What do you do when you're not in the mood to sew? Well, I took out my 2.5" container and admiring my neatly stacked 2.5" squares, and started piecing idly. I did not have any specific plan, but as I went on chain piecing a few ideas pop up in my head. I even have an ambitious dream of a scrappy quilt. Ha!
But then I decided to do a humble small project as a mood booster and this cute small drawstring bag is born. It's made up of 64 pieces of 2.5" squares. Padded and quilted by machine.
Each bag measured approximately 7.5" x 7.5" and it's fully lined. I used contrast stripes for the string/cord casing. I used a macrame cotton cord from Amazon India here and I kinda like the look of it. But next time I'll get a thinner one. For the stopper, I used Chandan wood (sandalwood) beads.
I was really inspired by Sensei Shizuko Kuroha's post on Instagram the other day. Well, I don't know how to read Japanese but from the translation, she more or less said "make everyday stuff that is small and useful". What she said really stuck in my head. I keep thinking, that often we make something that ends up piling up in the cupboard without being used (Like this quilt or this pillow). For me sometimes just for a sentimental reason :). Although I also used my makes every day from bags, wallets, pillows, table runners, etc there are a few stuff that I still don't have the heart to use or give away. I guess I must learn to be more generous :D.
And when you're having fun, you cannot just make one bag, right?
Another great news is the Kawandi QAL is officially started on Facebook Group. I'm so excited but still could not make up my mind what size I'm going to make. Most probably I will do a lap size quilt, cos I plan to use my dupatta (Indian stoles) for the backing layers. Brinda ma'am explained in Facebook live session last Sunday how to go about it. Now all sorts of ideas running around in my head, so I'll just think about it slowly. I hope I can share with you soon about my progress.
How's everyone doing? I hope you enjoy your summer this year even though you maybe just stay at home like me :D. The good thing is this year finally we put an AC in the living room which opens up to my drawing sewing room. So, I can do my work pretty comfortably during the summer, which can be very humid.
Another good thing is I have time to update my shops in Etsy as well as my Website with a few face masks and fabrics. When you're a solopreuner, running your small business from the drawing-room, it can be quite overwhelming sometimes, especially now with everyone is doing work/class from home. I will add more fabric bundles in the next few weeks, maybe a few bundles at a time. Creating a fabric bundle is fun because I just love Indian prints and colors. A few days ago, someone asked for black and white fabric which I posted on Instagram Reel and asking if I have another black and white. While pulling out fabrics, I realize that even in white there are so many shades :D
Sometimes, I get inspired and started making stuff, like these few 3D face masks using my own pattern. I use a couple of them and I must say it's the most comfortable masks! So lightweight and breathable. I either use cambric or poplin cotton for the lining because they are more tightly woven which is good for filtering. Even the triple-layer mask is still very comfortable.
In between, I managed to sew a couple of scrappy blocks from my 2.5" box. I haven't got time to continue my granny square quilt yet, but here I am started another scrappy project. This one doesn't need so much planning though. After looking at #scrappysquaresewalong on Instagram, I am so inspired to start one. Well, I'm not good at following a challenge or a quilt along. So, I'll do it at my own pace and will not stress over the deadline. It's supposed to be fun activities for me.
The block is scrappy 36 patch blocks (I love the first one I made) and I finished around 8 blocks now. I make 4 mini 9 patch blocks and then put them together. Sometimes I only able to do 1 mini blocks and sometimes I can finish 3 or 4 mini blocks.
I'm getting more addicted to making scrappy patchwork. For now, 2.5" squares is my fave cut. I don't cut them all at once, but I try to cut more frequently and I am so happy now I have more varieties from the remnants of the mask :D
If you'd like to see the fun scrappy bundle, check out my Etsy Shop or on my WEBSITE. I ship internationally from website too via DHL or sometimes FedEx if the customer prefers it. I'm so glad I got the DHL account done and I've been shipping out regularly now. I'll talk about my experience in my next post!
Thank you for stopping by today, stay creative & stay safe!
Hello, how's everyone doing? We're still on strict lockdown here in my city as cases crossed 11K. The lockdown is for 14 days which hopefully will end by 12th July. This week several relaxations were announced but not including activities for e-commerce. That means I have to wait until 13th July to be able to ship orders again. Meanwhile, I am working on a few orders and also preparing for all fabric orders. So once the e-commerce activities are allowed, I can start shipping immediately.
I made several changes for shipping in my Etsy Shops (Fabrics Shop and Handmade Shop) because there is uncertainty with India Post when they are going to start international services again. I will only use expedited shipping for now and onwards via DHL e-com and will give FREE UPGRADE to Express Shipping (5-7 business days delivery) if you shop for $50 and above.
I will be adding more fabrics in the coming weeks. My supplier just sent me a few collections. They've been rather badly hit by the intermittent lockdown since March with most of the market area being closed for months. And when it was allowed to open, there were no customers. Most of the shop owners here are not familiar with selling online, even if they are, their stocks are all in their shop, which means, no sales for months.
On the handmade side, I finished these wallets but not able to send them as yet. In between sewing face masks, sewing wallet is like a fresh breeze in spring :). Took me a couple of unpicking too. Well, for months out of practice.
Compact Bifold Wallet
Another wallet I really enjoyed making was this zip-around bifold wallet. It was on my list for a long time and finally, I made it. I made it slightly wider than the original pattern because she wanted to put her phone too. The original one is good for the phone too, but with zip closure, it's better to make it slightly wider. I think I'm going to make one for my self when time permits. You can find the Zipper Closure tutorial HERE
The state government has done a tremendous job to provide quarantine centers, from hotels to university hostels. Please do take precautions, maintain social distancing, wear a mask when you're not alone in public places, wash your hands frequently. We just need to learn to be a little discipline, a little considerate, use common sense if we want the curve to flatten. No unnecessary gathering.
Here my recent fave from Indonesian Idol finalist - Lyodra & Judika - The Prayer
Hello, how's everyone doing? I've been pretty busy making masks and few custom orders. I really appreciate your supports in the past few months since the pandemic started. It's been very tough for everyone, especially with heartbreaking news everywhere. Let's stay positive, be kind, and help each other. Do what we can as an individual as well as a community.
Today I will share how to scale up the mini sling bag the easy way without any computer involved. I know it's frustrating to scale up the pattern on the computer and print it a few times before you get the size that you want.
This mobile sling bag pattern is very versatile. You can easily adjust the pattern based on 2 things:
Phone model
Whether or not it has a softcover. Softcover makes the phone slightly thicker.
The basic is if you scale up the height of one part of the pattern do the same with the rest of the pattern pieces too. If you increase the height of the main body panel, increase the height/length of the pocket and flap too. Unless you want a shorter flap. Since the pattern pieces are mostly rectangle it's easy to increase the length or the height.
This basic rule applied if you want to increase the width too. I'd suggest increasing the width especially if you want to add a thicker batting or wadding. Now, here's how to increase the width of the curvy flap:
Take one piece of paper and fold it in half lengthwise. From the fold, mark how much you want to increase by drawing a straight line e.g 0.5 inches away from the fold.
Fold the original pattern lengthwise and place the fold on the line you just made and trace the pattern.
Now it will look like picture # 3. Cut along the line you just traced.
Your new wider pattern is done. This will increase the overall width by 1 inch. If you want to increase the overall width by 0.5 inches, draw the line 0.25 inches from the fold.
This matryoshka phone sling bag is to fit the new iPhone 11 and the newest android phone. I increase the length and width using the method above.
If you want to learn how to make this mini sling bag, you can get the pattern on ETSY or my Webshop.
Here is a supporting video I made a few months ago. I'll make better video when time permits :)
Half the year already and we're still busy sewing masks as positive cases are going up in thousands here in India. The other day I watched the third interview of South Korea Coronavirus Expert on Asian Boss Youtube Channel where he explained the origin of this coronavirus. He said it's from bats, but the intermediate animal which transmits the virus from Bat to human, the scientist suspected 2 wild animals, snake, and pangolin. He said humans may be infected during the process of capturing wild animals, not because of eating them. This is what happened with other previous outbreaks, like MERS and SARS.
what I learned from the video:
This virus is very small 1/10000th of 1 mm
It can't replicate itself in an external environment, it can only do so in a living cell. So if someone is exposed to the virus and the virus enters their respiratory cells, it will use the resources from the cells to replicate itself in thousands.
He also expected the second wave to happen around Fall because we don't have any vaccine yet.
Well, it looks like this Covid19 will be here for a while, and we have to learn to live with it by adapting to the new normal.
Finally this trifold wallet is done! It's a custom order which was finalized at the beginning of lockdown in March. She's a fan of Disney and wanted this specific fabric after she saw the family passport holder with the same print. Luckily I have just wide enough to make the wallet's exterior and a little bit for the wallet's interior.
Before I made the big trifold wallet, we were discussing color combo option. And just to see how it works, I made the Midori Mini Wallet - a little version of the big one. But here I used stripe handloom fabric for binding, which I must say, turned out very cute.
By the way, I reopen my Handmade shop in Etsy and also my Webshop. The government has announced that domestic flight will resume on the 17th, which at least I hope I can start selling again.
I know that this pandemic will not go away soon, but we have to cooperate with the government orders and keep maintain physical distancing, wear a mask and wash your hands. Maintain hygienic lifestyle.
Just a quick post regarding pleated mask. If you don't want to do the binding like in the original tutorial, you can do the following :
1. Cut the fabric 9.5" Wide x 14" long. (For broader face, you can cut 10" W or as needed). The measurements in this tutorial here is based on general surgical mask.
2. Follow the tutorial for creating pocket, nose wire and pleats.
3. Once, you're done, the mask should measure more or less as follow: (please note that you can modify the pleats, the tutorial is guidance, esp for novice sewist)
4. Now, fold the raw edges by 1/8" or so towards the lining side (where the pocket is) and then fold it again by 1/2" and edge stitch. (I am making mask without lining here)
5. Insert the elastic or ties and it's ready. Super easy! Maybe a bit fiddly in the beginning but you will get the hang of it.
Thank you for downloading the tutorial. And if you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me.
We're all in this together and we will get through this pandemic together. Keep sewing, stay healthy and safe, everyone!
Thank you so much for your overwhelmed response to my mask tutorial/pattern. That was a pretty simple one. Many asked me to make a pleated mask with a pocket for a filter which is very necessary especially during this COVID19 Pandemic.
In the past few days I've been making masks (with and without filter) for family, friends, and people around me. Masks are not available now and hence people resort in fabric masks. I'm very touched reading so many stories of our sewing community come together and donating masks to the hospital. I am donating a few to a nursing home near my house, they have been a great help for us for years. It's time to show our support to those who are on the front line.
How to Wear Mask with Ties:
Here my son demonstrates how to wear a mask with ties
UPDATE
I got a few questions regarding the pocket esp from beginners, so here's the easier way to do it. I just use a screenshot here, which I hope clear enough. I already updated the file in the shops, so if you download it on 27th March at 10PM IST you should get the new one. If not, feel free to download again or simply save the photos here:
Feel free to email me if you have any doubts :)
I hope this pattern will be beneficial for you all. I will try to add video as soon as I get time to edit it. meanwhile,you can simply click the button below and download the pattern.
I've been working on this mask for a couple of weeks. I tried different model but not really happy. I want the mask that leave a little space in between for ease of breathing. Especially for mask that I wear when I go out, since I usually layer it with tissue. At home, while doing my chores, I wear the surgical type mask. So, I came up with this easy to sew 3D mask.
Mask with Crochet Cord
I realize that your nose shape play important role here, when you make mask without nose wire. Because nose wire is not easily available here, I have to come up with something else. My younger son who has long /sharp nose, said he likes this fit best, because it doesn't make him feel suffocated :D. Here's my pictures wearing the mask (my sons refused to be my model -_-).
I'd suggest tight woven fabric, especially for the exterior and softer cotton for the lining. Layer of Tissue or non woven fabric will help in filtering. (Read this article).
The pattern has 2 sizes for Adult and Kids
Adult Size : 7.5" W x 5.5" H
Kids Size : 6" W x 4.5" H
The Pattern is available in ETSY as well as on Payhip