Saturday, October 27, 2012

Laptop Bag

Off to Houston I go....

I finally made a bag for my laptop. I used some scraps (a Waverly print) leftover from a chair recovering project. I had everything I needed for the project at home already (I have too much stuff.) There is a little pocket inside to hold business cards. I used fusible midweight interfacing and fusible Pellon batting inside the layers. Seems stiff enough and padded enough.
Used an old button on top of the velcro







I didn't use a pattern, just figured it out as I went and made it to fit my rather large laptop. Of course there are lots of patterns available to make your own.



Friday, October 19, 2012

Blog Tour Coming up

Please check back with me on November 8th for a special post which will include among other things a contest to give away a copy of the upcoming publication of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks. I'll have a block included!

 

Monday, October 15, 2012

Postcards, Halloween 2012


I did five designs of fabric postcards this Halloween. Sent some out to friends and some are on my Etsy site (suquilt.etsy.com).

Halloween Postcards

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Halloween Crafts

A few things I've made

The Pumpkin


He's made from a piece of old kimono wool fabric (has the moth holes to prove it), some wool felt, rick rack and old buttons. He's got a bean bottom. The old toys were my mother's! 


The Crow

  

 


She stands on wire legs 4" high, with  three fabric eggs in her fabric nest. The scraps are from the Halloween quilt I finished earlier this year.

The Coasters

I made these several years ago and get them out every October. It was fun to use some scraps of the many Halloween fabrics I have. I also used fancy stitches on my machine. I enjoy my coffee out of my October mug too!

 

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Camera Case a Pattern!




 Camera Case













Supplies: The actual measurements depend on the size bag you’re making, see below for a better idea.
2 fat quarters in coordinating prints
Piece of fusible fleece
About ½ yard of cord
Cord-lock toggle, if desired

Measure the camera. CL is the length or height of the long side. CC is the circumference or distance around the short side of the camera (measure over the lens).


Sizes to cut fabric:

Outside: CL + 2” (CCL)  X  CC + 2.25” (CCC)

Lining: CCL + .5” X CCC + .5”

Example; my camera is 4.5 “  long (CL) and has a circumference of 8.75” (CC), so I cut my outside piece:
6.5” X 11” and the lining I cut 7” X 11.5”

Cut the batting: CCL - .25” X CCC  (my batting was cut 6.25” X 11”)

Cut the top cording sleeve 2.25” X CCC  (my piece was 2.25” X 11”)

Cut the cording: 6” + CCC (so mine was 17”)

Sew the outside to the lining, right sides together along the long edges; line up one short side, the other side of the lining will be .5” longer. The lining will also be .5” longer at the bottom.


Open piece and press seam to the lining. Lay batting on the back of the front piece along the seam line. Iron in place if using fusible fleece, baste if not. Fold the lining over the fleece and press the whole piece from the outside, pressing the seam smooth.

Quilt by machine either in a grid pattern (draw it on, or use your presser foot for even lines) or quilt whatever design works for you. 


Sew right sides together the side seam, using a .25” seam. Sew all the layers together in one seam. (The longer side of the lining will still be longer, the other edges will line up.) Fold the lining over and tuck the edges under the seam allowance. Pin and then hand whip stitch the lining. See the photo.



Side seam, lining side, hand sew









Position the bag so the side seam is in the middle; sew the bottom (right sides together) using a .25” seam from the edge of the outside piece. The lining will be .5” longer. Trim one side of the lining off even with the outside. See the photo. Fold the longer lining piece over the seam allowance as you did the side seam, pin and hand whip stitch. See the photo.
   



Bottom seam with lining trimmed on one side

Bottom seam, hand sew





Make a box bottom. See the photo. Fold the bottom and measure 1.5” across, or less if your camera is skinny. Stitch across both ends.



Fold the cording sleeve ends .25”, then .25” again. Machine stitch these hems. Fold the sleeve in half lengthwise, press. Then fold .25” along each side (lengthwise) and press. Position this sleeve on the top of the case (with the case in the middle), leaving a gap of about 1” on one side. Pin in place, with the bottom edge about 3/8” down from the bag’s top edge. Machine stitch very close to the edge of the sleeve and then again about 1/8” up. See the photo.
Cord Sleeve fits over the finished top edge


Thread the cord through the sleeve. Use a cord-lock toggle if desired. Knot the ends of the cord.

Notes:  Make notes to yourself as to what ‘CL’ and ‘CC’ are for your camera.  

I like to use Clover’s white marking pen for dark fabrics and Pilot’s Frixion erasable gel pen for light fabrics. Both iron out. (But of course, test your fabric before using!)

I also like Pellon’s fusible fleece for my craft projects.

I hope your camera will be happy in its new home. The bag can be made in different sizes for other things too.

If you have any questions on construction, leave a comment here or e-mail me at suquilt@hotmail.com .