy’s, so I was especially happy when, on December 27th, my niece gave birth to a beautiful baby girl and named her Eliza Jane!

I sure hope Eliza likes her bag!

My Florida Bag, a Two Zip Hipster

December 29, 2013Fabric, Purses, Zipperscross body bag, hands-free, shopping, travelElaine

When I found out that my sisters and I were going to be taking a road trip to Florida and that one of our destinations would be Disney World, I knew that I needed to have a Two Zip Hipster to take along.

Why did I choose a Two Zip Hipster?

1. I wanted a hands-free cross body bag.
I love the long adjustable strap on this bag, and it’s perfect for shopping trips or outings where you don’t want to be fussing with a shoulder or handbag.

2. I wanted a secure closure on the bag and the exterior pocket.

A zipper is the most secure closure for a purse, and that’s important when traveling. This Two Zip Hipster has a recessed zipper across the top and a zippered exterior pocket on the front of the bag. A pouch pocket is included on the front of the bag, too, and that is a nice feature, too.

3. I wanted an bag that was small, but roomy.

This bag is tall and just 1.5″ deep but there is plenty of room for the necessities for a day of shopping or touring. The pattern gives directions for one interior pocket that is divided into two sections, with one being the perfect size for a cell phone.

I opted to add another pocket to the other side of the interior of the purse. I divided the pocket evenly, and it is the perfect size to hold two credit/debit cards. I’m not sure if I will use these pockets, but I wanted to add them just in case.

The orange floral fabric that I chose is a premium quilting print that I bought at Joanns. The lining and pocket fabrics are coordinates, and I love the way they look together. I wanted something bright and cheery to celebrate my trip to Florida. I’m very happy with the way the bag turned out, and I know it will come in handy!

What kind of bag do you like to carry while shopping or traveling?

Many Hands Make Light Work

November 20, 2013Alterations, Clothing, SewingElaine

This fall, the director of the children’s Christmas program at church approached me about helping to sew some costumes for the Christmas program this year. I was certainly willing to help, but after a bit of brainstorming, we decided that it just might be more productive and more fun to enlist the help of volunteers and hold an old-fashioned sewing bee.

When we made the announcement and hung up our sign-up sheet, we were pleased to discover that a fair number of women were willing to come to our aid and lend a hand with this project. We set the date for November 19th and hoped that we would be able to make seven or eight new costumes and refurbish a few of the old ones.

The day began with stacks of fabric and patterns in the middle the room.

piles of fabric

As our volunteers arrived with sewing machines, scissors, notions, irons, and ironing boards, our work began.

the cutting table

Three of our volunteers did most of the cutting, while our seamstresses got busy hemming shepherd’s head covers that had been cut to size last year. In addition to cutting and sewing, there was plenty of talking and laughing going on, too! We even had two home school student among us who served as models for fittings.

Sewing Bee

Sewing teamwork

It was amazing to see each lady using her talents and creativity to help us reach and surpass our goal.

Sewing bee

Our group of busy sewing bees constructed fourteen costumes for shepherds, townspeople, and kings and refurbished eight or nine angel costumes that were too large for recent years’ angels. We also finished ten or more shepherd’s head coverings, two crowns, and swaddling clothes for Baby Jesus.

I’ve always been very thankful for my church family. But days like this one make me feel blessed beyond measure to be a part of a group of people who are willing to give of themselves and their time and talent for the good of the church and the glory of God.

Many hands certainly do make light work. Many hands make work fun, too!

A Stacked Pocket Wristlet

November 9, 2013Pattern, Purses, Sewing, Walletsexterior pockets, wristlet, zipperElaine

One of the most popular items that I sell is the Essential Wristlet. This wristlet pattern is my personal favorite, too, and it was designed by Erin Erickson from Dog Under My Desk. Erin’s patterns are the best pdf patterns available, in my opinion.

I’ve made dozens of these wristlets all with an interior pocket. Recently I’ve made several wristlets with two interior pockets, one smaller pocket stacked on another larger one.
Personally, I LOVE having this extra pocket! It seems like such a small thing, but it makes a difference in the functionality of the wristlet for me.

I like to keep my debit or credit card in that small pocket and my cell phone in the larger pocket. That leaves the main part of the wristlet for the other small items that I carry.
While we’re looking at this wristlet, let me just say that the zipper application on this wristlet is amazing! Because of the way the zipper is sewn into the end seam on the left, the wristlet opens wider than most. So even though the wristlet is fairly small, the stuff inside is easily accessible.

This zippered pocket on the front of the wristlet works great as a wallet. I keep my money safely zipped inside this pocket.

I can’t say enough about this two zip essential wristlet. It’s certainly an essential in my accessory collection.

Wristlet prices are as follows:
One zip essential wristlet $17
Two zip essential wristlet $20
Stacked pockets add $4

(This wristlet measures 7.75″ wide X 5″ high.)

You can see my available wristlet fabrics here and here.

A Walker Caddy

November 3, 2013Organization, TotesElaine

If you’ve ever used a walker, you know how convenient it is to have a walker caddy attached to your walker. After having foot surgery several years ago, I was required to use a walker for several weeks to avoid putting any weight on my foot. At that time, I’d never even heard of a walker caddy, so I struggled though that time by tying a basket to my walker.

Two ladies at my church are now sporting walker caddies that I made using another lady’s walker caddy as a pattern. This walker caddy pictured here is my most recent attempt to provide a caddy that is convenient and pretty.

For this project, I chose an off-white canvas for the base fabric. I think it is important to use a sturdy fabric for the body of the caddy. For the pockets, I chose coordinating 100% cotton quilting prints.

On the back of the caddy, I made one large pocket that is big enough to hold a magazine or newspaper or even a small purse or book.

The front of the caddy has four stacked pockets offering plenty of space for papers, cards, pens, glasses, remotes, cell phones, and the like. This allows the user to keep all of those necessary items within reach without depending on someone else to fetch and carry.

After securing this caddy to the walker with the attached ties, the owner is ready to roll!

Chevron Peasant Dress with Pumpkin Applique

October 30, 2013Sewingapplique, fall, peasant dress, toddler dressElaine

I wanted to make a fall themed dress this year for a special little lady who turned two yesterday. I wasn’t sure just what I wanted to make, so I turned to Pinterest and did a search for “toddler fall dresses”. Let me just say that a lot of people have some amazing ideas for toddler dresses.

I settled on a little peasant style dress in black and white chevron with a pumpkin applique at the hem. My first step was to choose my fabrics for the dress and the applique.

One really neat thing happened the week I was working on this dress. Just when I thought I would have to try to design my own pattern or print a free one that was available online, I found a vintage Simplicity peasant dress pattern at a local thrift store. I paid $.25 for the pattern that just happened to be the size that I needed. I love it when that happens!

Here’s my finished project:

I am pleased with the end result, though I do think that the applique is a little too large for a size one dress. It worked for us, but next time I will pay closer attention to the applique size before I sew it on the dress.

To adhere the applique to the dress, I used Wonder Under, and sewed it to the dress using a blanket stitch. I should have taken a close up photo of the applique.

This dress was a dream to put together. It was a quick and easy pattern that I will probably use again. In fact, I’m thinking of making one in a Christmas print with a large offset bow at the neck. Yeah, I was searching Pinterest again.

I was happy that Justine chose to wear this dress on Aaliyah for some of her two year portraits. It fit her perfectly, and next year, she may be able to wear it as a tunic with some black leggings.

Here she is:

Need a Doggy Bag?

October 24, 2013Pet Projects, Sewing, TotesElaine

This is our dog, Mocha. Mocha loves to go with us in the car. Now that Mocha is an only dog, we like to take her with us whenever we can. For the past few months, every time Mocha went in the car with us, I would grab a plastic grocery bag and throw in her harness, leash, water container, and all the other things that she might need while we were out.

Because I have a business making custom designed bags, those plastic Walmart bags were just not working for me. That’s why, on a Friday afternoon, when we had plans to take Mocha along to a birthday party at my sister’s camp that evening, I just had to make a doggy bag.

I had this novelty print dog fabric in my stash, so I paired it up with a beautiful shade of mocha brown fabric for the base. I happened to have brown webbing to use for the handles, too.

I was in a bit of hurry the day I was making this bag, but I did take time to add some interior pockets to hold Mocha’s allergy pills, tags, and treats. I even added a water bottle holder.

I’m pleased with the way it turned out, and I think Mocha likes it, too.
You can see that she can barely contain her excitement. I think she likes the matching fleece doggy blanket that I quickly cut better than she likes the bag. The important thing is that Mocha is now ready to travel in style!

Does your dog need a doggy bag?

Ten Minute Table Runner

September 20, 2013Beginner Projects, Sewing, Sewing for the HomeElaine

I’ve seen this pattern for a Ten Minute Table Runner several times online, and yesterday I saw kits for this project at a local quilting shop. I didn’t buy a kit while I was there, but I did buy a piece of fall fabric to combine with some that I had on hand to make myself a Ten Minute Table Runner.

I have to admit that this table runner took me longer than ten minutes to complete, and I’m pretty speedy at the sewing machine. If you’re going to make one of these, I’d recommend allowing at least thirty minutes. It took me seventeen minutes to do the sewing. Perhaps I could make a second one in ten minutes. Maybe.

The quilt block print on the left is the one that I bought yesterday. I had the one on the right in my stash having purchased it for $2 a yard at a going-out-of-business sale. I thought the two would work well together, and they do.

I used these pdf instructions for making my table runner, and I found them to be adequate. If you like more detail, you can do a search for “Ten Minute Table Runner” and find other patterns, instructions, and videos online.

My table runner looks great on the small table in my first photo. I was making it to use on top of my TV cabinet, but it doesn’t fit as well. I should have measured first, but that’s just not my style. And I admit that it bothers me a little that the quilt blocks are not perfectly centered on the table runner. Next time, I will choose a print without squares or blocks because the idea of figuring out how to center them makes my head hurt.

This is a great project and one that I will make again. To make this project you need just 1/3 yard of the main fabric, and 1/2 yard of the coordinating fabric. That makes this a fast, frugal project that can be completed by almost anyone who owns a sewing machine.

What kind of fabrics would you choose to make a Ten Minute Table Runner?

Elaine Searer

Custom Sewing and Alterations

Tea Dying Cotton Fabric

A Zip And Go Bag

Diaper Bag or Travel Bag

My Florida Bag, a Two Zip Hipster

Many Hands Make Light Work

A Stacked Pocket Wristlet

A Walker Caddy

Chevron Peasant Dress with Pumpkin Applique

Need a Doggy Bag?

Ten Minute Table Runner

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