POST 500 The Give Away!!!

I first started this blog when we moved from Tennant Creek NT to SA. I wanted to stay in touch with my dear friends.

Tennant is one of those towns where your friends become your family. Everyone knows you and even if they don't like you, they put up with you, because you live there. Like a big extended family. It's the sort of place that if a family is in crisis the town will pitch in to help.

It's the place I met Peter, got married and birthed 5 of my 6 babies. It's a town that will always hold a special place in my heart as do the people.

The blog over the years has been my creative outlet. The place I record what I make and how I make it. The place I come to escape the madness of a home with 6 kids, escape my sorrows and grief, share my joys and happiness.

Through the blog I have made many friends across the world. I love reading other peoples blogs. They give me a glimpse into others lives and inspire me to create.

To all my blog friends I say, "Thank you for visiting, reading and posting comments and putting up with my bad grammar, punctuation and poor spelling."

The Give Away

Leave a comment on this post telling me about what blogging means to you. You have until Tuesday the 27th of January. I'll put all the names into the hat and have one of the kids draw the lucky winner.

The prize you ask? Well it's a mystery but it will be handmade by me :D

Michaels new Shorties .... post 499!

Wool from Suzanne at Suzanne's House of Wool
I couldn't resist this wool when I saw it on Ozebaby

I bought one of Susanne's Knitters Packs which includes a small amount of contrast wool.
I just love Susanne's wool. Perfect for soakers, longies and shorties.
The dye has never run on me and minimum piling too.

Here's my model. He wants to be a biker like his Uncle Shane.

I think he's dreaming of the Harley...

I've done 499 posts the next one will be 500. And in the tradition of the blog world it will be a give away.

Easy peasey pillowcase grocery bag

Pillowcase Grocery Bag

I have a lot of odd pillowcases in my linen cupboard and I thought this would be a good use for them. Here in SA we are going plastic bag free so I need grocery bags that I can reuse. i don't like the green bags in the supermarket. I question how 'green' they really are and they are not washable.

These pillowcase bags are green in many ways. They are washable and they use up something I no longer use. They are cheap to make, you can buy pillowcases in op-shops very cheaply. They are super strong being self lined.

These are simple to make. I made these three in less than an hour.

Requirements
1 pillowcase
thread
scissors
sewing machine

Turn your pillowcase inside out
Measure 24 inches up from the bottom and cut off the top of the pillowcase.
Keep the top fabric this will be your handles.

If you have any over lapped fabric then cut it away, but don't cut the side seams.
( you can cut this away before you cut the top off)

Turn the top of the pillowcase (the raw edge) down over the bottom part.
Until the raw edge is even with the base.
Notice in the photo this is turned down, like turning down a sock.

Fold over both sides 2.5 inches as in the photo above.

Stitch along the base using a straight stitch.
Becareful there are a lot of layers in there.
You need to finish the seam too I used a zig zag stitch to do this.
I would not recommend an overlocker to do this as there are too many layers and overlockers do not like bulk.

Turn the bag out and press the side gussets well.


Top stitch along the fold of the gussets. This helps the bag to maintain it's shape.

Now take the top scraps. These will make the handles.

You want the handles to be about 1.5 to 2 inches wide.
Fold in the raw edges and fold again as in the photos above.
Fold over the ends too, to neaten them
I'm not giving precise measurements here as it will depend on how much fabric you cut from the top of the pillowcase.
The length of the strap is the width of the pillowcase.
Take advantage of any finished edges you have and use then instead of folding in to neaten.

Top stitch around the the handles.

Stitch the handles onto the bag.
They are positioned either side of the gusset.
I used a box and half cross to attach mine.

Variations

• You may like your bag deeper than mine. If so don't cut the top off but use the whole pillowcase and a contrast fabric for the handles.
• If you like and have enough fabric you could add a pocket to the front of you bag to fold the bag into like I made on my other grocery bag tutorial. The blue bag above has a pocket added.

You are welcome to make and sell these bags.

Washable Lunch Bag Tutorial

I was inspired to design these after seeing the one Sara made on Crafty Mamas.

This is a great project for using up those odd fat quarters you have in your stash.
I have 5 children off to school so made 5 bags. As i am production sewing them I didn't take the time to embellish. You may want to try adding some embellishments to make yours special. Appliquing your child's name or a cute applique would look wonderful.

Requirements:

• 1/2m of fabric ( or 2 Australian Fat Quarters (20 inches by 22 inches) ..they are bigger than the American ones)
• 1/2m of wadding (or Australian Fat quarter)
• Thread
• A walking foot (optional but does make it easier)
• A snap press ( you can use a button but the snaps are so easy!) I got my snap Press from Snaps Australia and can highly recommend them.
  

Cutting:

• One Bag outer 16 inches by 22 inches
• One Lining 16 inches by 22 inches
• One wadding (I used cotton) 16 inches by 22 inches
  
• One Strip for the strap and closure 4 inches by 22 inches

(if making from fat quarters you cut 4 inches off the long edge, this will give you the strap and the bag piece.)

Here are my pieces cut and ready to go.
The orange is my outer the green my lining.

Start by making the straps.
Hot Dog fold your fabric to mark the center line
Then fold the sides into the center and over again
You now have four layers of fabric and the raw edges are enclosed.

Cut 6 inches off the strip.
This will be your closure tab.

Turn in the raw ends of each strip.
And top stitch all the way around both the tab and the strap.

You need to find where the center front of your bag will be
To do this fold the two shorter sides to meet, then fold again with the edges about an inch apart (this allows for the seam allowance).
Pin the tab into place as in the photo.

Baste the tab into place through the bag fabric and the wadding.
Treat the wadding and fabric as one fabric.
My wadding clung to my fabric so I did not bother to baste it.
You could use an iron on wadding if you prefer.

Layer your fabrics. Batting, outer and lining.
As in the photo above the outer and lining fabrics should be right sides together.

Stitch along the top of lining, wadding and bag outer.
Catching the tab in the seam.

Hot dog fold your lining and bag
Matching the seam.

Sew around the three sides leaving an opening for turning in the lining.

Put your hand in the opening in the lining and push out the base of your bag.
Be careful to make sure the fabric inside is not puckered.
Pinch out the corners and stitch across them about 1.5 inches from the point.
As shown in the photo above.

Turn the bag through the hole in the lining.
Top stitch the hole closed and push the lining into the bag.

Top stitch around the top of the bag.

Fold the bag until the tab reaches the base.
then turn the bag over and position the handle.

Pin the handle into place.

Sew the handle into place with a box and cross
Be careful not to sew through the front of the bag.
It can be tricky getting all those layers out of the way as you do this.

the last step is to apply your snaps.
One on the tab and one on the base of the bag.
You can sew a button onto the bag and work a buttonhole onto the tab if you prefer.
I put two snaps on this bag but only put one on the others I made.
There really isn't a need for more than one.

Here are my children's five bags ready for the new school year.

Other options you could consider:

• Using a nylon fabric as the lining
• Using the iron on vinyl to make a waterproof version

If you come across any errors in this pattern please let me know so I can edit them.
If you make a bag I'd love to see it.

You are welcome to make and sell these.