easy tote bag {sewing} and sharpie-art

Ready for some sharpie-art fun? Great idea for the school holidays or a birthday party! I have included my easy-to-sew tote bag for you. Any questions, please ask! Pinterest Link Pin for later.

Goods needed:
:: light weight canvas
:: calico {pre-washed}
:: webbing tape
:: matching thread

 

cut x 1 from light weight canvas {patterned one in picture} 13.5inch by 14.5inch

cut x 1 from calico {pre-washed} 13.5inch by 14.5inch

cut x 2 from lightweight canvas 13.5inch by 2inch {facing}

cut x 2 60cm webbing tape

 

Lay webbing tape 3 inches from either end as in picture. Repeat for the calico piece.

  

Lay the facing right sides together, sandwiching the webbing tape in between. Pin in place.

Stitch seam making sure you catch the webbing tape.

{I used my overlocker/serger for all seams} 

Press seam.

 

Overlock/serge/zigzag the raw edge of the facing.

Repeat steps above for the calico piece.

Using the two pieces with right sides together, matching seams and facing open, sew around three sides leaving the top open.

(I forgot a photo of this step!)

Turn right way out.

Flip the facing to the inside and press. 

Stitch facing down all the way around. Finish off with optional press stud closure.

Now it is ready for that sharpie art!

 Place a piece of cardboard/folded newspaper/junkmail catalogues inside the bag to make sure the sharpies don't got through to the back fabric.

And away you go - have fun!

Once your design is completed, go over using a hot dry iron. Enjoy that tote!

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L. x

poppystreet: on the move

PoppyStreet is on the move.

 Not really, just out here in cyberspace. I will be posting via facebook as of this week. You can find me by clicking on the link below. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Click here for Facebook link.

Leanne

we are back!

I am dusting off the keyboard and looking at starting up the blog again, now that I am managing to spend time in the sewing room and a crochet hook occasionally in my hand. 

Last post was of the two beautiful elephants by stipenhaak, that were very enjoyable to work up. They were waiting patiently on the cradle for our new little addition to arrive. Well, the blue one gets to stay in the family. 

Back in June, we welcomed our not so little, Hudson Trace into our family. All was well, which we are thankful for. Hudson has settled into this busy family of 7 rather well and is smothered with love. 

 

Fast forward 5 months, and here he is.

But enough baby talk. I will be posting again soon, starting with another very nice amigurimi.

L.

Amigurumi Elephant {crochet}

It has been two months! Not really sure where that time has gone. I have been busy in the sewing room, enjoying the time I have in there as I know it will be limited in just over a months time.

One project, actually two, I have thoroughly enjoyed making since Easter are these elephants. Hanging out together in the cradle for the next 4 weeks to see which one will become a permanent resident in there*.

The pattern was purchased from the Stipenhaak website and it really was a well written pattern. The website is in dutch, but there is an option to translate the webpage into your language and also when you purchase the patterns, you can choose from a few languages. She also has a blog: Stipenhaak Blog with some trully beautiful pieces of amigurumi crochet.

I have used Bendigo Cotton 8 ply in Fawn for the body, head and trunk and some stripes.

All other colours are from the Moda Vera Mini Cotton range from Spotlight. I found this perfect as you only use a little bit especially doing stripes. 

Crochet hook: 2.75mm 

I have actually filled the main body with the craft pellets inside a material sack, to give the elephants some weight. The arms, legs, head and trunk are stuffed with polyfill.

 

What I loved about her blog, she has a video with a colouring changing tip. It is worth watching, and rewatching, and putting it into practice. I now enjoy doing striped amigurumi with out an steps at the colour change.

Here is a link to the video. Hopefully it works. 

Colour changing tip video.

*There will dv be one elephant left over. Here I am hoping my sister who is due 3 weeks after me has the opposite to us, and we can post off the remaining elephant. If not, its sure going to be hard to find a new home for it.

Blogspiration: miss foxy notebook cover {sewing}

Sharing a sewing tutorial for you today.

Tutorial link: fabric covered notebook
Pin it: fabric covered notebook

Remember that cute foxy material you caught a glimpse of last week? It made for a super cute notebook cover. I followed the tutorial link above as I liked the extra little pocket on the front for a pencil or pen. (I did leave off the elastic.)

Once you have the measurements sorted for your notebook size, it works up fairly easy and quickly and it really is a good, snug fit.

With an extra notebook ready to be slipped in when the other is full, makes for a perfect gift.

For another simple notebook cover, check this one out! They worked up quick and easy for all our APV's.

L.

Make it Monday: Straight sewing {pillowcases}

This Monday I share with you how to make pillowcases. This was the way my mum taught us. It is simple and quick - and straight sewing!

A few weeks ago it was a special girls birthday and I love to pass on something handmade if I can. This aunty knows that she loves - LOVES - nothing more then flannelette pillowcases all year round. A little bit bigger so there is some more to snuggle. Her bed covers are duck egg and pale pink. There wasn't a lot of choice local, and I didn't want to make any with baby prints all over it. She wouldn't thank me for that.

So the little birdie print was picked and whipped up along with a owl and chevron one.

These are quick and easy. I'll even let you know how I do it:

This is for the plain one. If you would like a contrast panel, add it to the short side making your finished short piece the same size as indicated below.

These are fairly standard sized pillowcases. If your pillow is bigger, allow for it in your cutting measurements.

Cut 1 37"x 20" and cut 1 31"x 20" 

(I have allowed 1/2" seam allowance unless stated)

**Tip: I like to use the selvedge along one short side of both pieces. Just a little less bulk in the hem if you like to sleep on the edge of your pillow.

Fold over an inch of one short side of both pieces  (in this case it is the selvedge) and press.

Stitch with a straight stitch.

Lay both pieces RST (right side together) and pin well.

Fold the longer piece back over top of the short piece and secure well with pins.

 **Make sure there are no pins caught up underneath that will make for a nasty surprise when stitching or overlocking.

Stitch a 1/2" seam allowance along the three sides - do not stitch the folded side. Zigzag or overlock the edges. 

Place your hands under the fold and turn the right way out. Press and your done.

Two more pillow case tutorials to have a peek at:

Little bit of Thyme - Pillow cases with french flair

Little Bit Funky - 10 minute pillow case.

L.

WIP Wednesday

5 WIP snippets for this Wednesday.

The sewing room is taking shape nicely and I have been able to enjoy spending little amounts of time here and there in the room. 

1. Hanging out with this cute foxy fabric was fun! Details up on blog soon.

2. A wee-skirt for a daughter. A zip, elastic and a hem to go. Will she ever grow out of her twirling skirts?

3. Hello bump. Good bye feet. Till we meet again. A miraculous WIP. Thankful all is going well.

4. As-you-go-stripey blanket still making progress. I had progressed further but then realised I had skipped one of the middle chevron rows. I do hate frogging. But if I had left it, I would see the mistake every time I would look at it.

5. 40 felt circles cut. Anyone up for guess what this WIP might be?

Linking up with Handmade and Home this week for WIP Wednesday. 

Go and have a sneak peek at her lovely cushions.

Make it Monday: Straight Sewing {mini bunting}

Mini bunting. Who doesn't like a bit of bunting?! 

And it is straight sewing.

Draw and cut out your triangular pattern from paper. My flag measured approx 9cm (long sides) and 7cm (top side) **tip: fold your paper in half, measure and cut.

Cut two pieces for each flag from your desired fabric. I used cotton scraps that I had available. Decide on the length of the bunting and how many flags you would like.

With right sides together, stitch the long sides, making sure you reverse stitch at beginning and end. Trim off point as shown. Turn each flag out the right way, using a blunt pointed object to push out the point (knitting needle).

Trim the top corners and threads and give a good press with your iron.

I used bias binding to join the flags together to form the bunting. Fold in half length ways, and press with your iron.

Lay out your flags in your desired pattern. I have made them touch, top corner to top corner. Insert them right up to the half way fold mark in the bias binding and pin firmly in place. (Photo below)

Straight stitch along the edge of the bias binding, making sure you catch the other side of the binding as well.  Give another press and it is ready to hang. 

Don't limit yourself to a small sized flag. The bigger your flag pattern, the larger your bunting!

Happy sewing. More straight sewing next monday.

L.