Sewing Sunday - fold up bag

I was home for the weekend and wanting to recover from all my travel. I started to get a couple of my home items completed and done!


First off, I had never sewn with a pattern so last night when I was out at Joann's picking up some supplies for other projects I decided to grab one that looked simple enough. A yard of fabric, some double fold bias tape, and velco, how hard can it be? I did sign up for some sewing classes at Joann's as it was half off class day, but since they were a few weeks out thought why not try now!

I googled a you tube video how to transfer patterns, using pins and the floor seemed to work with the supplies I had.

But....then I came out with this - epic fail! I had the folded fabric the wrong way. Just keeping it real on this blog. Bummer I liked that fabric! 

I had some other fabric on hand from when I recovered the thrift store chair, so I went with that as a back up and tried again. Note the fabric is opposite in this one so it actually works!

Great success! I cut out all the pieces and went to work making the pocket. Just in case any of you try to make this one, it took awhile for me to figure out that pattern so here is how it looked from both sides.

After a couple hours of cutting, then recutting, trying to keep the cat off of the pattern (why does paper always attract cats??), becoming familiar with my sewing machine again, ta-da! It actually  worked!

Here is what the pocket and velcro is for, it folds up nicely to fit anywhere!

I started sewing!!

I have been wanting to sew....really....but somehow something just keeps getting in the way. Actually it is that I had no idea what I was doing and tended to get frustrated after the first hour to figure out how the whole process works! My friend Kelly had her husband out of town and decided to have a girls crafty day which was the perfect opportunity for me to finally figure out how to use the sewing machine I got back in January.

Its not like I was trying to make something complicated - just pillow covers - but since I never took home ec the biggest learning process was just trying to figure out how to thread the machine and get it started! I also broke the needle so had to learn how to re-do that too! I did not take any pictures, but lets just say that I got there at 1 pm and between talking, snacking and sewing finally for two done by 6 pm.

I had a couple of pillows from my old decor color (red) that I discovered had zippers to take off the old covers. I then just created knife edge pillow covers (like these ones on Martha Stewart) but I actually used a pattern in the singer sewing book I had. The fabric is from Hobby Lobby. :)

Sew Happy!

I am having one of those weeks where my full time work takes the place of any work on the house...but luckily the internet can keep me at least somewhat on track! I have been thinking to learn sewing for some time now. Sure, I heart my no sew projects with hem tape (curtains here and no sew table runners here) but that cannot do everything! I took the plunge this week and ordered a sewing machine!


This one is a top pick around the web for beginners and is #1 on Amazon. I have been watching it and then saw the price dropped some this week - sold!


Brother CS6000I

Now on to find some easy projects to start with once I get it! Any suggestions out there??