More small bags finished

I've been working on a few small bags recently for a variety of purposes and gifts. These two are made from a pretty modern fabric that I got from Lola Pink in Lafayette several years ago. I used the majority of the fat quarter and had just enough for two bags. 

The bag on the right is identical on both sides but the left one had to be made from two different parts of the design. I used the rosary/coin purse design from this tutorial, but made them a little bigger so they can be more useful.

I made them with a white polka dot fabric that has most of the colors from the outside, just muted a little. I like white for the interior because the light color makes finding items easier.

One of the bags has a separator to form two compartments. I originally intended to put one in the second bag, but I cut something wrong (I don't remember what the problem was) so I just left it off.

Although the bags are not very big, they can hold quite a few little personal items.  I've been thinking of making a few extra to give to our girls for "necessities" (personal products). We could never say tampons or pads as teenagers, so my mom just taught us to use her code word, necessities, when we needed something at the store.

I enjoyed playing with the quilting design on this one and created a diagonal design.  The second one has straight line quilting to mimic the the stems on the fabric design.

Cute, useful and fun to make...these are absolute winners!

What are you working on that's cute, useful or fun to make?  Leave a comment!

Linking up with 

AmandaJean at Crazy Mom Quilts

Tutorial: Coin Purse

After making my sister a small wallet to hold her credit cards and keys, I decided to use the pattern to make another to hold my rosaries.  Since I keep two rosaries in my purse and have had to take measures to keep them from tangling, I thought I'd solve that problem, too.

Materials List

paper for your pattern
3 coordinating pieces scrap fabrics 9" x 11" or larger (One for each of the following: outside fabric, lining, and separating divider.) This picture shows the pieces already cut and placed in neat stacks.)
7" zipper
batting scraps 
fusible webribbon scraps approx. 6" long

1. PATTERN and CUTTING  I used the pattern that I'd made for my sister's wallet.  To create the pattern, traced around a credit card, then added 3/4 inch all around.  I wanted to add seam allowance and a little extra so that it would be easy to put the cards in or take them out.  The pattern is 5 1/2" w X 4 1/2 h (The purse is oriented in a landscape design.)

2. ZIPPER  Start out by inserting a 7" zipper.  Match one of the lining pieces with one outside piece, right sides together (rst), slip the zipper between the two so that the outside edge of the zipper tape lines up with the top of the purse.

 My fabric is a one-direction fabric, which means that I had to be extra careful to make sure the birds were flying right side up.   You may have noticed that the zipper is centered in the fabrics and that the top and bottom stops are far from the fabrics.  This is to be able to fold and sew the excess zipper down into the purse cutting it.

I pinned the pieces in place then turned down the outside fabric so that I could check the hummingbird.  I also checked to make sure the zipper was facing in the right direction.  The zipper pull, or slider, needs to be on the same side as the outside fabric.

3.  Once I was certain that I had the fabrics oriented correctly, I used my zipper foot to stitch the zipper.  It's especially important to move the needle all the way over to one side of the foot, so that you don't break the needle.  I like to move the needle to the side nearest the zipper elements, or zipper teeth.  This allows the foot to hold the zipper in place as I sew because it is riding on the fabric and the zipper tape, putting pressure on all three pieces.  Of course, I pin carefully, also.

4.  After I had one side of the zipper sewn in, I flipped the fabric over and pinned it down.  I could have top-stitched at this time but, knowing that I planned to quilt the fabric, I skipped this step.

5.  Time to pin the second side of the zipper in. 

Again, I pinned both the outside and the lining so that the zipper tape lined up with the edge of the fabric and checked the orientation of the hummingbird.  This time I also checked to make sure that the fabrics lined up.  I am a smidge off (gosh, it looks much worse!) but let it alone--the side seam can accommodate a smidge.  (Now finished, the purse looks great.)

6.  MARKING THE QUILTING Before adding the batting, decide how you will quilt the purse. If you choose a stipple or other design that does not need lines, skip this part. I chose to quilt in close diagonal lines, which needed to be drawn in with a ruler and Frixon pen so that I could achieve somewhat straight lines.  

Tip: Draw the line on the inside of the purse so they don't show even though Frixon disappears with heat or friction.  (Play safe.)

Cheat tip: I was not concerned with aligning the lines since the two sides would not be seen together.  
Cheat tip: I drew in only two of the lines on each side and used my pressure foot edge for rest of the lines.

7. BATTING To add the batting, simply slip it between the two pieces of fabric and tuck it as tightly as possible along the edge of the zipper.  Tip: Less batting makes sewing in the zipper much easier, and the purse less bulky along the top.

8. QUILT  Just go ahead and quilt one side then the other.  I'm halfway, in this picture.  When both sides are quilted, the purse will be ready to sew closed.  

9. SEW Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of the divider.  It's optional though easy to make. To create a divider I cut a piece of coordinating lining fabric 5 1/2" x 9" and folded it in half, wrong sides together (wst). Add a layer of fusible web and press at high heat.  This divider is about the thickness and stiffness of cardstock.

divider in the center of my wallet

10. SEW  Close the purse by folding in half along the zipper, rst, and add the divider. Tip: the folded edge should be closest to the zipper.  Adjust the divider so that it is about 1/2 inch from the zipper. Trim the raw edge on the opposite side, if necessary.   Pin all around.  Begin sewing about 1/2" from the zipper.  Sew around the perimeter of the purse.  Be careful to catch all the layers.  

10. SEW Again Yes, make a second seam inside the first one.  I used a zig-zag stitch to finish the edge of the seam, then sewed another straight stitch between the two.  This little purse (in my case) will see lots of use.  I want it to hold.

11. TRIM Trim the corners cutting up to, but not through, the seam lines.  Tip: Be careful!

12. ZIPPER TAPE At this point I folded the zipper tape down and made a quick seam to hold it in place.  To make sure it appeared neat and clean, I stayed inside the seam allowance.

13. TURN Open the zipper as much as you can and turn the purse through the opening.  Use a knitting needle or other small object to push out the seams at the corners. Tip: Push out the corners from both sides of the divider.

14. RIBBON PULL Using two pieces of small, coordinating ribbon,  Tie the individual ends of the ribbon and fold in half.  Finger press tightly.

Slip the folded end into the hole in the zipper pull. Now push the knotted ends through the loop and pull tightly.  

And it's complete!  Add your rosary, coins, credit cards, lipstick, compact, mirror--whatever small items you have lost in the bottom of your purse--and you're in business!

Linking up with

Finish It Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts 

Off the Wall Fridays at Creations Quilts Art Whatever

Whoop Whoop Friday at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

What a Hoot Quilts for  Thank Goodness Its Finished Friday 

Pin It Weekly #102

Goodness, I almost missed the whole week! Two days of Mardi Gras, New Orleans, and grandchildren will do that to a person.  

But now Lent has begun and we've become busy with retreats, Way of the Cross, and praying the Rosary.  I thought it would be a good idea to find a few pins that I can share with friends on FB and use in my prayer life during the Lenten season.  

Mother Teresa of Calcutta