Download Free Tutes by Spool {} as .PDFs!

Tutorial posts are great but we all like to take them home for later. So here's the .pdf version of all available tutorials by Spool {}. To get here in the future just click Downloads on the sidebar.
Thanks for looking!

Table Runner Valance




Shower Curtain Chair Cushions
Free for a limited time!




Place Mat Expanding File


Place Mat Handbag


Wristlet

With a Lot of Compromise and Brute Force...

Whew! This Dern Saddle Bag is finally finished. What a fit it gave me! And really there's no reason for it to have been such a problem.

Design flaws, I expect (Designed by that Spool {}, you know!). I usually like to make design flaws into "features" (learned that in database programming, hahaha), but this dern thing just would not cooperate. Only sheer grit and tenacity won out.

I already put my stuff in it and I'm planning on carrying it until...I guess until I get tired if it, lol!

Nintendo DS Bag

Sadie saved up and bought a Nintendo DS. It took her 4 months. She's 6. I was pretty amazed, so the first thing I thought of was to make a bag that would keep it from falling on the ground or getting lost. Here's my version of the across the body, Nintendo DS game holder with 3 game pockets.

Featured at One Pretty Thing and Dollar Store Crafts!

Two places in one day! Both One Pretty Thing and Dollar Store Crafts!
I'm so happy :)




Here's the Tute...

Featured at Whip Up!

Once again a Too Cool day :) It makes me smile smile smile!
Here's the post.

Free Placemat Bag Tutorial!

Here's a fast project that can be made between the "Hey Mama?"s and the "Hey Honey?"s.

The Placemat Bag



1) What to Buy:
Buy a placemat with a little heft to it. If it's too thin the bag will be too thin, and there's not a quick way to add interfacing in this project.

Make sure the placemat looks good folded in half (with the fold down) since that's how the bag sews up. There are some adorable placemats out there but they don't all look good folded in half!

Photo: Red Tag Sale Placemat (and same placemat folded in half)

2) Making the Handles:
The handles are 1"x3" rectangular cutouts in the center of the short sides. Lay the placemat right side down on the table. Working on the back or lining side of the placemat, measure the short sides of the placemat. Mark the centers with a pin. Measure down 1" at the center mark. Using a water soluble pen (or chalk), mark that spot, then measure 1 1/2" to either side of the center and mark those spots too. Draw a line between these marks. Now measure down another inch from the line, mark, and draw a line. Square these two measurements off so that a rectangle 1"x 3" is in the center of the short side of the placemat, 1" from the edge.

Photo: Marked handle (click to see larger photo and the marks)


Next, set the machine to buttonhole stitch (zigzag about 1/8" wide at about .5 - 1.0 stitches). Zigzag around the line once or twice, keeping the line to the inside (to the left of the zigzag). This will stabilize the fabric.

Photo: Sewn handle

Cut the fabric out of the inside of stitching, as close to the stitching as you can get. Zigzag again around the edges, making sure to catch any raw edges inside the stitch. Go around two or three times until it looks nice, depending on the color and makeup of the fabric.

Photo: Cut Handle


Photo: Finished Handle

3) Sewing the Sides:
With the placemat folded right sides and handles together, stitch up the sides about 1/4" from the edge. Back stitch at the top. The sides are already finished so there's no need to worry about raw edges.

Photo: Pinned Seam (small seam allowance)


4) Creating the Gussets:
Smooth out your bag flat, right sides still together. Place a pin in the bottom crease right at the side seam. Measure up 1" from the bottom and mark with the water soluble pen. Turn the fabric over, still inside out, and mark 1" up from the bottom on that side too.

Photo: Marked Gusset


Looking at the photo, open the bag (still inside out) and place the bottom of the bag on the table. Press down on the corner seam to make a triangle with the seam straight up and down from the point to the base. Verify that the bottom fold is directly under the seam. Use the pin for direction. The marks should now make a line at the base of the triangle. Sew across these lines from edge to edge to form the gussets.

Photo: Open Gusset



Photo: Sewn Gusset


5) Turn your bag right side out and enjoy!

Photo: Finished Gusset

This dern (that's Baltimore for darn) thing!

I'm having a bit of trouble with my latest project. I wanted a heavily interfaced hands free hip bag, and by golly that's what I'm going to have - even if it kills me, lol!

All I have to do is force the inside (shown front) to fit the outside (in back)...

Fairy Bag for Sadie

My daughter handed me a drawing and said "Will you make this please?" How can I turn her down? :)

After asking some questions I find that she wants a pink "fairy bag" with a red rose and short handles. The curvy lines are vines, she said. She plans to "hit any Ogres that come too close" with it. :D

Here's the picture and here's the bag! Sadie likes it - she says its "mystical". I like her an awful lot :)

Free Wristlet Tutorial!

This is the first sewing tutorial I've ever written. I almost gave up several times!



Supplies:

Outside Fabric - 1 piece 9"x12", 1 piece 9"x18", 1 piece 7"x8 1/2",
1 piece 2"x14", 1 piece 3/4"x5"
Lining - 1 piece 9"x12"
Interfacing - 1 piece 9"x12" and 1 piece 7"x4 1/4"
1 Button

I'm using Flowers for Emma (Anne Sutton for Henry Glass) with cotton broadcloth lining
The interfacing is Pellon Fusible Fleece
The button is a 9/16" mother of pearl with a metal shank

1) Fuse the Interfacing:
Following the manufacturers instructions, fuse the 9"x12" interfacing to the 9"x12" outside piece. Fold the 7"x8 1/2" patch pocket piece in half (right sides out) so that it measures
7"x4 1/4" and fuse the 7"x4 1/4" interfacing sandwiched in the fold of the patch pocket piece.

2) Patch Pocket Piece:
The patch pocket piece is now 7"x4 1/4", with a layer of interfacing inside the fold. There's a fold side, and three open sides, two short and one long. Unfold the patch pocket piece and refold so that the right sides are together and the interfacing is clearly visible fused to one side. Sew the patch pocket piece on two open sides (one short side and one long side), with right sides together using a 1/4" seam allowance. Turn right side out again through the un-sewn short side and top stitch the top fold edge. This keeps the interfacing from moving. Press flat.

With the outside piece face down on the table (the fused interfacing is clearly visible), measure up 4 1/2" from the bottom. Fold along this line and pin. This will help determine the pocket piece placement. Place the BOTTOM (non-fold side) of the pocket piece 1/2" from the fold line, making sure the top of the pocket piece is about 3/8" from the top (see the picture as all this top and bottom stuff is confusing). Pin, unpin the outside piece from itself, and topstitch the 3 non-fold sides of the patch pocket piece, turning the unseamed short side in as you go.

Photo - Unturned Patch Pocket, Folded Credit Card Piece, Folded Outside Piece


3) Credit Card Piece:
Fold 1/2" to the back of the 9"x18" piece and press. Next we are going to fan fold the fabric to allow for 3 credit card pockets. With the fabric face up, measure 2 1/2" from the top where the 1/2" fold is and fold the fabric face up on itself (press as you go), then fold the fabric back down 2", up 2 1/2", down 2", up 2 1/2" down 2". at that point fold the rest of the fabric under at least 1/2". Press well.

Place your credit card piece on the right side of the lining 3" from the top and pin well. Stitch a middle line to divide the credit card pocket into two equal halves. Top stitch the top and bottom of the credit card piece. Baste the sides at the seamline.

4) Round the Flap:
Pin the outside with the pocket to the lining, wrong sides together. Then, trim of the corners off the flap (the short edge that does not have the pocket on it). I usually eyeball it but I've used plates and pans too. Make sure not to take too much off the top since the flap will neet to comfortably fold down over the patch pocket.

Photo - Credit Card Piece on Lining, Finished Patch Pocket


5) Strap and Button Loop:
Fold the 2'' wide strap piece and the 3/4" wide button loop piece in half lengthwise and then tuck the edges under to make a double fold binding-like wristlet strap and button loop. Topstitch each 1/8" away from the edge. Topstitch the strap (now 1/2" wide) 1/8" away from the fold edge as well. Zigzag the ends of the strap together to make a loop and turn so the zigzagged edge is inside the loop. I didn't take a pic of this step, but I made a small stand-in and snapped a couple pics.

Photos - Left, Zigzagged Strap - Right, Turned Strap


6) Putting it all together:
There are now 2 main pieces: the lining with the credit card pockets near the top of the purse, and the outside piece with the interfacing on the back side and the patch pocket on the right side. With right sides facing, pin the outside piece to the lining. The patch pocket and the credit card pocket should be inside and the interfacing and lining wrong side will be outside. Fold the button loop in half. Insert the loop inside, between the front of the lining and the front of the outside fabric (in there where the pockets are). 1 to 1 1/2" of the loop should be inside the seamline. Trim off the edges even with the fabric edges, and pin and baste.

Sew around the edges, making sure to leave an open area for turning. Turn, press flat, and topstitch across the top of the credit card pocket to keep it in place. Topstitch close to the edge around all sides (folding in your open area as you go) and again about 1/4" from the edge on just the flap area. Be sure to double stitch the button loop once or twice. The button loop should protrude from the flap about 1 to 1 1/2". As you can see, I forgot to add the button loop and had to add it later ;-)

Photo - Almost Finished Outside and Inside


With the stitched inside/outside piece flat on the table, outside down (you can see the lining and credit card pockets), fold the bottom part up like an envelope until the pocket piece can be fully seen and the credit card piece is fully covered. It will look like an open envelop with the flap still up. Pin the sides together, insides still inside. Add the strap to the right side seam (pinch the edge of the strap with the zigzag turned in and insert into the sideseam near the top) and pin. Now, topstitch both sides as close to the edge as possible. Fold down the flap to determine button placement and sew on.

Photos - Finished!




..and my primitive label :)

Spool {}

Placemat Bag

This bag is repurposed from a $2 placemat. I cut the handle rectangle, zigzagged around the edges, and sewed up the sides. Quick and easy. The nifty appliqued stripe and leaf were already there.

New Bag

Here's a new wristlet (designed by Spool - in other words, Me!) in Michael Miller Paisley. This one's a little wonky, so I think I'll make another to get it right :) I need tags too. Maybe just a simple Spool drawing stamp will do...

The Shower Curtain Project

I found a shower curtain on clearance at Target and thought of all the great things I could make out of it. Here's the collection so far - a tote bag for my daughter's 1st grade teacher (my design), a box for my Brother-In-Law's Significant Other (It looks like Amy Butler's box, but I didn't follow the directions), and a Book for my Husband's Niece (my interpretation of Sue B's lesson)! I'm almost out of fabric now. The last item on the list is still to come :)