Christine Sews

A smaller, reusable shopping bag was what I needed.  And I needed to bust some fabric stash, to get back into the sewing groove.  So, one of my favorite Simplicity Patterns, 2806 to the rescue.

The pattern includes a small pouch.  But I did not sew it.  I have previously sewn the shopping bag , view A.  It is cavernous.  A small four year old can fit inside.  That can be a bit much.

I have also made view E in the tutorial How to Sew Canvas . It holds bottles upright.  My DH calls it the Iron Chef bag and loads it up with cooking supplies.  That bag is even larger, and requires 2 1/8 yards of fabric.

The shopping bag, view B, uses 1 3/8 yards of fabric, which is one half yard smaller than view A.

The toile and tapestry bags have contrasting lining and are made of dry clean only fabric.  The yellow Michael Miller print version is 100% cotton and machine washable.

I found the  pattern instructions for view B, to be confusing about the handle, which needs to be folded in order for the bag to hang correctly.

My first project after a sewing break was actually a Ni Hao Ki-Lan hat, not the bags shown above.  Unfortunately, my child decorated it with permanant marker before I could get a good photograph.  I’ll have to make another hat and applique before I am able to share the project.

Hello, if you are a returning reader, thank you.  I will resume posting tutorials and sewing projects at least once a week, as of today.

Shower curtains don’t have to be ugly plastic, or used to hide the shower stall.  I use one as a closet door.  That allows for the maximum amount of space to be available for the closet contents.  And I get to look at a pretty pattern.

How to Make a Toile Shower Curtain:

1. If you have a shower curtain that fits your space, use it as a pattern.  If not measure your door space.  Add four and a half inches at the length and two at the width.
2. Turn in an inch at either side and sew.  Press and trim.
3. Turn under the bottom hem two inches.  Trim the corners and stitch.
4. Turn under the top hem and press.  Set aside.
5. Cut a strip of fusible interfacing two inches by the width of your curtain.  For example, two by 54 inches.
6. Slip fusible interfacing under the top hem of the curtain and press in place.  Stitch near the hem edge.  Trim any excess interfacing that peeks out.
7. Edge stitch at the top hem.
8. Make seven or more buttonhole markings at the top hem, depending upon the width of your curtain.  Markings should be evenly spaced and of the same depth.
9. Stitch the buttonholes .

Sewing Tips and Notes:

• Shower curtains are a great home decor opportunity - you get to bring a pattern into the bathroom.
• Make sure that all edges and hems are deep enough.  Bathrooms get steamy.  And edges will curl if the hems are too narrow; even if you are not using your curtain directly in front of the shower.
• Don’t forget the interfacing.  Use an additional piece of cotton broadcloth to reinforce your top hem, if you dislike the fusible adhesive.
• This project is simple.  But because it is simple, sloppiness will really show.  Carefully cut and press.

Just in case you were wondering, I am married.  And my husband owns shoes.  Right.  That was the only way I could get that much of the shower curtain into the photo.

Speaking of the husband, he says the giraffe print is atrociously ugly.  I think it is terribly amusing.  I know that the hamper doesn’t match.

The bathroom is one of those fun places where the fabric doesn’t necessarily need to match the rest of the house.  So when the last remaining plastic hamper broke.  I decided to make a new canvas hamper out of giraffe print.

It is very similar to the other laundry hamper that I made from a queen sheet.

How to Make a Canvas Laundry Hamper:

1. Cut a 20 by 60 inch rectangle of fabric.
2. Cut a 25 by 8 rectangle of fabric to use as a handle.
3. Finish one 20 inch edge by serging or turning under.
4. Fold the 20 by 60 rectangle, right side together, so that it is 20 by 30.  Set aside.
5. Fold the 25 by 8 inch rectangle right side together so that it forms a long 4 inch wide strip.
6. Sew the long edge.
7. Turn right side out and press.
8. Trim corners and turn in.  Stitch so that the ends are closed.
9. Attach the handle rectangle to the body of the hamper. Center it top to bottom, so that it will not get in the way when you sew the hamper.
10. Sew around the two unfinished edges of the larger rectangle to form the hamper.
11. Box the corners.
12. Turn right side out and press down the open, finished edge to form a casing.
13. Sew a casing, leaving at least 5 inches open for threading.
14. Thread a cord through the casing, or leave open.

Sewing Tips and Notes:

• The giraffe print is decorator fabric.  So it should be either dry cleaned, or hand washed and hung up to dry.  It can be washed, but will lose some of the finish.  It is unlikely to fall apart.
• This size hamper holds two standard loads of laundry.  It is shown holding one load, one half of its capacity.  That is correct for my standard size washer; yours may be larger or smaller.
• I made the handle wide, because I find that easy on the shoulder.
• These are great gifts for college students.  Especially if you piece together their favorite old shirts.

See also, Sewing Canvas and Mitering a Corner .