Pencil Case Tutorial

Pencil Case Tutorial

It’s time to go Back-to-School! So I am here to help you prepare. Today I have prepared a quick and easy tutorial for you. We are going to make pencil cases. They are a cute way for your kids to express themselves. The cool thing is, you don’t have to use them as just pencil cases. They are great pouches for storage. So let’s get started!

Materials Needed:

-1/4 yard Printed fabric for Exterior

-1/4 yard Coordinated print fabric for Lining

-9” Zipper

-Pencil Case Pattern

Pencil Case Pattern

We’ll begin by cutting our fabric pieces. Download the pencil case pattern located above. Print out the pdf pattern and cut out the stencil. Cut two pieces from both your exterior and lining fabrics.

Place one piece of your lining right side up, with your shortest edge at the top. Place your zipper right side up, along the top edge of your lining. Make sure that your top edges are aligned. It should look like this:

Next, place one piece of your exterior fabric on top of the zipper. Match the raw edges up with your piece of lining. Then pin your fabric and zipper in place.

Using your zipper foot, sew along the top edge of your fabric to secure the zipper in place. Backstitch at both ends.

Pull your lining and exterior pieces back away from the zipper. Lay the remaining piece of lining right side up, with your shortest edge at the top. Place your zipper right side up, along the top edge of your lining. Make sure that your top edges are aligned. It should look like this:

Next, place one piece of your exterior fabric on top of the zipper. Match the raw edges up with your piece of lining. Then pin your fabric and zipper in place.

Using your zipper foot, sew along the top edge of your fabric to secure the zipper in place. Backstitch at both ends.

It should look like this so far:

Lining:

Exterior:

Pull your lining and exterior pieces back away from the zipper.

Unzip your zipper halfway. Make sure that you do this, so you will be able to turn your case right side out later.

Bring your case’s exterior pieces right sides together matching up raw edges. Pin them together. Repeat these steps with your lining pieces. Make sure that your zipper is folded evenly at both ends.

Next, machine stitch around the edges of your entire case. Begin at the center of your lining pieces and leave a 3” opening so you can turn it right side out. Sew slowly when you reach the zipper and backstitch to reinforce.

Trim off excess pieces of your zipper at each end. With wrong sides out, press the four corners of both your lining and exterior pieces.

Measure 1” in from the tip of each corner. Sew across the tip of each case at the 1” mark. Backstitch at each end.

Trim the corners about ½” from the seam allowance. Almost finished! Turn your case right side out through the hole you left in the lining. Sew the gap shut using a top stitch.

Pull the outer case through the opening in the zipper. Then push the lining into the case’s exterior. Tada! You have just completed your pencil case. Pretty simple, right?

Enjoy!

Back to School Week Begins!

The Backpack Fairy

So, I am going to take a page out of my brother and sister’s book on parenting today. Last week my nieces and nephews started school, a few of them for the first time. And we all know that it can be a little scary for them, it being the first day of school and all. So my family started a little tradition called “The Backpack Fairy.” It’s something so simple and fun for your kids. And it’s a way for you to do something special for your little ones.

So it goes a little something like this….

We all know that we spend tons of time preparing for the first day of school each year. Usually it’s all the same old boring paper, pencils, calculators, etc. So here’s how you spice things up and get your kids excited for the school year. Tell them about the Backpack Fairy. The night before school is supposed to begin, the Backpack Fairy comes to visit all the little boys and girls to bring them something special for their first day of school.

This is where you can get creative! Pick out small things that will light up your child’s day! Something practical and something fun for them to play with and use at school. It’s not too late.

So start your own Backpack Fairy tradition. I can tell you that your children are really going to enjoy it. When my nieces and nephews came to see me when they finished their first day of school, it was all they could talk about. They couldn’t resist telling me about what the Backpack Fairy had brought them. The smiles on their face were priceless.

Enjoy!

Next Week

Back-to-School Week

Guess what time it is….that’s right! It’s time to go Back-to-School!!! Summer is over and it’s time to buckle down and start getting serious again. I know you all had a great summer vacation filled with vacations, long naps, and fun in the sun. I know I did. But summer is drawing to a close and it’s time that we start preparing. Now I know that you are all in a hurry trying to gather up all your school supplies for the first day of school. I have seen the lists, and they seem endless.

Next week , I plan on helping you with your mission. I am in the process of putting together some fun tutorials and recipes that will help you get your little ones prepared for the new school year. You might be wondering what I have in store for you all. So here is a little sneak peek at what is to come….

I have five sewing tutorials prepared so far: Fabric Headband, Pencil Case, Reusable Snack Bags, Lunch Sack and a Lunch Bag. I also have some fun little recipes for after school snacks for your kids to munch on while they do their homework. And that’s not all….I have compiled some great recipes that are quick and easy for you to prepare for your family at dinnertime. I am really excited! Next week should be fun. Because everyone knows that with back-to-school comes the season change. So it won’t be long before we’re celebrating Halloween! My favorite holiday. So get ready, the fun is just beginning!

Enjoy!

Easy Peasy Bias Tape Tutorial

Easy Peasy Bias Tape Tutorial

Here is a quick and easy way to make your own bias tape. I always love to make my own binding, because I think that it adds a little flare. It’s an extra step in the process, but it’s a great way to coordinate your projects.

A Tip: When determining the width of your strips of fabric, first decide how wide you would like your bias tape to be and then multiply that by four. For example, if you would like your bias tape to be 1” wide, then you should cut a 4” wide strip.

Begin by measuring and marking the strips of fabric for your bias tape.

Note: If your project doesn’t require you to bind around corners, then you do not have to cut your binding along the bias. Now cut your strips of fabric.

Place fabric strips right sides together at each end and pin them in place.

Machine stitch your strips together using a ¼” seam.

With a warm iron, press your seams open.

Next, fold your strip in half with the wrong sides together. Press your strip with the iron.

Now open up your strip with the wrong side up. Fold the edges inward toward the crease you just made. Press the sides down with your iron.

Fold your strip in half once again and press with your iron.

Your bias tape should look like this when you have finished. You have just made your own bias tape.

Enjoy!

Day Five of the Simple Sewing for Baby Book Review

Day Five of the Simple Sewing for Baby Book Review

Happy Thursday Everyone!

Today is our final day of tutorials from our first book review. So I thought for our last project we would make a little bath time set. Who doesn’t love bath time? These two projects come from Jansdotter’s Home Chapter. Today we are going to make a matching hooded towel and washcloth.

This is my first time working with terrycloth, so this could get interesting. We can learn together. I am really excited though, because I purchased some really cute Alexander Henry animal print fabric for this project. So let’s begin.

Materials Needed:

Wash Cloth:

-1/4 yard of terry cloth

-2 yard double fold bias tape or 1/3 yard of cotton fabric to make your own bias tape

-Matching thread

Hooded Towel:

-1 yard of terry cloth

-4 yards of double fold bias tape or 1/3 yard of cotton fabric (to make your own bias tape)

-Matching Thread

Washcloth:

We’ll start things off really simple, and begin by making your washcloths. Begin by cutting your terry cloth. Cut two (2) 8” x 8” squares out of your terrycloth.

Note: If you have decided to make your own bias tape, then review my tutorial on How to make Bias Tape.

Enclose the edges of the terrycloth in the bias tape. Make sure the edge of the terrycloth is flush with the center fold of the bias tape. Pin it in place.

At each corner, fold the bias tape into itself creating a 45 degree mitered corner. Pin them in place. It should look like this:

Now, machine stitch around all four sides. Sew close to the inside edge. Make sure you sew through all of the layers, especially when turning the corners.

Believe it or not….you’re finished! Wow, that was easier than I thought!

Now you have your set of washcloths.

Hooded Towel:

Now it’s time to finish the other half of out bath time set. Let’s move on to our hooded towel! We are going to cut two pieces from our terrycloth. First cut a 30” x 30” square.

Then cut a triangle that is 16” x 11” x 11”.

Now we will begin assembling our towel. Begin by enclosing the long (16”) side of your triangle in the bias tape. Like with the washcloth, make sure the raw edge of the terrycloth is flush with the fold of the bias tape. Pin it in place.

Machine stitch along the edge of the bias tape. Make sure you go through all of the layers. Trim off each end of the bias tape.

It should look like this when you are finished.....

Lay the triangle on one of the corners of the large square, with the bias edge going diagonally across the square. Make sure right sides are facing up on both pieces.

Machine baste the triangle in place along the two raw edges. Use a ¼” seam.

Enclose the raw edges of the square in the binding. Make sure the raw edge of the terrycloth is flush with the fold of the bias tape. Pin it in place.

To bind the corners, fold the bias over itself at a 45 degree mitered corner at each end. Pin them in place. Your corners should look like this:

Machine stitch around along the towel along the edges of the bias tape. Make sure you sew through all of the layers.

Guess what…..you have just finished your bath set. It turned out pretty great. Not bad for our first time. Feel like giving baby a bath right now, just to test them out? Just make sure you wash them before using them on baby.

I hope that you have enjoyed my firs book review. I know I enjoyed making these projects. And I know my friends are going to love these little gifts. Next month, I am going to be reviewing my next book. I am searching for a book that involves costume making. I think that it would be very fitting, since October is just around the corner. Wouldn’t you just love to say that you made your baby’s first Halloween costume?

Enjoy!