Origami Bag tutorial

I would like to thank the kind lady who let me know that one of the tutorials I posted a link to online no longer exists.  If you want to see the first bag I made like this one it is here.

After looking for another tutorial to link to and not finding one I decided I had to make my own.

I now have a new appreciation of the generous people who make tutorials and post them on their blog.  Thank you. Tutorials are not as easy to do as I thought they would be.

Firstly I learnt I should have used a light plain fabric and clear contrasting thread so that everything was easier to see.  So bear that in mind when you read my tutorial.  Also that I have no time to do it again right now because I promised the kind lady I would make one as soon as possible.  It has already taken a week of slaving away at the tutorial at night after work when I was already exhausted from talking to clients all day.

What You Need

40cm x 40cm (16") of exterior fabric
40cm x 40cm (16") of lining fabric
two buttons
cord (or ribbon like I used)

Instructions

Step 1:

Cut out one 40cm x 40cm square from both exterior and lining fabrics.

Please be more accurate than I was.  If you think you may not be perfectly square when cutting out, then stay away from spotted fabric!

Step 2:

Pin and sew the two squares together.  Right sides facing.

I used a 1cm seam as you can see (above).

Leave a gap of about 5cm to 8cm in one side so that you can turn right side out.

See my fingers.  Am I doing bunny ears or the peace sign?

Step 3:

Clip all four corners to reduce bulk.

Step 4:

Turn right side out and press.

Ensure all four corners are pushed all the way out and are square.

Step 5:

Fold in half.

Step 6:

Fold the sides over until tip of triangle is flush to the other edge.

(This is where using a light coloured fabric would have been more useful to show what I am talking about!)

Fold the top corner down.  Press entire project.

Step 7:

Draw lines on the crease lines.  The lines on the sides will be your stitching lines.

Step 8:

Fold over the top and bottom flaps to the line marked and pin.

Sew across about 1/2" to form your casings.

My casing.  If I didn't use spotted fabric you would probably not notice it looking so uneven.

Step 9:

Sew the sides.  Follow those lines you drew in step 7.

Just wanted to show that not only do I cut wonky uneven squares of fabric but I sew wonky straight lines of stitching.

No don't do this.  Sew yours straight.

Step 10:

Origami fold the sides in to look like mini squares.

Step 11:

Fold the top flap of mini square over as in photo on left.

Step 12:

Stitch a button onto each side. 

Step 13:

Stitch an embellishment to the front.

After making a couple of flowers for the front that all seemed too big, I got lazy and went ahead and used one.  Personally I think a smaller flower would look better.

Step 14:

Pull your cord through the casings and voila!  Your done!!!



Hope you like this tutorial and can follow my instructions well enough.  If you can't my email is always a few clicks away.

Pretty buttons to make yourself

I really felt stupid after buying some buttons at $6.00 ea.  Yes!  I paid 6 bucks ea for some really pretty buttons.  Then on arriving home and giving them another look, I found that I could have made them easily and a lot cheaper.

I thought I would show you how I made them just in case you see some and think of buying them.

First:

Grab some supplies.  Scraps of fabric and scraps of ribbons and trims.
Buy a packet of self cover buttons ($1.60 for three)

Sew two fabric scraps together like above.  Then, using the circle template found on the back of button pack, cut out a fabric circle.

Add your trims to the circles.  I glued the trims and stitched the ribbons down.  Next, do a running stitch around the outside, close to the edge.  Pretty much the same as making yo yo's.

Place your button inside the puff and draw in the puff (see button above).
Finally add the washer and press down.  I use cotton reel placed over the shank and give a light tap with a small hammer.  Voila!  Pretty buttons.

The pink button on the left and top button are the purchased buttons that cost $6 ea!  The rest cost less than $1.00 to make.

Hint:  At the stage where your about to put the washer on,  I dampen the button with water.  This helps smooth out the fabric for a neater button.

Making a zipper more colourful

I found this tutorial on altering a zipper so that each side is a different colour.

I can see so many possibilities with these!  Thank you goes to Clotilde.com.
Link to tutorial can be found here.
Enjoy