Sue's Projects

Tips & Techniques for Quilting by Machine

2010-11-02T14:47:14Z

For a printable PDF of this material, click here.

Santa Hat Purse

2010-11-02T14:41:40Z

For a printable project sheet with pictures, click here.

Zippered Coin Purse

2010-02-20T09:23:32Z

Sewing Supplies:
Husqvarna Viking Sewing Machine
27” to 30” Zipper
Sewing Thread
Open Toe Foot (optional) #412 8006-45

1. Snap on Presser Foot A or Open Toe foot. Set your Husqvarna Viking for zig zag stitch width 5. Lower the feed teeth and stitch across the end of the zipper just above the metal stop.

2. Carefully cut just below your bartack to cut off the metal stop.

3. Raise the feed teeth.

4. Unzip the zipper, stopping 5” from the end.

5. Place zipper on table right side up with the bottom of the zipper toward you.

6. Take the left side of the zipper and bring it toward you forming a “U” turn, matching the zipper tape edges. Part of the left side of the zipper will extend toward you.

7. Place the zipper under the presser foot at the “U” turn, ﬂattening the excess zipper tape and begin zigzag sewing at the ﬂ attened “U” turn (next to the zipper pull) joining the butted edges.

8. When you reach the bottom of the zipper, pivot, overlapping the zipper tape to the bottom edge of the zipper and continue to sew across the bottom edge of the zipper. Use care sewing over the zipper teeth, expecially if you are using a metal zipper.

9. Pivot to sew up the opposite side of the zipper and join the butted edges. Before reaching the end of the zipper tape, bring the other side of the zipper tape around forming a “U” turn, overlapping the zipper ends so the teeth ends of the two zipper sides meet.

10. Continue sewing butted zipper tape edges to the “U” turn, ﬂ attening the tape at the “U” turn. Zip up your new coin purse !

Recycled Jeans Bag

2010-02-20T09:21:57Z

By Marie Duncan, Education Creative Coordinator

(This project file is available as a Word doc with pictures in the Project Files section.)

Recycle your favorite pair of jeans into a bag. Use it for the beach, for books for or for all your “must have” stuff! Decorate it if desired and tie on a pretty scarf or belt to make it indisputably yours!

Sewing Supplies:
Husqvarna Viking Sewing Machine
Size 90 Jeans/Denim Needle
Sewing Thread
One pair old jeans, any size
Pictogram Pen
Lorna Touch Applicator Wand #140 001271
Crystals

1. Place your jeans on a flat surface and measure about 5” down from the crotch and draw a line. Cut the legs off the jeans, on the line you marked.

2. Cut next to the stitching in the crotch area to open up the jeans so they are like a skirt.

3. On the front, cut next to the stitching, up to the bottom of the zipper. Cut the stitching off the ONE leg as shown.

4. On the back, cut next to the stitching, up about 3”.

5. Now you should be able to flatten out the jeans. Work on the front first. Put a book or a

piece of cardboard between the layers so you don’t pin the front to the back. Overlay with the stitching up, and pin.

6. Next do the same for the back. On any edges where there isn’t stitching, turn under the edge.

7. Insert a size 90 Jeans/Denim Needle. Thread with thread to match your jean fabric. A Jeans/Denim needle is stronger than a regular needle and has a sharp point. Select a straight stitch and sew between the sewing on the jeans. On the edges where there wasn’t any sewing, sew near the edge you folded under.

8. The bottoms of the jeans will be uneven, that’s ok. Place them flat on a table, and using a rotary cutter and ruler, trim them straight across.

9. Turn the jeans inside out so the wrong side is out. Pin the front and back together across the bottom. Sew across the bottom. Guide the edge of the fabric at the 15mm mark on the throat plate of your sewing machine. Take the pins out before you get to them. Your Jeans/Denim needle won’t have a nice sharp point anymore if you sew over the pins. Your jeans are no longer jeans, they are now a bag!

10. But; your bag needs a strap to carry it with! Cut next to the stitching on the legs so the legs are two flat pieces.

11. Using your Pictogram Pen mark a line 4” from the stitching. Cut on the line.

12. Fold the strap piece that is 4” wide in half, wrong sides together. Pin. Stitch between the lines of stitching like you did before.

13. Pin the handle to the wrong side of the waistband. The raw edge of the handle should be at the bottom of the waistband. Pin them next to the belt loops so when you sew the handle, you won’t be sewing across the belt loop. Pin the other handle in the corresponding place on the back of the bag.

14. Sew a square, then across diagonally as shown, to hold the handles in place. This is a good place to remove your accessory box and use the free arm on your Husqvarna Viking sewing machine. It keeps you from sewing the front to the back by mistake.

15. Now, Have fun! Decorate with fabric tied around the bag, in the belt loops. We added Swarovski crystals, using the Lorna Touch Applicator Wand for a little “bling”. Sew some outrageous fringe across the bottom???

16. To make the tie, cut scraps 3” wide and 4” to 6” long. Sew them end to end, right sides together.

17. Fold in half, wrong sides together, lengthwise and stitch near the edge. Let the edge of the fabric line up with the edge of your foot. The edges will be raw, and will fray nicely, when you wash it! Thread the tie through the belt loops on your bag.

18. If desired, add crystals along the pockets and randomly on the bag itself. Enjoy!

Lettuce Bag

2010-02-20T09:18:06Z

Idea from my friend Ginny Baudrand, Washington State

This is the greatest way to keep your lettuce fresh and crisp! Make loads of these to have on had for hostess gifts! Bring your salad in a Lettuce Bag and leave it for your hostess!

Sewing Supplies:

Cotton or linen hand/dish towel
Rayon embroidery threads
1 yard ribbon or cord for drawstring
Tear-away stabilizer

1. If there is no hem in the short ends of the towel, mark a 1” hem at each short end of the towel. This will be stitched later to create a casing for the cord or ribbon.

2. Place stabilizer under on the wrong side of the towel and embroider or applique as desired. You may want to embroider “Rinse and drain lettuce….Put in bag. Refrigerate before serving.” To determine placement for embroidery or appliqué, fold the towel in half crosswise matching the two short ends/hems. This will be the finished size of the lettuce bag so place your embellishment on one side with the top side of the embellishment toward the short end/hem of the towel.

3. Remove the stabilizer and press.

4. Fold the towel crosswise again right sides together and sew the sides with a straight stitch, stitch length 2.5 from the crosswise fold to the marking for the casing. Backtack. Fold the hem and stitch to create the casing.

5. Thread ribbon or cord through the casing. Stitch at one seam and pull out at the opposite seam to tie up the lettuce bag.

6. Enjoy!

Potty Purse

2010-02-20T09:11:52Z

Designed by Linda Phillips, Alabama

Linda sent us this great project and had it stitched in blue with a fish embroidery design. Alix created one for the American Sews Quick Project. This is a great project to make for your bathroom or give as a gift. Place the loops on the bar that hold the toilet paper in your toilet paper holder to store extra rolls right where in you need it in an elegant way!

Sewing Supplies:

3/8 yard medium weight fabric
1 yard 2mm decorative cord
Sulky 40 weight Embroidery Thread
Sewing Thread
Sulky Tear-Easy Stabilizer
Chaco Liner
6” x 24” Ruler, Rotary Cutter, and Mat

1. Cut:

            1 rectangle 30” x 8 ½” for outside
            2 rectangles 15 ½” x 8 ½” for lining
            28”of 2mm cord

2. On the 30” x 8 ½” rectangle measure down 9” from the one short end and mark the starting point of the embroidery design. Hoop the fabric with tear away stabilizer underneath. Bring up the design of your choice and thread with 40 weight Rayon thread on top and bobbin weight thread in the bobbin. Embroider. Press with wrong side up and set aside.

3. Select a straight stitch, snap on your ¼” piecing foot and thread with sewing thread top and bobbin. Place the two lining rectangles right sides together and sew one 8 ½” side with a ¼” seam allowance leaving a 4 inch opening at the center of the seam. Press seams open.

4. Place the embroidered piece and the lining right sides together and stitch with a ¼” seam all the way around the outside. Turn the piece right side out through the opening in the lining. Press. Stitch the opening or use a strip of Steam a Seam 2 fusible web to close it.

5. Measure ¾” from the end of the short edges. Overlap the short edges to the markings. From the right side, stitch along the edge through all layers. Turn to the wrong side and stitch along the edge through all layers. This will create a casing for the cord.

6. Overlap the ends of the cord to create a circle and stitch together to create a loop. Use a bodkin or safety pin to pull the circle of cord through the casing to create hanging loops on both ends.

7. Bartack the cord at both ends to hold it securely.

8. Select a favorite decorative stitch, thread with 40 wt Rayon thread on top in a complementary color and stitch around on both sides. Use your free arm so you don’t sew the front and back together!

9. Slide the loops onto the bar that holds the toilet paper in the holder and place two new rolls in the “potty purse