Beach Bag Tutorial

It is finally warn enough here in Northern Ohio to think about the beach....or the pool. The shores of Lake Erie are not close enough nor enticing enough for me, but our nearby club pool has been  my summer hangout for a very long time. Once my kids got older and out of the house, I thought I had no excuse for idling in the sun, but then WATER AEROBICS came along and now I can justify four days a week to get healthy and slim (less chubby).

Of course, you need the right gear for any athletic endeavor and perhaps the most important is the carrier to get it all there. I completed my new beach/pool bag in time for the opening of the pool for Memorial Day weekend. As per usual in this part of the world, it was chilly and dismal. But this week the sun has shone and I got to fill it up and take it for a spin. If you would like to make one here's how.

 

The Beach Bag Tutorial

Choosing fabrics: I found a great coated fabric much lighter than oilcloth but water resistant to avoid stains and lined it with rip-stop nylon. Neither was a fabric I had sewn before, so I practiced a bit with it before starting. The stripe was sticky ( a friend suggested a Teflon presser foot…what will they think of next?) and the nylon was slippery. And pinning was prone to creating small holes, so not the type of project for a complete beginner. Another fabric choice would be much different.  I suggest a canvas or duck and wouldn’t this Graphics Fairy image look great?

MATERIALS:

      Outer fabric: 2 yards of 45” wide
       Lining: 2 yards of 45” wide
       Straps : 3 yards of webbing or similar. You could make fabric straps. I don’t give instructions for those.
CUTTING:

1.Cut 2 pieces 21” x 18” of each main fabric.  Cut 2 pieces 21” x 19”from lining fabric. The extra inch will provide a fold over binding.     Cut 2 pieces 21 x 13 from main fabric for pockets. Cut 2 pieces 21 X 14 from lining fabric. Again  the extra inch  will be for the fold over binding.

2.  Cut 2 pieces of medium weight interfacing 20 x 18 for the main body of the bag and 2 pieces of  the same interfacing 20 x 13 for the pocket.  The interfacing will not be as wide to avoid having extra layers in the side seams. It will go all the way to the top and bottom.

 

SEWING:

 1.With the interfacing on the wrong side of the main fabric, lay the main fabric and lining right sides together and sew along the top edge leaving a 3/8 inch seam allowance.   for both sides of the bag and also for each outer pocket. I know this pic shows a 1/2 inch but I now know 3/8 is better.

This is to show the layering

 

A 3/8 seam allowance is better
 

 

2. Open out the lining and main fabric (pic:#4) on each of the pieces and fold the lining fabric back over the wrong/interfacing side of the main fabric. This will leave the seam allowance covered by the lining fabric.

 

3. Stitch directly “in the ditch” down the front of the fabric. Try to keep any pins in the ditch as well, to avoid pinholes if using a coated fabric. Repeat this on the top edge of the remaining large piece and both pockets pieces.

 

#2

#3

4. Lay out the pocket on top of the main body of the bag and pin in place along seam allowances. Then lay out strap material over both, aligning the straps about 5.5 inches from the outside edge. This will create one large pocket and two smaller pockets. Use your judgment on placement and length. I tried to align mine with the repeat in the fabric stripe. I would have made them a little bit longer if I had more.  Mark where the lower edge of the strap will hit, lay the strap right side down, with the strap running off the bottom and sew across the bottom from the wrong side  Do this for all ends of the strap fabric being careful not to twist the straps. Then fold the straps back over the ends and lay them in place. Fold the main lining fabric up out of the way as you will not sew it down. You will leave the lining in place for the pocket material.

Stitching on the bottom underside of strap

 

Straps folded back over fabric pinned and ready to topstitch

 Using a thread that will blend or accent your straps, top stitch completely around the straps. In one step you will have attached the straps and sewn the pocket fabric to the main fabric leaving the lining and the top binding area free.

 EXTRA: I found something to add after using the bag. You may want to make a line of stitching across the width of each side of the bag where the straps end. I found that when the bag folds under to form the bottom that small things can drift into the bottom of the bag and are difficult to find and retrieve!!

 5. Lay the two side of the bag, right sides together and without catching in the interfacing or lining , stitch around the sides and the bottom.

 6.   Sew the lining pices right sides together down each side leave at least a 12” opeing at the bottom of the lining. You will have to pull the main part of the bag back through this opening. Repeat the same corner process on the lining

 

7. With the main fabric section of the bag inside out, fold out corners to create the bottom. (pic#11) Mark the fabric to line what will be the fold forming the  bottom of the bag with the ends of the straps. You will sew across the triangle you have formed and cut off the triangle.
 

 8.  Sew the lining pices right sides together down each side leave at least a 12” opeing at the bottom of the lining. You will have to pull the main part of the bag back through this opening.  Repeat the same corner process on the lining

 

8. Sew the lining pices right sides together down each side leave at least a 12” opeing at the bottom of the lining. You will have to pull the main part of the bag back through this opening. Repeat the same corner process on the lining as shown above.

 

 

9. With the bag inside out fold the interfacing over the shape of the bag and without stitching create a fold at the bottom but simply cut off the excess fabric. You want the support it provides without bulk in the seams. See pics below.

Corner of interfacing folded

 

AND clipped

 

YOU’RE ALMOST DONE!

 

10. Pull body of the bag back through the lining (sorry, no pic) Then with the lining still outside the bag fold under the seam allowances in the lining opening and stitch across the opening close to the edge. You could do this by hand for an invisible seam if you are OCD but I feel it is already invisible enough inside the bag!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11. I did not like the way the top of the side seams looked. And so as a final step I took a 2” x 3” scrap on each side and created a fold over “tab” to conceal it. You could make this out of either fabric or even the strap webbing. See below.

 

 

PLEASE LET ME NOW IF YOU LIKE OR USE THIS TUTORIAL. I welcome your thoughts. It took me longer to write this blog than to make the bag!

 

Getting Smarter with a Smartcover for my ipad

This week I worked on coming up with a way to create a better mousetrap ipad cover and I think I have achieved it. My old cover was getting grungy and the corners of the blue polywhatever stuff was coming unglued...SO I ripped it all apart. The blue looks even worse because I experimented with gluing fabric to it which was not very well done.

This time I decided to completely "upholster" the thing.

 

I used a sample fabric I had on hand and added The Graphics Fairy steam punk images. The fabric almost has a paper bag quality which adds to the masculinity of it, don't you think?  

 Wouldn't this make a great gift for Dad or a graduate? If you think so, step over to my Etsy shop where I am offering this at a bargain price.

        CherylThimbleFingers

 I knew I could do better and I did! I scored some brand new  ipad smartcovers at a great price and I snatched up as many as I could. The first taught me better ways to manage the fabrics and the hardware and here is the result. 

 

These covers are great but the choice of colors is not and Apple isn't in to offering any alternatives.

The "before" cover is bright green which is the color I chose over the bright blue experimental one. Because it is new, I did not have to dismantle it and got a much better result. Doing the visible seams and pinking the edges was a major improvement that allows the cover to lie flatter.  In case you are wondering, the smartcover works exactly the same way as uncovered. The ipad turns off and on and you open and close the cover and the magnatic hinge attaches exactly as in the original.

Lindbergh arrives in Paris...if the Spirit of St. Louis had been a biplane!

This one too, will be offered on my Etsy shop with more to follow as I complete them. I plan many different styles and colors.  What would be your choice?

Button, Button

Thimbles are "my thing". But with just a little encouragement I could be tempted to go overboard and start accumulating buttons. Not that I don't have a lot of buttons now. Here is my grandmother's-then-mother's button box.

 
 It used to be loaded with mostly old individual button that appeared to be cut from clothing before it was discarded. Not many were outstanding or interesting. Now I have thrown in an assortment of newer buttons on cards which are much more easily browsed instead of sifting to see how many like ones are in the mix.
More than the buttons, I love the metal round can itself. The basket-weavy looking surface is embossed into the metal and it has acquired many dings, dents and worn spots over the years. For so long, I had really ignored the picture and if someone had asked me what it was I wouldn't have been able to think of anything but the colors. Now I look at it with a more appreciation.

A few years ago my twenty-something daughter sifted through and pulled out most of the loose brightly colored buttons and proceeded to make herself a belt. She laboriously sewed each onto a heavy woven belting. It is a bit tricky to get it through belt loops on her jeans but not nearly so hard as the won she bought made with BOTTLE CAPS!

Recently an organization I joined had a program on The History of Buttons.




I think I was the only member who was waiting anxiously to see and hear this program as attendence was a little sparse. But those who did come ended up a won over when they got to see and handle some really unique and beautiful buttons. Button Down Designs  (click on the link to visit) owner had scads of historical examples made from bison horn to Bakelite. AND she makes bracelets of buttons that are really beautiful and unique and fun. 

I chose from this display
 

 

My daughter models my choice

 

All this button talk was the inspiration for a new handmade item in a totally different style for me. 

 

I had purchase several yards of a really nice upholstery weight linen a while back. A friend mentioned something called Zakka style which uses linen and I combined that with some GRAPHICS FAIRY button images and this is the result.

Visit my ETSY shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/CherylThimbleFingers to see more about it.

 

Mother's Influence and My Blog View



Mother's Day is today and I have been saving up until today to write about my mother. I have mentioned in previous posts that she is the source of my thimble collection and much of my enthusiasm for sewing. I have her sewing machine as a constant reminder of her devotion to me and her craft.

Brag Monday Viewers
Click here to see latest item created on this

 As my brother once stated  to a young friend, "My Mom can do anything".
My friends envied my clothes because she could replicate anything from the pages of Seventeen magazine. This picture of me with Mom and Dad is taken before my brother's wedding in 1964. Why we thought the driveway was an appropriate setting eludes me. Mom made my bridesmaid's dress and her dress. Dad had to go store bought.

Mom also made the bridal gown which must be a rare thing for a mother-in-law to be to create the bride's gown. I don't know if we kept it out of view of my brother. Two of the attendants can be seen in the background. We had brocade dresses in fall colors. My sister-in-laws dress had a lot of beautiful details that I do not have pictures of.

When I married in 1967 my self-designed dress was much simpler.
I can show you the details because I still have the dress although it was not well-preserved. The beautiful silk linen fabric has deteriorated to a crispy tan and the simple train is missing and I am a bit fuzzy on this but I think I am wearing the same veil and crown as my sister-in-law.

 

Here it is today. It doesn't fit this mannequin any better than it fits me!

The neckline is trimmed with tatting from a handkerchief made by a great aunt. Nice that it turned the same color as the fabric. I asked for all the pin-tucks. I always liked that detail which is repeated on the skirt. Mom covered every little button. I can't believe I EVER got into this.

Mom made dresses for numerous other bridesmaids and  even a wedding gown for a friend. She could also slip cover and upholster furniture and made draperies. She was completely self-taught until she took up smocking.  She did sign up for instructions on the process but turning the work into clothing was a breeze for her.



 This is my daughter who was a late in life child who came along when her brothers were in high school. Mom could really show her skills with a grand-daughter. All of the following dresses were made for her.

Here is my grand-daughter (child of eldest son) wearing one of her aunt's special dresses. She just turned two a month ago and it fit perfectly. I am saving them in case of a "direct descendant" from my daughter!

Computer to left of the tape dispenser. My serger sits on my drawing/cutting table.

 My Blog View

In response to my blogging British friend at Wolves In London I am posting a picture of the view from my sewing/blogging room. I like to refer to this messy space as the shop. I do not have a view of a gigantic cactus as "Wolves" had, but a mundane suburban view of the neighbor's house with all of it's vehicles. It is minus the net encased trampoline so far this year. It has a nice north light and lots of chances to see dog-walkers and kids on scooters and bikes. In place of a cactus I have a low-growing Japanese maple that I love to gaze at when it is in leaf. The curtains are gauzy so even if I want to have a bit of privacy, I can spy through them.

Amish Country Fabric Quest

 

Typical view of Amish farms

Living on the edge of Amish County in Ohio, I am not especially fascinated with it, but when it comes to fabrics on sale, I'm there. My sewing friend Susan suggested the excursion to the sale and since I got to ride while she drove it was even better. The day was absolutely gorgeous allowing from some nice photos as well.
When have you ever seen dandelions look so good?





Here is the final destination

Here is the reason

It had been a busy two days before we arrived

 

Cleverly displayed button sold by the scoop. These ladies were scrounging for certain colors. This is one of the fabrics to come home with me which will probably end up as an apron.

I also got some great toweling that I was quickly made up this morning using Graphics Fairy coffee pot images.

Check them out on my Etsy shop - click here

The Bargain Basement was also an extra 30% off
 

Just had to include this essence of spring in Ohio

This was taken from the car and severely cropped to take out a pole but if you have never been to Ohio Amish Country this is very typical. The baskets have become ubiqitous since they have been restricted from selling baked goods on the roadside. That's what I think, anyway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sailing, Sailing Over the Ocean Waves



 

Click here for details





 

Been away for awhile sailing the high seas. We went on our first cruise and so I am featuring two maritime inspired pillows. I made these long before the trip. Only been back a day and my sewing machine had a "spa treatment" while I was gone at Akron Sewing  Machine Center and I am picking her up this afternoon. Then it will be back to work.

 

I will be showing more about the trip on my travel blog Adventures with C&S soon. Stop by and take a look after April 30. Click on the pillow pictures to see them in my Etsy shop. They are available for you to buy for your yacht!!

Thank you to Karen the Graphics Fairy for the nautical images. Visit her at
http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/

Click here for details

"You, asked for it. You got it, Toyota",

Yes, I got one! My husband has maintained that he will only buy American but I got a Toyota....serger.

In a way I did "ask for it". I was at my exercise class explaining why I would miss an upcoming  class because of going to the Sewing Expo (see blog entry HERE). They are a caring group and worry if you are not there and it does help to motivate me to get there, as well. When I said I was going to be taking a beginner serger class because I was interested in buying one, a fellow exerciser asked if I would like to buy hers since she hadn't used it in ten years. She told me she couldn't remember the make, model and had no idea how much she wanted for it. She brought the information and came up with a $30 price. How could I go wrong? I got it home and fired it up and this is what it did.

I knew this wasn't good, but having no experience and fiddling with all these tension dials frightened me. After trying out a $4K model at the expo I knew it would be worth it to have it looked at by a professional. For $95 I got it all cleaned up and adjusted and received some good advice including "ditch the old thread". It was original to the machine when it was bought in 1991.

After adjustment

               

90% off is good

 

I used it in making the towels and potholders. You just can't see anything because the seams are hidden but it does a great job in keeping this rather loose weave fabric from fraying. The fan image is one of my favorites from THE GRAPHICS FAIRY and I added the text which I find amusing.
These are at my Etsy Shop, CherylThimbleFingers.
Thanks for visiting and stop by again in May when I will be posting once more.