Graduation Gifts to make

Sorry, I feel I dropped the ball with not posting this last week; but, here are a few projects to do for someone who is graduating,  I thought I had a picture of the laptop sleeve, but, I think you get the idea of what it will look like.

Simple Laptop Sleeve

Materials:  coordinating thread, Fusible fleece, One package sew - on* hook and loop tape, such as Velcro®, Heavyweight/Denim Needle, This product is usually available in both stick - on and sew - on versions. You want the sew on kind that doesn’t have a sticky back. Scissors and sewing machine

 

Directions:

Iron the fusible fleece you cut for your flap panel to the wrong side of the flap panel lining.

Cut a piece of your hook and loop tape to approximately 2” shorter than the width of your flap panel. (This need not be exact, as long as both pieces/sides of the tape are the same length.)

Center the prickly/hook side of the tape about one inch from the bottom of the flap panel lining and pin in place Sew around all four sides of the tape Use a zig - zag stitch, as I find it more effective in preventing the edges of the tape from fraying.

If your machine doesn’t like sewing through the tape, try placing a drop of Sewer’s Aid (silicone drops) on your needle.

Place together the right sides of the flap panel lining (the piece you were just working with) and the flap panel exterior, keeping in mind that the “top” is the end furthest from the hook and loop tape. Pin panels together and, using a half-inch seam allowance, sew around both sides and the bottom, leaving the top open.

Trim corners, being careful not to clip and stitches.

Turn the flap panel right –side - out and press. Topstitch around the sides and bottom of the panel, being careful to avoid the hook and loop tape.

Iron the two pieces of fusible fleece you cut for your main panels to the wrong side of each panel.

Decide which panel will be the front and which will be the back.

Center the flap panel along the top of the back panel, as shown above, and sew in place, keeping your stitches close to the edge. Center the fuzzy/loop piece of your hook and loop tape about 2.5” from the top of the front panel and sew in place. Place front and back panels together, as shown above, making sure that the top ends (the ones with the flap panel and hook and loop tape) are together.

Pin and sew the sides only using a half - inch seam allowance.

Do not sew the bottom!  Press seams open and turn right -side out.

Match lining panels and sew them together in the same way, using a 5/8” seam allowance. Press those seams open too.

Carefully place the exterior inside the lining, keeping right sides together . Starting with the seam allowances on either side, match the tops of the exterior and lining and pin securely. Double - check to make sure you’ve pinned the top (the end with the flap). Using a half-inch seam allowance, sew around the top, through all layers Turn your project right - side out and press. Carefully pin

around the top opening, as shown, making sure lining is not loose and wrinkly Topstitch around the top/opening, as shown. Finish the bottom edge with a zig - zag stitch, repeating if necessary and trimming any loose threads Pin the front and back together, as shown above, and sew the bottom closed, using a half -inch seam allowance Because of the thick seam allowances at each corner, you may find it easier to start in the middle and sew to one side before turning your project over and repeating with the other side Turn your project right – side – out. I do not recommend trimming seam allowances before turning. The excess seam allowance will give your corners a nice, rounded

shape as shown.

Button Embellished Notebook Cover

Materials:  Spiral-bound notebook,  Pen,  Measuring tape,   About 1/4 yard wool felt,  Scissors,   Washable fabric marker,   Straight pins,  Sewing machine and thread,  Iron,  Craft glue,  Small paintbrush,      Embroidery needle, and  Pearl cotton embroidery floss

Directions:

Measure around the spine of the notebook to determine the size of the cover. 

You can really use any size spiral notebook you like for this project. The one shown here is 5 inches x 7 inches, so all the measurements here are based on that size, but it's easy to make adjustments.

Begin by measuring around the spine of the notebook, starting at the outer edge of one cover and ending at the outer edge of the other cover. Add 8 inches to this measurement. (For example, measures 11 inches around the spine. Adding 8 inches, we get 19 inches.)

Then, measure the height of the notebook and add 1/2 inch. (The notebook here is 5 inches tall, so that's 5-1/2 inches.) Cut a rectangle of felt to these dimensions: for notebook, this rectangle measures 19 inches wide by 5-1/2 inches tall.

         

Cut a small rectangle of felt to serve as a pen holder.

Share your ideas on this or anything here on the blog either here or e-mail me at stipple@verizon.net.  I look forward to hearing from you!