Ruffle Top Drawstring Backpack

When I was asked to participate in the Anne of Green Gables blog hop, I was thrilled.  I love Anne and her optimism and strength. This ruffle top drawstring bag is a simple project to sew and a great way to use these beautiful fabrics.
Let's get right into it, shall we?

Ruffle Top Drawstring Backpack

Supplies:
2/3 yard main exterior print (green floral)
2/3 yard interior print (raspberry ticking)
1/4 yard accent print for ruffle and pocket flap (light pink quote fabric)
1/4 yard accent print for straps and pocket (raspberry blossom)

Cutting:

(2) 16" X 19" from main exterior fabric
(2) 16" X 4" from accent fabric for ruffle
(2) 7" X 3 1/2" from accent fabric for flap of pocket
(2) 16" X 22" from lining fabric
(2) 2" X 34" from accent fabric for straps
(2) 3" X 18" from accent fabric for straps
(2) 7" X 6" from accent fabric for body of pocket

Sewing Instructions:
*note: all seams are 1/2" unless otherwise indicated.

• Sew accent pieces to top of main body pieces. Press the seam toward the accent piece.
• Top stitch the seam on the accent piece.

•  Take the 2" X 34" strap pieces and press in half along the length
• Open up the pressed piece and fold the long edges into the crease at the center of the strap
• Press the strap in half again (should now measure approx 1/2" X 34")
• Top stitch down both sides of the strap

•  Take the 3" X 18" strap anchor pieces and fold one short end down 1/4"
• Top stitch this edge down
• Repeat steps for pressing the straps- fold in half, press, bring in sides to middle, press
• Top stitch the strap anchor pieces *beginning 1" from the folded down, stitched end of the strap anchor piece. (you will leave the end open until the last step)

•  With right sides together round the bottom corners of the pocket flap pieces
• pin pocket body pieces right sides together
• using a *1/4" s.a. sew around the flap (leave opening on long, flat side) and body (leave opening on the bottom) of the pocket
• Clip corners and seams
• Turn right side out and press out seams
• Top stitch top of pocket body and short sides and rounded bottom of pocket flap

•  place front piece of backpack right side up
• center pocket body 3" up from bottom
• center flap over pocket body lining the top of the flap 1/2" above the top of the pocket body
• top stitch around sides and bottom of pocket body, and the top of the flap
• place the sewn end of the strap anchor pieces 1" in from sides, and lined up with the bottom of the backpack 
• place second exterior piece of backpack face down, lining up the seams where the accent pieces are attached.
• sew around the two long sides and bottom of the backpack exterior- leaving a 1" opening on both sides starting 1/2" below the seams attaching the accent piece
  

• Turn bag exterior right side out and press seams.

• Take interior bag pieces and line up right sides together
• sew around long sides and bottom, leaving an opening for turning (dotted lines are where sewn seams should be)
  

• Slide exterior of the bag INSIDE the lining of the bag.  Line up side seams and raw edge, pin in place
• sew around the top of the bag
• Turn bag right side out through the opening in the bottom of the bag lining.
• Sew opening in lining shut.
• Push the lining of the bag inside the exterior of the bag and press the top seam.  

• Sew the channel for the drawstring- sew around the bag lining your stitches up with the top of the opening you left on the exterior of the bag (1/2" from the seam of the accent piece) use a piece of tape to keep this line straight around the whole bag.
• sew the second line for the channel 1" away from the first stitched line (again, using a piece of tape to mark the line)
• top stitch the top edge of the bag
• take the small drawstrings and pull them through the channel using a safety pin. One will start and end on one side of the bag, and the second will start and end on the other side of the bag.

•  Take the two ends of the drawstring on one side of the bag, and place them inside the open end of the anchor piece on the same side of the bag
• sew the ends of the drawstring into the anchor piece by closing up the opening on the end of the strap. I sew a rectangle with an "X" in it. (you can see it in the picture below)

• Repeat for the second side.

 You can embellish this bag with buttons or lace, but I chose to leave it plain for now.

Each of my daughters have asked me for one of these bags (even the teenager) so I'm going to call this one a win!  I hope you enjoy it as much as we have.
xoxo,
Amy

Posy Garden Lined drawstring bag tutorial

I am so excited to be on the Posy Garden blog hop!  I have been looking forward to this for a long time and have been trying to come up with the perfect project to show off this beautiful fabric.  I decided to create some fun gift pouches I plan on using as favors at a brunch I'm hoping to pull off the first week the kids go back to school.  These lined drawstring bags are simple to make and use only a bit of fabric- plus they can be adjusted to fit your desired size as well.  They are great for gifts, storing jewelry, party favors or just as tools to organize your purse or other large spaces.  They are so fun to whip up, you'll be making them for everything.

Before we get to the tutorial though, can we just take a moment and enjoy this beautiful fabric?  It's just such a fun color combination with the pinks and navy, turquoise and red.  I just love this line.  It makes me want to have tea in a garden somewhere.  You can find the entire line here on the Riley Blake Designs website.

And now for the chocolate, I mean the tutorial.

Some notes before we begin:

• This tutorial is for a bag that finishes at 6" X 8 1/2" (approx.) adjust your cutting measurements to accommodate a larger or smaller bag- but if you make a larger one, you will need more fabric.
• Seam Allowances are 1/4" unless noted. 
• For my accent strip I pieced a strip using 1 1/2" wide pieces of scraps, you can use this method, or just cut an accent strip from the lining fabric.

Lined Drawstring Bag Tutorial

Supplies

fabric- 2 fat eights

ribbon- 1 yard of 1/4" ribbon

sewing supplies

Cutting

From lining fabric- cut 2: 6 1/2" X 9" rectangles

From exterior main fabric- cut 1: 6 1/2" X 9" rectangle (for the back),
For the exterior front cut 1: 6 1/2" X 7" rectangle

 and 1: 1 1/2" X 6 1/2" strip

for accent strip (pieced or from lining fabric) cut 1: 1 1/2" X 6 1/2" strip

Assembly

• Sew your front pieces together with the larger rectangle of the exterior fabric on top and the 1 1/2" strip on the bottom of the accent piece, press seams
• Place your bag exterior pieces right sides together.  Mark an opening on each side that is 1" down from the top and 1/2" wide (as marked by the red butterfly pins in the picture), these will become your openings for the ribbon drawstring. *you can adjust the placement of these openings if you like- higher or lower will change the look of your bag and change the size of the "ruffle" at the top of the bag when it is pulled shut.  Just make sure you position the opening in the same place on both sides.
• Sew sides and bottom of bag exterior, leaving the two 1/2" openings unsewn (back stitch at beginning and end of each line of stitching.

•  Place lining pieces right sides together.  Mark an opening in the bottom of the lining that is 2-3" wide (as indicated by the red butterfly pins in the picture) This will be the opening for turning the bag right side out when it's completed.

• Sew around the sides and bottom of the bag, leaving the marked opening unsewn.

• Turn exterior of the bag right side out and press.
• Slide exterior of the bag inside the lining of the bag.  Line up the side seams and pin around the top seam of the bag.
• Sew around the top seam of the bag.
• Pull the exterior of the bag through the opening left in the bottom of the lining and turn the lining right side out.
• Sew the opening in the bottom of the lining shut
• push the lining of the bag inside the exterior of the bag, press the top seam

•  To create the ribbon channel in the bag, sew one seam at 3/4" from top (use the opening you will find in the side seams as your guide for the top and bottom of the ribbon channel)
• Sew a second seam 1/2" lower from the top than the first seam.
• Cut ribbon into two 18" pieces
• Use safety pin to thread ribbon through channels.  Start one ribbon on one side, bring it around the entire bag and back out the same side.  Repeat with second ribbon, but on the opposite side of the bag.  Tie off the ribbons. *notes on this process: You may have to wiggle the safety pin around a bit to get it around the seams as you are threading it, just keep pushing it around until it comes out.  Also, make sure when you are threading the second ribbon, you are keeping track of the ends of the first ribbon.  Sometimes as you are threading the second ribbon it pulls the ends of the first ribbon into the channel and you will have to fish them out.

 Fill with your favorite treats and give them away.  

Or use them as favors at a brunch (like me) or shower.

They are great to have on hand as gift wrap too. What would you use these handy bags for?

  I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.  If there are any questions, or if you have another tutorial you'd like to see, let me know in the comments and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

xoxo,

Amy

Greatest Adventure Summer sling bag

The first time I saw this line of fabric, I knew just what I wanted to make with it.  A fun, simple, portable bag that would be loved and used often, but so easy to make I wouldn't feel bad when it got dirty, worn and loved.
This Greatest Adventure fabric just screams summer adventures to me and is available now in retail stores.  And if you want to make a Summer Sling Bag of your own, read on.  This would make a great project for a summer sewing camp or just a fun quick project to whip up.
I'm posting this tutorial as part of The Summer Sewing Series at The Polkadot Chair, you can find all the different projects in the series here.

SUMMER SLING BAG

Supplies:

• 1/4 yard accent fabric
• 2 fat quarters, 1 for exterior, 1 for lining
• Large button (optional)
• Sewing supplies

Cutting Instructions:

• from the 1/4 yard cut:
• 1- 3" strip by Width of Fabric, trim down to 36" long
• 2- 3 1/2" X 8" pieces 

• from each fat quarter cut:
• 2- 8" X 13"

Strap preparation:

 Take the strip of fabric, press in half along the length.  Open up the halves and fold the long edges into the crease.  Fold along the crease again to enclose the raw edges.  Edge stitch along both sides of the strap.

 Sewing Instructions:
*use 1/2" seam allowance unless noted otherwise

•  Take the first exterior piece, place right side up.
•  Place one accent piece 3" from the bottom of the exterior piece, right side down.  Make sure the accent piece is upside down (if prints are directional) 
• Using a 1/4" seam allowance, sew the accent piece to the exterior piece

• Fold down the accent piece and press.
• Top stitch along the top edge of the accent piece.
• Repeat for the second exterior piece.
  
•  On one exterior piece, line up the two raw edges of the strap 4" down from top.  Baste or pin into place.
  
• Place the two exterior pieces right sides together.  Sew around the two sides and bottom. 
• Place the two lining pieces right sides together.  Sew around the two sides and bottom, leaving an opening in the bottom 3"- 4" wide.
• Clip the bottom corners of both the exterior and the lining.
• 
• Turn the exterior of the bag right side out.
  
• Slide the exterior of the bag into the lining of the bag.  Line up the side seams and the top edge, make sure the strap is out of the way.
  
• Sew around the top of the bag.
• Turn the bag right side out through the opening in the bottom of the lining.
  
• Sew the opening in the bottom of the lining closed.
• Push the lining into the exterior of the bag.  Fold along the sewn line and press.  Top stitch the bag opening.
• If you want to, sew a large button onto one side of the opening, this will help it to stay closed a bit better, but isn't really necessary if you prefer to leave it off.

I couldn't resist making a little change pouch to match and a notebook cover as well.  I'm hoping my daughter will use the notebook to record all our adventures we are trying to do this summer.  So far she's loving taking the bag with us on hikes to hold her water and snacks, and the change pouch in the bag as she walks to the neighborhood convenience store to get a treat with her brother and friends.
If you make one, I'd love to see!  What are you sewing this summer?

xoxo,
Amy

Desert Bloom Blog Tour

I have always loved Amanda Herring's fabric.  She always seems to choose bright happy colors and such fun delightful prints- it would be hard not to.  But I am lucky to say that she is also a dear friend and she is just as bright, happy and delightful as her fabrics.  When she asked me to participate in her blog tour for Desert Bloom, I was thrilled and of course said YES immediately!

With colors and prints like these, how could you not be thrilled?

I have been working on some new bag patterns and decided to make one up in these gorgeous fabrics.  This bag features Pellon's new (at least to me) fusible foam interfacing which I loved.  I also decided to overcome my unreasonable fear of installing snaps and use them to add some details and function to this bag. 

There are definitely some things to work out with this bag, but overall I am really happy with the shape, size and especially the overall body the interfacing gives this over-the shoulder tote.  I just have one question (well actually, two) How many pockets do you like in your bags?  I tend to add tons of pockets, but this one only has four and I kind of like the simplicity of it.
My last question is, do you already have some Desert Bloom in your stash?  If not, what are you waiting for? ;)

If you want to see more gorgeous projects using this beautiful line, check out the other blogs on the tour through Amanda's blog post.

Thanks for having me Amanda!
Hope you all have a great day!
xoxo,
Amy

Pant leg drawstring bag

Summer is hard.  I'm feeling like I should probably re-do my summer list and make it more realistic.  Instead of camping and swimming- it should have "say "I'm bored" 50 times", complain about nearly everything at least once, ask for Popsicles at least 1,000,000,000 times and so on.  We'd have the list done by now and we're only two weeks in! ;)  It's not really that bad, but this week we've been painting the kitchen and family rooms, including the ceilings and my patience and energy are pretty much nonexistent right about now.  However, last week, before the painting mess started, I did manage to start teaching my daughter how to sew.  It wasn't my idea, it was actually my sister's and my niece's.  They came out to spend the day and my niece brought in a couple pieces of fabric.  Actually, they were pant legs cut off my sister's old cargo pants.  They had drawstrings in the bottoms, and they had the idea to make bags out of them.  So, we raided my fabric stash and found some coordinating fabric and got to work.

I don't really have any process pictures because it was a 'wing it as you go' kind of project, but I will explain how we did it.  I straightened the cut side of the pant leg, then we decided on the embellishment each girl wanted.  After that was sew down, we sewed a straight line across the cut edge to make the bag.  We decided to make the top of the bag fold down to close and just have the drawstring as an embelllishment of sorts, so we measured down about 1/3 of the way from the drawstring side and that's where we sewed down the strap.  It's meant to be a cross body messenger type bag.  Fun and fast and free!  My kind of summer project. :)

And I think the girls are pretty happy with them too.
Hope your summer is going better than my attitude. :)
xoxo,
Amy
p.s. don't forget- Point of View reveal and link party is tomorrow!  Hope to see you there.
Linking up to Friday Flair at WhipperBerry

The Best of Times, The Worst of Times

Last night I found out today was going to be "The Best Day of My Life!"  Kim, from Today's Creative Blog is featuring me, my blog and my bags!  It is such an honor to me because I really respect Kim and her abilities.  She is smart, savvy and has an incredible blog.  And She picked Me!!  Okay, so I might be a little more than thrilled. :)

And she featured my bags.  Which, although they aren't listed yet, all these bags are finished and ready to ship.  Just e-mail me or leave a comment.  They are $65 plus $5 shipping.
If you are here visiting from Today's Creative Blog, Welcome!!  I'm so happy to have you.  I hope you'll stay a while and have a look around.
So, that's the best of times part.  The worst of times happened on Saturday.  I got a text message from a friend letting me know that our sweet neighbor boy had passed away only an hour before.  It was stunning.  The day before he had been out playing on his bike with his sister.  It was unexpected and heart breaking.  Nate had special needs.  He could talk, but his words were limited.  He had a larger than life personality.  He loved to tease and play.  Because of his special needs, he was a teacher.  He taught all of us to look beyond the outside and see what was in someones heart.  His death has left a huge gaping hole in all our hearts.  And especially in that of his dear family who are the most amazing people you will ever meet.  They shared Nate with us in this life, and they are allowing all of us to share in his story now. 
As a mother, your greatest fear is losing one of your children.  Nate is the same age as my oldest.  And the fact that one day he was playing and the next he was gone, terrifies me to my core.  None of us know how much time we will have here on this Earth.  I am learning to not take any one of them for granted.
Nate didn't have much of an appetite for lunch or dinner on Friday.  In the evening his tummy was hard and distended.  Fearing a blockage, his parents took him to the Insta-care facility.  When they got there they were told it was serious and he was sent by ambulance to the regional children's hospital.  During the ambulance ride his condition became critical.  The pressure in his abdomen caused him to stop breathing a couple of times.  Emergency surgery was needed, but even if he survived the surgery his outlook was not good.  By noon on Saturday, he had passed away.
Even in his death, Nate is teaching us.  He is encouraging us to be better.  To strive to keep the commandments and to live worthy to meet him again in Heaven.  Thank you, Nate.  We love you and will deeply miss you.
Take advantage of today.  Make it the "Best Day of your Life" (even if you're not featured on Kim's blog. ;) )  Don't let "I love you" go unsaid, a sad child left un-hugged, a smile left undone.  Take care of today and treasure it.  Because you just don't know if you will get a tomorrow.
Happy Memorial Day!  To all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, Thank You!  To their families and loved ones- your sacrifice is not in vain, or forgotten.
xoxo,
Amy

In the Bag, "Theme"-day Thursdays

I have a feeling that this month's "Theme"-day Thursdays are going to be a bit off.  So, instead of posting sub-par posts and ideas, I'm going to have the theme day for this month be bags.  Since I'm up to my eyeballs making them.  Oodles of them.  I'm trying to create inventory for the upcoming opening of my shop and between that, end of year stuff with kids, attempting to keep things rolling here at the blog and well, life- there's not much time for anything else.  Each week I'll give you and update on where I'm at, and what I've been making.  A progress report of sorts.  Hopefully it will serve as one more place to be accountable to keep on making things even when I'm tired of making things. :)

One of the things I'm most excited about with these new bags is the lining!  I've decided to step outside of my normal "safe" solids and find some fun complimentary prints.  I'm loving this one- it's from the new Denise Schmidt line at Joann.
These bags still need their finishing touch- gigantic flowers- before they're totally finished, but 6 bags in one week was a pretty big load for me.  I'm happy so far.  I'd love any input on which ones are your favorites.
Stay tuned for more exciting shop news in the next couple of weeks.
Have a great Thursday- It's almost FRIDAY!!
xoxo,
Amy
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