Flat Iron Case {knock off} Tutorial

So the other day I went to a home party at my sister in law's house for Thirty-One Gifts.  They have the cutest products! But the whole time I couldn't help thinking 'I could make that!'  Especially when I saw these adorable hot iron cases. (Picture from their fall catalog (image source))

Look how simple!  But what a great Christmas gift...yeah I know, we still have Halloween & Thanksgiving to get through but let me tell you there's nothing worse than waiting till the last minute to make Christmas gifts.  It creates way too much unneeded stress!

Here's my fairly easy Hot Iron Case Tutorial:

Materials:

Exterior Fabric (I used a laminated cotton)

Batting (could use Insul-bright)

Heat resistant interior fabric (I used something like this)

Coordinating Piping (optional)

2" Velcro

First, cut your fabric.  You'll need the following:

18"x6" rectangle from exterior,  interior, and batting

14 1/2" x 6" rectagle of exterior, interior, and batting

Find a round object in your house to give the short ends a curve.  On your shorted (pocket) piece leave one end straight.

Take exterior and interior short pieces and pin them right sides together along one of the short ends.  Sew along this end.

Now open and lay this piece flat.  Take the short piece of batting and lay it along one of the pieces of fabric (I chose the interior fabric).  Then bring the exterior fabric over, sandwiching the batthing.  Pin the short end where you sewed before.

Topstich along this short side.  If you are using a laminated fabric then use a nonstick foot on your machine.  (My machine came with one).  Baste around the rest of this shorted piece & add velcro about an inch or so from the top.  I did not and had to hand stich it on later so I don't have a picture. 

Adding the piping: *this makes the project more intermediate if you want an easier version I will post another tutorial showing you how.

Start with the large piece of exterior fabric.  I started in the bottom corner and pinned the piping (with the rough edge facing out) around the whole piece.  At the corners I cut little notches so it would curve better.   

Here you can see where I began and ended.

Baste this in place.

Now take the shorter (pocket) piece and lay it on top of the piece you just sewed the piping on.  Make sure the exterior fabrics are facing each other.  Line up the bottom edges, you should have about 3" above the top of the pocket piece. 

Pin in place.  Tip:  If using a laminated fabric pin along your sewing line so that you don't leave holes in the fabric.

Sew in place leaving a 3-4" opening toward the top of one side.  It's important that you feel for the piping making sure to get your seam pretty close to it.  You can peak inside as your going to see where you need to sew close.  Take your large piece of batting and baste it on to one side of your project. 

Now carefully turn it rightside out.  I started at the top, then fold it down.  Make sure to keep the pocket to one side as you turn. 

Now pin your opening closed and topstich around the whole thing.  I used my nonstick foot and largest stitch my machine does (5mm).   

Add velcro to your flap, making sure it lines up with the piece you sewed on earlier.

Now your project is complete! 

Make one for yourself or to give away!  While you're at it make a matching makeup bag!

Flower Pot Photo Wrap

With Mother's Day around the corner- seriously there's only 1 week!  I feel like it really snuck up on me with Easter being so late.  I came across this tutorial & it got me thinking.  There's nothing a mother loves more than adorable pictures of her children or family & what if those pictures were displayed around a beautiful flowering plant?  This would be great for Grandmas too! 

What you'll need:

small flower pot

fabric (fat quarter- for small pots)

1/2" elastic

bias tape

clear vinyl (one of those bags your sheets come in works well)

pictures of your kids/family

First we'll take some measurements.
1.Measure the diameter of the bottom.
2. Then the top of the pot.

3. Lastly, the height.

Now we need to find the circumference of the top & bottom circles so use this equation:

Diameter x pi (3.14159) = Circumference

Take the height measurement + 1/2 of the bottom diameter + 1 inch = Trapezoid height

Now cut out a trapazoid shape using the top circle circumference for the length of the top, the bottom circle circumference for the length of the bottom, the Trapezoid height from the equation above.  Add seam allowances to all sides.

Cute ONE trapezoid in this shape.

My measurements were:

top diameter 5", so the circumference is 15.7 + .5 seam allowance = 16.2"

bottom diameter is 4", so the circumference is 12.5 + .5 seam allowance = 13"

Flower pot height is 4", so the Trapezoid height will be (4 + 2 +1) = 7"

PS this is very similar to Delia's Easter Basket Liner.

Now, cut out your fabric and iron the top down 1" and the bottom up 1/2" then again half the diameter of the bottom of the pot.  This will give you the proper size for the front of the wrap.

Now we are ready to make the photo pocket!

Decide the size of the photo you are using & make sure it will fit on the front of the wrap (remember there will be a border so you don't want to crop it too close to the people in the picture!).

Cut a piece of the vinyl to the size you want your pocket to be.

Now we are going to sew the bias tape around the vinyl.  Open up your bias tape and start by lining up the raw edge of bias tape along bottom edge of vinyl.  Leave a couple inches of bias tape unsewn so we can attach it to the end when we get around the whole vinyl piece.

Now when you get to the first corner, stop 1/4" away and fold it up so that it forms a 45 degree angle in the corner.  Fold the bias tape back over itself and sew down the new side doing the same thing at each corner until you have returned to where you started.  **I did not pin because I didn't want holes in my vinyl & I slide some tissue paper under the vinyl to help it not stick to the sewing maching.

When you return to where you began, stop and inch or so away and fold the tails so that their edges meet and press to create a crease. Sew those 2 pieces together along the crease then open back up and continue sewing your bias tape to the vinyl.

Now fold the bias tape over and lets attach it to the front side!

Make sure to miter the corners.  It may not look perfect (it's hard working with sticky vinyl!).

We're almost done!  Grab your trapezoid shaped fabric and sew along the hem at the top (I did a double row because orginally I was going to add elastic but it turns out it isn't needed).  Then sew your photo pocket on- remember to leave the top open so you can slide the picture in ;)

Then sew a very loose stich along the bottom making sure to backstitch as the beginning so you don't pull your thread out.  Then pull the fabric tight.  Not pictured is sewing along the side seam to finish this baby off! 

Now slide your picure in and voila you have a great gift ready for mom or grandma! I added a little rick rac around the top... there are really so many ways you could embellish this!

   

Making a list and checking it twice {Christmas Gifts}

After reading Gwenny Penny's Handmade Christmas Gift List it inspired me to make my own.  As of now I have the list floating around in my head and this will be a great way to organize it.  This will be the first Christmas I am making this many gifts so I hope I actually end up getting them all done. 

The first gift is a Hot Iron Carrier.  I need to make at least 2 but more would be good to have on hand in case I need an extra gift. The tutorial is from Crap I've Made.

Next, is a Casserole Carrier.  I need to make one. The tutorial is from Moda Bakeshop.

Then I’ll whip up a Tied Fleece Blanket.  Using these directions.

I’d like to make 2 double potholders. This tutorial is from The Boy Trifecta.

I’d like to make at least one of these wallets.  The tutorial is from Quiltish.

And 2 of these make-up rolls.  The tutorial is from Freshly Picked.

Lastly, I'll probably whip up a couple of these coffee cozies for those coffee lovers. The tutorial is from All Things Heart & Home.

 I could add more but this seems like enough.  To top it off I am making an Advent Calendar with Homemade by Jill’s sew along.

Whew, I better get going!

~Erica