Super Visor

Yesterday I posted a new Instructable--a tutorial on making a woman's visor. I like the long brim on it. I think I'll try my hand at a wider brimmed visor to protect the ears as well.

I also told my daughter that I'd try to make some with interesting embellishments. I thought I could do a quasi steampunk version with black net trailing from the front arc of the brim.

Pint Ice Cream Cozy Tutorial

A PDF version of this tutorial can be downloaded here: Ice Cream Cozy Tutorial

I started making these pint ice cream cozies after my daughter's friend requested them. I don't like overlapping seams or hook and loop closures so I used elastic to secure it together.

Ice Cream Cozy Supplies:
fabric (minimum of 10" X12")--this can be all one fabric or two pieces about 5"x12"
batting, fleece or other insulating material (5"X12")
1/2" elastic (about 4,")
Thread
Scissors
One pint ice cream container emptied and cleaned


To make the pattern, you will be disassembling the container. Start by cutting off the rounded top edge. Then poke a hole in the bottom and tear out the disc on the bottom. Finally, cut along the seam down the length of the container. Lay this flat and it will serve as a pattern for the fabric and batting.




Transfer the pattern from the cardboard onto the fabric. You will need two pieces of fabric cut from this pattern. These can be the same fabric or two contrasting or coordinating fabrics.






The insulating layer will need to be a little bit smaller. I suggest marking out the pattern onto the batting and then adjusting it by moving it in two directions 1/2". (See picture)






Center the insulating layer on the wrong side of one piece of fabric. Temporarily secure in place by basting or pinning. When pinning, be sure the pins are inserted from the RIGHT side of the fabric or you'll eventually trap them inside.





Next, layer the two pieces of fabric, right sides together with the insulating layer on top and pin in place. On one of the short sides, pin the piece of elastic between the fabric layers about 1" from each corner. The edge of the elastic should line up with the edge of the fabric and the length should be sandwiched BETWEEN the layers of fabric.



Start sewing on the non-elastic short side about 1" from the end. Backstitch to secure. Continue sewing around the whole thing, finishing 3/4" from the other ends of the beginning side and backstitch to secure. Refer to the black line in the picture to see where the stitching goes.




Clip the corners close to the stiching. You can clip toward the sewing on the curves if you'd like but the curves are so gentle it hardly makes a difference.

Turn the fabric right side out. Push out the corners, fold the open seam in, and press for crisp edges.



Tuck the elastic into the open seam near the edges of the opening. Leave 1/4" to 1/2" of elastic showing and pin the elastic in place. Stitch 1/4" from the edge of the fabric, catching the elastic in the seam. Continue sewing around the edges until you reach the original sewing to complete the cozy.

Leaf Handbag

In about half an hour, I turned this placemat into a fantastic little bag. I followed Spool's great tutorial for making a bag out a placemat. It was really fast and easy. I had been hoping to find a good placemat for this project and this one was all alone on a clearance table. The nice thing about placemats is that they usually have well-coordinated patterns and colors.

Sewing a Wallet

This is a tutorial I developed for sewing a wallet with four credit card slots and two large pockets in addition to the standard bill pocket. These are my own original instructions developed through trial and error. A PDF version of this tutorial can be downloaded here: Wallet Tutorial

You’ll need:

¼ yard outer fabric

¼ liner yard fabric

sew-in interfacing (optional: use for additional sturdiness)

coordinating thread

1. Cut fabric:

2. Fold card slots in half with the right side facing in. Stitch ¼” from raw edge.

3. Turn card slot strips right side out. Press.

4. Fold pockets in half along the long edge with right sides together. Press crease.

5. Stitch one card slot 1 ¾” above the center line on the right side of the fabric for each pocket.

6. Stitch a second card slot ¾” above the center line on each pocket. (It will overlap the first card slot.)

7. Fold the pockets again along the center crease (right sides

together). Stitch along the edge on opposite sides.

8. Turn pockets right side out, press and topstitch along sewn seams.

9. Place pockets on the large outer fabric square along longer edge with corners matching as shown. Stitch along folded edge.

10. Lay large lining fabric square over the top of the out fabric square with long and short edges aligned and right sides facing each other. If desired, layer the interfacing on the top of the sandwiched pieces with edges matching. Pin together.

11. Stitch with ¼” seams around the outside, leaving several inches unsewn in the middle of the long edge without the pocket fabric pieces.

12. Clip corners close to but not through stitching.

13. Turn so right sides are on the outside, pushing corners out. Turn fabric in around opening. Press flat with crease in opening section aligned with sewn seams. Stitch along top and bottom as shown.

14. Fold wallet in half to form bill pocket as shown. Press.

15. Topstich along side seams.

16. Fold wallet in half with pockets on the inside. Press. For a better crease, hold down hot, recently pressed fabric with a something weighted until completely cooled.