Pillow cases

Thread sketching - a shopping tote

Trying out sketching with thread after reading this tutorial 

Zipped, studded, pattern blocked clutch

The love for clutches continues...

Custom leather clutch

A while ago, a friend asked if I could make a clutch that somehow incorporated a acrylic earring she had. It took a bit to work out how to attach the piece, but I'm quite please with how it turned out. After 3 broken needles, I'm glad all my appendages are intact.

It was a lot of trial and error putting it together, and I couldn't quite decide on the material.

Lambskin, embossed leather, magnetic closure.

Colour blocking

The possibility to clutches are endless.. Very into oversized ones right now. Plus, if you're running out of material? Colour block! (with a surprise pop of colour inside)

Fold-over clutch

So after being hounded by many a "make this for me!" I declared, "I'll teach you to MAKE IT YOURSELF".

Lesson 101: 

How to thread the machine. "No, it won't work till you turn it on"

.

.

Make a clutch.

Imma tough love, instant gratification kinda teacher. Not for the faint of heart. But hey.. at the end of the afternoon, she got herself a clutch! See how far straight lines can get you? 

Velcro was the way to go here, but zips are on the next lesson plan!

Laptop case tutorial

It took me an afternoon to make this laptop sleeve. It would've taken a whole lot less effort if not for the ambitious lining at the sides. But I think the extra work pays off. The main exterior fabric is marvelous - a printed waterproof laminated fabric I scored in Hong Kong. 

These measurements fit a 13" macbook (13"x 9"x 1")

Materials:

Exterior 

- Laminated bird fabric 2 x {15" x 10"}

- Side faux leather lining {35" x 2"} 

OR 2 x {15" x 2"} and {10" x 2"} (I used 3 separate pieces because my material wasn't long enough. Extra steps will be in italics)

Interior 

- Jersey 2 x {14" x 12"}

- Quilt batting 2 x {14" x 12"}

Closure (not in picture)

- Velcro {1.5"} 

- Faux leather {14"x 2.5"}

A note before you start sewing: Do not pin leather or laminate fabrics as you will leave holes. Use binder clips or clothes pegs to keep fabrics together instead.

Exterior

If you're using 3 separate pieces of leather, connect them to make a long strip. Press seams open. Unpick or leave 3/8" (seam allowance) unsewn from the ends to turn corners later. 

1. Line up the long sides of the leather and exterior pieces right sides together. Sew down. Ensure seams are pressed open as you sew. 

2. Stop 3/8" from the end (or whatever measurement you use for seam allowance). Leave your needle in the fabric. At this point, clip a small square from the leather. This is to allow you to line up the leather with the fabric after the corner.
Because you already left the ends unsewn, you don't have to cut a square. 

3. Pivot 90*. Line up the side of the leather with the fabric, sewing a right angle. The leather will not be lying flat at the corner. 

Repeat Step 2 and 3 when you reach the next corner. 

4. Match other exterior piece with leather lining. Repeat Steps 1 - 3. Trim excess fabric, especially from corners but be careful not to cut into the stitching. 

Interior

5. Pin batting to wrong side of jersey. Machine quilt in whatever way you like. I sewed diagonally, following the white patterns of the jersey. It's easier to sew from the middle outwards.

6. Match quilted-jersey pieces right sides together and pin. Using your laptop, mark out where you want your seams to be, about a 1/2 inch border around. I left about 1.5 inches from the top. Sew seams. 

7. Place your laptop inside to ensure a snug fit. Adjust seams if necessary. Cut away excess fabric. Turn inside out so that the right side of the jersey is on the outside.  

8. Place lining inside exterior, keeping right sides together. Match the tops of the interior and exterior, ensuring the side seams of the interior meet the middle of the leather. Use clips to secure. 

9. Sew around the top through all layers, leaving an opening in the middle for turning. Turn the fabric inside out through the opening left at the top. 

10. Tuck the interior all the way into the exterior shell. The exterior should extend into the insides of the sleeve.

11. Hand stitch the opening closed, being careful not to sew into the outside fabric. 

At this point, you may top stitch around the opening. I chose not to since I would be sewing the strap and velcro through all layers which would secure it. 

Closure

12. Sew prickly side of the velcro onto the right side of leather about 1.5 inches from the edge. Fold leather right sides together and sew sides, leaving an opening for turning. Turn strap right side out. Top stitch all around.

13. Measure where the middle of the sleeve is and make a mark. Attach the non-velcro end of the strap. The square sewn here is 2x2". You might find it easier to glue and clip the strap to the sleeve first. Sew through all the layers.

14. Flip the strap over and mark the point the velcro hits. Sew the furry side of velcro in place through all layers as well.

Enjoy! (or give it away)

Leather handphone pouch version 1.2

The final version of the leather handphone pouch given to my aunt. Fits her iPhone and bluetooth, with magnetic closure and lined with jersey. The inside is so much neater than the one before. You know what they say about practice..

Didn't get the chance to take any photos before it was given so I sneaked in some iPhone ones today.

Much satisfaction. I foresee more leather offerings in the near future. 

An experiment in leather

How do you keep the piece of leather from shedding?? I ended up with my floor covered in red bits before lining it with resignation. This took way more effort than I thought it would.

dress it up

amazing what a little bit of crochet can do..

{diy crochet trimming}

self taught projects are hands down, always the most satisfying

first. quilt. ever.

{finished quilt}

It's done! Actually it was more or less finished at the last post, but i thought it looked dull so i decided on red binding. Since i didn't have red material, finishing it was put on hold till some was bought.

I'm happy about the red. Good choice, the red.

{front}

japanese cotton, ikea fabric, and cheap $3 ones on sale

{back}

I love this material with the sailboats. If you could feel it, you'd know why too.

{heart red stitching}

Tomorrow, it will belong to the cutest baby boy.

Mom says 'very nice, how about you make us one'. Like a full queen sized quilt? No thanks, I think I'll pass and save myself the aneurysm.

diamond pintucks continued

i found this tutorial online quite some time back. polka dotted fabric really helps with the pintucks. i don't know how she got hers to stand like that though, mine kinda flops over one another.

so with pure imagination and no pattern, the armholes ended up too big. hence the odd extra coverup material. i'm so not one for unpicking or redoing.

second top ever and i must say, i was pretty darn proud of myself when it was done.

i said this blog was self indulgent didn't i? ya, i did. meh.

current project

first attempt at a quilt

{quilting in progress}

thank god it's only a baby one, any bigger and i'm sure my mind (and my sewing machine) would end up a mess

diamond pintuck

so. much. work.