Pillow Sham Project

Pillow Sham Instructions:

Supplies:
1 - 12” x 12” square of fashion fabric/pillow front
1 - 12” x 16” rectangle of coordinating fabric
1 1/2 yards of 1/4” cording/rope
3” of 45” or 60” fabric or 1 1/2 yards of 1 1/2” (or larger) trim/ribbon (for edging)
1 - 11” x 11” pillow form
Coordinating Thread
Trim and buttons for embellishment (optional)

Steps:
Cut all pieces to measurements listed above.
Cut edging fabric or trim to 1 1/2” wide and keep the length.  If you have two pieces of 1 1/2” trim, sew short edges together with right sides together, then iron open the seam.
Take your 12” x 16” pieces and cut in half making 2 - 12” x 8” pieces.  Fold under one 12” edge on both pieces. (if you are going to use a button for your closure make your button holes as needed on one of these pieces)
Overlay pieces from step three with right sides up and folded edges under and toward the center until the make a perfect 12” x 12” square and pin the edged at the top and bottom to hold them in place. 
Take rope and fold your trim pieces from step 2 over the rope, covering the rope and matching the raw edges of the fabric.
Change your presser foot to the zipper foot and move your needle position all the way to the left. Sew the trim around the rope with the rope to the left edge of the zipper foot and leaving a portion of the rope visible at the end.
Mark your fashion fabric at each corner 1/2” in from both edges.
Pin sewn trim to the fashion fabric with rope edge facing the center and the raw edges of the trim and the pillow front, clipping at each corner 1/2” in from the next side allowing the trim to make a turned corner to continue to the next edge of the square.
 Sew trim to pillow front beginning at the center of the bottom edge of the fashion fabric (12” x 12” piece)
 When  you reach the end where you began cut the rope to match up end to end with the beginning of your rope and turn under the raw edge of the trim fabric to cover the raw edge of the beginning.
 Lay your back pieces (side with the overlay) right sides together with your pillow front, pin the two together with the stitched edge facing up.
 Keeping your zipper foot on and your needle position to the left, sew the pillow front and the pillow back together.
 Clip corners and excess fabric from the raw edge (ex: use pinking sheers to keep from unravelling or zig zag the edges using your regular foot and a zig zag stitch)
 Turn and push corners out, insert your pillow form.  (if you are using a button for the closure then hand sew your button on now)

Make-up Bag Project

Make-up bag instructions:
    Finished size 6” x 8”
Materials:
1/4 yard of fashion fabric (or one fat quarter)
1/4 yard of lining fabric (or one fat quarter)
1 - 9” zipper
Optional - small/mini tassel for zipper pull

Construction:
Cut out one 9” x 13” rectangle from both the fashion fabric and lining fabric.
Place fashion fabric and lining fabric right sides together.  With zipper pull facing the fashion fabric, sandwich and pin the zipper between the two layers, matching the zipper tape with the 9” side at the raw edges and the top part of the zipper tape (zig zag edge) lined up with the corner of the two sides.
Stitch the zipper in using your zipper presser foot with your needle position on the left of the presser foot.  Use your zipper foot as your guide lining up the zipper teeth to the left edge of your zipper (this will give you an approximate seam allowance of 1/4” from the raw edge).
Unzip zipper keeping the zipper pull facing fashion fabric and sandwich the unstitched side of the zipper tape to the other 9” side, matching the zipper tape with the raw edges (note: the other fabric will want to bunch and pull but make sure the zipper tape is not twisted and is flat and flush with the raw edges).
Clip all threads and turn fabric, lining and zipper until the lining is facing inward, fashion fabric is facing out and the zipper can be zipped. (It should look like a small zipper bag with the sides not sewn).
Iron top edge of bag (where the zipper is) to make the fashion fabric flush but not over the teeth of the zipper and the lining ironed away from the zipper teeth on the inside.
Top stitch (still using your zipper foot but moving the needle position now to the right side of the presser foot) on fashion fabric along the zipper approximately 1/4” from zipper teeth edge, lifting the foot and needle position to rotate around to the other side of the zipper.
Zip the bag up just 1/2 way and turn inside out so the raw edges are at the sides and the lining is showing.  Stitch the two side seams at 1/2” seam allowance, sewing through the zipper tape on one edge (don’t sewing through the metal zipper stop, it will break your needle) and through the plastic zipper on the other edge.
Zig zag or surge your raw edges clipping excess fabric and thread away.
Turn bag right side out pushing zipper end with finger to force it to the top outside edge. Iron flat and clean and add tassel to zipper pull.

I have arrived

Hi, and welcome to my blog.  Do you ever feel like you are so far behind that when you finally catch up you want to yell to the world "I have arrived!"?  Well, that is how I feel today.  I feel like I have finally entered a new digital world where I can share my ideas and my "tricks" with other people who may find them useful or helpful.  I look forward to sharing with you a few practical inspirations that I have collected throughout the years and hope you will enjoy them!