DIY Protective Case for Mini Air Purifier

My mini air purifier kept on turning on inside my bag, so I made this a learning project to make a case for a rounded gadget. I dipped into the scraps of a previous project and I finished it in two nights.

Here's how I made it:

I didn't really measure it. I just based the size of the case on the gadget. I just made sure that the gadget would fit the case :)

Here's how it looks:

DIY Card Holder from Scrap Fabric

I had an odd set of scrap fabric from making a tote bag for a friend. It wasn't a lot, but enough to make a card holder. I needed one because the many rewards cards from shops were too bulky. I also always wanted to learn how to make a proper wallet. 

I watched a couple of videos to understand the "logic" behind making small wallets. It was pretty easy to make. I used a piece of paper to understand how to fold the fabric. I aimed to make a 4" x 2.5" holder with two compartments.

Here's how I made it:

Materials:

Scrap fabric

Fusible interfacing

Velcro

Thread

Measurements:

Potholder Made from Scrap Jeans

I found a bunch of scrap jeans coasters my Mom made back in the 90s. I remember it was a project she was doing with one of her assistants. It smelled of the 90s so I washed it and sun-dried it for a few days. Mom gave me one potholder a long time ago and we still use it. Quite sturdy IMHO!

I got to work and made another one. Hand sewing it together took two days and it wasn't easy (and probably why Mom abandoned the project!). Here's how I made the potholder:

It was a good first project for the year! I've been busy sorting my Mom's stuff and needed a breather, so I got to work :)

#BeKind #StaySafe

Quilted Heart Tote Bag

I definitely made a lot of hearts! I decided to make a heart themed tote bag for a friend during pride month. He loved it and has been using the tote bag to carry around gadgets. 

Having ready-made hearts makes it easy to create other projects. For this tote bag project, I just added fabric to the top and bottom. Ironed it on interfacing and sandwiched it with batting. After stitching in the ditch, I added the straps and the lining. Easy peasy :)

Here's how I made it:

Materials:

11 fabric colors (I love making rainbows!)

black fabric

thread

iron

Size:

15.5" x 12"

Make Multiple Heart Quilts

I love making heart themed quilts. I had an idea to make a smaller one to make several projects, so I thought I'd make multiple hearts to save me time from cutting fabric. I was inspired to make this from Pinterest. I saw it a couple of years ago and worked on figuring out the measurements. That's one thing I enjoy about quilting... the math! And that's why I usually work things out on a math notebook so I know how best to cut fabric. 

Here's how I make multiple heart quilts:

Materials:

11 fabric colors (I love making rainbows!)

black fabric

thread

iron

Measurements:

Wonder Woman Tote Bag

I decided to start the year by making something useful and cute. I also wanted the satisfaction of finishing a project in a few days, so I made a tote bag. It was inspired from a jute bag given to me. It's the perfect size to carry stuff at home (I don't like putting stuff in my pocket). I'm now using the one I just made to house my portable air purifier and fan which I bring whenever we go out. I love it. 

For this project I wanted to start strong so I chose to use the Wonder Woman fabric I got from Spotlight. I matched it with pseudo demin fabric to bring out the colors. Figuring out the size of the pieces and piecing them together was easy. I couldn't find my stash of bag straps, so I ended up learning how to make bag straps for this project. You can also watch the video here.

Here's how I made the tote bag:

Materials:

fabric with design

solid color fabric (I used pseudo jeans)

fusible interfacing

wadding

backing fabric

thread

If making the strap:

solid color fabric

1.5" fusible interfacing (the thicker one for straps)

thread

Size: 8.5" x 4" x 9.5" (bag); 16" x 1.5" (strap)

Steps:

1. Measure and cut pieces of fabric.

2. Piece together fabric of main bag (top + middle + bottom + base). 

3. Iron the main bag and then add on fusible interfacing. Do the same for the sides of the bag. 

4. Sandwich with wadding and backing fabric. 

5. Stitch in the ditch the main bag. I used parallel lines for the sides. 

6. Assemble the main bag and the sides.

7. Bind the exposed parts. Start with the sides of the bag and then the top. 

8. Add the straps.

How to Make a Bag Strap

I wanted to start the year with a fun project. I decided to make a bag inspired by a jute bag a friend gave me. I love the shape and size of the bag. I use one daily at home to carry stuff from room to room. While making the bag, I discovered I couldn't find the straps I've collected over the years! I didn't want to waste time looking for the straps, so I decided to just DIY it. 

Here's the tutorial:

Luckily, I had all the materials on hand. Here's what you need:

fabric

1.5" interfacing 

thread

iron

Here are the steps to make it:

1. Cut fabric, two 3.5" x 16.5" strips

2. Fold the fabric in half.

3. Position the interfacing in the middle.

4. Fold in the sides. 

5. Sew all the sides.

Pinwheel Baby Quilt

I rushed to make this pinwheel baby quilt for my grand niece. I was after a free ride to Australia for the blanket since my brother is heading there. Well, it's currently stuck in Indonesia and will hopefully reach my grand niece by New Year. 

I finally busted out the fabric I got in Ginza, Japan a few years ago. I wanted to use it for a special baby, so I was ecstatic when my nephew and his wife had a baby girl. The sashing and binding fabric is from Singapore and the wadding from Australia (yes, I used to hoard stuff from abroad whenever I got to travel). I thought about my Mom while I was choosing the color for the sashing and eventually asked for my son's opinion. Sweetie said it looked like a quilt my Mom would put together. 

Here's the tutorial:

Materials:

floral fabric

white blender fabric (with vines)

apricot solid fabric (for sashing and binding)

wadding

backing fabric

thread

pins

Size:

36" x 52"

pinwheel is 8" x 8"

Scrap Fabric Project: DIY Tablet Case

Just realized I need to catch up writing about the other scrap fabric projects I did. Most of the time I have so much fun sewing I forget about the documentation part. I've been documenting and filming my projects so in case I want to do it again I can take note of points I can improve on. Quilting and sewing is a continuous learning journey for me. It's also been helping me heal from losing my Mom. 

I unearthed all my scrap fabric a few weeks ago. Gathered them up and sorted them. It was actually harder to plan scrap fabric projects. The challenge lay in the sizes of the scrap fabric and how it could fit what I wanted to do. For this project, I got some inspiration from a quilting magazine on bags. I just wanted a simple design that would work on the scrap fabric I had on hand. 

Here's the tutorial:

Materials:

scrap fabric and scrap binding

thick wadding

backing fabric

thread

pins and clips 

Size:

9" x 11"

Quilted Pouch with Sleeve

I felt I needed to add a small item with the laptop sleeve I made for my friend. I really want to learn how to install a zipper on my projects, so I thought a small pouch would be nice. She could use it as a pencil case or other knick-knacks. It would fit the pocket of the sleeve too. 

I decided to match it with the laptop sleeve, so I didn't change the design anymore. I had the fabric on my sewing basket, so I finished everything in one evening. It was a small piece, but nonetheless challenging when it came to adding the lining. I had to re-watch my quilted tote bag video to figure it out. I did it wrong the first time, so ended up doing it again, haha. Just remember to slip in the right side of the pouch with the lining facing the wrong side out (note for myself!). 

Here's the tutorial:

The steps:

1. Plan, design and cut the fabric.

2. Piece together. Start with the middle part, then add the outer sides.

3. Iron both sides. 

4. Sandwich with wadding and backing fabric. 

5. Pin to stabilize and stitch in the ditch.

6. Clean the sides.

7. Add the zipper.

8. Sew the edges together from the wrong side. 

9. Add the lining. Pull out the pouch from the open side of the lining. 

10. Close the open side of the lining.

Materials:

Little twin stars fabric

4 pastel solid color fabric

backing fabric

wadding

thread

zipper

Size:

9" x 5"

Another Pinterest Inspired Cat Quilt

I wanted to explore more cat designs on Pinterest. I knew it would help me hone my skills more on making templates and figuring out how to re-create a design I see online or on a book. Pinterest is a treasure trove of ideas and inspiration for quilting. I have pinned many ideas which I hope to try making. Follow me on Pinterest if you have one: https://www.pinterest.com/aileenapolo/. 

Here's the tutorial -

Here are the steps on how I made this cute cat quilt -

1. Drew the design on graphing paper based on the size for my end project. 

2. Rendered the design on manila paper to get an idea of the size. I adjusted a couple of times.

3. Draw the design on a chip board. Cut based on how you will piece together the design. 

4. Cut the fabric. Make sure to add 1/4" around the template. 

5. Piece together. Best to start with the ear area and complete the face and chin. 

6. Add the "background" around the cat face. 

7. Add sides as needed.

8. Iron both sides. 

Materials

4 print or solid fabric

thread and needle

pins

graphing paper

manila paper

ruler

colored pencils (optional)

Size

9" x 9" x 16"

Pattern

Turned the Cat Quilt into a KitchenAid Cover

I turned the Pinterest-inspired cat quilt into a KitchenAid cover. It now sits proudly on our kitchen counter. I've been making rainbow colored quilts using standard shapes. I made the cat quilt to gain more skills and to have fun. 

I made the KitchenAid cover by part. I started with the front cover, then the main cover and the back cover. I thought it would be easier just to make the main cover like a tent. I just used strips of denim-like fabric since I wanted to stick to one color. I used the same fabric for the back cover pocket. I made it that way so I could switch the front and back whenever I felt like it. For now, the cats are watching over my kitchen. 

Here's a tutorial -

Here are the steps how I made the cover -

1. Create the front cover (follow the process here).

2. Make the main cover

• Cut 7 strips of 3" x 39" 
• Sew the strips together
• Iron both sides
• Sandwich with wadding and back fabric (I used an old bed protector)
• Pin and quilt
• Clean up the sides

3. Make the back cover with pocket

• Cut the base, same size as your front cover 10.5" x 14.5"
• Sandwich base with wadding 
• Pin and quilt lines from top to bottom
• Cut 7 strips of 2" x 6.5" 
• Combine and iron both sides
• Sandwich with wadding and quilt
• Add binding to the top of the pocket
• Attach the pocket to the base

4. Make binding (how-to here)

5. Assemble the three sides and combine with bias tape

Materials

base fabric for front and back cover

scraps for the back cover pocket

8 strips of fabric for main cover (or use jelly roll)

fabric for binding/bias tape

wadding

back fabric for sandwich (optional if you re-use a bed protector)

thread

*see cat quilt post for materials needed for front cover

Size

Total: 10.5" x 14.5" x 14.5"

Main cover: 14.5" x 38"

Front cover: 10.5" x 14.5" 

Back cover: 10.5" x 14.5"

Pocket: 10.5" x 6.5"