Running With Scissors, Patterns by Annie

I used one of Annie Unrein's (Patterns by Annie) newest patterns:
Running With Scissors to sew this useful case.

The name of the pattern itself is clever,

but the assembly instructions for this one

are some of the most clever from any of the Patterns by Annie.

I started by quilting my main fabric, Soft and Stable,

and lining fabric together using my Block Rockit quilting machine.

BTW, I have my 14" Block Rockit on a 5 foot frame.

In my opinion, that is the perfect set up for a bag maker such as myself.

The cotton quilting fabric that I use is 44/45 inches wide,

which fits perfect on the 5 foot frame.

Also, I don't ordinarily quilt large quilts, just lap size,

so my set up stays this way all the time.

I prefer to quilt my fabrics and soft and stable all in one large piece

because cutting of all the components of the bag goes very quickly

after the fabric is all quilted.

Patterns by Annie usually follow a general set of steps.

In case you missed it, click here for my blog post on those steps.

There is an updated method of sewing the handle and "spine" support for this pattern.

It is different from other By Annie patterns that I have sewn in the past.

I really, really like the new method.

It helps keeps the top of the bag from bowing when it is filled with your supplies.

Speaking of supplies, you can fit a plethora of sewing supplies
(or whatever type of supplies you plan to carry) in this handy case.

The interior of the spine features fold-over elastic bands to hold items such as spools of thread.

And there are numerous slots and zippered pockets (vinyl, mesh, and quilted fabric).

Another plus about this pattern, is that the construction is done flat.  

← Interior

Exterior→

The zipper does not go in until the interior and exterior have been completed.

After the zipper and zipper tab are done,

the binding is added and that is the last step.

Here is what I have to say about the zipper and tab:
1.  After inserting the zipper, cut it the length instructed in the pattern,
then, if it is too long for your taste, cut a little off at a time until it is the length you wish
(for my personal taste, this zipper tail is too long, so I plan to cut it down by about half).
2.  Add a metal zipper end for a more professional touch:
Gather your zipper end supplies and mark the length of your zipper

Cut the zipper along your marked line (DO NOT use your good fabric scissors)

Roll the sides of the zipper toward the center on the wrong side of the zipper

Use a dab of glue for added security
(my favorite is Guterman HT2, available on Amazon)

Push the zipper down into the zipper end as far as it will go
and allow the glue to set for about 30 minutes

Add the teeny, tiny little screw that comes with the zipper cord end,
and tighten it down with a teeny, tiny screwdriver

Here's what it looks like on the top side

In case you haven't had enough of my ramblings,
here's a video to give you a closer look at my tool case:

Thank you so much for reading my blog.
Have a terrific time sewing your own tool case.

New Products

Hello Sewers!

I have exciting news.

I am adding items to my shop from none other than Riley Blake Designs.

I'm so excited to be able to add fabric choices to complement

the great pattern and hardware selections that I currently carry.

I'm curious to know how you select your fabric for your

handbags, totes, and accessory projects.

Please leave a comment below, or contact me via email.

I want to supply products that 'baggers' want.

A huge benefit to living near Christensen Wholesale is that I can shop

in person for great items to offer my customers.

To see some of the new items that I am adding,

click on the video below:

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks so much for reading my blog.

Don't forget to leave a comment below.

Sew House Seven Toaster Sweater

It is challenging for me to find a comfortable, well-fitting sweatshirt in ready to wear.

The Toaster Sweater pattern by Sew House Seven fills that void in my winter wardrobe.

The style lines are such that it is comfortable without being overly bulky.

I like that it is semi-fitted, which is hard to find in a ready to wear sweatshirt.

The self fabric ribbing panel at the bottom helps the shirt stay in place,

which is necessary because this top falls just at or below the hip bones.

The funnel neck can be worn up as shown in this photo,

it can be "slouched",

or it can be doubled over itself.

I like having options.

With the extra long cuff on the sleeves,

I can wear them long (over my hand just past my wrist) on those chilly days;

or I can easily push up the sleeves and they stay up.

The pattern features dolman sleeves, which make the sweatshirt extra comfortable.

The forest green hemp French terry fabric from Fancy Tiger Crafts

is a perfect pairing with this pattern.

I'm anxious to sew up another Toaster Sweater in some stretch velour in taupe/cream

that I just ordered from StyleMaker Fabrics.

I stitched the entire sweater on my Baby Lock Serger, no sewing machine required.

(If you don't have cover hem capabilities on your serger,

you will need to use a sewing machine for the topstitching.)

Thank you for visiting.

Please leave a comment about your thoughts or questions.

I really enjoy hearing from my readers.

Have a blessed day.

City Zipper Tote

Hello, sewing friends!

Here's a versatile tote for so many purposes,

and all done up in patriotic summer colors.

The outer fabric, zipper flaps, and pocket fabric are True Blue by designer Ana Davis for Blend Fabrics.

The pattern is from Quilts Illustrated and it's called the City Zipper.

There are no outer pockets, but the inside is completely lined with pockets.

I used my Baby Lock Sashiko outfitted with my Baby Lock Ovation binder attachment to easily add the binding to the top of the pockets.

Then I used the fly stitch on my Bernina 750 to reinforce the top of each pocket section:

And would you look at the width of that bag!

This one finished up at the exact measurements indicated on the pattern:

22" wide x 11" tall x 7" deep

That's one wide mouth bag!

Here's a top view with the zipper closed.

I used a 40" by Annie double pull handbag zipper in Atom Red

and cut it down to size after I sewed it into the zipper flaps.

That way, I still have enough of my red zipper to use for another project.

For extra durability in the handles, I used navy leather for the tabs:

If you are going to use leather, just be advised:  it's a pain in the rear because the tabs are folded to enclose all raw edges, then they are layered between the interfaced lining, two layers of interfaced zipper flap fabric, and the Soft and Stable quilted outer fabric layer.

I lost count of how many needles I broke stitching those tabs.  They were worth it though.

They're so pretty and strong, and professional looking.  Yay!

The pattern instructs you to use fusible batting to give the bag some body,

but I sure do like a structured tote, so I chose to use by Annie Soft and Stable.

Yes, that made sewing the tote more of a challenge, but it stands at attention,

and that makes it easy to locate what you're looking for inside that expanse of a bag.

The bottom of the bag would tend to hang low if you fill it to the brim, or if you carry

heavy items, so the instructions suggest firming up the bottom.

(Hmmmm, I initially thought that was directed at me,

but realized all the patterns are printed the same.)

The pattern suggestion is to use picture framing cardboard cut to the dimensions

of the bag bottom, inserted in a sewn sleeve, and dropped into the bottom of the bag.

I decided I wanted and even firmer bottom (heh, heh, don't we all?)

so I enlisted hubby to help me experiment with making my own custom acrylic board.

This is what I purchased from Home Depot:

Now, how to cut that acrylic?  That's where hubby's services were enlisted (coerced, perhaps).

He surmised a regular blade on his table saw would perhaps melt the acrylic, or crack it,

so at Harbor Freight, we purchased this inexpensive (under $6) blade specifically for cutting plastic:

Perfect!  It made a beautiful cut.

Now all we (he) had left to do was lightly sand the rough cut edge,

and of course, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, she also wants the corners rounded.

So he used a small power sander to do the job:

What a guy!

Here's the finished piece laying on top of the lining fabric that I used for the sleeve:

Instead of just laying my support piece in the bottom of the bag, I stitched one end and one side of the sleeve to the bottom of the bag lining before I attached the lining to the outer bag.

Then when I finished the tote, I simply slipped the acrylic support into the sleeve.

It was easy to slip it into the sleeve because one long edge and the open end of the sleeve were not stitched down flat to the bottom of the lining:

That acrylic base will not go anywhere, but it is still easy to remove should it become necessary:

Okay, load up your new tote with towels, bottle water, a good read, and sunscreen and head to the beach or the pool.  Your new City Zipper will hold it all.

You could also use it as a project bag for your crochet or knitting (yes, those long knitting needles will fit in here).

All those necessary baby and toddler items would also fit in here.  What a great gift for an expecting mommy.

Have fun daydreaming about how you are going to use this one as you are sewing it, or, as always,

the test sample is up for sale in my shop.

Thank you so much for spending some of your day here with me.

Accent Pillow with Sashiko Stitching

Pillow Front:  Fabric Line is American Jane Hop, Skip, Jump

Good Monday afternoon sewing friends.

I'm so very glad you stopped by today.

Here's a new, little accent pillow that I stitched up for my home.

Pillow Back

I'm swooning over that fabric.

Look close, those are paper doll images!!!

I purchased one of the little, 2 1/2 inch pre cut packs, a half yard of the red daisy print,

and 2 yards of the fabric with the paper doll images.

This 12 inch accent pillow only required a fat quarter of the backing fabric,

but I love the paper doll images so much I was compelled to buy 2 yards.

😉

I pieced 6 of the pre cut squares in each of six rows to make the pillow front.

Then I layered batting to the wrong side of the pieced front,

and used my new Baby Lock Sashiko machine to add hand-look quilting stitches.

The ruffle is made from 3 strips of 4 inch x WOF red daisy print strips

folded in half, wrong sides togher.

Using my Bernina ruffle foot (#86) (set to pull one ruffle every six stitches)

I sewed the ruffle to the right side of the pillow front while simultaneously ruffling the fabric.

Now on to the back side of the pillow.

For the closure, I used a zipper that was longer than I actually needed.

That's how I always choose my pillow zippers - it makes for a super easy zipper install.

I also cut my backing fabric slightly larger than needed - it will be trimmed away later.

After matching the raw edges of the backing fabric with the edge of the zipper,

right sides together, I used my zipper foot to stitch the fabric to the zipper.

Then I opened up the backing fabric and pressed along my stitch line.

Instead of a straight stitch to topstitch the fabric to the zipper tape, I like to use a decorative stitch.

The stitch number is 1359 on my Bernina.

Then I stack all my layers together:

1.  Backing with zipper, right side up (open up the zipper a few inches)

2.  Pieced front and batting with ruffle attached around edge, right side down

3.  Muslin square - this gives me a lining to my pieced front

I basted all the layers together and turned it right side out

to make certain I did not catch the ruffle in the stitching,

which I did and I had to unpick my basting and sew two corners again!!!

Better to catch that now than in the final stitching.

Notice how my backing piece and zipper are larger than the pillow front.

At this point, I flipped it over so I could see the zipper.

I used my serger for the final seam,

so before serging I trimmed the zipper ends to reduce bulk.

That way the cutting blade does not dull so quickly

if it does not have to cut through those zipper teeth.

My serger gives the inside a nice, clean, finished edge

and helps keep the fabric from raveling in the wash.

Thank you for your visit today.

I look forward to hearing from you, so please leave a comment so I know you've been here.

Are you beginning to sew any home dec projects to transition to the new season?