October's Ho Ho Ho and On We Sew :)

Welcome to my post for the October Ho Ho Ho and On We Sew linky party - I'm glad you could make it!  Each month Paula at Mud, Pies and Pins, and Fiona at Celtic Thistle Stitches, host a linky party where we can post our Christmas ideas and finishes - it's a great way to get Christmas prep inspiration and ideas throughout the year, and a kick in the behind to get busy if we need it :D  At the end of the post you'll find a link to this month's linky - everyone who posts a project to it has a chance to win (you don't have to comment to enter).  This month's giveaway is provided by Sarah at duck egg threads --- the prize is 3 X F8's of seasonal Liberty fabric - check it out - so gorgeous!

DELICIOUS Liberty fabrics - OH MY!

I like doing shaped zippies (a recent finish here) but the usual way of putting them together -  lining up odd shapes evenly, and getting the zipper aligned properly - isn't something I do well, so I do them my own way. I made a very simple ornament zippy for my tutorial, and have some other shapes finished to share as well.  I  kept the designs simple as I  need to make a dozen of these in varying designs for Christmas :D  Even Santa takes shortcuts ;)

I'm not doing a detailed tutorial of how to make a zippy - there are tons of those on the internet.  Rather, my tutorial will explain my method of doing the shapes in an easy way that has a "fudge factor" built in.  Certainly try to be accurate, but it's easier to stitch on a drawn pattern than it is to cut out curves and try to align them properly for stitching.  For me, anyways!

For my project, I traced a small plate onto cardboard and cut it out.  Mine measured 5 3/4" in diameter .  I drew a line through the center of the template for aid in placement on the fabric - my bag will have a center zipper, so that's where I drew the line.   I add about 1.5" "fudge factor" to my cutting measurements, so I cut out 7" squares of fabric, lining and batting (2 of each).  I also used an 8" zipper, a 3" piece of ribbon and 1" split ring for the "hanger", and a button to embellish the front (optional).

Make 2 stacks - one for the front, one for the back --- lining right side down, batting, outer fabric right side up.

Decide where your zipper will be placed - front or back, center or off center, horizontally or vertically.  Your shape choice will determine where the zipper would look best - mine will be on the back, centered horizontally.  Slice one of the stacks where the zipper will be installed.  Be careful with directional fabrics - make sure they're oriented properly.

Install zipper as normal, in the section you cut in half.  Again, make sure directional fabrics are oriented properly.  This photo shows the zipper installed on one of the two halves for the back.

This is what you'll have now - two sections - one with a zipper, one without.  In my case, the zippered section is the back - your mileage, of course, may vary :D

Gettin' there!  Stack the 2 pieces RST, with the zipper on top.  Trace around the template - since my zipper is centered, I used the center line on my template, and ran it along the center of the zipper  (don't forget to check fabric orientation).  The traced line will be your *stitching* line.

I wanted the "hanger" (tab) to be centered at the top of the pouch, with the zipper (in the back) centered horizontally.  I marked staystitching lines at the location for the tab (top center), and just outside the stitching line on either end of the zipper.  Those last 2 lines show me where to staystitch to keep the zipper from opening before its time :D  This photo shows the staystitching on either end of the zipper, and the tab placement top center.

Pin the hanger in place and - very important - open the zipper to the center of the bag.  If you've made pouches before you'll know that rule!

Home stretch!  Stitch on your traced line - I stitch around twice for strength.  Because you left your zipper open - you did, right?! ;) - you don't need to leave an opening in the shape, which makes life a lot easier when it comes to turning the item right sides out :D

Trim outside the stitched line about 1/4".  Be careful not to cut into your pouch or Santa's elves will be very angry with you :D  (I won't be angry with you though, because I've done that more than once, LOL)

Carefully turn right sides out, and give it a press on both sides.  Use a pressing cloth to protect your iron and your fabrics - my pressing cloth is actually a paper towel, but that's because Santa hasn't brought me a proper one :D

And ... it's done :)  I'm putting fun erasers and candy in mine.  While mine are very simple, the sky is the limit for designs, although the more detailed the design, the harder it gets to turn right sides out (even with my simple technique).  I hope to make more of these for the adults and am planning on adding pretty beading to them - I even have sequins I can stitch on for fun :)

Here are a few more that I've completed for this Christmas.  Note that for the stockings, the zipper location changed to front/top, so when I cut the fabric for that, I cut the *front*, and I cut it higher than center.  The area where the zipper is stitched, is about 3 1/2" wide - I wouldn't go much smaller than that because it would be hard to get into the bag to tuck the goodies.  Next time I'm going to patchwork white fabric at the top of each piece for the stocking cuff - I thought of that after I finished these :D

These ones are my favourites - I hope I have more of the holly fabric as I would make more of these but put red seed beads on the berries (for adult recipients) :)

There's also my Ho Ho Ho and On We Halloween pouch - in case you celebrate Christmas on Halloween?  ;)

And one more pair that I just finished up:

I hope my photos and explanation for this technique are clear enough - this is a simple project - I finished those  2 Christmas tree pouches 30 minutes after I took the first picture.  Please ask if I've missed anything, or if anything is unclear!  I drafted my templates based on images I found online (or based on a plate, HAHA) - they're so simple that even I could do most of them freehand.  You can get inspiration by image searching, for example (and without the "s) "colouring book pages Christmas" or "simple line drawings Christmas".

I hope you'll get a project done and hook it up to the linky party for a chance to win some lovely fabric!  Be sure to visit my co-hostess - Ella and Nesta @ Ella and Nesta's Little Room - I wonder what she's going to share with us :D  Thank you to all of our amazing sponsors - have a look around their sites when you have a chance - that's where I'm headed when I hit "Publish" on this post :D

http://www.patchworkelephant.com/

An InLinkz Link-up