“Turnabout Patchwork. Simple quilts with a twist” is all about playing with blocks – making a block, slicing it up, and turning or repositioning the pieces to make a completely different block (sometimes two smaller blocks) to yield endless quilt tops.
This is my third iPad carry bag. I take my iPad with my all the time and the fabric just wears out.
The first iPad carry bag I made had a patchwork flap. The second one I used embroidery for. And this time I just made a quick one. I called it Tiffany because the charm squares are from a Moda fabric collection with the same name.
Materials
12 x 5 inch charm squares for the exterior
20 1/2 x 9 in fabric for the lining
2 pieces of batting measuring 21 1/2 x 10 in each
45 inch strap
velcro
Instructions
Arrange your charm squares by twos as per picture and stitch together.
Now fold at 10 1/2 inch as per picture.
And draw a short line on each side as per picture. This mark is where the flap starts.
To make the flap, take a dessert plate or a plate that is almost as wide as the panel and place it on top as per picture.
Draw around the plate close to where you drew the short line. Then finish the drawing by adding a straight line between the curve and the 10 1/2 in marking on each side.
If you click on the picture below you’ll see a larger picture and will be able to understand what I mean.
Using the exterior rectangle as a guide, cut the lining piece.
Now you have both pieces, you’ll be cutting the flap at the same time.
Pin well and cut both pieces along the curve.
I wanted to add extra padding to the bag so I used 2 pieces of batting instead of one. You coud use heavy weight interfacing instead.
Cut the pieces of batting using the exterior as a guide. I trimmed off the flap on one of the batting pieces but as it turned out two would have been ok. Your choice.
Pin batting to the exterior.
Quilt any way you like. Lately I kind of like quilting in narrow lines. They look neat.
Trim off the extra batting.
Now place a piece of velcro about 2 inches from the top edge. I don’t like use velcro with adhesive because it always comes apart eventually. And if you stitch it as well as stick it, it ruins the needle.
Stitch around the velcro piece.
Now place the other piece of velcro on the lining part. To find the exact place where to add velcro, place the lining flap over the exterior as if closing the bag.
Pin and stitch all around.
Now fold the lining piece making sure the straight edge aligns with the line marking where the flap starts.
Mark a 3 inch opening on one side to turn bag inside out.
Stitch around both sides leaving the gap as per picture below to turn the bag inside out.
Now do the same with the exterior. Sorry no photo. I forgot to take one.
Just fold the exterior piece right sides together making sure you align the straight narrow edge with the start of the flap markings. Pin well and stitch around both sides. Trim corners and turn inside out.
Adding the strap
For the first time I purchased a strap. Hopefully it’ll hold the shape better than the homemade ones.
Place the strap about 1 3/4 inch from the edge and pin on each side.
Stitch strap well on each side going up and forth several times. Do not stitch higher than 1/4 from the edge. We need 1/4 inch seam allowance when attaching the lining.
Now place the exterior inside the lining. Pull the strap down.
Align top straight edge and flap from exterior and lining. Pin well.
Stitch all around. Make sure the strap is out of the way.
Now turn bag inside out through the 3 inch opening.
The bag is almost finished.
Stitch the opening.
For neatness’ sake stitch around the flap as close to the edge as possible as per picture.
In this post I’ll resurface some of my favourite hand embroidery projects and ideas. Each project comes with a tutorial to make an object as well as a novel way to use embroidery in a non traditional way.
1. Using the fabric design as an embroidery template
The first project is an iPad carrybag. The embroidery pattern is the outline of the fabric I used for the tab and the back scaled down. This is an idea that can take other directions and in future I intend to explore further.
2. Embellishing a quilt with embroidery
This tutorial shows you how to make a Christmas quilt using 5 inch charm squares. The quilt is completed by an embroidered French Christmas poem.
3. Gradient embroidery
This tutorial is for a notebook cover. This type of embroidery can be done with numbers, initials, names and the like. It’s easy though a bit time consuming.
4. Extending fabric print with embroidery
This cozy tutorial is embellished with embroidery. Check out the tutorial and look closely at the fabric. The pattern in the fabric has been filled in with embroidery. I intend to explore this type of embroidery further in the future.
5. Embroidery lettering
These napkins are made as a set. Each of them contains an embroidered line belonging to a French nursery rhyme.
6. Pillow embroidery to match duvet cover
This tutorial contains an embroidery idea for a matching pillow case. The idea was born out of need. I bought a doona cover without matching pillows. I then drew some of the doona cover flowers on the pillow and embroidered them.
This project will work well for larger prints though you can always enlarge small sections of the pattern and use that instead.
If the project is not clear from the picture, keep reading.
Fabric embroidery
My choice of fabric was Peonies by Heather Bailey. It’s a simple large print that can be traced easily.
The flowers in the fabric were too large so I adjusted the size to make them smaller, made the picture black and white, remove the black colour as much as possible and ended up with this.
As you can see, the original fabric has larger flowers than the picture above.
Then I traced it on a piece of linen.
I chose some matching colours in green.
And I started embroidery using chain stitch for the petals and stem stitch for the stems.
Voila the embroidery!
I stretched the embroidery on a ironing board and steamed it to get it as flat as possible.
Detail of the embroidery.
Side to side with the fabric.
Making the bag
Materials
10 1/2 x 9 inch in designer fabric
12 1/2 x 11 in of linen or plain fabric for the embroidery
1 1/2 in velcro
45 in x 2 1/2 in strip in linen for the strap
45 in ribbon for the strap
45 in x 1 in of batting for the strap
3 in x 4 1/2 in linen and again the same size in the designer fabric for the tab
2 1/2 x 4 in of fusible interfacing for the tab
20 x 8 1/2 in of fusible interfacing
21 1/2 x 10 in of batting plus a 9 in x 5 in for reinforcement
20 1/2 x 9 in of linen for the lining
I used Pellon Peltex 71F for the interfacing with is very hard
Cut the embroidery panel to 10 1/2 x 9 inch down from 12 1/2 x 11 in.
Cut another rectangle the same size, ie 10 1/2 in x 9 in.
Sew both panels on the bottom edge paying attention to which way the pattern goes, eg with the flowers up if using flowers.
Pin, stitch and press with seams open.
Attach the interfacing to the fabric using manufacturer’s instructions.
At this stage the bag starts getting a bit harder to handle because of the interfacing stiffness.
Lining
Cut
21 1/2 x 10 in of batting plus a 9 in x 5 in for reinforcement
20 1/2 x 9 in of linen for the lining
Place as per picture and stitch leaving a 1/4 in seam allowance.
Trim excess batting off.
Press the lining well.
Fold it in half to find the middle point.
Pin on the middle line.
Place the small piece of batting in the middle as per picture.
Stitch.
If necessary, trim excess batting off.
Now the lining is ready, cut a 1 1/2 in piece of velcro.
Place one of the pieces in the middle of the panel as per picture, at 2 inches from the top edge.
Stitch around the velcro.
Strap
Cut
45 in x 2 1/2 in strip of linen fabric
45 in x 1 in batting
45 in of ribbon in a matching colour
Start by placing the batting in the middle of the strip of linen fabric.
Fold both sides of the linen strip in as per picture and pin.
Then, over the seam line, start removing the pin, cover the line with the ribbon and pin back. You could do both things at once rather than in two steps but I think it is easier to manage in two steps.
The stitch along each side of the ribbon and again very close to each edge of the linen strap.
Making the tab
Cut
3 in x 4 1/2 in linen and again
3 in x 4 1/2 in designer fabric for the tab
2 1/2 x 4 in of fusible interfacing for the tab
Take the linen piece and attach the other piece of velcro close to the edge and centered as per picture.
Then attach the fusible interfacing as per manufacturing instructions to the wrong side of the linen fabric.
Place the designer fabric and linen fabric right sides together as per picture and stitch leaving a 1/4 in seam allowance.
Turn inside out and stitch around the tab as close to the edge as you can.
Place the tab as per picture centered in the middle of the top edge of what will be the bag.
Stitch along the top.
Now fold the panel in half and pin.
Stitch along opposite sides leaving the top open.
Turn inside out and press.
Fold the lining in half as per photo and stitch along the sides leaving the top open.
Leave a 4 in opening on one of the sides to turn the bag inside out.
Now place the straps on each side of the bag.
Pin.
Insert the bag inside of the lining as per picture.
Pin along the top edge and stitch well.
Turn the bag inside out through the 4 in opening in the lining.
