Mini Zipper Pouches

Hello again,

Yesterday I spent my day cutting interfacing scraps and how! I used my regular rotary cutter and cutting 2-3 layers of woven interfacing at one go. I must admit, it took up a lot of energy!

I ordered an electric cutter online last week and they said they will deliver it by 2nd of November. But at night, DH brought my electric cutter and I was so excited. Today morning I tried cutting several more interfacing, fabrics, and lining fabric. I LOVED it! I can cut 9 -10 layers of regular cotton and around 6 layers of woven interfacing at one go!! Howzzaat! 

 And out of excitement, I made these cute mini pouches today. 

 Two of the pouches are zipper tissue pouches and one coin pouch. 

You can find the mini zipper tissue pouch pattern HERE or go the Pattern Category in my blog. It's always fun to make things with cute and pretty fabrics, right?

Mickey Mouse Tissue Zipper Pouch 

I guess I made the right decision by ordering the electric cutter. It makes "batching" work so much easier. For me, cutting interfacing is the most tedious job of purse/wallet making. 

This pretty pink fabric was from my scrap bin. Last Friday I cleaned my scrap bins and threw out quite a bit, esp the smallest pieces, like the corner cuts of bags and big pouches I made earlier. I made this coin pouch using the same pattern, but without the tissue holder pieces. 

Floral Pink Card Holder

Sorting out scrap bins always feel like opening a treasure box. My DH always laughs at me, because I always end up keeping most of the scraps again, instead of throwing them out. But how can you throw a pretty fabric like this, right?

These are the Before and After Photo of my interfacing scraps. I sorted out the woven interfacing and still need to sort out the heavy interfacing ones. 

Scraps - Before

For now, I rolled them up according to the projects. Now I have enough interfacings to keep me busy for a couple of weeks. 

Scraps - After 

And here is the picture of my new toy.  

Photo is from google 

How do you do your "batching"? Do share in comments, I'd love to learn. I'm pretty bad with keeping things organized LOL. 

Until then,

Happy Sewing

Linky Party :
Bagmaker Tuesday
Handmade Monday 

and I'm featured in Handmade Monday! Yay!

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,

New Fabric bundles are up!

Hello,

It's festive season now in India. The boys just finished their half yearly exam and Durga Puja holiday just started. Now I can go back to settle my messy sewing room. It's  overflowing with fabrics from the process of making fabric bundles.

I used to be obsessed with finishing everything in a certain frame of time. But, recently I just take it as it comes. If I only have time to cut one fabric or to sew one pocket so be it. As long as I enjoyed it. Afterall I am my own boss, right?

Today few bundles are uploaded in  Chezvies Fabrics Club on Facebook. The group member can have early access to the bundles. Each bundle is different. They may be in similar colors but different prints. It's totally one of a kind bundles. Indian fabrics have so many color hues. Greens, pinks, yellows, oranges, reds and all of them are just too beautiful.

Join the Club to get FIRST ACCESS to the Bundles

If you love Kantha quilt and want to make one yourself, the pretty bundles will be a great start. Now that reminds me of my unfinished baby quilt. I have done the top but have not got the time to make the sandwich.

Right now, few are already posted in the group. More will be added from time to time as time permits. Selecting fabrics, cutting them into fat quarters, folding, taking photos and editing and finally put them up in the shops are taking so much time. Since I do everything alone. But I really enjoy the whole process. 

Now all photos are edited and I will put them up in the shops whatever is left from the CLUB. 

If you're into Linen, I also got gorgeous block printed linens. It's simply beautiful. Check it out below this post.

Thank you for stopping by,

Until then,

Happy Sewing

Tutorial Reversible Quilted Trivet or Coaster

Hello,

I'm still in scrap buster mode. Now, let's make Reversible Trivets or coaster. It's really easy - mind numbing project. This is the kind of project that lifts up your spirit or gets your sewing mojo back.

Alright, here's what you need:

- Fabrics scraps of various sizes and colors. 

- Batting scraps - I am using flannel in this tutorial. 

First, you need to decide the size. I normally go with the whatever size of the batting scraps. In this project, the batting is roughly 6.5" x 7". 

Now grab 2 small pieces of fabrics and put them RIGHT SIDE TOGETHER in the middle of your batting piece. Sew with 1/4" seam allowance. You can go with 1/2" or 3/8 seam allowance. It doesn't really matter. 

Now flip them open and finger press. I trimmed the pink stripe fabric a little bit. For a small project, the narrower the fabric strip the better. At least for me.

Now take another strip of fabric and put them Right Side Together along with the longer side of the previous unit. Sew down with 1/4" seam allowance. 

Flip it open and finger press. 

Repeat the process until the batting area is covered. Once done, start quilting the panel. I love doing line quilting. You can quilt it in whatever design you like. Don't worry even if it's not straight. It's "your quilt, your rule" kind of project. 

Once it's done, trim the panel to the desired size. In this tutorial, I trimmed the panel into 5.5" x 5.5" roughly. It doesn't have to be square. 

Repeat the whole process with the other piece of batting and now you have 2 bright and beautiful quilted fabrics ready to make into something F U N. 

If you want to make a pot holder, you can add another piece of batting in between the two quilted panels. 

for trivet or coaster, it's not necessary. Put the quilted panels right side together, and sew all around, leaving 2" gap for turning. 

Trim the edges by cutting the corners diagonally. Be careful not to cut into the stitches. 

Now turn the coaster inside out. Close the gap by hand sewing the opening or apply fabric glue. 

Voile, your one of a kind coaster is done and you can admire it. 

Actually, whenever I made something from those small scraps I feel like I saved the world. LOL. I wish I could sew clothes like Zero Waste Daniel . 

Here is another one I did. This one was hand quilted and hand sewn the binding. 

You can make many things with those tiny scraps. 

Like  Patchwork Pouch, Mug rug,  Table Topper or scrappy table mat. 

Now go and make few from your scraps. Tag me on Facebook or Instagram if you made something from this tutorial.

And if you ever need fabric scraps, you are most welcome to join the CLUB or check the CHEZVIES SHOP. 

Thank you for stopping by.

Until then,

Happy Sewing

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Indian Fabric Bundles

Patchwork Pouch

Hello,

Never threw out even the smallest piece of your favorite fabrics! You can turn them into this pretty patchwork pouch. 

I was organizing my small scraps last Saturday and as a bonus, I decided to make this pouch. Actually I started out with card holder in mind. I even took out Suzuko Koseki book for guidance. 

I decided to do quilt as you go method since some of the scraps are quite tiny. And when the panel is ready, I was thinking, it will be better to make pouch! 

So here is the QAYG pouch with 2 different sides. One side is sober color and a bit brighter on the other side. 

I love zipper with binding, I made once and have not attempted again. So, this time I decided to do just that. Zipper with binding! and I love how it turned out.

I added faux leather tassle too. It's uber cute!! Each piece of fabrics in this pouch has a memory of it's own. Some of them are from the leftover binding, some are from the corner cuts of a bag, etc. It is  a special pouch! If you want to purchase the pouch, it's available HERE. 

I know I'll be making more, but there are so many other things I want to sew. My list keep growing. 

Thank you for stopping by!

Until then,

Happy Sewing

Improvisation Part Deux - Family Passport Holder for 4

Hello again,

Weather is still pleasant in the Northeast of India. We got plenty of rain (and storm) this year and I hope the summer will not be too hot. 

Since I posted my family passport holder with 4 slots in Facebook , many has message me. Many people need a smaller version of the wallet. 

If you already bought the pattern (if you have not, links available at the end of this post), here's simple things you can do.

To make 4 slots passport holder :

1. Cut only the top and bottom card slots (Exterior Fabric, Lining and Interfacing).  And proceed as per pattern instructions.

2. Adjust the main body piece (Exterior, Lining, batting) by reducing the HEIGHT by 1 inch. The width should remain the same. 

3. (Optional) Reduce the WIDTH of the flap exterior and the interfacing piece by 1 Inch. The length of the flap piece should remain the same. Or else you don't have to change the flap pattern if you want a wider flap, just like  these fun and beautiful wallets by Kausalya of The Turquoise Paisley

 Now,  don't you love her wallets? They are super cute and fun. Check The Turquoise Paisley Facebook page to see more of fun handmade passport wallets and other fun stuff she made from Indian Fabrics. 

Who wants a boring black faux leather Travel Wallet if you can get a fun,  cute and one of a kind Handmade Wallet? 

The Family Passport Holder pdf pattern is available  here:

CRAFTSY

ETSY

CHEZVIES 

(Printed Pattern & Kits available in ChezVies - Price in INR)

if you already got one and have any questions, you can always email me. 

Until then,

Happy Sewing

New Kits on the Shop

Hello,

It's already Thursday. The past week several week I was busy mostly with non-sewing related works. The boys' annual exam, then the piano concert at the same time preparing for another cricket tour to Delhi. At the same time I was releasing the new pattern. 

Meanwhile, few of you are requesting me to make sewing kits for my patterns {thank you!!} and yes, finally I added them today. In fact you can request me to make custom kits for you. I'd be happy to do so!

I have been making my own pattern for my own use. Well, not until recently that I decided to digitalised them. It's so much easier to have a pattern ready to print then referring to my book every time I want to make the same thing.

Today, I added two more kits and patterns in the shop. You can purchase directly from this blog. 

Let me know what you think!! 

Until then,

Happy Sewing

Fabulous fabrics

I've been busy revamping my shops. Running online shops is not as easy as one two three anymore. Most people are selling online, so we have to get more creative in presenting our products. Thousand of competitors are emerging everyday. And VISUAL presentation is VERY important. So during this break time I pull out my stocks and starts re-taking pictures and editing and update the shop. And believe me, it's tiring LOL it's so worth it!!

 

I started one morning, I decided to pull out my stocks from the cupboard and start sorting out by the sets. Cutting, folding and ironing was the next step. Stacked them neatly for photo shoot.

Winter sun was not so bright, the good thing is I can take photos until 1 pm in the afternoon. I set up my "photo booth" and start styling and start clicking. In between I took photos with my phone and posted them in Instagram. It took me almost 2 weeks to get most of the stock photographed.

I'm still editing few of them, but  most of the fabrics are updated in my website. Speaking about website, now I know why many handmade business coach always said about starting your own website or webstore? because it's SO MUCH FREEDOM, not to mention that you get to keep most of the the $$$, unless someone is paying thru paypal then you have to pay the paypal fees. 

I have added currency converter too so it's easier for shoppers from outside India to purchase. 

I've been working on the website  from scratch since October. It still need a lot of improvement. 

I am using Ecwid  which I find quite easy for me with limited knowledge. I found using Ecwid starter site is quite beneficial to me. 

So, please take a little time to visit my store at CHEZVIES and let me know what do you think about it. I'd love some feedbacks ;)

Thanks a lot for stopping by

 until then...

HAPPY HOLIDAYS !!