How to Make an Oversized Beach Bag

Materials:

• Main Fabric 24.5 x 44 inches
• Lining Fabric 24.5 x 44 inches
• Interfacing 23.5 x 43 inches
• Straps 5 x 40 inches
• Interfacing strips 1 x 40 inches
• Pocket Fabric 21 x 14 inches
• Zipper at least 14 inches
• Thread
• Sewing Machine
• Glue Stick
• Scissors

Step 1:  Cut and iron all fabric pieces

Step 2: Iron the interfacing onto the wrong side of the main fabric

Step 3: Create the pocket.  On the pretty side of the main fabric, measure at least 2 inches down and draw a straight line across horizontally.  Mark the center of this line. I marked mine with chalk.

Step 4: On the wrong side of the pocket fabric, measure 1.5 inches down from the top.  Draw a horizontal line.  From this line, measure above 1/4 inch and below the main line 1/4 inch.  Create a horizontal line at these 1/4 inch measurements. From the left side of the pocket fabric, measure in at least an inch and do the same thing on the right side.  This should create a box with a horizontal line in the middle.  From the corner of the box measure a line about 45 degrees creating a triangle at the end of the box.

Step 5: Place the right side of the pocket fabric on the right side of the main fabric matching up the lines created in the steps above. Pin and sew around the box that you created in step 4.

Step 6: Cut on the center line and cut straight down and also cut the lines you made for the 45 degree angle.

Step 7: Put the pocket through the hole you just cut and iron.  The pocket fabric should now be on the wrong side of the main fabric and there is a horizontal hole when you look at the main fabric. Iron both sides of the fabric.

Step 8: Put glue around the right side of the zipper and place the main fabric pieces (where the hole is) over the zipper. 

Step 9: Sew around the zipper 1/4 of an inch so the zipper attaches to the main fabric bag. 

Step 10:  With the main fabric facing right side down, iron the pocket and fold the pocket up and pin around the pocket itself. Be sure not to catch any of the bag fabric in the pins. Sew around the pocket.

Step 11: Pin the right sides of the main fabric together when you fold the bag in half. Sew the two sides 1/4 inch. (Your main part of the bag is complete).

Step 12: Sew the lining fabric right sides together leaving a hole 4-6 inches (so you can eventually turn the bag right side out).

Step 13:  Iron the straps in half (hot dog style) and iron.  Open the fabric back up and you will see the crease. Bring each edge to the crease and iron.  

Step 14: Take interfacing for the straps and iron the interfacing to the wrong side of the strap fabric. Fold the following the creases and top stitch the straps on each side 1/4 inch.

Step 15: Have the main fabric wrong side facing out and put your hand in the bag and push out the corner of the bottom bag as you will be making a triangle and cutting gussets.  Make a triangle about 2 inches, pin, and sew a straight line, cutting off the excess. Do the same thing with the other side of the bag and the lining fabric.

Step 16:  Assembling the bag.  The main bag should be wrong side out.  Attach the straps and choose your placement. I pinned them 2.5-3 inches in from the side seams. Leave the straps inside the bag.  Then take the lining fabric, right side out, and put lining fabric bag inside the main bag.  Sew around the edge of the bag so that the main fabric sews to the lining fabric and the straps are also attached all in the same stitch.

Step 17:  Find the hole that you left in the lining fabric and pull the main fabric bag right side out.  Push out the corners and sew the lining hole closed.  Put the lining fabric bag into the bag and you are done.

Oven Mitt Tutorial

Materials:

• 2 main fabric pieces
• 2 fabric lining pieces
• 2 pieces of fabric 4 inches by the width of the oven mitt OR bias tape
• 2 pieces of insulated batting
• 2 pieces of cotton batting
• Oven Mitt pattern
• Pins
• scissors
• Iron
• Thread
• Sewing Machine

Step 1: Iron the main fabric, lining fabric & fabric for the binding

Step 2: Sandwich the fabric together by laying the right side of the fabric down (wrong side facing up), then the cotton batting, then the insulated batting, and finally the lining fabric right side up.

Step 3: Pin around the edges to hold the sandwiched fabric together

Step 4: Start quilting the fabric. (I did squares and I did not measure, I just eye-balled it. You can take chalk and measure perfect lines if you wish)

Step 5: Once you have finished quilting the fabric, lay your oven mitt pattern on top of the fabric, pin and cut around the pattern.

Step 6: Flip the oven mitt over and do the same thing-pin the oven mitten pattern to the fabric and cut out. (If you don't flip the oven mitt pattern over, they two pieces wont line up at the thumbs!)

Step 7: The binding for the bottom of the oven mitt where your hands enter- Take either the bias tape you have or coordinating fabric.  I cut 2 pieces 4 inches wide by the length of the opening.  I then folded the fabric in half, ironed it to make a crease.  Open the fabric back up and take one edge of the fabric and bring it to the middle where it is not creased-iron it and do the same thing with the other side. This allows you to make your own bias tape.

Step 8: Put one edge of the binding/bias tape and line it up with the edge of the oven mitt opening (right sides facing together. Pin and sew along the crease

Step 9: Pull the fabric toward the opposite side of the oven mitt so where you enter your hand no longer has any raw edges.  Pin again and sew on the opposite side. Do this with both oven mitts

Step 10: Put both oven mitts right sides together, pin along the edges and sew around the oven mitt. Do not sew where your hand enters the mitt!

Step 11: Turn the oven mitt right side out and you are done!

Easy Envelope Pillowcase

This is an easy project and wont take you very long to do. It's a great beginning project! :)

Materials Needed:

• Scissors
• 2 yards of fabric (depends on how big your pillows are and how many you are making)
• Pins
• Sewing machine
• Pillow
• Iron

Step 1: Measure your pillow that you will be covering. My pillow measured 17x17 inches.

Step 2: Prepare fabric by ironing it smooth.

Step 3: Cut fabric. Cut your top piece which you will take the measurement of your pillow and subtract an inch. In my case I have a 17x17 inch pillow, so I will cut my top piece 16x16 inches.

Step 4: Cut bottom pieces. There will be two separate pieces for the bottom to create the opening in order to put the pillow form in. Cut one piece 16x8 inches and the other piece 16 x11 inches.

Step 5: Hem the bottom pieces on the side that measures 16inches.  This will create the envelope. Fold the fabric over ¼ inches, iron flat and pin. Sew using a straight stitch across this fold and back stitch at the end.

Step 6: Lay top piece down (right side facing up) and lay bottom pieces on top of that piece (right side facing down) so that the right sides are together. Pin around the edges. And sew around the whole square about ¼ inch.

Step 7: Turn the pillow right side out and you are finished.