Gathered Coin Pouch Tutorial with Templates

A family member requested a small coin pouch that could hold ID and credit cards and would look nice for putting into her purse at parties.  I felt that my usual coin pouches were too casual looking and I wanted something a little prettier since she said it was for dressing up.

I came across the gathered clutch tutorial by Noodlehead, I liked the look of the gathered fabric with a band across it, so I created my own pattern for a smaller coin purse.

I chose a large patterned floral fabric that I thought was suitable for a dressier look.  My family member seems to like her red purses, so I figured I would go with something with red in it while not being overpoweringly so.  Rather than have a different coloured band, I went with a band in the same fabric for a more subtle, dressier look.

The end result is rather appealing.  I added a satin ribbon in a matching bronze colour to dress it up a little more.

The back I left simple.  The fabric was pretty enough that I didn't feel the need to make it so complicated on both sides.

I created a tutorial with templates.  If you would like to make a gathered coin pouch of your own, you can download the pattern instantly from my store.  The pattern is 15 pages, has lots of photos, and has easy-to-follow instructions.

Happy Sewing!

xoxo

Christmas Sewing Projects - Christmas Trees

Christmas stuff is popping up everywhere now that Halloween is over.  Oh, Halloween, how I miss you already!  

But the good news is that soon my semester will be over and I can sew again.  In anticipation, I have been hoarding sewing patterns and ideas.  Check out some of the cool Christmas tree themed ones I found!

http://team-t-adventures.blogspot.ca/2010/12/festive-stuffed-christmas-trees.html

I saw a book in a quilt shop showing trees like this.  I wanted to get the book, but it seemed more practical to see if a free pattern was online  :D

http://www.thesewingdirectory.co.uk/fabric-christmas-tree-project/

I found not one, but two!  Yay!  Both of them look pretty good.  I might make my own design once I figure out what I want.  I think the top one is a tad too skinny and this one needs curlier boughs  :)

http://thesewingloftblog.com/2011/11/17/how-to-holiday-ornaments-quilted-trees/

This looks like a quick and easy ornament/gift to whip up!  I ordered a pair of pinking shears a while back so whenever those arrive... *evil maniacal laugh*

http://www.fleecefun.com/christmas-tree-pillow.html

I like how curly these branches are and how they are curved on the ends.  Maybe I could use this pattern to make the other trees?  Maybe I could make the branches a bit less skinny though...  Still, very cute!

http://relentlesstoil.typepad.com/relentlesstoil/2008/12/

Another easy ornament/gift idea!  I just need nice red fabric and cute ribbon.  I probably have lots in my fabric hoard  :D

http://thesewingloftblog.com/2011/11/24/how-to-holiday-ornaments-3d-shapes/

It has been a while since I used felt, but it used to be a regular with me.  I'm sure I still have lots in my collection.  You might too!

http://mypatchwork.wordpress.com/2011/11/18/patchwork-christmas-tree-softie/

Cute!  I like these little quilted cones!

http://moneysavingmom.com/2010/12/do-it-yourself-yoyo-christmas-tree.html

The link doesn't give you a pattern for this, but if you look up how to make fabric yo-yo's I think you'll see how this little tree might be made!

Alright, I better stop my Christmas gift-making dreaming.  Back to the homework!

If you have started your gift making, what are you planning to make this year?

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UPDATE 2016! - Here's a pattern that I ultimately drafted up after coming up with a Christmas tree design that I liked!  It looks pretty pro, eh?  You can buy the pattern and templates here.

My Fabric Stash from Patalier

If you think my life is all gloom and doom right now, that's not totally correct. Some good things DO happen, and here's one of them:

If you can believe it, ALL of that fabric came in the mail the other day. A neat box filled to the brim with fabric! The fabric on the bottom was expected, but ALL of those smaller pieces of fabric were unexpected.

I just want to send out a HUGE thank you to Patty from Patalier for sending me these wonderful vintage and new fabrics. I was sooooooo surprised when I opened the box. In fact, I was confused. "I don't remember ordering these..." I pulled the fabric strips out of the box and discovered the pretty vintage fabrics I had ordered underneath. When I realized that she had simply sent me the fabric strips as a gift to feed my fabric scrap obsession, I was really moved.

They look so pretty all stacked up on my dresser, and the fuzzy edges look soft and friendly.

They didn't actually arrive that way. They were perfect, crisp fabrics protected in clear plastic.

However, I had an incident where I became allergic to some of the fabrics sent to me from a shop owner that had pets, so I now insist on washing all of the fabrics sent to me before I work with them, whether they have pets or not. I figure that someone with allergies will appreciate this extra precautionary step because I have essentially "saved" them from getting allergic. That is, unless they are allergic to laundry detergent and fabric softener. I use only half a sheet of gentle fabric softener since I seem to be allergic to everything.
It's more work to wash all of the fabrics, and I have to trim all the edges afterwards to remove all the threads that become loosened. Perhaps Patty will cry when she sees that I have washed her perfect fabrics and made the edges fuzzy, but don't worry Patty, once I trim them all and iron them out, they shall look perfect once more. If it makes you feel any better, I used the gentle settings! :P Oh, and the fabric smelled wonderful when it arrived. If I wasn't so paranoid, I wouldn't have washed them so I could have preserved the scent.

Do you see the giant ball of threads that I have collected thus far? It looks too fascinating to throw away.

If you ever need an awesome quilt or pretty vintage fabrics, Patalier is a lovely shop to buy from.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

The Supplies Have Arrived!

Just when I thought life couldn't get any better (because the fabric scraps arrived from Fabric Flair), two packages arrived in the mail this morning. Yippeeeeeeeeee!

The fabric scraps I ordered from Overall Baby were crammed full of uber cute designs. Including HEDGEHOGS! Okay, if you know anything about me, you should know first and foremost that I love hedgehogs. Ever since having one as a pet in high school, life has never been the same again. Now it's hedgehog enthusiasm 24/7.Do you see how cute this is? There are even little green clovers and ladybugs on this fabric. I'm in heaven!

Zippers in a rainbow of colours also arrived from K and C Supplies.

Now I am all set to make pouches and other sewn goodies! The only catch, of course, is that I'm not quite done my first semester of nursing school yet. It's not over until final exams are done on the 14th of December. Arrghhh! That's so far away!

I better work REALLY hard so that I'll have time to play with all my new goodies.

Have a wonderful weekend!