Vintage Market Bag Tutorial

Happy Friday!  Wow, it seems this week has gone by quickly (I guess the long weekend...).  So earlier in the week, I showed you my Market Bag I made for Simple Simon and Co.'s Vintage Crafter's Challenge. 

It was fun to make, and is a great way to reuse a vintage find. 

Today I wanted to give you the tutorial - it's not exactly a beginner's sewing project. 
It's not hard it just has a million steps.

Sometimes I make something knowing it will make a great tutorial, and sometimes I just take pics as I'm making something to kind of give you an idea how to do it.  That's really what this is.  I tried to be detailed, but it was kind of a tricky tutorial to write.  If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email: jessica(at)makeitlovely(dot)com 
Good luck!

Here are the supplies you'll need:

Vintage table runner(approx 13"x38")

Bias tape

1/2 yard for lining fabric

1/2 yard for side panels

scraps/fat quarters for the triangle detailing

piece of cardboard for stabilizing the bottom

Sewing machine/thread

water soluble pen

scissors

triangle pattern

Step 1:  Begin by cutting out the pieces.  

• 35 triangles
• 2 side panels 11"x13"
• Bottom lining insert 12" x 16 1/2"
• 2 lining pieces 14"x16 1/2"
• 2 Straps 2 1/2" x 30"

Step 2:  Lay the triangles out in the order you would like them to be pieced.

Using 1/4" seam, sew the triangles right sides together.

Press the seams open as you go.

Make two strips, each 38" long.

Step 3:  Once you have pieced the triangle strips, pin them right side down onto the table runner, matching up the edges.  (you are essentially widening the runner by adding these strips)

Sew along the pinned edges.  You now have a pretty front, bottom, and back to your bag.  

It should measure 16 1/2" x 38".

Step 4:  Fold and press under the short edges of your 12" x 16 1/2" bottom lining insert.

Top stitch them down. 

Pin the 16 1/2" edge of the insert right sides together with one of the 16 1/2" edges of a lining piece.  Sew together using a 1/4" seam.  Press the seam flat.  Sew the other lining piece onto the other edge of the insert.

Now you have one long lining piece 38" x 16 1/2".

Step 5:  Lay the lining piece, wrong sides together, with the front piece (how it will be when you are finished).  Take a side panel and pin the right side of it to the long edge of the lining and front piece.
Like this:

Then sew along those three sides - but do not sew the insert (the blue/green fabric in the picture.)
So on the side, you are sewing the side panel, the front of the bag, and the lining.  Along the bottom, you are sewing the side panel and the front of the bag(the runner).

When you are finished, each side should look like this:

 This is the outside view.

Step 6:  Okay - are you still with me?  Have you had to refill your coffee cup?
Now it is time to sew the bias tape all along the top of the bag. Follow the directions on the package.






























Now you are going to french seam the side seams.  This not only covers your raw edges on the inside of your bag, but it adds shape to the bag.  First, pin it like this:

Sew down the side, along the bottom, and up the other side, careful not to catch the lining insert in your french seam- use about 3/8" seam, enough to catch the previous seam inside.

Insert the cardboard into the lining.

 Now it looks like a real market bag.

Oh wait - you still need handles.  Okay - this is the last step I promise!

Step 7: Fold the straps in half lengthwise and press.  Sew the bias binding on, covering the raw edges.

Then, fold under one end and stitch it onto the bag - using the "x in a square" pattern for stability.

And I think that's it!  Think you can whip one up tonight before the Saturday Farmer's market?

  

Sure you can!  Have a happy weekend
xoxo
jessica

What I made for the Vintage Crafter's Challenge!

Head on over to Simple Simon and Company to see this Market Bag I made with their vintage supplies!

Restoring a 90 year old Quilt

For a few days this week, Charlotte and I flew down to FL to see my parents.  My Grandma and her sister are here - super cool ladies - and they always have some project going.  I mean always.  So my Grandma found this family quilt out in a barn - it was made by my great-great grandmother in the late 1920's or early 30's.

Why it was in a barn I do not know. In case you were wondering - don't put heirloom quilts in a barn. 
I know you are all super smart about that stuff anyway :)
SO needless to say, it needed some repair.  She has been patching some of the pieces, and she put a new binding on it. 
Here's how she's been doing it - in case you are wandering through an old barn and happen upon a 90 year old quilt ;)

*Find some fabric that matches the color scheme of the quilt (the point is you are restoring - try to honor the original artist).

My great-great grandmother used a lot of feedsack fabric for the pieces.  Apparantly they used to sell feed in pretty flowered sacks.  Why did they do that?  I don't know.  But my grandma said she and her sister would go to the feed store to pick out fabric for their dresses.  One of their sisters was voted best dressed in her class - and her dresses were made from feedsacks!  Impressive.  (and I am thankful we don't have to dig through piles of feedsacks to find just the right fabric...)

*Handstitch the fabric on - right sides together - along one edge of the damaged piece.

*Fold it over the damaged piece allowing an extra 1/4" to be turned under. 

Finger press.  Cut along the fold that you made.

*Turn the raw edges under and pin well.

*Start stitching at a corner. 

Secure it well and then continue with a small blind stitch all the way around the piece. 

Pretty soon (...um, I mean days later...) your heirloom family quilt will be good as new!

So sit on the couch in your p.j.s and shop for fabric today - and be grateful you don't have to find a feedsack for your baby daughter's next dress - and wait for the fabric store to mail it to you and have it dropped right on your doorstep - so you really don't even have to get dressed or fix your hair to be surrounded by gorgeous fabric. 

happily spoiled by modern America,

jessica 

Fabric-Covered Egg Shaker Tutorial

Hello! Well, we love music at our house, and as I was trying to think of something other than candy to put in little Charlotte's eggs I thought about egg shakers. I have tried to make my own in the past, but they look ugly and the tape comes off and I end up with rice or beans all in my carpet :( So the best solution I could think of was of course...fabric! So here is a tutorial for making musical egg shakers that are covered in fabric. The fabric I am using is vintage knit- my grandmother actually found it in a barn behind her house! You could also use felt or some other fabric that has some stretch in it. These eggs come together really quickly so you still have plenty of time to make some before Easter :) Ready? Here we go.



Step 1: Create the template. Draw a vertical line 3 1/2" long. At the midsection draw a perpendicular line 1 1/2" long. (These measurements will work for the average plastic egg-I got mine at Wal-mart.) Draw a football shape around the cross that you have drawn.

Step 2: Cut out the template and lay it on your fabric. Cut four little "footballs".

Step 3. Sew these right sides together, using a 1/4" seam. Leave one seam half way open - this is where you will insert the egg. Turn right sides out.

Step 4: Fill the small part of a plastic egg with dried beans - I used Great Northern. You could also use lentils, black-eyed peas, etc.

Step 5: Close the egg tightly, tape the seam well with duck tape, and insert it into your fabric shell.

Step 6: Using a needle and thread, hand whip the opening closed. Voila! Get out your other instruments and have a musical Easter!

xoxo,
jessica