Tech Tote

I recently saw a tech tote online. It was really functional (which I love), but really ugly. Plain, Boring. So I went to work designing my own. I had to marry my math skills with some patience to get it done, but here's a video of it. I'm tweaking the design/pattern - just moving the long strap to the back of the bag for better stability. I developed a zipper technique so there are no raw seams. It looks more complicated than it really is. And yes, I may have gone a little crazy for pink. I needed something bright. I live in upstate NY and haven't see sunshine in days!

And if you are wondering, I did pass my college broadcasting classes, but a lot has changed in 25 years! Hahaha. And I eventually ditched that major for speech communication...

Hope you like the bag. I have no idea when I'll get the pattern done and posted. I'm in gift-making mode!

Smartphone Wallet eXtra

YAY! I've been working on this pattern for a week! I updated my smartphone wallet by making it a bit bigger and wider. Even my HUGE phone (thanks to a big, fat case) fits inside along with all my loyalty cards and insurance info!

You can purchase this PDF pattern in my Craftsy Pattern Shop and in my Etsy Shop!

Smartphone Wallet eXtra

I started making smartphone wallets over a year ago. One of the first ones was a gift for a friend of mine. Recently, I went to visit her...and to say that her wallet was a dirty mess is an understatement. She told me that she loved it and used it all the time...yeah, I could tell. The constant open/close/open/close broke the zipper pull right off.

Upon closer inspection, I saw part of the problem. I designed the smartphone wallet for someone like me - a light traveler. It wasn't made to hold a lot of things like loyalty cards, receipts, and credit cards. Her smartphone wallet was PACKED...so packed that I'm amazed that the zipper even closed. 

But it got me thinking. I wanted to make her another one...one that wasn't so thin...one that had more room to stuff things in. When I returned home, I got to work. The first one I made was a PAIN. I created a 1.5" zippered gusset. It was cumbersome to sew together and there were raw seams on the inside. I tried to wrap bias tape around the edges but gave up and ripped it out. My next attempt involved encasing the raw edges with a simple zig-zag stitch. That worked... but it looked UGLY. 

I almost gave up. But something happened that really (and I mean REALLY) angered and frustrated me. Rather than let it get to me, I became incredibly motivated to figure out how to make THIS work - without any raw edges and binding. I channeled my mom and my inner-engineer. And then applied some in-the-hoop embroidery techniques.

After one practice wallet (made out of muslin), I ended up with this. It's 7" x 5" x 1" - on the outside, it's the same as my other smartphone wallet. But you can see here, it's got a 1" zippered gusset.

The inside has one zippered pockets, one zippered pouch (that's attached at the bottom), and a divided pocket for loyalty cards, credit cards....

There is PLENTY of room in here, so the next one I make will have another zippered pouch...or maybe another divided pocket. I might put a divided pocket on the side with the zipper....she has a lot of stuff. 

She asked that I keep the smartphone pocket on the back. I still have to add the eyelet. 















 


This is what it will look like....

In my excitement, I messed up the zipper. Really, though, it was the least of my concerns....I just wanted to get it done and see if it worked!


There are no raw edges. None. =) And sewing it together is actually quite simple!



I'm off to mow my lawn (the sun FINALLY came out)...but then I'm back to sewing! I plan on using this one as model when I make the next one! Once I get the techniques perfected, I'll get a pattern written up! YAY!

Here's an update on the wallet.

Smartphone Stadium Wallet

One of my friends is a BIG sports fan. She recently moved back to her home state of Michigan to teach (at my alma mater!). She's a Michigan State alum and I know that she'll be going to some Michigan State athletic events. I recently learned that gone are the days of bringing big bags into arenas and stadiums, so I whipped up this little wallet so she can show her Spartan Spirit!

I made the phone pocket out of Michigan State fabric, but made the back of the wallet out of some fun tangerine/gold confetti fabric! She's got a fun personality, so I picket fabric accordingly!

The inside is simple - one zippered pocket and slots for credit card, i.d., etc. She travels light!




Would you like to make one? You can purchase the pattern in my Craftsy Pattern Shop!

Making A Strap Quick Tip!

I've been fine-tuning my pattern for this smartphone+ wristlet. The pattern I started with has morphed into 15 pages because I added different pocket options. It seems like it's taking forever to get this thing written! And daylight saving time, although nice, cut an hour out of my Sunday!

Once I get a pattern drafted, I go through it step-by-step. This one (for my nephew's girlfriend) included a combination of all my ideas. As I made it, I corrected and added to the existing pattern. It's done, so now I will print out the entire document and make one more. I've become quite an expert at making these! 

Here's a quick top. There is a strap on this wristlet. To make it, I needed to fold the end of the strap fabric back 1/2". So rather than guess, on the right side, I drew a line that is 1/2" from the end. 

I then flipped the fabric over, folded it at the line, and pressed!                                   That's my simple tip of the day!

UPDATED: The pattern is now available in my CRAFTSY PATTERN SHOP!

Smartphone+ Part Deux!

Yesterday I posted my final smartphone project. A reader commented about adding a pocket to make the phone more secure. It got me thinking -- my phone is thin but not all phones are. Last week I was meeting with my tax preparer (not my favorite thing to do) and I noticed that she was eyeing my wristlet. We started talking about our love for all things portable and she showed me what she used. Her little zippered bag was cute but she couldn't carry her phone in it.

Today I went to breakfast with a friend and after some stimulating conversation, came home and went to work on amending this pattern. I had to work around two issues: 1) the pocket had to be on the outside and 2) the phone had to be easily accessible but secure. This is what I came up with:

I love this pocket but struggled to come up with a way to keep the phone from falling out. I considered velcro -- but I HATE velcro and try to avoid it at all costs. I sewed the pocket on before I thought through it, so I was kind of stuck. I starting digging in my little hardware cabinet and came up with a grommet, toggle, and twill tape.

It turned out! I might replace the grommet with a buttonhole when I make the next one. I worry about the grommet scratching the glass (but hey...it's Gorilla Glass, so it really shouldn't scratch!).





 






It's still thin.

And here you can see how I attached the twill tape! YAY! I'll be taking my pattern out of my Craftsy Pattern Shop to update it.

Smartphone+ Wristlet Pattern

I've been working on this pattern for a week and FINALLY got it done. 

Here are all my practice wristlets. I wrote up the pattern while making one (the multi-colored one). Then made changes and made another (the blue Kaffe Fasset one). Then tweaked (the black and turquoise one). Then printed my final pattern and made one following the directions EXACTLY (the hockey one).

It has two exterior zippered pockets (one on each side).

The inside has eight pockets for ID, credit cards, loyalty cards, whatever.

This is designed for people who travel light - it's small and thin. 

The outside closes with what I call a 'Round About Zipper. This was the challenge part: (1) figure out how to do it and (2) figure out how to tell YOU to do it! Doing it is easy; writing directions is not-so-easy!

The final size is 6 1/2" x 4 3/4'" x 1/2" - my big smartphone zips inside.

FYI - I made these with both TALON and YKK zippers. I prefer YKK - they are easier to open and close.

Once you get the hang of the zipper, it's quite easy! I used a lot of painter's tape to hold it together while I sewed it in. The pattern includes this zipper tutorial with full-color pictures.

PURCHASE this pattern for only $4.50 in my CRAFTSY PATTERN SHOP!

Smartphone+ Wristlet

Last month my friend Tanya reminded me for about the fourth time that she needed a new wristlet for her iPhone. I wanted to help her but I thought it was really beyond what I could do...that zipper...that goes around three sides? Ugh. A little more than my brain was willing to tackle.

But last night something happened. Maybe it was a spark of confidence...maybe over-confidence. Who knows. Nonetheless, I sat down and attempted to figure out how to make her a wristlet. I started searching online for some assistance but came up empty. I couldn't find any patterns that included a zipper that was on more than one side of the pouch. I did, however, find some other patterns and tutorials that got me thinking and problem-solving. 

I started working on the prototype at about 8pm; finished that about an hour later, the went to work on the first draft. I sewed until 10 pm and, although it killed me, I went to bed (5:30am comes a little too quickly). I got up, went to work, came home, and finished it!

So here it is. And the zipper wasn't too difficult.

It's 6 1/2" long and 4 3/4" tall. I put zippered pockets on each side.

Here's the bigger pocket.

Here it is partially unzipped.

I decided to replace the pocket on the left with more card slots and maybe a little tube pocket for lip balm. 

This pattern will take me a while to write up...but stay tuned!

Zippers 101: Cosmetic Bags!

When I was making purses, I had a lot of requests for zippered bags. Yikes! Then my wonderful friend Caitlin sent me a tutorial on how to make a zippered pocket. I adjusted the placement of the zipper and changed the technique for a cosmetic bag. So please follow along!

First, go to my Craftsy Pattern Store and download the Zippered Cosmetic Bag Pattern AND the two FREE tutorials: How To Make A Zipper Template and How to Insert an Exposed Zipper.

4. Place template on fused fabric.

1. Cut fabric to the size you desire.  
2. Fuse fusible fleece to the back of the exterior piece of fabric - following manufacturer's directions. Fusible fleece works best. It makes zipper installation a lot easier. 
3. Get zipper template. 
4. Place fused exterior fabric (with fusible fleece right side up) on a cutting mat, lining it up on the corner of mat.  
5. Place template on top (this is a 12" x 14" piece of fabric) and center it. 
6. Draw around the opening in your template - creating a small rectangle. 
7. Get lining fabric and place exterior fabric and lining fabric RST! 
8. Head to your sewing machine. 
9. With fabric together, sew ON THE LINE you just drew. Go all the way around the rectangle. Pivot at the corners. Take your time. 
10. Slice the opening as shown - I use a rotary cutter and scissors. 

 ARE YOU READY!?

Pull the LINING fabric through the slice you just created. I promise...it will start to make sense!









 
 

Straighten and work with fabric. The lining and exterior fabric will now be wrong sides together. 

I like a little bit of the lining fabric to show around the opening. The lining fabric will not be perfectly flat! It will pucker around the corners. Press flat. 

TIP: I put it right side up, then reach under and straighten out the lining fabric...and press.










 
Head back to your machine with your zipper and cosmetic bag. Sew around zipper once. Then stitch in the ditch. You'll find more detailed instructions in my free tutorial in my Craftsy Pattern Store.

BTW, you can see the cute lining fabric around the zipper. It looks like it's piping!

You will have to fiddle with the zipper pull when you are sewing in the zipper. You can see the installed zipper here:

Here is the zipper from the back/inside of the cosmetic bag.

















When you are done, you can go ahead and make your cosmetic bag!

DONE!

4/12/2012 - Be sure to check out my Jewelry Wallet pattern at Craftsy. It uses the same technique!