A tale of two extraordinary lives filled with children, craft and laughter



Sunday 10 March 2013

Tutorial: Draw string bag

My mum asked for a draw string bag to store some of her larger necklaces in.  These bags are incredibly useful for lots of treasures, and can be made any size you want.

So first of all work out the size of your bag and cut two rectangles from your lining fabric.  Next select your main and contrasting fabric and cut to fit the lining rectangle.


Sew (right sides together) your main/contrasting and iron the seams down.  This should be the same size as your lining rectangle.


I like to curve the corners using a glass to give a nice curve, then cut along line.




Repeat on all pieces (or like me do all four at once)


Iron down the top edges of your two main pieces and your two lining pieces around 1/2" (to the wrong sides).    Make a mark 1/4" and 1" down from the top on all pieces.  Place lining right sides together and sew all the way around (1/4") stopping between the marks.  Repeat with the main fabric panel.


Turn your lining piece right side out and mark 1" down and draw a line across.


 

Next, turn main bag right way out, and lining bag inside out and slip lining bag into main bag (so wrong sides are together)


Pin well and line up top edge then sew all the way around the top with a 1/4" seam.


Next turn bag inside out so lining on outside and sew around your 1" mark.


Turn right way out again and you can see if you have casing line for your ribbon.


Thread through some thin ribbon, pull tight and you are done! 


Until next time, Melissa

Saturday 2 March 2013

Second book project - You Sew Girl

Last month I featured a pattern from Liesl Gibbons, this month it's one from Australian designer Nicole Mallalieu's book - You Sew Girl.

I have made one of Nicole's projects before, the cute backpack which turned out great.  For this project, I was attempting her Wrap Skirt.



Hmm so where do I start?

I struggled with following the instructions - it's based on a circle skirt and right from the beginning I didn't cut enough material.  So I had to improvise and I ended up just doing my own thing.  Added on an extra panel, did snaps instead of ties etc.  But it turned out ok :)







Until next time, Melissa