The Nautical Brooklyn Bag
Nautical Zipper Pouch
You knew it was coming! Of course I need a Nautical Zipper pouch to go along with my Sailboat skirt!! I love these fabrics and I am down to only scraps in my stash. It’s called True Blue by Blend Fabrics.
This is a modified version of my original My Favorite Zipper Pouch Pattern version 1.0 and version 2.0. If you would like to make your own zipper pouches here are the instructions:
CUT:
Outer bag anchor print (2) 4″ x 9″
Outer bag red accent (2) 3″ x 9″
Lining (2) 6.5″ x 9″
Heat n Bond Fusible Fleece (2) 6.5″ x 9″
(2) pieces of lace 9″ each
Sew the red fabric to the anchor fabric using 1/4″ seams. Press toward the red. Press these two units to the Heat n Bond Fusible Fleece. Then sew the lace on.
To insert the zipper, follow THIS tutorial. It is from my friend Jennifer. I keep thinking I should write my own, but hers is so perfect. I go to it every time I sew an “open wide” zipper pouch because I can never remember the measurements! Insert the zipper just like she instructs. Once you’re done, it should look like this:
Open the zipper, and place right sides of the outer bag together, and right sides of the lining together, make sure to tuck the end of the zipper in. Match the side seams. Pin all the way around. Sew all the way around using 1/4″ seams, leaving a 3″ opening at the bottom of the lining. Notch all the corners with a 1.5″ square:
Fold out the corners and match the seams. Sew using a scant 1/4″ seam. For more details, visit my post here. Then turn right side out, and top stitch the opening closed. Top stitch all the way around the zipper pouch 1/8″ away from the zipper. To finish the zipper end, cut it at the desired length. Cut a piece of accent fabric 2.5″ x 3″. Fold it like this and press:
You kind of fold it around the zipper and press. Then insert the zipper in and sew around the seams. Careful on the metal zipper!! Here you can see what it looks like. I added a little compass zipper pull. My anchor charms haven’t arrived in the mail yet 🙁
I just love them!!!
Here are a few other of my True Blue Projects:
Sailboat Skirts
- This sailboat fabric makes me want to sing…..Sailing, sailing over the bounding main! Do you think I’m going overboard with too many nautical projects? 🙂 hehe
- I found this fabric at my local Beverly’s store and I new I wanted to sew skirts. I love how they turned out. For Sally’s skirt I used Tie Dye Diva’s Potato Chip Skirt pattern. I wrote a review of this skirt here. After making it again, It’s still my favorite girls skirt pattern! The women’s skirt is from Amy Barickman’s The Magic Pattern Book. I also wrote a review of this pattern here. It’s such a great A-line skirt with a center pleat and it can be sewn in about an hour! If you check my Instagram this week, you can enter to win both these patterns!!! The winner will be announced Saturday, March 14th.
Here you can see the cute center pleat in the women’s size skirt. For Sally’s skirt, I choose a different fabric for the waistband and for the pocket backing.
Sally’s very serious modeling pose 🙂
I actually made this skirt for me, but I made my teenage daughter wear it for the photos 🙂 I think I will wear it tomorrow!
Having a sailboat skirt looks like so much fun, doesn’t it? (OK, it’s really late and I just ate a lot of chocolate cake)
Nautical Key Fob Tutorial
I like to make a statement with my key chains. For Christmas I enjoyed jingling everywhere I went with this keychain. Now that it’s spring, I definitely need to be saying “I love everything Nautcial” with my keychain. These make great gifts and you can sew one in about 20 minutes. I used Riley Blake’s Anchor print for the fabric on the key fob. The gray cotton twill tape I ordered from Everything Ribbons on Etsy. The twill tape and hardware are 1.25″ wide and are available at that shop in a wide variety of colors.
Follow my tutorial here to complete the key fob portion.
To make the anchor tag, you need a few scraps of fabric, cotton batting, and some Therm O Web Heat n Bond Lite EZ print sheets. I used an antique metal grommet to attach it to the key ring.
Cut a piece of navy dot fabric 2.5″ x 3″. Fold in half and cut off an angle like this:
Download the anchor pattern here and print it on the EZ print sheets. Cut out around the anchor, iron it to the wrong side of the anchor fabric. Cut out the anchor and peel off the backing paper.
Cut another piece of navy dot fabric 2.5″ x 3″ but don’t cut the angles. Layer them together like a quilt and sew all the way around the tag shape. Then sew around the anchor.
Cut the excess off around the tag.Attach the grommet and put a split ring on.Attach it to the key fob.
Let me know if you like this project! I love to give handmade gifts and this is a great one to whip up in a short amount of time.
Ahoy! Nautical Composition Book Tutorial
I am having so much fun with my nautical projects – I hope you are enjoying them. I ready to buy a sailboat!!! (haha) I take a covered composition book with me everywhere I go. I have one in my purse for daily notes, lists, etc. I have one I take to church and keep inspirational thoughts in. I have one as a gratitude journal. I have one for my sewing journal where I write down everything I sew, measurements, etc. I know it’s totally old school – but I love notebooks!!! You can see my other composition book tutorials here, here, and here. I change them up each time I make one. This one has lace, an appliqué anchor and writing that I foiled with Deco Foil!
Here’s how you can make one:
Supplies:
1/3 yard fabric for outside cover
1/3 yard for lining
piece of cotton batting
scrap for applique
11″ piece of navy lace trim
Heat n Bond Lite EZ Print Sheets
Anchor pattern, click here
Hair Elastic
Button
You can pin to hold in place, or add a little Spray n Bond basting spray. (You can see my I cut my batting with scissors, I will square it up in a minute.) Fold the cover in half and position the lace as pictured. Use the basting spray or pin to secure. Sew in matching thread along both sides of the lace.
For the anchor, print it on the EZ print sheets, or trace to fusible appliqué paper. Cut out the anchor and iron in place.
Top stitch around the anchor. Cut off any excess batting. Find the center of the left side of the cover. Mark and baste the hair elastic in place:
Lay the flaps on the lining fabric, lining up raw edges. The fold of the flaps should be toward the center.
Place the cover on top of the lining/flap piece, right sides together. Pin all the way around. Sew, using 1/4″ seams all the way around. Leave a 3″ opening at the bottom center. Turn right side out and press. Tuck the opening in, press, and top stitch to secure.
Mark where the button should go and sew the button by hand, careful not to catch the flap. Mufasa was trying his hardest to bite off the button!!
Take the Deco Foil Transfer Adhesive and write Ahoy (or any word you want). This totally brought back memories of cheerleading days in the 90’s – we rocked the puffy paint!!! I was bad at writing with it then, and I’m still not that great at it! Let the adhesive dry until completely clear. I let mine sit for a few hours.
Once the adhesive is dry, rub the wrong side of the foil on the letters. This part feels super magical!! The foil sticks to the adhesive only! This stuff is awesome!!!
Now I am left with shiny foil letters!!
Make more than one and give them to your friends!! I will be giving one away on Instagram later in the week 🙂
Nautical Mini Quilt Pattern & Giveaway
When I told my daughter I was hosting Nautical Week she said, “Isn’t every week Nautical Week for you?” I had to laugh because it’s totally true!!
I am so excited to announce that I will be teaching a nautical themed modern quilt aboard the Made Modern Quilt Cruise next year in March!
As much as I love to wear sporty nautical wear, I’ve never actually been on a cruise….gasp!!! I am happy to be joining two AMAZING quilters: Allison Harris of Cluck Cluck Sew and Amy Ellis of Amy’s Creative Side. You can read all about the details of the cruise at Stitchin’ Heaven Travel.
Escape to the Caribbean, make new friends, learn a new technique, & sew all you want! How can it get any better? Join us for a 7-night Western Caribbean Cruise! Isn’t this concept brilliant? Quilting & vacationing at the same time!!!
I will be teaching a throw-size version of my Nautical Baby Quilt. Did I mention I love anchors?
Today I am sharing with you a mini version of this quilt – something you can make in an afternoon! It measures 30.5″ square. And even better – you can go to my Instagram and enter to WIN this mini quilt!!
Here’s how you can make one:
Block size 6″ quilt size 30.5″
Supplies:
8 or more 2.5″ x WOF strips of Navy print and Red Print. I used Riley Blake’s Basics.
Fat quarter of navy dot for anchor
1 yard white solid fabric
1 yard backing fabric
1/3 yard binding
cotton batting
Cut the 2.5″ strips in the following dimensions for each block (12 blocks total)
Sew (1/4″ seams throughout) the (3) 2.5″ squares together in a row, pressing toward the dark. Then sew the 6.5″ strips to the top and bottom, pressing toward the dark.
Once you have 6 dark blocks and 6 light blocks completed, have your kitty help you lay them out.
Sew these together in rows.
Cut a 9.5″ x 30.5″ strip from the solid white
Cut a 3.5″ x 30.5″ strip from the solid white
Attach these to the sides:
I added the anchor last, after I quilted it. I didn’t want to quilt over the anchor. I wouldn’t recommend this normally.
After quilting, print the anchor pattern on the Heat n Bond EZ print sheets (or trace it to appliqué paper) and it to the wrong side of the navy dot fabric. Cut out around the anchor. Press the anchor into place and top stitch to secure. Add binding.
Head over to my Instagram and enter to win this quilt!!!
Lucky Pillow – Version 2.0
Since I was already in the St. Patrick’s Day sewing mode after sewing a banner, I thought I would whip up a throw pillow! I’m sure you know by now that I love throw pillows! Last year I also made a “Lucky” patchwork pillow, so I am calling this one version 2.0.
Supplies
Scraps of green fabric – I used fabric from Blend: Tea Garden, Turkish Delight, and the Makers
blackish/grayish denim or other fabric for lettering
Lucky words, click HERE – print in reverse
20″ square natural canvas
20″ square green print for back, I used Yuletide Greetings by Anna Griffin
22″ zipper
20″ pillow form
Begin by ironing the Heat n Bond Lite to the wrong side of the green fabrics and the “lucky” fabrics. Run the green fabrics through the Sizzix Big Shot. If you don’t have a Big Shot machine, you can hand cut the shamrocks.
Print off the “lucky” letters and iron them to the wrong side of the fabric. Cut with scissors. This takes a little bit of patience 🙂 Peel off the backing paper and position the word and shamrocks as desired. Outline stitch around each shamrock 2 times in black thread. There was no way I was sewing around the cursive letters more than once!!
Prepare the back of the pillow by cutting a 20″ square. Make a cut at the 2″ mark for the zipper. You can put the zipper where ever you like, or you can insert an invisible zipper.
Sew the zipper in just like you were piecing a strip of fabric in between the two pieces – only use a zipper foot.Cut off the excess zipper ends. Partially open the zipper and place the pillow top and the pillow back, right sides together. matching and pinning all edges. Sew 1/4″ all the way around the pillow.
Turn the pillow right side out and insert the pillow form.I put the zipper in the bottom portion of the pillow. I like that you can see the zipper.
Soccer Zipper Pouch Tutorial
It’s the day before my son’s school soccer party and I decided I should make each of the 12 boys a gift. Now what to make? I know – a zipper pouch of course! Why do I do this to myself? Really, 12 zipper pouches in 24 hours? It’s a good thing I buy my zippers in bulk 🙂
I was so happy I decided to make these little pouches because the boys (age 11-13) LOVED them.
Each pouch has their initial appliquéd on it.
The back of the zipper pouch is soccer ball fabric. This is a great size because it can be a pen/pencil pouch, or hold other items like phone, keys, or in my sons case an inhaler and kleenex 🙂
The inside of the pouches are all different black and white prints. I just used up what I had.
These are great for any type of party favor – just change up the fabric!
Heres how you can make one!
Supplies:
Fabric for outer bag and lining and scraps for appliqué square
12″ or longer zipper
Heat n Bond fusibile stabilizer
Begin by printing the desired initial in reverse on the Heat n Bond EZ print sheets. If you don’t have the printable sheets, print the letters in reverse on paper and then trace them to a fusible appliqué paper.
Iron the letters to the wrong side of the soccer ball fabric. Cut out each letter. Or, have your daughter cut them out for you while you sew the bags because the clock is ticking!!
Cut (2) outer bag pieces 8.75″ x 5″
cut (2) lining pieces 8.75″ x 5″
cut (2) fusible stabilizer pieces 8.75″ x 5″
Iron the stabilizer to the wrong side of the outer bag pieces.
Cut a 3.5″ or so square (it just needs to frame the letter) of grey denim fabric. Layer it as pictured below. Peel the backing paper off the letter and heat set it into place.
Stitch around the square and the letter.
To insert the zipper…..lay the zipper face down on the front of the bag. Then place a lining piece right side down on top of the zipper, like this: (note, position the front and the lining piece so they line up perfectly. I moved the lining piece over for the picture so you can tell how they are layered.
Pin the pieces into place. Notice the zipper ends are hanging out – totaly ok. In my other zipper pouch tutorials I have made zipper tabs. I skipped this step to save time.
Sew using a zipper foot along the edge like this:
Now do the same thing to the other side. This is how it is layered: the backing fabric (soccer balls) face up, the letter piece face down then add the second lining piece so the right sides are together. Line everything up and sew.
It should look like this before you sew:
Once the zipper is in, press the sides like this:
Top stitch next to the zipper.
Trim off the excess zipper making sure not to trim the zipper pull.
I spy a kitty paw 🙂
Making sure the zipper is open, place right sides of the outer bag together and right sides of the lining together and pin all the way around.
When you get to the zipper, match the seams and push the zipper toward the lining:
Leave a 3″ opening at the bottom
Sew all the way around using a 1/4″ seam. Turn right side out and top stitch the opining closed. Use a turn stick or chopstick to push out the corners and the zipper.
Now make 32 cupcakes with cupcake toppers and dash to the soccer party!!!