Thursday, June 26, 2014

Odds & Ends

I’ve been a lazy blogger recently… so sorry! I’ve been keeping busy potting flowers and plants for our front porch and patio out back.

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And I put up a regular bird feeder and a humming bird nectar feeder.

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I have really been enjoying seeing the variety of birds coming by each day!!

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I finally got around to making a new nametag for our local guild here in Haymarket.

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And I made a new purse organizer insert.  I thought you might like to see how I made it in case you want to make one, too!!

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I used stash scraps of some decor weight fabrics for this project, because I like the heavier weight for sturdiness.

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I measured the size I wanted to fit my purse and added an inch all around for ease and seam allowances, then cut two pieces of fabric for the outside and two pieces for the lining. 

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I used fusible Pellon DecorBond interfacing on those pieces to make them stiff.  I thought about how many pockets I needed for my stuff and what size they needed to be, as well as, where I wanted them- inside or outside the insert.

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I cut out the pockets according to my needs- adding 1/4” to all sides for seam allowances. With right sides together, I sewed the top edge only of the larger outside pockets, then flipped it right side out, pressed that seam and topstitched it.

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I used the stitch and flip method for these pockets- meaning I laid the unfinished bottom pocket edge where I wanted the pocket to end-facing up toward the top edge on the right side of the insert.

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Then I stitched across that pocket edge from side to side using a 1/4” seam allowance. Then when I flipped the pocket up, and pinned the sides, the bottom raw edge of the pocket is enclosed inside the pocket.  I hope I explained this method well… it’s kinda hard to put into words sometimes!!

I decided to leave one large outside pocket as it was for coupons, so I just basted the pocket to the sides.

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But I decided I wanted the other large outside pocket divided into two pockets, so I marked where I wanted it divided and sewed through all thicknesses on that line, creating two pockets on that side.

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Next, I sewed the inside pockets with right sides together, leaving an opening each time, to turn it through.

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I then turned them right sides out and pressed them and topstitched them on the top edges.

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I placed them where I wanted them on the insert lining pieces.  On one side, I was putting one tall pocket and one elastic strip to hold pens and my reading glasses tube.

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I pinned that pocket and inserted one edge of the elastic under the pocket, so the raw edge would be hidden behind it.  Then I sewed the pocket on, then sewed the elastic into loops to hold my items.  The other raw elastic edge would be enclosed by the side seam!

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The other inside lining piece would have two long shallow pockets for holding my checkbook and some business cards.  I placed them and sewed them down on three sides.

Now, sew the two side seams on both the outside bag and the inside lining pieces.

I wanted two loops for the top of the insert, so I cut two strips and made the loops using the same method as I make my quilt binding- by pressing the strip in half lengthwise –

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open it back up and fold and press the raw edges into the center fold.  Then I topstitch the two long edges.

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Next I basted those loops onto the right side of the bag lining over the side seams.

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Place the outside and lining with right sides together, matching side seams and stitch around the top edges with a 1/4” seam allowance.  Turn right side out and press and topstitch around that top edge.

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Next, turn the bag with the outer right sides together, and pin and sew across the insert bottom.  I then zigzagged the seam edges to finish it.

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Lastly, I boxed the corners, by aligning the bottom seam and the side seam forming a triangle.  Draw a line across wherever you want to create the depth you want. 

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Sew across the line, trim off the triangle point and zigzag the edge.  Repeat on the other side. Turn right side out!!

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Taadaa!!  You are done!

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And because you made it to fit your purse, it is a perfect fit!!  YAY!!

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So, what have you all been up to lately?

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7 comments:

  1. Wow, what a great tut...love that insert...and about that name tag...just too sweet!

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  2. Lots of eye candy in this one - flowers and quilting. But the name tag was my favorite and it reminded me that I still need to make one for my guild meetings. I've been paying the monthly 25 cent penalty for over 2 years now.

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  3. Thanks for a wonderful tutorial and a clever idea.
    Visit my blog and enter my giveaway.
    Hugs,
    Teresa

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  4. Great tutorial for the purse organizer insert and I love your name tag. So cute! I really like the pics of Yogi. Thanks for sharing.

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  5. Neat name tag, thank you for sharing tutorial on bag making

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  6. I'm Eileen's neighbor and I'm so glad to have seen your lovely work at the Quilt Guild! I was telling my quilting girlfriends all about it on fb when I got home last night and shared your lovely, informative blog. I told them I got to see about 100 of your lovely quilts in May. My friend from Texas, who I've known since college, couldn't believe I've met you because she's been reading your blog for years! What a small world! Thank you so much for sharing your lovely quilts and your beautiful blog!
    Laurie

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Thank you sooooooo very much for taking the time to leave a comment! I am always happy to know that someone is reading my ramblings!! Polly :-)