Tag: how to sew

How to sew the ultimate commuter bag by Sewspire

How to sew the ultimate commuter tote bag by Sewspire

Posted on July 7, 2018 by SewSpire

Hey y’all and welcome to Sewspire!

Today I am here to show you how to make The Ultimate Commuter Tote Bag.

How to sew the ultimate commuter bag by Sewspire
How to sew the ultimate commuter bag by Sewspire
How to sew the ultimate commuter bag by Sewspire
How to sew the ultimate commuter bag by Sewspire

For this project you will need 3 yards of material to include 2 yards of 44″ cotton fabric and 1 yard of 54″ twill / duck or canvas material. Plus a 9″ x 14″ piece of stiff interfacing, a 24″ x 36″ piece of quilt batting, 2 snap sets and a 14″ zipper.

Big Duck Canvas is my favorite source for the latter! Please support the production of future tutorials and use my affiliate link to order:

http://lddy.no/5089

To begin, precut the following pattern pieces:

Cotton, cut 3, 18″ x 30″ interior panels

Twill, cut 1, 24″ x 36″ exterior panel

Twill, cut 2, 24″ by 10″ exterior pocket

Cotton, cut 2, 24″ x 10″ exterior pocket lining

Cotton, cut 2, 6″ x 16″, zipper gusset

Cotton, cut 2, 6″ x 18″ short handles (increase length to 24″ or 30″ if you desire a longer drop).

Cotton, cut 1, 6″ x 32″ shoulder strap (increase length to 38″ or 44″ if you desire a longer strap).

Your finished bag will measure approximately 9″ wide, 12″ tall and 14″ across the base and offer you 6 exterior pockets, 3 interior compartments, double handles and a shoulder strap.

I hope you enjoy this project and will share photos of your finished bags with our creative community on Facebook and Instagram using #sewspire and @sewspire.

I will be back soon with another inspired sewing project. Until then, please know the creative genius in me will be celebrating the creative genius in you!

XO,

Andrea

SEWSPIRE WEBSITE: http://sewspire.com

THE FOURTH SEAM: http://thefourthseam.com

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Please send your questions in advance to sewinginspiration@gmail.com and I will answer those in a future video or newsletter.

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Graduation Day + Free PDF Tutorial!

Posted on May 19, 2018 by SewSpire

In celebration of our eldest daughter Ashley’s graduation from George Mason University I am sharing a free tutorial this week for a fun and easy cosmetic bag that also makes a really cute lunch tote.

Click here to download

How to sew a linen crossbody hipster bag by Sewspire

How to sew a linen hipster crossbody bag + studio tours

Posted on March 10, 2018March 14, 2018 by SewSpire

Hey y’all and welcome to Sewspire!

Today, I am here to show you how to sew this fabulous crossbody hipster bag. I especially love this bag because it is crafted from linen and premium cotton prints.

How to sew a linen crossbody hipster bag by Sewspire

For this project you will need a half yard of linen and a half yard of cotton; plus a half yard of Pellon heavyweight iron on interfacing, a swivel d-ring clasp/closure and a swivel key fob.

To begin, precut the follow fabric pieces

Cut four 9″ x 11″ body panels (two from linen and two from cotton; line all with Pellon)

Cut one 28″ x 3″ interior gusset (from cotton, line with Pellon)

Cut one 28″ x 9″ exterior gusset (from linen, line with Pellon after pleating)

Cut one 5″ x 10″ fob strap (from cotton, no Pellon)

Cut four 5″ x 8″ exterior and interior pocket (from cotton, no Pellon)

Cut two 10″ x 9″ flaps (from cotton, line one with Pellon)

Cut one 16″ x 4″ closure strap (from linen, no Pellon)

I hope you enjoy the tutorial and will subscribe to my YouTube Channel! If you enjoy making bags, I’d like to invite you to take advantage of my Bag Maker’s Tutorial Bundle which includes 5 of my most popular bag tutorials in PDF Format for instant download for only $5.99!

Also, for your reference, I am using: Pellon Decor Bond 809 Firm Iron On Backing #1925944 which you can get for $2.77 p yard at Walmart.

In this weeks studio update I have included informal tours of my home and commercial sewing spaces as well as a special offer for my newest business endeavor, The Fourth Seam. If you or someone you know is considering opening an Etsy shop you’ll want to take advantage of my $9.99 read only membership so you can explore the ins and outs of running a successful Etsy shop:

I will be back soon with another inspired sewing project and studio update. Until then, please know the creative genius in me will be celebrating the creative genius in you!

XO,

Andrea

How to sew a phone wallet by Sewspire.com

How to sew a phone wallet with wristlet strap and mini card case

Posted on February 24, 2018 by SewSpire

Hey y’all and welcome to Sewspire!

Today I am here to show you how to sew a phone wallet with wristlet strap and mini card case. For this project you will need approximately a half yard of cotton fabric and some Pellon firm iron on interfacing, a 7″ zipper, a key ring, small swivel fob and one snap set.

To begin, precut the following pieces of material.

Three 8″ x 9″ (back two with Pellon)

One 8″ x 5″ (backed with Pellon)

One 3″ x 8″

One 2″ x 20″ (backed with Pellon)

Four 5″ x 6″ (back one with Pellon)

I hope you enjoy the tutorial and will share photos of your finished wallets with me over on Instagram and Facebook using @sewspire and #sewspire.

I will be back soon with another inspired sewing project. Until then, please know the creative genius in me celebrates the creative genius in you!

XO,

Andrea

P.S. I can’t finish the whole cloth quilt I started…found out why in this video:

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How to sew a reusable and washable lunch tote bag

Lost and found lunch tote bag

Posted on February 17, 2018February 17, 2018 by SewSpire

Hey y’all and welcome to Sewspire!

I have missed you!

Many thanks to all of you who wrote to inquire as to my whereabouts. I’m here to tell you a little story of how I got lost and found + as promised I have prepared a fun sewing project for you. I hope you enjoy the video(s) and will share pictures of your finished lunch tote bags with me on Instagram and Facebook using #sewspire and @sewspire.

For the lunch tote project you will need:

4 cuts of fabric which measure 5″ wide by 12″ long

2 cuts of fabric which measure 5″ wide by 10″ long

2 cuts of fabric which measure 10″ wide by 30″ long

plus one cut of sew in hook and loop tape that measures 7.5″

Until next time, please know the creative genius in me celebrates the creative genius in you!

XO,

Andrea

P.S. If you didn’t already…there is still time to snatch up my 5 best selling sewing tutorials for only $5.99! You’ll find those in my Watermelon Wishes Etsy shop.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/241893401/bag-making-pdf-sewing-pattern-bundle

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How to sew a planner envelope pocket / wallet / key ring holder

Posted on November 5, 2017November 5, 2017 by SewSpire

Hey y’all and welcome to Sewspire!

Today I am here to show you how to sew a little envelope pocket / wallet / key ring that can be attached to your spiral bound planner or notebook and is perfect for holding a pen, washi tape, business cards and post it notes.

For this project you will need the following cuts of cotton fabric:

(3) 5″ x 8″

(1) 3″ x 5″

Plus a 1″ split ring and a 4″ x 3″ piece of Pellon iron on interfacing.

I hope you enjoy the project and will let me know how you plan to use this little gadget!

I will be back next week with another tiny gift idea. Until then, please know the creative genius in me celebrates the creative genius in you!

All my best,

Andrea

P.S. Gift idea for your artistic friends…Buy a spiral bound art book and attach this wallet with a gift card to the craft store!

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How to sew a pen pocket for your planner or journal

How to sew a pen pocket for your journal or planner

Posted on October 23, 2017 by SewSpire

How to sew a pen pocket for your planner or journal

Hey y’all and welcome to Sewspire!

Today I am here to show you how to sew a pocket which is designed to attach to your journal, planner or notebook cover and hold pens or a collection of other essentials.

For this project you will need:

Two cuts of cotton fabric one which measures 5″ x 18″ and another which measures 2.5″ x 18″

1 piece of .75″ wide elastic that is 10″ long

A small piece of cardboard which measures 5.75″ x 4″

I hope you enjoy the project! It is the second in a series of small gifts we’ll be making through the end of the year.

I will be back next week with another inspired sewing project. Until then, please know the creative genius in me celebrates the creative genius in you!

XO,

Andrea

How to sew a jewelry roll

Posted on July 19, 2017 by SewSpire

Hey y’all and welcome to Sewspire!

Today I am here to show you how to sew a jewelry roll. For this project you will need to precut the following pieces of cotton quilt weight material:

(2) 12″ x 12″ for the body panels

(1) 2″ x 28″ for the tie closure

(1) 12″ x 8″ for the pockets

(1) 4″ x 9″ for the ring tab

In addition to one 12″ x 12″ piece of quilt batting and a 1″ strip of sew in hook and loop tape.

I created a template which you can print to angle the corners as shown in video.

Jewelry Roll Template Sewspire

I hope you enjoy the project and will share photos of your finished rolls with our creative community on the Sewspire Facebook and Instagram pages.

I will be back in two weeks with a fabulous beach bag design. Until then, please know the creative genius in me, salutes the creative genius in you!

Blissfully yours,

Andrea

P.S. Congratulations to this week’s Happy Mail winner Andrea Alston! If you would like to enter to win this jewelry roll you may do so here.

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How to sew a lightweight summer backpack

Posted on June 28, 2017 by SewSpire

Hey y’all and welcome to Sewspire!

Today I am here to show you how to craft a lightweight summer backpack from cotton fabric. For this project you will need one yard of material for the bag and a small cut of scrap fabric which measures 4″ x 10″ for the hang tab / closure + 44″ of 1.25″ cotton strap webbing.

To begin, precut 4 rectangles from your cotton material that measure 18″ wide by 21″ tall. Plus the hang tab which measures 4″ x 10″.

I hope you enjoy the project and will share pictures with our creative community on the Sewspire Facebook and Instagram pages using #sewspire and @sewspire.

I will be back next week with an Insulated Bottle Tote Tutorial. Until then, please know the creative genius in me salutes the creative genius in you!

XO,

Andrea

P.S. Congratulations Karol DeStefano you are the lucky winner of the cute little zipper bag we stitched up last week. If you’d like to enter to win this week’s backpack you can do so here.

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How to sew a zippered duffel tote bag

Posted on June 5, 2017 by SewSpire

Hey y’all and welcome to Sewspire!

Today I am here to show you how to sew a duffel bag with zippered top closure. This particular bag is sized to meet carryon requirements and makes a wonderful travel bag because you can fold it flat and tuck several of them inside your suitcase with ease.

When finished your travel size duffel tote bag will measure approximately 17″ across the base, 8″ tall and 9″ deep.

For this project you will need one 18″ zipper and 2 yards of cotton twill fabric such as the beautiful Premier Prints I used to craft the sample bag from.

To begin, you will need to precut your material to the following dimensions:

Cut six 10″ x 18″ panels for the body

Cut four 10″ x 10″ panels for the sides

Cut four 5″ x 20″ panels for the zipper casing / gusset

Cut two 6″ x 25″ panels for the handles

I hope you enjoy the sewing project and will share photos of your finished duffel bags on the Sewspire Facebook and Instagram pages using @sewspire and #sewspire .

I will be back next week with another inspired travel themed project. Until then, please know the creative genius in me salutes the creative genius in you!

XO,

Andrea

P.S. Congratulations to Janice Centritto as she is the Happy Mail winner of the patchwork dachshund pup we made last week! If you would like to enter to win this week’s travel sized duffel bag, you can sign up here.