Lace Clutch for in-the-hoop embroidery

Embroidery Library is my go to source for machine embroidery files. This week, they brought out this clutch. I really did not need a new purse, but I HAD to make this. It's supposed to be made all in the hoop, but I made the lace first, and then just sewed the rest of it together on my sewing machine. I used linen for the clutch and 30 wt cotton thread for the lace. It's a great quick project for the last minute gift or a last minute clutch to go with a new outfit.

Mardi Gras Purse

I used a small purse, that I just recently began using again, as a model for this. It's 5 x 7.5 tall. It has a zipper on the side for personal stuff and 3 "pockets" (2 are inside the flap) for a cell phone, credit card, tickets ....etc.

Gold Evening Bag

If you've ever gone in search of a particular color of purse, you know how frustrating it can be. I needed a gold evening bag to go with a new gown I will be wearing this month to a gala. Silver bags were everywhere, but gold, not rose gold, but gold were not to be found especially if it was a soft fabric and not HARD.

I went through some old downloads because in the back of my mind, I thought I'd saved a pattern for an evening bag. Thank you Butterick free download!

After adding interfacing to the pieces, you sew the front and backs together and then add the bottom to each section of the purse leaving an opening in the lining of the bottom piece to turn inside out once the outside and inside are stitched together. It doesn't have a closure, but I did add some magnets so it could stay closed a bit.

I used Floriani heat and stay fleece on the whole pattern on both the outside and facing because the fabric was so light, but if I were to do it over, I'd stick with the directions; interface only to the line.
The finished purse is about 8.25 by 7.25 tall. I added a strap because my hands are small and I didn't think it would work for me as a clutch.

Fish Hanger Again

Yes, we're off on a cruise again, but this time with friends who have never been on a cruise. I'm surprising them with a fish extender. This time, I made a backing about an 1inch bigger than the width and even with the length. I love how this avoided having to make seam binding AND it finished off the top better than using seam binding as well.

I sewed the backing and front together, right sides together. When turned right side out, the backing peeked out along the sides. Stitching in the ditch made a "binding" and then I surged the top and bottom.

IPad Cover

I had to make a new holder for my IPad and discovered a better way to add the elastic. Instead of cutting four separate short pieces to wrap around the corners, I took 2 long pieces of elastic and connected the ends. Then, I wrapped the elastic around the IPad with the back held with the bands.

The front would look like the drawing on the left, while the back will look like the drawing on the right.

1. Trace the outside of the IPad onto two pieces of cardboard.

2. Cover the cardboard with fabric. One with a nap works best because it makes the IPad easier to grip.

3. Cut narrow strips of elastic going across one corner, and wrapping around the back to the opposite corner.

4. Sew or glue the elastic into loops.

5. Place one fabric covered cardboard to the back of the IPad, wrong side up.

6. Wrap the elastic around the IPad and cardboard so that the front looks like the drawing on the left and the back looks like the drawing on the right.

7. Secure the elastic to the board with a hot glue gun being careful not to get glue on the IPad and making sure that the elastic doesn't cover the volume buttons on the top right of the IPad.

8. Remove the fabric covered cardboard from the IPad and glue the top to the back, wrong sides together.

Finished holder without IPad.

Baby Doll Bibs

I attempted to make an advent calendar earlier this week and failed miserably, so to redeem myself, I digitized two baby bibs for the dolls I'm dressing for Toys for Tots.

The photo doesn't really show the quilting that I did with my embroidery machine, but it was fun to play with my digitizing program and the results made me happy.

This is the pattern I pulled off of Pinterest for the shape. You wouldn't need an embroidery machine to make this, but it makes the quilting easier.  At it's widest point, it's 5 5/8 wide and is a good size for a 14" doll.  Feel free to use the pattern and make one.

You'll need two pieces of outer fabric 6.5 x 9, and one piece of flannel or low loft batting 6.5 x 9.

Cut out two patterns from fabric and I used flannel between. Use any type of quilting pattern you like or leave it plain. The outside edge is finished with a satin stitch.  I will use hook and loop tape on the ends since I think it's easier for little hands.

LuLu Roe and the Mother of Invention

My daughter gave me a Lulu Roe dress for Christmas. I'm a fan of the comfort of the fabric, but not how the clothes are designed or how slick the fabric is when you try to hem or sew it.

This week I took a major step in trying to adjust the fit on said same dress. On It's Sew Easy, there was an episode for making summer dresses with elastic or gathering through the back at the waist.  I wanted to eliminate the gathering of fabric and tying it with an elastic band that the dress was originally designed to be used and this method sounded like what I needed.

I ended up using organza tape at the waist, and ran a strip of 1 inch elastic through it. It goes from side seam to side seam.  However, the dress is designed with a major dip in the back to account for the elastic band around a hand-gathered wad of fabric to make the dress a bit more fitted. The result is a "bustle" in the back. Something I definitely don't need.

Hemming this fabric is a problem because it's so slick. I used Floriani Stitch Perfection Tape to hold the fabric along with a few straight pins. The best part, the perfection tape is supposed to wash out so it won't leave the hem stiff.

I put the dress on my sewing mannequin, but I still needed help to get the hem even.  Below is my solution for this problem. (The chalk marker died years ago.)