Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Tutorial: mini ipad pouch



After made the {mini ipad pouch} for my sister. I was ready to make a second one to edit the size of the pouch. It is really a simple design and I love how this turns out. There are few things that I have changed and added.  This might be another long tutorial post again, 43 images and hope everything below will explain the process and materials clear for this project. You may adjust the size of the block cuts and make into a regular ipad pouch or pouches for letters or store notebooks when you go on a meeting.

Supplies:  

{Fabric}
Cut 60 pieces of 2"x2" 
Cut 2 piece of 8"x9.5" for lining
Cut 1 piece of 4.5"x9" for closure/cover exterior
Cut 1 piece of 4.5"x9" for closure/cover lining
Cut 1 piece of 3" of elastic or leather trim for making loop   
       1 wooden button

{ Sewing tools}
Sewing machine
in-between needle
quilting thread 
cotton batting 
sewing thread 
rule
rotary cutter
your faviorte cup of tea/ coffee

{{Set your seam allowance at 1/4" unless noted!}}


 1. sew 6 pieces of 2"x2" together into a row

 2. For the front and back of the exterior; each needs 5 rows per one side.

 3. join the rows together. flip the seams to the opposite side to avoid the bulky seam allowance

 4.  after join the rows.  The piece will have 6 pieces of 2"x2" across and 5 pieces of  2"x2" down.

 5.  the back seam look

 6. You'll repeat step #4 for second exterior piece

 7. press the seams with warm heated iron in the back

 8. Open seams help later hand-quilting or machine quilting

 {{prepare for hand-quilting}}


 9.  baste the two patchwork pieces onto batting { i used warm and natural cotton batting}.
Check on the {hand-quilting tutorial} for more hand-quilting details

 10.  hand-quilting gives nice texture look if you never try. Even it is not even, it gives nice characteristic. It is a very nice way to give patchwork handmade additional care. It does require extra time and carefulness on each project. It is great for road trip or waiting someone special to finish school/ lessons.

 11. After finished hand-quilting/machine quilting, You'll have two pieces the exterior front and back piece.

 12.  now set your seam allowances to 1/8" inch.

 13. use 1/8" seam allowance and baste the perimeter of the front and back patchwork pieces. It is a way to avoid the loose seams between sewn fabric pieces.

 14. trim off  the excess batting; both patchwork pieces. :::: note::: often time, there is possible that the finished patchwork measurement is off from what planned. I encourage you to remeasure the finished quilted patchwork piece before cut your lining. Sometimes, it might be off by 1/4" or 1/8".



 15. cut 1 piece of 4.5"x9" for the front of closure/cover; baste on the cotton batting

 16. begin {hand-quilting}/ machine quilting

 17.  finish quilting patchwork piece for closure/ cover

 18. set 1/8" seam allowances and baste around the piece.

 19. trim off the excess batting

 20. take the elastic/ leather core and fold in half then sew onto the bottom edge of the cover piece.
::: note::: the loop will be towards to the top and the end of the loop will be at the bottom edge of the cover piece.

 21. Cut 1 piece of 4.5"x9" for the cover lining. Set your seam allowance to 1/4" sew around the edges of the closure/cover piece, but leave the side that has the elastic/leather core end open.

 22.  Find a round shape of object then draw curves on two sewn corners of the piece. Mark.b.gone pen would be perfect pen for this marking.

 23. turn the cover piece inside out. press the cover edges with medium heat. Set your seam allowance to 1/8" sew around the edge of the cover piece.  Set the cover piece aside.

 24. Bring two patchwork pieces out. Set them right side together.

 25. to match the seams. I always pin around the pieces together then flip corns up and check if the lines are matched.

 26. sew the pieces together; leave the top open . Now the patchwork pieces are joined and turn it inside out.

 25. Take the patchwork pouch and cover piece out; lay the open side together.

 26. Find the center point of the patchwork pouch piece and center of cover piece. Join the center point together then pin   ::: note::: Likely you can fold the pouch and cover pieces in half. Careful use be.gone. pen to make center point marks for both pieces. 

 27. set the seam allowances to 1/8".  Sew the edge of the cover piece to the patchwork pouch.

 28. take off the pins and check the back of your sewn two pieces.

 29. check your front sewn two pieces. set the joined pieces aside

30. Cute 2 pieces of 8.5" x9". This is for the patchwork pouch lining.

 31. Set two lining cuts right side together

 32. Pin two lining pieces together. At the bottom of the lining pieces mark a 2.5" wide opening for later pulling the patchwork piece out. Remember use back stitches at the purple markings on the both ends. That give nice reinforcement for later patchwork pulling.

 33.  Turn the joined lining pieces inside out.

 34. Turn the patchwork pouch piece outside in.

 34. place the lining piece inside the patchwork piece.

35.  First line the lining and the patchwork piece on two sides of the sewn seams. This would allow flatten the exterior and interior pieces flow better in the pinning stage.  Pin around the edge of both pieces together.

 36. Sew the edge of pouch with 1/4" allowance.  :: note:: I tend to start from one side of the sewn seam then go around the edge to give a nice complete finish. 

37. remember the 2.5" wide opening that you left on step #32

 38.  Now, gently pull the patchwork piece out from the opening.  When pulling the patchwork piece out the both ends of the opening tends to open wide if didn't add the back stitches to reinforce.

 38. Bring the lining piece inside the patchwork pouch. Make sure the lining and patchwork line nicely together. Gently press with warm iron  .  Top stitch the edge of the patchwork pouch; use 1/8" seam allowance to sew around. { sorry I miss the photo}.  Now you are getting closer to the end...


 39. Use ladder stitch to close the lining opening. It gives a nice and clean finish.

 40. Attach the wooden button in an appropriate space. It will depend on your elastic/ leather core's finish length.


This mini ipad gives 1" empty space at the top of the pouch when it closed. I purpose design it, so it won't be so tight when it closed. If you prefer fitted case, you may sew joined 4 rows down instead of 5.

Hope you enjoy your way down here and I would love to see if you make your personal mini ipad pouch.. or just a special patchwork pouch is done! As you noted, that I changed the elastic to leather core during the process. I thought I'd give a different style look. This tutorial took a very long time to write. I went a bit fancy to create a little watermark for each photo and it took longer than then I though. While S is in school I was able to focus on the words and hope it all make sense to you.   If you ever make one please join us at {made with 1/4" mark Flickr group}.

xxc 

Monday, September 2, 2013

The Triangle Pouch






Just like what S asked for, a triangle pouch on the sides and big! I used {10" zakka style zipper} for her pencil pouch and she picked the lock for the {zipper charm}.  No surprise with the special prints that she requested. It is really Big! She loves the size of it and feels great that finally she owes a pencil pouch that mama made her. She never have to asked one when we lived in states, since there was no need to bring pens and other supplies to school daily.  Over the years, S has received many nice pouches from friends who kindly made special pouches for S and mailed them to her. She keeps these special pouches for different usages likely to keep her special collections.

I used the bias-binding to bound off the seams allowances and it helps the pouch stands better and gives nice 3 dimension.  For the zipper ends, I sewn the small piece of fabric on then hand binding the sides to make nice closures. I love how this pouch turns out and I think I need to make one for myself soon.  The lining fabric didn't fuse onto interfacing, since it seems fit the pouch more flow without it.  The orange/yellow print fits nicely with the main print that S picked.

Today was the first full day school for S. She is overwhelmed with long school hours when she got home. She is slowly learning the differences. Surely there are challenges in this new chapter of her little life.  Like many of mamas, I crossed my fingers for S to have a good day when she leaves the house. There's always something that we need to learn. It is her time to take the lead of this new journey, since I can't be there for her, but I secretly wish do so.  S is loving Lucky comes to pick up her from school and boy, I think this little pup knows time to go pick up S. He has busy so quiet all day long till he picked up his friend.

Thank you for the sweet congrats on { #254 sewing shop}. Thank you so very much for your orders. I am so thrilled that so many of you have check into the sewing supplies.

xxc


Sunday, September 1, 2013

#254 sewing shop


After months of talking and thinking. I have decided to open a second etsy shop that carries fine sewing supplies that made in Taiwan. {# 254 sewing shop} is where you can purchase fine and great quality of sewing supplies. The supply inventory will grow next few months and shop announcement will from time to time.

Currently the shop is carrying great and high quality of zippers in size 8" {comes 8 different colors}and 10" {comes 3 different colors}. We have 10 different charms for you to choose from.  These charms are made with nice metal/ brass and the shapes are in great details. The charm pull heads are  flexible which allow you to attach to the zipper for zipper head pull.

Over the years, I have been using these zakka zippers for {inch mark shop} zippered pouches or gifts to friends. I really like to give the best quality to the customers.

There's a little fantasy land in my mind that someday, I will run a real front store. It is me, I like meeting new people and helping them to find the right tools, supplies, or even just chat with them. It is great to meet people and knowing they love what I do.  Before the real front store happens another shop sounds fancy and exciting for me. I will also continue { inch mark shop} where I sell my handmade fabric items. 

## Please use SEWINGSHOP to receive 10% discount. The coupon code expired on 9/3/2013

 Why #254 sewing shop?

#254 is the house number that I grew up with and it is a perfect fit for the shop name. Each year, we received two packages from an address that started with #254 and that reminds us Taiwan, only. We hope you will like {#254 sewing shop}.

xxc