Envelope Clutch Tutorial!

This is the project I sent to Mara in her care-package. I typed it out on my old typewriter ($.250 at a church garage sale 9 years ago- still works perfectly!), which looks great- but unfortunately I forgot to type it out on the computer as well, so she had to send me the instructions... oops.

So, first, cut out your pieces.

1. 3 envelope shaped pieces- 12" along bottom, 18" high (think on folding it in thirds, so the peak should be 6"). Lining, interfacing and denim or something stiff.

2. 14"x 2" Strap

3.  Pocket

4. Strips, varying widths, 18' long

All the pieces

Next, fold your straps as shown in the photo, then fold in half and sew closed. Leave the short edges raw. Fold the pocket in half, right sides together, and sew almost all the way around the three open sides,  leaving enough space to flip it right side out. Press and top stitch just one long edge.

Folding the strap, preparing pocket

 Pin the pocket to lining.  If you put on middle third, top of pocket points up to peak.  If on bottom third, top of pocket points DOWN!  Sew pocket to lining, leaving topstitched side open.

Place pocket

Sew pocket on to liner. Mind the direction!

For the front of the purse, we will use the string quilt method.  Place your first strip right side down on the denim, just off center.  Sew, leaving 3/8" seam allowance.  Flip it over and press.

Starting the strip pieced quilt

 Take your next strip and place right side down, raw edge aligned with raw edge of first strip.  Sew, then flip second strip right side out and press.  So now your first strips just be neatly sewn under on both sides, and your second strip has one neat, one raw edge.  Repeat these steps until you reach one end, then go to the other side from the first strip.  You could also just start on one end, I was just taught from the middle....When all your strips are done, trim the excess, using the lining as a template.  Optional extra would be to topstitch the strips down.  I find it just looks a bit more polished, but it isn't structurally necessary. 

Second strip

Third Strip

Fourth Strip. Continue this way.

Trim the edges

Almost done!  Place your lining right side up.  Place strap so the raw edges are about 1cm past the raw edges of lining (strap is on top of lining, not hanging outside).  Place the main part on top, right side down.  You now have a purse sandwich, with the folded strap as the filling.  Pin around the edge.  Starting at the strap, sew all the way around the edge, 3/8" seam allowance, and finish about 3-4" before you get to the strap.  Clip the corners so that they are not bunchy.  

Purse sandwich, how to add the strap

again!

Flip right side out. Press.  Topstitch just the shorter side.  Now fold your envelope purse into thirds, and sew starting at a bottom corner, going up the side, around the point, down the other side.  Don't topstitch the very bottom of purse though.

Top stitch the bottom (short straight side)

Fold, sew up sides and topstitch around peak

Take a ribbon long enough to wind around the purse a few times, and sew just about the peak.  Sew a cute button on top of those stitches and Voila! Vous avez fini!

Add button and ribbon, rickrack, lace etc.

The only problem with this purse is that as a stay at home him, I generally have way too much stuff to carry around. It's fun to make though, and sometime I will use it!

Vintage Kimono Love

Kimono in Japan are magical, ceremonial and worth thousands of yen.  There are many different types of fabric and detailing, but the real deal is always costly. These here lovely pieces are second hand, purchased for the equivalent of 5 Canadian dollars.  They were probably worn as 'everyday' kimono because they aren't very fancy, but i love the prints and feel of each of them.

My big scheming dream is to learn how to transform these beauties into summer frocks or otherwise wearable dresses.  There is also a lot of room to play with extra fabric (the huge sleeves and the bottom) so I can use the extra pieces for purses, quilting....who knows what else!  The creative possibilities are endless and it has me reeling for more, more!  But i'll hold off (promise) until I can figure out what to to with them.

Firstly, I'm using some of the fabric on the clutch that I'm working on (from Nicole's tutorial).  I'll take pictures and post on that soon.  Thrifting in Japan is such a goldmine, as everything is so well made and Japanese typically enjoy turning over their wares frequently.  I'm just beginning to learn about where to find nice fabric and collect ideas on what to do with it.

Where I Sew

Tea party being set up, dog asleep on couch, boxes of fabric I try to ignore

Sometimes I really wish I had a whole room to make things in. Not necessarily because I need a ton of space, but because sewing requires a lot of pointy things, and can get messy. If I had an entire room, I wouldn't require such careful organization and cleaning throughout the process of making- which would free me up to be the whirling-dervish-maker. As it is, I can work on one project at a time, with space to maybe store another project. Maybe that's a good thing. I do have a tendency to get to 85% and call a project done so I can start the next. I've had to force myself to finish things because I don't have space for a ton of works-in-progress.

But before you feel sorry for me :), or I feel sorry for myself, I will point out some great things about my space:
1. Sometimes, when the planets are aligned and Lena is particularly occupied, I can sew while she plays in the living room. We chat, she plays, I get stuff done. It's heaven.

Wine box fabric storage

2. In the evenings, I don't feel shut away in my sewing cave. If we are watching a movie that is light and interruptible, I can putter away behind the couch.

Vintage needles, finished quilt pic, cheat sheet, Lena's hand,
block with transparent photo on it (thank you Scott!)

3. I have an area! A whole space just for me! I have had places where sewing happens on the kitchen table, and everything has to be put away in order to eat. I will probably have that situation again, so I should really enjoy what I have.

Sometimes I buy tea because I love the tin.

4. And it's grown! It used to be about 4' deep, a straight line across which meant a lot of shuttling back and forth. We recently reorganized and shrunk the living room to accommodate my sewing lessons- it's pretty awkward sharing 4'x9' with another person!






So now you can can more easily visualize me working away when you see projects I post. Which I am sure you've really been struggling with- desperately trying to picture me and just not quite getting it.
You're welcome.

"Scott's" Quilt

Last spring, I decided to make a quilt for my husband, Scott. We have very different tastes in blankets, he likes to be hot, I like a light blanket, so we will each get our preferred quilt style, but matching. Cool idea, right? Bonus, no tug of war over the blankets! Best marriage advice ever- separate blankets.

In any case, he was a big part of choosing the design, the colours, the fabric. Being married to an abstract painter really comes in handy when designing a quilt. At some point we agreed on a quilt based on straight-edge whirlygigs:
http://pitterputterstitch.blogspot.ca/2010/08/straight-edge-whirligig-block.html

Although we knew there would need to be more neutral space for the eye to rest. I pieced it and the backing in the spring, and brought it half way across the country to begin hand-quilting it. Nothing fancy in the quilting, just stitch in the ditch, 8" apart. I used a lovely batting, part bamboo/part cotton, so it doesn't need a ton of quilting and I didn't want it to end up too stiff.

So there was no surprise to Scott that he was getting a quilt- what was a surprise was getting it in time for christmas! I worked on it whenever he was out of town for work, and even kicked him out of the house one day when time was getting tight. He was really excited to open it christmas eve, and I was so proud to give it to him!

Christmas morning I woke up first, got dressed, looked down- and to my horror saw poor Scott's cold feet sticking out! I'd made the quilt too short!!! I'd measured to his height, but forgot bunch up at the neck space! He tried it a couple more nights, but after I saw him sleeping with his old comforter on TOP of his quilt, I knew it was not warm enough. So I tried it. I'm shorter, and like it cooler so....


                                                 Perfect! Oops/yay?

DIY Fabric Nutcracker Doll

 My 2 1/2 year old is somewhat obsessed with ballet. Mainly Swan Lake, Petrouchka and the Nutcracker. In the nutcracker, she is particularly concerned with, and talks often of, the moment the nutcracker is broken. I don't think she's even processed that there is a land filled with candy or a doll that comes to life- she just talks about the broken toy.

We considered taking her to the montreal ballet nutcracker for christmas- but for $100 or more, it would be nice if she would remember it, or if we could somehow guarantee she would sit still for the whole show! We decided to wait until she is a little older.

In the meantime, we really wanted to give her some part of the nutcracker for christmas, and thought of buying her a nutcracker ornament or toy. The cheap-tacky mass produced ones held no appeal to me- plus being decorative means they are not held up to toddler friendly or earth friendly standards. The beautiful handmade german ones would be nice- except they cost as much as going to the show.

Trying to spend as little as possible on christmas gifts can be challenging when you have something specific in mind. I have no woodworking experience, so what's a crafty mom to do?

SEW! Why of course! I can't believe it took me this long to consider!

I couldn't find any sort of pattern online, so I decided to wing it. I took a doll of hers (Amber doll), and loosely traced each body part separately. I then traced that on to each piece of fabric adding stuffing room and seam allowance. I looked at a few tutorials online on basic doll construction, and put this little number together!

I had some hilarious mishaps (never hilarious in the moment, only after), like sewing the arm in and then noticing I hadn't stuffed it- then doing it again the second side! I also make the legs slightly different sizes- we'll say he is post-break but pre-becoming real. I had some tacky gold and black string, like shoe lace, which I braided to decorate his military outfit.

Hey girl.

One of the things I love about sewing things like this myself, is although it may not be as perfect as store bought, I can use incredible materials. I have bags and bags of italian wool samples, so this doll is made of those, instead of cheap polyester. What better doll to cuddle than fine fabrics? I guess L will grow up to be a bit of a fabric snob :)

Zip It!

 I have literally spent a decade avoiding zippers.

Um, sewing them in, not wearing them. I think I use zippers pretty well every day.

But sewing them? *shudder*

Why, oh, why, did I have this distaste/horror? I think I can pinpoint it- high school home ec. I think that course did more to turn me away from sewing and cooking than it intended.  I took the class because I so enjoyed those things, but after that class, whoof. Interest gone. To take two such interesting and expansive subjects and turn them into the same dry information that has been taught in that school since the 50s has got to be some sort of sin...

Fortunately, the damage was temporary, and now I could, and do, happily spend entire days cooking and sewing. But I was avoiding zippers all this time. Elastic band pants, button hole sweaters, purses with flaps and buttons.

I've been teaching a couple of beginners sewing lessons, and it's been a great driver for learning. I realized I should try some things I might not have otherwise tried, in case they ask. I can't just say "Uh, well, I haven't done a zipper in ten years, but what the hell, let's see what happens!"

So I looked around for some good tutorials, and for a project I liked, something I could use. I don't have a single clutch purse- something to do with having a toddler and always carrying an unstylish backpack, I believe.

Soon, I came across this:

http://www.noodle-head.com/p/tutorials.html

I decided to make the gathered clutch, and I had just the fabric! Unfortunately, the zipper I bought was 2" too short, so I had to make some adjustments to the size, which means it doesn't fit my whole wallet- but I think the idea is to pare down for a clutch like this anyways- keys, phone, essential cards- maybe lipstick if I am feeling fancy ;)

Inside- and zipper shot!

I cut out the pieces one evening before bed, and was able to assemble the entire thing while Lena napped the next day, so it is pretty quick. I think she woke and cuddled on my lap while I trimmed the extra thread, but really- it was basically a nap time project.

The zipper- totally not a big deal. I'm going to have to do more, and practice, but this was a great project for re-learning, and to encourage me to try other things I've avoided- built-in pockets, anyone?

Sewing To Do List

I LOVE a good to-do list. I am constantly writing little to do lists in little books, on scraps of paper and sticking them up on the fridge. Before Lena was born, we had an epic To-Do List which covered the entire surface of a piece of paper; two columns and a bunch of squeezed in things. You would have thought we would never leave the house again. Things like 'fix birkenstocks" "sharpen knives" "stock up on dry goods" "fill freezer", not to mention painting a couple of rooms and doing an insane amount of organizing. We finished every item on the list. Even "re-caulk shower" and "figure out how to open living room windows", every single thing done in 8 weeks. Then, we had two more weeks to wait, as she fattened up on poutine (maybe I did too a bit), and we had NOTHING left to do. How many times can you scrub baseboards and vacuum the ceiling? Being a June baby meant NO good movies in the theatre- we saw them all anyway. We walked and walked and walked, went to the beach often and napped. It was great, but a little boring.

In any case, eventually she came along, and I had whole new To Do Lists to deal with. Now I have To Do: the sewing edition, the home edition, the work edition, the Lena edition, the learning edition etc etc etc. It sounds so organized, but it really is not. I don't know where half of them are, I forget to add things, and am always finding scraps of paper with illegible lists.

I thought I'd add my Sewing list here, as incentive to get through it, though it grows faster than I can sew. I will link to finished projects and inspirations as well.

1. Fabric Box for hexagons in progress http://canmakedo.blogspot.ca/2012/12/fabric-project-basket.html
2. Ironing Board cover http://canmakedo.blogspot.ca/2012/12/ironing-board-cover.html
3. Fabric Nutcracker
4. Scott's Quilt http://canmakedo.blogspot.ca/2013/01/scotts-quilt.html
5. Flannel Butt Cloths for client's baby No need to post, just serged squares
6. Re do Backing and binding on peach quilt
7. Finish Knit Vest for Lena, before she gets too big
8. Alter/Hem Jeans from thrift store
9. Make pants from scratch
10. Zipper pouch http://canmakedo.blogspot.ca/2012/12/zip-it.html
11. Pocket Samples (http://www.ikatbag.com/2010/12/pocketful-of-sky-summary-and-giveaway.html)
12. Mittens for me
13. Make a diaper, just to know how
14. Bread bag
15. Alter Blazer that I foolishly spent money on two months after having a baby, so of course now it is huge.
16. Alter my gentlemanly vest
17. Alter Grey button up shirt.
18. Screen Cozy- to hide our unsightly and distracting computer