More pouches and bag...

These are my usual homework with Alice Peng Sew Along..   Some were made last year but forgot to post them.

Have a good weekend and hope MH370 will be found soon...
Anic

Bag Project 20 & 21

Not bad...  in September,  I sewed 2 bags.  

A sling bag sewed with Tutorial by Potata House.

 This one is my usual homework with Alice Peng Sew Along

The bag handles are made from webbing.  I learnt the technique from Alice.  Similar is shown here by http://madebyloulabelle.blogspot.com/.

Bye,
Anic

Bag Project 20 - Front Zip Pouch

I am back... after so long...  

I saw this nice free tutorial & pattern by Sew Mama Sew...  some more free video to give you all the instructions you need to make this front zip pouch with lining..

http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/2013/01/front-zip-pouches-in-four-sizes/

You can use the technique learnt from the tutorial to sew any size of pouch..  the sky is the limit..  :)

I enjoyed making this..  fast and very satisfying to see the end result.

Hope you enjoy the tutorial...   Thank you Sew Mama Sew for sharing this with us...

Have nice weekend,
Anic

Bag Project 19 - Sewing Notions Box

My 10th project with Alice Peng's sew along...   Another one with cord piping.    Wanted the box to stand well, I used very hard stabiliser...   so difficult to sew at the corner.   Not so much about the ability of the sewing machine sewing thick material, but more of ensuring edges of all layers line up exactly...

A few photos which hopefully explain the technique I was taught on how to do cord piping which cover a full square/rectangular/circle:

 First, find out the length of bias tape

 Remove the clip and sew the 2 ends together...   See step 5 here : http://www.sewlover.com/basic/binding/01.html

Now, we have the right length of bias tape with 2 ends sewn.

  Baste it..  and then put the cord in the middle and fold the bias tape into half..

Baste it again but make sure you leave a few centimeters not basted at the 2 ends of the cord

Hand sew the 2 ends of the cord together....

Baste the 2 ends....

I hope the above pictures are useful to you....  

When sewing the pieces together, it is very important that edges of all pieces line up correctly.

Useful reference links for adding piping to bag:
1) http://www.sew-it-love-it.com/sewing-cording.html
2) http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/jw!xIaEdO2eGRxklvw1H5zeF_4S/article?mid=57805  - this one shows how to join the 2 ends without overlapping..   I don't have the fanciful double sided tape,  I just use pin or clips... 
3) http://punkinpattern.blogspot.com/2011/07/how-to-sew-in-piping.html


Update:  Mila, I use adjustable zipper foot, either one of below.   You could also use the normal zipper foot.











Bye,
Anic

Bag Projects 16, 17 & 18 - all with piping

These are my May, June, July 2012 Alice Peng sew along projects.

I made this bag from thick canvas from Taiwan bought from Emma Huang.  Very sturdy..  but mati mati jahit with my NV 50.

Pencil case

Overnight bag

This bag is made from thick canvas bought online from China.  Very thick but the grain is not as fine as the thick canvas from Emma.   Again, another jahit sampai berpeluh peluh project...

Useful reference links for adding piping to bag:
1) http://www.sew-it-love-it.com/sewing-cording.html
2) http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/jw!xIaEdO2eGRxklvw1H5zeF_4S/article?mid=57805  - this one shows how to join the 2 ends without overlapping..   I don't have the fanciful double sided tape,  I just use pin or clips...
3) http://punkinpattern.blogspot.com/2011/07/how-to-sew-in-piping.html

Bye,
Anic

Bag Project 15 - Bag with appliqued flowers

This is my April 2012 Alice Peng sew along..  

This is the first time I sewed a piping to a bag.   It was actually not as difficult as it looked.

A nice tutorial on sewing piping to a bag:

http://diannajessie.wordpress.com/2011/06/07/how-to-make-piping-for-bags/

And I just realised I could  remove the flatbed attachment  of my NV50  to ease sewing of bag with small opening (or any cylindrical piece :))...  

Flatbed attachment

Flatbed attachment removed to ease sewing of cylindrical piece

Bye now and have a good week,

Anic

Bag Project 14 - Bag Organiser

This is my March 2012 Alice Peng sew along homework..    A bag organiser..   This time I used heavy cotton for external.   I bought these fabrics when I first started sewing back in 2010 from http://fabricbuffet.blogspot.com/.  Finally got around to use them..  :)

If you would like to make one..   here are some useful online tutorial links to refer to:
1)   http://tipnut.com/purse-organizer-sewing-tutorial/  - links to a few tutorials


2)  http://www.craftpassion.com/2011/11/purse-organizer-insert-with-adjustable-divider.html?pid=704#picgallery

3) http://www.marthastewart.com/272638/removable-tote-organizer  -  this one is for a Tote

Bye now,
Anic

Bag Project 13 - 3 Layer Bag

This is my Feb 2012 Alice Peng sew along homework..   Have never sewn such thick material with so many layers with my Brother NV50. At time, at very thick area, I have to help the machine by pulling the material so that it actually moved...  The maroon fabric is like Canvas (but thicker).   Not just thick canvas, but many layers, for example, sewing the body (with pocket) to the gusset (again with pocket), 12 layers of fabric + stabiliser.  I have to say, I am very pleased that N50 was up for it... though not easy but manageable. 



I like the way the handles were decorated.  Basically adding a strip of fabric to the webbing.   

2 front pockets, 2 side pockets, 2 pockets inside.

BTW, thinking to send my NV50 to LSN for service. The calendar they sent me has a coupon for home sewing machine service at RM9 for this month!   If you have the calendar, you may want to check out what promotions are available throughout the year.


Bye now and have a good weekend,
Anic

Bag Project 12 - Waterproof Fabric Doctor Frame Bag

I sewed this with the tutorial provided by Florence Lui  (http://myhandmadepatchwork.blogspot.com/) in the virtual classroom organised by Potato House.

The tutorial I followed is only provided to participants, however, a similar  tutorial is available on the internet: http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/fannysun1209/article?mid=19679&prev=19831&next=19525

These are the frames I bought from Florence.    Look simple but they are great...

I like the bag opens up wide and stands well (due to the waterproof fabric). 

I thought I need to use Teflon foot but I managed to sew it with normal foot...   

To sew this waterproof fabric, we have to be careful not to make mistake as unpick will leave holes, jangan main main.. :)

There are differences between oil cloth & laminated fabric...  I don't know which one is the one I am using...  See Sue's explanation here:
http://mybotang.blogspot.com/2011/05/oil-cloth-vs-laminated-cotton.html

Tips about sewing oilcloth (laminated fabric same same) here:
http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/2007/01/oilcloth-tips/

In my view key points are:
1) Don't make mistake :)  Unpick will leave holes.

2) The foot must be able to glide on the material, you can achieve this with Teflon foot, but there are also other methods mentioned in the sewmamasew article.  For the waterproof material I used,  I didn't find problem though using the normal foot.

3) Use 16 or even bigger needles (check that after you sew, the stitch is not loose like below.  If it is loose, then use needle size 18.)

Bye now,
Anic

Bag Project 11

This is my Jan 2012 Alice Peng sew along homework..    :)

Notes:
1) Needle size 18 works really well for the thickness...  though I learnt this sometime ago but due to laziness, sometimes I don't change the needle.

2) I used  Plastic sheet to trace the pattern and clover seam allowance tool to add seam this time.  A lot easier and the size of the bag is more accurate.

See here for self explanatory pictures about the tool:
http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/enen-diy/article?mid=22164&prev=25647&next=6811&l=f&fid=28&sc=1

Useful notes from Alice Peng about sewing bags but in Mandarin though:
http://alicepeng5801.pixnet.net/blog/post/60613017

Bye now..
Anic

Bag Project 10 - Messenger Bag

Dec sew along project with  Alice Peng.

Don't have tutorial to share for the above...  but found some nice ones online:

1)  Messenger Bag with Zip Top Closure - Heart of Mary

http://pinoyinoz.blogspot.com/2008/07/tutorial-messenger-bag-with-zip-top.html

2)  The basic messenger bag by mmmcraft

http://mmmcrafts.blogspot.com/2009/06/basic-messenger-bag.html

3)  Mini Fold Over Messenger Bag Tutorial by Ali Foster 

http://www.u-createcrafts.com/2010/05/creative-guest-ali-foster-patterns-mini.html

4) Pick a bag pattern!  so many..

http://craftstew.com/sewing/pick-a-free-bag-pattern

5) 45 Awesome free bag making tutorials... 

http://frugalandthriving.com.au/2009/45-awesome-free-bag-making-tutorials/

Happy a good weekend and happy new year...

Anic

Bag Project 9 - Lunch Bag 4

I completed another lunch bag (do I really need another lunch bag? :) ),  homework of a Sew Along group I participated.  The host of the sew along is Taiwanese Author  Alice Peng.  She is author of 2 Mandarin bag making books .   I was able to participate in the sew along due to the effort of Jess See from Potato House, a big thank you to her..

The pattern came from Alice Peng's book.    Due to copyright, I can't share it here.

If you would like to sew one,  try Pink Penguin's lunch bag tutorial.  I have made three other lunch bags based on that.

The curves at the handle were not sewn smoothly.   I didn't clip the curves enough..  :(
These are very nice tutorials about making smooth curves:
   1) http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2010/08/sewing-tips-clipping-corners-and-curves.html
   2) http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2011/02/tips-and-tricks-for-sewing-curves.html
   3) http://craftapple.wordpress.com/2010/10/05/sewing-tip-sewing-curves/

A good tutorial showing how to sew the drawstring piece:
http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/nhy678/article?mid=1133

Bye now and have a good weekend,
Anic