Quilted Sunglasses Case

 It's the August edition of Tuesday Threads with Karen.

 I've sewn a few larger projects for my sewing room over the last few months, so I decided that it was time for something quick & easy... and more of a personal item.  Here is my attempt of a quilted sunglasses case that I found on Pinterest (here):

 I started out by drawing out my pattern on a piece of paper, metric & standard measurements as shown:

 I cut the pattern out of two different fabrics from the Shop Hop collection designed by Ai owner/illustrator, Bonnie Krebs - available through Henry Glass Co.  I also cut a slightly larger piece of Therm O Web's Heat 'n Bond High Loft Fusible Fleece that I sandwiched between the two fabrics.

 I taught myself how to do a "stippling" pattern of free motion quilting with my sewing machine - which is an irregular squiggle pattern that you create by twisting and turning the piece to be quilted, as you sew.  I didn't have the right presser foot for my sewing machine, so I did the best that I could with my regular foot.  Here's a better shot so that you get the idea:

 I sewed a contrasting colour of bias tape around the perimeter of my shape, adding in a loop that will hold the case together when it's finished.  I flipped it over and hand sewed the bias tape on the underside for a clean finish.

 I folded the sides together as shown below, and stitched across them, about 2cm (3/4") in from each point.  When you turn the case right side out, these form little square bottom corners that give the case some shape, and allow it to sit upright.

I slip stitched the side edges of the bias tape together, and anchored the opening with a whip stitch to secure the ends - this will keep the glasses snug inside the case:

 And finally, I sewed a button on that will keep the case shut when the loop of bias tape is secured over it:

 This was so fun to sew!  It makes a great afternoon project, and would be a great gift for a Girlfriend.

Happy Sewing everyone!

Sewing Machine Cover

Hello Ai Sewing fans!

 It's the July edition of Tuesday Threads... and if you remember last month, I made a quilted mat for my sewing machine to sit on.  This month I have the matching sewing machine cover to share with you!

 I'm using the wonderful Shop Hop fabrics designed by Art Impressions owner/illustrator, Bonnie Krebs - available through Henry Glass Company.

 I designed my cover partially based on a few ideas that I found on Pinterest, but I also wanted it to coordinate with the sewing machine mat, and the needle case I'd made a few months ago.  I really love the sewing notion print that I used for the front and back - so I wanted it to be the main focus.  To make it easy to assemble, I designed it with two identical side panels that I sewed up the sides, pivoted and sewed them along the top.  Two small rectangular pieces formed the top opening for the handle.  I fused the backside of all the pieces with a lightweight, fusible tricot interfacing from Therm O Web.

I used my Cricut to cut a heart template that I traced onto the pink floral print, and then I traced it onto Therm O Web's Heat n Bond Lite - a fusible adhesive that I fused onto the back of the heart, peeled off the backing, and then fused it onto the side panel.

 I  made a double pocket on the side panel in a contrasting fabric that can hold a few extra notions to keep my sewing table tidy.  I centered the heart just above the pocket.

 I used some pink embroidery floss to hand sew a blanket stitch around the outside of the heart to finish off the raw edges.

 Here you can see the top of the cover.  Each of the side panels ended with about a 5" gap at the very top.  I added the two side pieces underneath them, leaving a one inch opening for a sewing machine handle to pop through making it easy to carry the machine with the cover on.  I finished up by sewing some blue 1/4" bias binding around the bottom edge.

 Since I created the pattern myself, there was a bit of trial & error with this project!  After assembling it, it quickly became apparent that the interfacing that I'd fused onto all the pieces was not providing enough body to have the cover stand on it's own, or to retain it's shape.  So I took the whole project apart, and Therm O Web came to my rescue!  I used their High Loft Fusible Fleece on the front and back panels, and diagonally quilted them with 2" squares like I did for my sewing mat.  I fused pieces of medium weight non-woven interfacing onto the two side panels, right over top of the tricot I used initially.  The difference was night and day, and I am SO much happier with the end result.  Happy sewing, everyone!

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Tuesday Threads With Karen

 

I've been busy in my sewing room again... this time I've made a sewing machine mat.  I've used the Shop Hop fabrics designed by Art Impressions creator Bonnie Krebs, that are available through Henry Glass Co.

Crafting can be a messy business!  So anything that can help me stay tidy & organized is a plus - and if it makes my craft room prettier?  Even better!

 I had seen ideas like this on Pinterest, so I decided to design my own, and really wanted it to feature the fabulous "sewing notion" pattern that comes in the collection:

The finished mat is 19" square, large enough for my machine to sit on it comfortably, and the front portion that hangs down is 7" deep.  The pink print is the backing, so after sewing the front pieces together, I cut two separate pieces of Therm O Web's High Loft Fusible Fleece (love this stuff!).  *This was key to getting the mat to fold cleanly along the seam when it sits on my sewing desk, allowing the mat to bend easily, and I quilted "in the ditch" of the seam which also helped.

After fusing the fleece to my fabrics (this is such a plus, as the fleece doesn't move around at all while you quilt)... I used my high-tech quilting method to diagonally quilt the entire piece, forming 2" squares.

A few months ago (January?) I did a post about fabric boxes... I used the exact same method to make a thread/scrap catcher to attach to the mat.  It's pretty small - only about 5" high, and I fused the inside with Therm O Web's Fusible Tricot Medium Weight Interfacing to give it some body.  I sewed it onto the left front of the mat, and added a triple pocket onto the left side, that will hold sewing notions.

I finished the edge off with some contrasting bias tape, and set up my new sewing mat!!

I'll be back next month with a matching project!

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Tuesday Threads with Karen

 

I am posting a sewing project on the Art Impressions blog today!   I've had a creative long weekend, gardening, card making and sewing up several projects.  I have one of them to share with you today.  When I first saw the wonderful Shop Hop fabrics designed by Bonnie Krebs, I had the idea to make a fabric bunting to show off all of the different prints in the collection.  And while I've only used ten of the fabrics (there are 18 in the collection!), you get the idea of how pretty these are.

 I have a large shelving unit in my craft room that is right behind where I stand at my drafting table, with all of my supplies on it.  It was looking a little blah... so the bright Shop Hop fabrics will jazz it up a little.

 I drew my pennant shape on a piece of paper (each pennant is 6" x 9") and added a 1/4" seam allowance.  Then I cut two of them out of each fabric, and one of a medium weight fusible interfacing that I ironed onto the backside of one of each print.

I sewed a 1/4" seam on the two long sides of each pennant, turned them inside out and ironed them flat.  The Therm O Web medium weight fusible tricot interfacing gives them the perfect amount of body to hang nicely:

I kept an inch of space between each pennant, and sewed them all onto an 8 foot length of turquoise seam binding.  I cut a bunch of 1" x 6" strips of the different fabrics and tied them along the bunting between each pennant.

The Art Impressions Shop Hop fabrics are available through Henry Glass & Co. - happy sewing everyone!

Tuesday Threads with Karen - Sleep Mask!

 

I've been sewing again... this month, I'm sharing a sleep mask!  And of course, I knew that Art Impressions had this wonderful image in the Pamper Yourself set (AiCS31)... so I made a matching card.

I adore quick and easy gift projects, and this one is no exception, the whole thing came together in under an hour.  I'm using the Art Impressions Shop Hop fabrics designed by Bonnie Krebs, available through Henry Glass Co.

I started with a sheet of paper folded in half, sketched out what I wanted the mask to look like, then added a 1/4" seam allowance to make my pattern.  I picked two of the patterns from the fabric collection, and cut out the mask shape.  I cut a piece of Therm O Web's Heat n Bond Fusible Fleece just a little larger.

 I pinned a length of eyelet lace around the mask, so that it would get sandwiched between the layers when I sewed them all together.  I cut a piece of 1/4" elastic long enough to fit around my head when it's attached to the mask, cut a piece of pink seam binding about 6" longer, and threaded the elastic through it to form the strap.

I left a 2" opening when I sewed the front and back together, to be able to turn it inside out, and then slip stitched it shut with a needle & thread.  And there you have it!  Here is what the reverse looks like (the mask is reversible!):

And here is a closer look at my card:

I hope you have time to do a little sewing, and if you do - try making a sleep mask!

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