Easter Monday

I hope you have been enjoying your long weekend here in the UK.

I made a little zip bag for a tutorial at sewing class then wondered what I was going to do with it. I decided to make up a little project kit to take to a 'waiting-around' situation that may arise at any time.

Inside it comprises a pattern leaflet, my hand painted bamboo crochet hook, the last bit of Natura Medium yarn in a shade of yellow, stitch marker and row counter.

Some such situation came around and I made this little chick although her wings look a little like headphones, she has still made me smile hanging amongst the eggs on our Easter twig.

These little kit bags are perfect for taking your crafting on the go. I saw this corner technique used by Stuart Hillard in a demonstration at the CHSI show and this is how you can use it to make a zip bag:

Cut 4 pieces of fabric 20 x 24cm (2 in outer and 2 in lining if contrasting) plus 2 in wadding. You will need a 20cm zip. 

Sew the lining along two short sides and one long side. 

Then triangle the corners remembering to match seams.Poke your finger into the corner and flatten it out. Mark a line about 3.5cm from the point. Sew straight across and cut off the excess. Repeat for the other side. This is the lining.

Now sew the top only (zip edge)of the outer pieces using a 1.5 seam allowance on basting stitch.

Lay the zip over the seam. Right side of zip to seam opening. Pin and tack in place.

Turn fabric to the right side and sew along the seam using a zipper foot.

Now take out the hand tacking and the machine basting with an unpicker.

OPEN THE ZIP HALF WAY. Then sew the three sides of the outer bag laying a piece of wadding on each side and catching it in the seams Repeat the corner technique as described for the lining. Do not turn out.

Slip the lining over the bag wrong sides together. Turn under a seam allowance along the zip edge and hand stitch the lining to the bag being careful that stitches do not show through to the outside.

Turn the bag out because you can. You definitely had the zip half open right!?

Decorate with hand sewn applique motifs or crocheted bits and bobs.

Now fill it with all the things you need to craft on the go or make it into a gift for a friend. I gave one to my mum for mothers day with all the things she needed to make an Elise shawl on her cruising holiday. This size fits a crochet hook and one ball of yarn.

Happy Sewing and Crafting. Jo xxx