Reusable Snack Bag Tutorial!

So as I am totally approaching "hippie" status and have tried to make our kids lunchboxes montessori approved so to speak, I have been wanting to eliminate ziplock for quite a while. I found some cute tutorials via pinterest and tweaked the method and what not to make it fit my lazy style needs. These are hand wipeable and machine washable. You can tumble dry LOW, or air dry (my preference). They are a great size for snacking and stand up to be filled! LOVE IT.

Fabric Requirements:
outer fabric 14 X 7 3/4
PUL 14 X 7 3/4
trim fabric 14 X 3
ribbon 2 pieces 5 inches long
velcro 7 inches

Step 1:
Iron trim piece in half.

Step 2:
Fold ribbon in half and pin to the right side of the outer fabric 3 1/2 inches from outer edge.

Step 3:
Carefully align the trim piece over the folded ribbons and use the same pins to hold everything in place.

Step 4:
Place PUL piece on top of fabric stack vinyl side down and pin.

Step 5:
Sew down the pinned edge with a 1/4 inch seam

Step 6:
Open everything flat making sure seam allowance is on the PUL side of the seam.
Switch to a zig zag stitch. Align one side of velcro with the seam, on the PUL side. Zig Zag down the velcro, when you come to the end of the first piece of velcro butt the matching piece up after it and continue stitching. Repeat with the other velcro edge.

Step 7:
Switch back to straight stitch. Edgestitch (fancy way of saying stitch right along the edge) the trim "flap" down.

Step 8:
Take a minute to admire your work... yep.. you are awesome.
Fold your project in half so the velcro attaches and everything lines up straight.

Step 9:
Trim a 1 3/4 inch square from each corner.
Place two pins in the PUL side approximately 2 inches apart. This is where you will "leave open for turning"

Step 10:
Sew around the perimeter of the bag, not on the little cut out areas you just made, and DON'T SEW BETWEEN THE PINS!

Step 11: Make those corners!
There is nothing like a flat bottom hmmm?
Remember those little square areas you notched out? Match up the seams of the bag bottom and bag side and squish it flat together like a little mouth. Stitch with a 1/4 inch seam.  repeat for all corners.

Step 12: Turn IT!
Reach in through the little opening and turn the insides inside and the outside outside... here's a hint, you will have to separate the velcro with your finger to get all the parts where they belong.

Step 13:  Close it..
Turn the bag so the PUL side is out. Find the area you left open for turning, carefully fold the raw edges in and match it up nicely. Zig Zag this opening closed and trim any threads.. Technically your can blind stitch this by hand, but hand stitching makes me want to poke my eyeballs out.

Step 14: enhance it
In order to make sure your hard work isn't worn out by an impatient toddler take the time to reinforce the stitching holding the ribbon in place at the bottom of the trim.  you will have to switch to "free arm" sewing for this. That means take the storage pocket off the machine and put the bag over the "arm" like a little jacket.

Step 15: Stuff and enjoy!

Blast Off! Quilt

With the Dixie Classic fair coming to town, we have been collecting up our entries, and finishing some off. Only the kids are entering this year, as I was not well enough to finish anything it seems. Perhaps the most exciting entry so far is Connor's new BSF quiet time quilt. He saw a pillow case on Don't Look Now, that he loved, but he wanted to make it a little different. He drew out his idea on paper and then I took him to JoAnn. He carefully selected his fabrics, and as we didn't have a recipe to follow I just guessed on a quarter yard of each. I cut the blocks and strips and stacked it up like a little kit. I also splurged on a $2 1/4 inch seam foot for Hannah's Hello Kitty Janome machine so that they would be able to learn actual quilt making skills.

Cubby is so particular, and his eye for color and arrangement is amazing!! In the fabric store as he was selecting the yellow he held three or four different one's up an was saying.. this one is too brown, this one is not bright enough. AMAZING!! He finally selected a hand-dyed batik that was Not even remotely on sale, but how can you argue with a boy who can see brown in yellow?

The Space fabric he chose is Debbie Mumm and really is adorable. He appliqued the Earth, Moon, two stars and a Rocket Ship using Steam a Seam Lite 2 (which was very easy to use). Entries to the fair are due on Monday, so I hope he has enough time to finish it. I'm thinking he might have to just put ties through the layers, because I don't know how he could quilt very far in on that little machine. Also, I do not know how to quilt, so there is that little problem too.

So the final measurements will be around 60 inches X 30 inches.. they just use it to lie on when they practice being still and reflecting about God. So I'm hopeful it won't get too torn up.

Miss H has designed a pink and white kitty cat heart combination that will be amazing. (I just hope we can finish in time!!)

A Place to Start

Let's start at the very beginning.. a very good place to start...

I've started this blog for the express purpose of keeping track of the projects I complete and to force myself to organize share the projects I design for Miss H, Cubby, and someday Little Daddy, and Bit to do. There is, I noticed a slight dirth of usable, child friendly and still practical sewing projects for kids.

Miss H did get her Hello Kitty Janome for Christmas last year and she has put it to pretty good use. I'm hoping that one of these kids will turn into a great little crafter and hang out with me when I am old-er... so far the odds are good.