Best Five of 2018

I stumbled upon Meadow Mist post where she has a linky party going on for Best of 2018. Blogging wise 2018 has been amazing for me. I wrote and shared more regularly and in the hype of social media sharing, blogging (for me) has been a steady anchor. I realized that managing 4-5 social media accounts with their ever changing algorithm is just impossible for me. 

So, here is my best 5 of 2018: (Click the Title to go  to the original post)

1.  Quilted Sling Bag Tutorial

This was part of being TGIFF host! I have the tutorial written on the blog but you can also download the FREE PDF version in HERE.

2. Quilted Log Cabin Sling Bag

This is one of my personal fave. This is  when I conquered my own fear of small piecing and making quilted bag. There is always the first time they said.

 3. TRIFOLD WALLET

One of my best sellers in my Etsy shop! You can get the pattern HERE or in Etsy. 

4. Another Log Cabin Sling Bag

This log cabin sling bag was made for order. Improved a few things from the first one. You can read a few tips on the Blog

5. Wallet Binding Mini Tutorial

This is tutorial for hand sewing wallet binding. As you may already noticed that I always prefer hand sewn binding whenever possible, since it gives a neater finish. 

I'm looking forward to write more post in 2019 and hopefully will share more tutorials! Don't forget to subscribe to get latest updates! 

Thank for reading my blog, I wish you a wonderful year ahead!!

~ Elvira~ 

***********************

Linky Party: 

Best of 2018 
Handmade Monday
Show Off Saturday
TGIFF - Lisa in Porthope

NEW PATTERN!! Single Passport Wallet

Hello there,

Finally, after few months I completed the pattern and is now on Special Price in Etsy and Craftsy.

Single Passport Wallet

and if you're in India, you can check the pattern category on the top of this post or scroll down to shop directly.

Special thanks to Maria and Susan for helping me testing and proofreading the pattern. As English is not my first language, there's a lot to learn. At home, we speak English, Assamese, and Hindi. Also, I talk/chat with my family and friends in Bahasa Indonesia. So, at times, it's a bit confusing lol. 

But don't worry, I included a lot of photos and few diagrams to help you understand the pattern better, even if English is not your first language like me. 

Without further ado, let's admire what Maria and Susan have made:

I simply love this hexagon wallet that Maria made. She and her florals can be very contagious lol ..if you see me making more florals in the future, the credit goes to her! 

When she asked me if she could improvise a bit, I said "definitely!!" and look what a smart addition she made. She said the slot is perfect for her smartphone! Very clever Maria.  

here a closer look!. I am going to add this next! Thank you, Maria! 

And here is Susan's wallets. She made 2  wallets and look how neat they are! 

she suggested that attaching the flap a few inch away from the wallet's edge is better for hand sewing the binding. 

 This is her second wallet and I LOVE the fabric. It looks like leather. It's perfect for travel wallet, isn't it? 

and even prettier inside <3 

The second wallet, she attached the flap away from the edge. It's the same method I used in the Family Passport Wallet Pattern. 

So, based on Susan's suggestion, I added a bonus tutorial for the flap. And of course, you can always make improvisations, like maybe a wider flap with a hexagon applique like the one I did previously. 

So, grab the pattern now and start making and selling. Don't forget to tag me on Facebook or Instagram  or use hashtag #chezvies or #chezviespatterns if you want me to find you ^^.

Until then, 

Happy Sewing

Small Passport and Card Holder

Hello,

Just a quick post. I've been busy writing the instructions for my next wallet pattern and able to finish these 3 wallets in 2 days! That was a record. What's the secret? Uninstall Facebook app from my phone! Yes, that is the secret! I found I spent too much time just browsing, most of the time aimlessly, on Facebook and less sewing. The "just 5 minutes" can stretch to 2 hours or more. I feel I need to be more focus on getting works done then just admiring other people works!

Anyway, the pattern is coming along very nicely, thank you for my dear friends who came forward to ask about my next pattern. I feel so blessed. Sometimes, I think it's a way of God to nudge me, to remind me that I have more important things to do then just snooping around on Facebook LOL. I do need that big nudge. So thank you once again! #hugs (you know who you are)!

So here are my wallets, now they are available on ETSY and CHEZVIES WEBSITE.

I have quite a few cute cats print fabrics and I took out two of them. First one is this blue cat wallet. Arent's they cute? I really love the black and white chevron too. The chevron I got from  Indonesia last year. 

The wallet is pretty quick to make and it's fun to make. I think that's the fabric effect. Ha! 

 The next one is this orange cat Wallet. My fave! Look at those naughty smiles. 

I even hesitated for a while before installing the metal tag. Just didn't want to cover the smiles with my tag. 

I also made this retro type black and white wallet with bright pink and red combo. It's just perfect for those who love a little splash in life. 

And I felt so happy when I found the flap matched perfectly. Well, life is full of surprises. Sometimes, even the best plan doesn't work out! 

About the pattern, I hope to release it next Tuesday! So watch this space for more pictures from my friends. 

Thank you for stopping by today! 

Happy Sewing,

Bifold Wallets

Hello,

I've been very busy with fabrics in the past few weeks. I tried to destash some of my stocks by making them into fabric bundles and fabric duos. And in the process, loads of inspiration going through my mind and one of them was these kawaii (cute) bifold wallets. 

Matryoshka Bifold Wallet

 I used the pattern from Napkitten Pattern in Etsy. The pattern is a bit confusing at first since it does not have a template. I decided to make templates based on the measurement given. 

Blue Owl 

After you get the hang of it, it sort of addictive. I'm happy because I can use some of the fabrics from my scrap bins. Leftover binding from my passport holders,

While making these wallets, I realized how much I enjoyed making small things from fabric remnants. Sometimes, we tend to be carried away by the current trend, that we lost our own focus. 

I realized I love making small things or something bigger with more details.  I find it more challenging and it gives me immense satisfaction when I can complete it. 

Quilted Bifold Wallet 

I like to try a new technique or new materials since in India we don't have fancy bag making materials. I like to experiment and to see how's the result.

Pink Owl Bifold Wallet

 The bifold wallet, even though it's quite small, it has bill compartment, slots for few cards, slip pockets and coin pouch. I am currently using one. It fits nicely into my fave sling bag. 

"SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO LOSE YOURSELF TO DISCOVER WHO YOU MIGHT YET BE SOMETIMES WHAT FEELS LIKE BREAKING DOWN IS REALLY JUST BREAKING FREE" - CRISTEN RODGERS

Thank you for stopping by today,

Until then,

****************************************

LINKS:

Etsy Shop

Chezvies Shop

Chezvies Fabrics Club

{Tutorial} Another Wallet Mitered Binding

Hello,

Many friends asked me how I do my wallet binding. I love wallet with binding because it's stronger and it's one of a kind! You won't find the same wallet in the world. I guarantee that ^^

Handmade Family Passport Holder

Ok, so here's how:

(you can use cross cut or bias binding. The binding width is 1.5" ).

1. Start sewing the binding with 3/8" seam allowance. See the picture below, I folded the binding diagonally. 

This is the beginning of the binding

 Stop approx 3/8" from the corner, and turn the wallet diagonally and sew to the corner.

2. Now flip the binding strip to outward to the right 

3.  And flip it back again like shown in the picture below.  Make sure the fold at the top is lined up straight with the edge. 

4. Now sew the binding from the top with 3/8" seam allowance. Continue in the same manner until the end. 

At the end of the binding, overlap the binding strip like in the picture below

When you finish and fold the binding to the other side, you will have a neat mitered corner 

Nothing like a perfect ending, right? 

Now, finish your binding by hand. I love hand sewn binding. I tried several times to finish it with a machine but not very happy with the result.

This tutorial is an update version of my previous post. 

I hope you find this helpful. Let me know in the comment if you do or if you want more tutorial. 

Happy Sewing 

{ NEW PATTERN } - CARD WALLET ORGANIZER & TESTER PHOTOS

Yay! Finally now the pattern is LIVE on Craftsy, Etsy and Chezvies. It will be on SALE until I come back from my trip to Japan by End of January. 

First of all I want to thank all my friends for generously help me testing the pattern and also for their invaluable input/comments which help me in perfecting the pattern ❤❤

The pattern features :

12 or 16 cards slots, 2 flap styles included in the pattern templates, 2 zipper pockets and 2 slip pockets, clear step by step instructions with graphics and photos. 

In my previous post I mentioned about the fabulous tester result by my generous facebook friends. Now you will get to see them and what they think about the pattern. Let's Start! 

Maria of Miacreates  was the first one to post and I love how neat her work is. It's simply perfect. You will love all her shabby chic style creations. Here's her comments about the pattern : Great pattern and love the inside concealed zipper

 Sudha Sekhar from Madras Motifs always come up with something quirky and unique. And sure enough she came up with this cute Elephant print CWO.An elephant wallet with bright contrast card slots inside and she said "All in all its a very simple, straightforward pattern"

 

Novi is my bestie from college. She converted into the world of sewing few years ago and I love her one-of-a-kind style. Whatever she made, she never made them twice. She came up with this cute Japanese Linen wallet. Using different print for flap really give a unique result.

My BFF Agnes tested the first draft and she's one of my "brainstorming" buddies. She tried the triangle flap and I love how neat it is. This is what she said about the pattern "This CWO pattern is very clear and easy to follow, especially the pictures, they are very helpful". Her hubby thought she bought it! Ha, I guess it's high time to take your sewing hobby to a different level ;)

And here's Susan of SKH51 Teal and Grey Wallet. I really love her fabric choice. This is what she said about the pattern "It's a really super pattern!" Susan's work is alway fantastic. You can follow her works in her instagram and I am sure you will love it too!!

Here's my friend, Hernik of Jemariku from Kuala Lumpur who loves anything shabby chic. I always love her work and how neat it is. Red is another fave color of mine. It's my "cheer-me-up" color. I love how she added a fancy leather strap there. She said she loved the pattern, because she can fit in her phone too!  

Alka of Sew Fab Stories really live up to her brand name. Whatever she does, it's fabulous. I love how the green binding make the orange pop. And look at how neat her work is. She said "Wonderful pattern with clear instructions" 

Sudesh Jangra of Stitch A Memory came up with this bright & beautiful red wallet. She just released her pattern too, so make sure to check out her Instagram to get a look at her popular pattern. 

Poonam of Quiltsiop is another artist that I admire. Her works show how much love and dedication she put into each one of them.  Don't you love this modern look wallet? Perfect binding too. She said "It was my first pattern testing and that's a wallet. I enjoyed making it. Instructions, measurements were clear to understand and follow". 

Prabha Mathew of Quiltaholics did another pretty wallet in spite of her busy schedule. She said  this is the first time she made concealed zipper and she was happy to be able to do it in one go. And it's pretty neat zipper!!  

I'm super happy everyone finds the wallet is easy to do and it's a fast project to sew. Perfect gift to make for your friends and family.

Once again, don't forget to get your copy while it's still on SALE.

Pattern Available here:

Craftsy

Etsy

Chezvies 

until then,

Happy Sewing