Tutorial: Nook Color Zip Pouch

First let me appologize up front to anyone who is not a Minnesota Vikings Fan - Especially you Green Bay Packer Fans, because you will have to suffer through this tutorial. But we are a Vikings family.. and the boys in this house bleed purple. 

I made this for my son so I don't have to worry about him scratching the screen of his Nook when he tosses it into his backpack.

Supplies Needed:

2 Fat Quarters (one inside and one outside. I used same for both)

scrap fabric for accent 4x4inches

1 Zipper (I used a 22in long zipper)

Fusible Interfacing (Pellon) of your choice

Thread

Zipper Foot

- If making for a Nook Color, cut as follows:

2 pieces 11x8 inches from your exterior fabric

2 pieces 11x8 inches from you interior fabric

(If making for another device, measure your device and add 3 inches to each side. Example if your device is 5 x 7, cut fabric 8 x 10)

 

I used the same fabric for the interior and exterior which probably wasn't the best idea for visual effects. Sorry about that.

- Cut your pellon 1/2 inch smaller than your fabric. Mine are 10 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches

- Cut your accent fabric 2 x 4 inches.

- Iron your pellon (or other fusible interfacing) to your outer fabric. The pellon I used was fusible on both sides - so I made a pellon sandwich. If your pellon is only fusible on one side, then you would fuse to your outer fabric then place your interior fabric on (WST wrong sides together) and give a 1/8 inch basting stitch all around the outside to keep your sandwich together.

- Next, grab the zipper and pull it open a few inches.

- Then trim the ends to make the zipper 1 inch shorter than the side you want the zipper to be on. Mine is the longer 11 inch side - so my zipper is trimmed to 10 inches. (You will want to trim some of both ends to make it nice and neat. Don't just cut from one end to make it 10 inches.)

- Now take your accent pieces and fold them in half, press. Now open and fold edges to the middle and press again. They will each now measure 1/2 inch x 4 inches. (Do this with both accent pieces)

- Now place at the end of your zipper and sew to create and end. Do this with both accent pieces.

- The zipper should now look like this.

- Take one 'sandwich' and pin zipper to top. Centering. Each zipper end will be 1/2 inch from fabric ends. Make sure your zipper is facing down and your exterior fabric is facing up.

- Using your zipper foot - stitch along edge with 1/4 inch seam. Now do this with the other sandwich and the other side of your zipper.

You should end up with something that looks like this. The exterior fabric is facing up in the picture below.

- Now stitch long the top (I don't have a picture of this) but it is to finish along the zipper and stitch your 1/4 seam down.)

- This picture below is what the underside looks like after the seam has been stitched down.

- Next fold in half - with your exterior fabrics facing each other and your interior fabric facing out.

- Stitch all around edges connecting both sides. I used a simple zigzag stitch to keep edges from fraying. BEFORE STARTING THIS STEP - make sure your zipper is about 1/2 way open. This is how you will turn the pouch.

- Now that you have sewed your seams all together.. it's time to turn using your zipper opening.

Whallaaah...

It's a good idea to use a heavy interfacing like Pellon 987 or similar so it gives the pouch some extra padding. But nothing too thick.

If you have any questions at all - please send me an email and I will make sure to answer them!

Enjoy!!

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Chenille Potholder - The Tutorial

Supplies:
Walking Foot (a must have for this project)
1/2 yard, scrap fabrics
Ironing board fabric (OPTIONAL)
Cotton batting

Cut:
1 Backing (or ironing board fabric) 11 inch square
1 Batting 11 inch square
1 Inner lining fabric 10 1/2 inch square
5 top layer 9 1/2 inch squares

There are a couple ways you can make the Chenille Potholder. One of them uses fabric made to cover Ironing Boards as your backing. This is totally optional. I made one without and it's still thick enough that you will not feel the heat if using as a potholder. If you want to use the Ironing Board backing - you can just use any cotton fabric as your backing**.

(** If using regular fabric and making a potholder - I would recommend replacing your cotton batting with batting made specifically for potholders. If you are making mug rugs or a floor rug - regular cotton batting would be just fine)

This is an example of Ironing Board backing. Silver on one side/cotton on the other. Totally optional though. A regular cotton fabric works well too.

Lay your backing fabric Right Side down. Add batting to begin your "sandwich"

top batting with your Inner Fabric (10 1/2 inch square). Then top that with your 5 top layer squares (All Right Sides UP)

Your stack should look similar to this

I like to pin initially to keep straight while doing the first line of stitching. You can remove pins as you go.

Set your Sewing Machine Stitch length to approx 3.0. You will want to use a longer stitch with all these thick layers. This is optional - but I found it worked better.

Continue to stitch parallel lines 3/8 inch apart. Go to one side, then flip and do the other side.

It will look like this. Some shifting is normal even with the walking foot. That's a lot of layers!!

Now for the fun part. You will cut the fabric between each parallel line. This can be done with a small sharp scissors or with the Chenille Tool. YOU ARE ONLY CUTTING THE 5 TOP LAYERS!!! Take care not to cut any other layers.

Now it will look something like this...



Now you trim off your rough edges so the Chenilled rows go all the way to the edges and it is square.

And the final step - Bind and machine wash/dry.

 I used homespun fabric for the darker potholder and flannel for the lighter potholder. Both washed up super soft. You can also play with your sizes. A larger rectangle would make a nice hot pad for setting large dishes on the table.

Or you can make a large square - and when you square it up, you could cut into 4 pieces and then bind each seperate. Making 4 mug rugs - a nice personal gift for coworkers.. or friends.

If you have questions - let me know.

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Precut Fabric Reference Guide

Do you love the precut fabrics as much as I do?.. do you get lazy and wish someone else would do all the cutting and calculating? ...are you knodding your head? Then keep reading.. this is for you!!

I have quite a few ideas and patterns that use the typical 5 or 10 inch square. And let's not forget the 2 1/2 inch strip. And sometimes I find fabric that is perfect for a project BUT it's not by Moda.. or I can't find the precut that I want. Have you been there?

Then here is a simple guide that might help you if you decide to cut your own.

5 inch squares (commonly known as Charm Squares)
* Fold your fabric in 1/2 with selvage ends together.
* Cut strips 5 inches by Width of Fabric (wof)
* Cut your 5 inch by wof strips into 5 inch squares
YIELD
8 squares per 5" wof strip
24 squares per 1/2 yeard
40 squares per 3/4 yard
56 squares per 1 yard

10 inch squares (Commonly known as Layer Cake squares)
* Cut strips 10 inches by wof
* Cut your 10 inch by wof strips into 10 inch squares
YIELD
4 squares per 10" wof strip
8 squares per 5/8 yard
12 squares per 1 yard
28 squares per 2 yards (with only 2" of waste)

2 1/2 inch strips (Commonly known as Jelly Roll strips)
* Cut strips 2 1/2 inches by wof
YIELD
1 strip per wof
7 strips per 1/2 yard
10 strips per 3/4 yard
14 strips per 1 yard

Hopefully this will help in your project planning and fabric calculations. Sorry it doesn't help with the cutting part.. you'll have to do that yourself.

Happy sewing!! Pin It

Utility Apron Tutorial

I thought I would give you a quick and easy tutorial on how to make an apron (like my moving apron) using a Tea Towel. It is important that the towel be 18 x 27 inches or larger.

You will need the following:
1 Tea Towel
1/4 yard of fabric for ties


Start by folding your towel RST (right sides together) and press. The folded edge is the top of your apron. Now fold the bottom "front" up to form your pockets and press again. It will look like this:

Set that aside for now and move on to the ties.

Cut 2 strips from your fabric 4 inches x WOF (width of fabric).

Press in half with WST (wrong sides together) as shown in picture.

Now open back up and fold each edge to the pressed seam - as shown.

Next fold in half again and press.

Stitch all the way around your ties using a 1/4 or 1/8 in seam allowance. On one end of each tie, fold the end in 1/4 inch to create a finished end.

You will have two ties that are 1 inch x WOF.

Insert one end (the unfinished end) of each tie into the fold at top of apron. Pin in place.

Stitch down each side, along bottom of pocket and top band of apron. Then decide how many pockets you want and stitch those as well.

That's it - apron complete! Pin It

Corn Bag Tutorial

Have you ever seen or owned one of these corn filled bags? They are so nice in many ways.

*Comfort sore muscles

*put under the covers before getting into bed to warm your feet

*keep in the freezer to use as an ice pack

*keep in your lap at work to warm your hands

*a friend of mine uses them for her 90yr old mother - she needs to check her blood often and the warmth helps to make her veins more visable to get this done.

And many other ways I'm sure.

Supplies

1 fat quarter

3/8 yard muslin

4 - 6 cups Feed Corn

You can find Feed Corn at a Stock Shop - where you buy horse food etc. I've heard some people find it at Walmart - but I've never seen it there.

First you need to freeze your Feed Corn over night before using - that way it will kill any Critters (or eggs) that might be living in there. I've never seen any - but you just never know.

Cut from Fabric (fat quarter)

Cut fat quarter in half.

You will have two pieces that are 9 x 22 inches (approx)

From that cut the following

1 piece 13 x 9 inches

2 pieces 8 x 9 inches

Set these aside for now

From Muslin

Cut two pieces 13 x 10 inches

Lay together and sew around 3 sides with 1/4 inch seam.

Then - to strengthen these seams - fold and press 2 times. Using your 1/4 stitch line as a guide.

Sew these pressed sides down. Do this on the two sides first - then do the bottom.

It will look something like this.

Now fill this Muslin bag with 4 - 6 cups of Feed Corn. Depends on how full you want it.

Now you will need to close the bag - it can be difficult getting it under the needle since it's full of corn. Here is a little trick. 

 

I stand it up and put a few pins across to help hold the corn away from opening so I can stitch closed.

When stitching, you will do the same thing you did for the other 3 sides.

Stitch one row - then double fold - press - and stitch. It will look something like this...

Now set this aside and grab your 8 x 9 inch fabric pieces.

On one 9 inch end of both 8 x 9 inch pieces, fold and press approx 1/4 inch under.

Now stitch these ends to finish them.

Grab the 13 x 9 inch piece and lay right side up.

Now place your 8 x 9 inch pieces and lay them on top of 13 x 9 inch piece with right sides together.

The finished ends will overlap by approx 1 inch or so. This is intentional.

Next stitch all the way around all 4 sides using 1/4 inch seam. Back stitch as you go over the over lapped section. This will add strength.

(pretend the one in the picture is actually stitched - sorry)

Next - I like to finish the edges to prevent fraying. You can do this by using a zig zag stitch or something similar.  

Now turn right side out - and put your corn bag inside.

Heating Instructions

Microwave for 2 - 3 minutes depending on how warm you want it.

You can start with 2 minutes and work up from there. Do NOT over heat because you can scorch the corn and then it's ruined. And you know what burnt corn smells like.. Yuck!

Also, keep in mind that the corn initially has moisture in it. So the first 5 or so times that you use it - it will feel slightly damp when it comes out of the microwave and it will have a slight smell. But trust me - both the smell and the moisture go away after a few uses.

And I know a few people who really like the smell - I'm not a fan. But my love for the warm corn bag out weighs my dislike for the smell.

If you have questions - please let me know. And - as always - if you make one, I'd love to hear what you think.

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