My Happy Place - Redwood Tote and Park Sling Backpack

Hi Sewing Friends! Today I'm sharing my two newest projects using My Happy Place Home Decor by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs. My Happy Place Home Decor is the perfect fabric collection for sewers and quilters! The patterns are so fabulous and detailed! I absolutely love it!

My Happy Place Home Decor is printed on 100% cotton canvas, which feels so lovely and soft! I just love the quality of the fabric!!! Plus the fabric is 54" wide so you have extra width for those larger projects! 

I couldn't decide on just one bag to make so I had to sew TWO! 

Redwood Tote

I absolutely loved making my Redwood Tote! The pattern is written by Noodlehead and is so easy to follow. Plus she uses such a clever way to make the extra support for the bag bottom.  

I chose to mix two My Happy Place Home Decor prints for the bag exterior and Bee Basic Raspberry Scissors for the interior - the scissors were a perfect match. I just love how well all the fabrics coordinate!

Redwood Tote Supplies:

• 1/2 yard exterior fabric: My Happy Place Home Decor Blocks Cream
• 1 yard exterior pocket / straps/ handles/ bottom: My Happy Place Home Decor Floral Cottage
• 1 yard lining fabric:Bee Basics Raspberry Scissors
• 2 1/2 yards Pellon SF101
• Sallie Tomato Zipper by the Yard
• Sallie Tomato 1" hardware kit
• Redwood Tote Pattern by Noodlehead

I absolutely loved using Sallie Tomato zippers by the yard as they look like metal zippers, but are nylon so super easy to sew. I also love the quality of Sallie Tomato hardware kits too. 

The bag front has a large zippered panel and the back has a large slip pocket - love the storage!

My new Redwood Tote with My Happy Place Home Decor fabric is my current daily tote - I absolutely love it!

Up next is my ...

Park Sling Backpack

The Park Sling Backpack is a one strap backpack that is perfect for "on the go". Plus the strap uses Pellon Flex Foam or ByAnnie Soft & Stable so  it's super comfy.  I chose to use the My Happy Place Home Decor Main Cream print because I love how the print was going all directions so I didn't need to worry about lining up the pattern- phew!

I just love all the details in this print: vintage sewist, text, scissors, sewing machine, fabric, zipper, iron, cross stitch, quilt blocks, pins - it's seriously amazing!

Park Sling Backpack Supplies (large size):

• 1 1/2 yard of exterior fabric: My Happy Place Home Decor Main Cream print 
• 1 1/2 yard of lining fabric: Bee Basics Raspberry Scissors
• 2/3 yard foam interfacing: By Annie’s Soft and Stable OR Pellon Flex Foam- if purchasing Flex Foam, please purchase at least double the amount as it is only 20” wide)
• 3-1/4 yard 20” wide Pellon SF-101 Shape Flex
• Sallie Tomato Zippers by the Yard
• Park Sling Backpack Pattern by Sew Sweetness
• Park Sling Backpack video by Sew Sweetness. This bag was a bit of a challenge for me so I would recommend the accompanying video as it was helpful!
• Additional supplies listed in pattern

Check out the cute handle - plus I almost got all of HANDMADE to fit :)

I can't wait to see what you make with the new My Happy Place Home Decor collection by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs - available now.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @abitofscrapstuff and on my A Bit of Scrap Stuff Blog for more fabric fun!

Happy Sewing!

Melanie

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Soda Pop Bag

Soda Pop Bag with Adorn It Fabrics

for Fort Worth Fabric Studio

I'm excited to share a review of the Soda Pop Bag and Adorn it fabrics. I LOVED making this Soda Pop Bag by Sew Sweetness!  Plus the amazing Gigi Blooms fabrics by Adorn it just shouts SPRING!

It was hard to pick which fabrics to choose, but I decided on the bright Mango Fresh Blooms for the bag exterior, Grey Happy Notes for interior (the gold dots are even metallic :) ), and Pink Burnish for the peek-a-boo fabric.

This is a super fun pattern to sew! It is perfect for beginners with very clear instructions with color pictures. The magnetic closure is easy and I have brief "how-to" at the end of this post.  I LOVE the size of this bag. It holds what I need, but isn't massive. 

The grommets are super easy to use...no tools...they just snap together! I think they add such a fun pop to the bag! This was my first time sewing folded handles in the middle and it was easy...plus I got to topstitch :). I was worried that it would be a bit thick for my machine so I just sewed slowly and it was great!

This bag uses a magnetic closure to close the top of the bag and has 2 pockets on the interior. I seriously love the interior fabric especially since the gold is metallic too!

I thought I would share a quick "how-to" install magnetic closures. I think it might become one of your favorite ways to add a closure to your next project.

Step 1: Gather supplies. Ruler, pen, 2 pieces of Soft and Stable OR Pellon Flex-foam (I used this), set of magnetic closures (mine came with washers),  scissors, optional (seam sealant - I used fray check since that is what I had at home)

Step 2: Use ruler and pen to mark location of magnetic closure. Then cut two small slices in fabric for magnetic closure prongs to fit. Optional: Add seam sealant or fray check to slices.

Step 3: Push Magnetic closure prongs through slices and flip over. Layering looks like below from backside. Fabric lining (with Shape-flex fused already), Pellon-flex foam OR Soft and Stable, washer. Then push prongs to the outside (like a brad).

Step 4: Flip over lining and admire your installed magnetic closure. Repeat for other side.

I will definitely be making this bag again! I'm thinking with Star Wars fabric next time :)

Be sure to share your Soda Pop Bag project with us!

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Melanie

Aeroplane Bag Review

I am so excited to finish my first Aeroplane bag by Sara Lawson of Sew Sweetness for Fort Worth Studio (you can see this same post on their blog). I love a large bag and one that zips is even better...in fact this bag has 3 zippers, but don't let that deter you! The Aeroplane bag pattern is very well written with lots of full color photographs in the 12 page booklet to explain the bag making steps. Here is one side of my bag in the wonderful Hazel fabric by Allison of Cluck Cluck Sew.

Of course, I needed to "add a bit" to my bag to make it more me. Check out my upcoming blog posts when I share about adding an exterior pocket and piping to your bag.

My hints and thoughts on making this bag.

1. Read the pattern at least twice through before cutting/sewing...this is true for any pattern.

2. The fun part...choose your fabrics. I chose the lovely Hazel line. 

When choosing patterns for bags I usually try to choose all over patterns as they are more forgiving if your stitching gets a bit off. I did to go against my own rule this time and choose a stripe to make my exterior pocket and piping, but thought I could line it up well.

3. Now gather up all of your supplies...this saves frustration later. Nothing is more frustrating then realizing you are at a step and can't find a zipper ;). 

A bit about the interfacings in this project. Splurge on the Pellon Shape-Flex SF101 (this is the BEST and worth the extra cost- it adheres so smoothly and easily). This was my first time using Annie's Soft and Stable and I loved it...though I also want to try the new Pellon fusible Flex-foam because I like how it is fusible. The pictures above show my bag standing on its own....not stuffed with anything. The Soft and Stable is very easy to sew through as well.

I used a 90/14 needle, which I HIGHLY recommend. It is a lot of layers you are sewing through plus you will need to sew over zippers. 

---- Onto the actual cutting and sewing now 

1. If you decide to quilt your bag....do this FIRST before cutting out your pattern pieces. I cut first because I didn't think my simple grid quilting would shrink the pattern that much...but it did. It cut about an inch off- this made it tricky when cutting my lining pieces and making the darts later in the pattern. 

2. When I cut patterns out...I like to use my rotary cutter and ruler as much as possible as I feel I get a more accurate cut. I'm using washi tape rolls as my fancy pattern weights. Remember quilt the fabric BEFORE cutting the pattern even though my picture doesn't show this.

3. I thought attaching the interfacing in step 3 with the Shape Flex and Peltex might be a bit confusing for beginners so I snapped a quick picture. Bottom layer: Pattern fabric (right side facing down) then Peltex cut 1/2" smaller (this is so you don't have to sew through it when putting the bag together) then Shape Flex on top (cut the same size as pattern fabric) The Shape Flex will fuse the Peltex to the pattern fabric.

4. Since Soft and Stable is not fusible, the pattern recommends using a basting stitch to hold it into place. I was a bit worried about creating wrinkles so I decided to quilt my exterior panels in a 2 inch diagonal grid. Sewing through Soft and Stable was super easy. I did use my walking foot and lengthen my stitch length to 3.0 (usual is 2.5 on my machine). I also used Wonder Clips to hold my bag together when quilting. I LOVE Wonder Clips and consider them a "must have"... I use them every time I sew instead of pins for making bags, pillows and, piecing quilts.

5. Now that the panels and handles have interfacing attached and/or quilted. It's time for making the handles. In pattern step 4. I found it easier to use my Hemmer instead of drawing lines on the fabric and ironing to them...just personal preference.

6.  After your handles are ironed...it's time to TOP STITCH...my favorite thing. Top stitching makes me so happy. Be sure to take your time when top stitching as you will need to top stitch again over your original sewing when attaching the handles to the bag. A little picture of top stitching with my zipper foot because who doesn't like to see top stitching :)  

7.  The next step is to attach your straps to your bag...go ahead and do this now unless you want to add an exterior pocket. The pocket needs to be attached BEFORE the straps. I will have an upcoming mini tutorial blog post about this step. Another picture of top stitching....you should be able to see my top stitching over my previous stitching line plus the box with an x inside at the top of the stitching for extra durability.

8. The next step is to attach your bottom panel unless you are adding piping as the piping needs to be attached prior to this step. I will have an upcoming mini tutorial blog post about this step too.

9. Sara's directions for the lining zippered pockets is very clear and easy to understand (plus lots of photos). I was quite happy with how easily this was done. I LOVED this Hazel fabric and thought about using it for the outside of my bag for about 1 minute before I realized white exterior fabric and 3 kids is probably not the best idea plus I like the interior of my bags to be a lighter fabric as I think it's easier to find things in my bag. 

10.  The only tricky part that I struggled with was attaching the exterior zipper to the lining panel and sewing the bag together over the tapered zipper. I plan on doing 2 things differently when I sew my next Aeroplane bag. I will make zipper tabs and use a regular purse zipper with a long pull instead of the Sport plastic zipper recommended. My machine did not like sewing over those large zipper teeth. In fact, I broke a few teeth off my zipper...but my strong 90/14 needle didn't break.

Overall, I really enjoyed this pattern and will make another version. Next time, I plan to make it scrappy with low volume squares that are quilted plus the zipper changes I mentioned above. I would say an adventurous beginner could make this bag....just take it slowly when attaching the exterior zipper.

Another picture of my bag....I decided last minute to add an English Paper Pieced flower to my pocket.  Be sure to use the hashtag #sewingwithfortworthfabric when posting your projects on Instagram! Thanks for reading my super long post. Don't worry my posts on the exterior pocket and piping will be shorter!

Time to start sewing!

Melanie