Showing posts with label Tutorial. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tutorial. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Mini Basket Tutorial


Several folks asked for a tutorial so here you go!  Before you get started, I will warn you that these are very addictive.  If you have made any kind of bag before, you'll put these together very, very quickly.  (Giveaway for a mini kit to either make one of these baskets or let me make one for you can be found here!)

For my bags, I used squares from Happy H"owl"oween layer cake.
And labels from Sweetwater.

Choose 4 squares from your layer cake - 2 of these squares should match as they will be your lining fabric.  

From square 1, cut 2 strips 3 1/2 by 9 1/2 (the green in my photo) for the side of basket.

From square 2, cut a strip 6 1/2 by 9 1/2 for the bottom of the basket.

Join together creating one piece of fabric.

Cut your 2 matching squares to get 2 pieces which measure 6 1/2 by 9 1/2 and put aside for lining.  (Note you can use the leftover fabric from the lining for the sides of your next basket!!!)

Cut a piece of iron on fusible fleece to the back and iron to wrong side of fabric.

After the fusible is secure, iron on your label.  This is an optional step but important you do this after the fusible because these labels can get scorched by the iron.  (Don't ask me how I know this.)   You can choose to also top stitch the label but I didn't think it was necessary for mine.


Fold in half (right sides together) and sew side seams.

Next step is to box the corners - you can experiment here to get the dimensions you want.  For a basket that measures 4 inches high, I measured a rough 1 1/2 inches from the point and then sewed across - roughly where the pin in.   Do this for both corners.

You can experiment here and create a basket that is taller than 4 inches and skinny.  After you box the corners, turn the basket inside out and sit it on your sewing table and make sure you are happy with it.

Now create the lining.  Take your 2 matching squares (cut 6 1/2 by 9 1/2) and sew the bottom seam and one complete side seam.  For the other side seam, sew from top edge about 1 1/2 inches and backstich.  Then sew up from bottom edge seam 2 inches and backstitch.  This should leave an opening roughly 2 1/2 inches which should be large enough to turn things inside out once lining is attached.  Box corners on lining the same way you did above.
Nest your basket - right side out - inside your lining - wrong side out.  This puts RIGHT SIDES together.  Pin along the top edge.

If you want handles, you can use ribbon (7 1/2 inches) or you could make handles out of fabric.  They should be positioned between the lining and basket to either side of the side seam.  In this photo, they are tucked inside - sorry I don't have a photo that shows this.

Sew completely around top edge.

Find the opening in the lining and then gently turn basket inside out.  If you have to, you can always make that opening a bit wider.   Once turned, hand stitch the opening. 

I really like how you can see the top edge of the lining in this photo. 

Fill with candy and enjoy!

And, if like me you can't make just one, you can build a tower!!



Happy Stitching!

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Bag tutorial









To make these bags, I used strips from Pure by Sweetwater.   Each 3 strips will make 2 bags.  I am making 8 bags as Christmas gifts so I have an assemble line going!


Step 1:  Cut your jelly roll strips in half (roughly 22 inches long) and put together combinations that you find pleasing.  I made each bag so the top strip had the words.








Step 2: For each bag, sew together 3 of the 22 inch strips. Then cut in half to form the front and back of the back.  Each piece is now roughly 6 1/2 in by 11 inch.   Press.   Layer for quilting.  I used solids for the back which will become the inside of the bag.






Step 3: Quilt!   I did loops on some, basic stipple on the other.  These make for good free motion practice opportunities so have some fun!  Trim excess.




Step 4: Prepare the zipper.  You could choose to connect the zipper directly but I decided to make a casing for the zipper to make the finished bag look more professional.   To do this, I cut another jelly roll strip in half lengthwise and then sewed a 1 1/4 in x 7 in strip of fabric (right sides together) to the zipper sides


.
When that was done, I sewed a small rectangle to the top and the bottom.  See my pretty stack of zippers!


Step 5: Attach the zipper to each side of the bag by sewing right sides together.   Shown below is a front and back view.  




Step 6: Right sides together, lining up the seams of your 3 strips, sew around the bag on 3 sides.  Important tip- OPEN THE ZIPPER a bit before you sew the 3 sides!    I finish off the edges with a zigzag stitch all around.  




One bag all done - only 7 more to go!!!

I am making these as holiday gifts for each of my sisters and sister in law.

I'd love to hear from you - please comment and let me know what you think of my very first tutorial.  I also posted this at Sew and Tell.

Happy Stitching!