DIY Thursday: Project Toy Cover Up

BEFORE

 AFTER

We are currently using the back of a bar that my husband "rescued" from the side of the road as storage for the boys toys and a place to but the DVD player and cable box. Now while I realize that we cannot afford to get something that I really want for that purpose at this moment, and i am ok with that, the fact is that it is UGLY and I was sick of it. So i decided to cover it up.

Awhile ago I made these pillows to replace the awful pillows that we used to have on our couch and I used the extra fabric from that to make the cover.

I won't bore you with how long it took me to firgure out the sizing that worked for the fabric I had because it is a very very long boring project. Just measure twice and cut once, as my mom would say, and make sure you leave room at the edges for the seams.

I ironed the edges down before I sewed them about 1/2 an in. This is a thick fabric and it made the process so much easier.

At the corners I tucked the end in of one side at a 45 degree angle and sewed across it. I have to say that I was way to proud of myself at how this came out. :) It just looks so fancy. (To me.)

Then I cut four, 3 in pieces of Velcro and spaced them evenly across the top of where I was planning on hanging the cover from. I chose to use the pokey side of the Velcro on the fabric so when it was not hanging people wouldn't hurt themselves of the bar.

Then I sewed them down on all four sides.

I spaced the other side of the Velcro on the bar and hot glued them to it.

And for extra stability I nailed them in.

On two sides.

TA DA!!! I think it turned out pretty well and as a bonus everything around it looks cleaner too. Its magic!

No not really. I had to take all these toys out of the chest to make it close. he he. Well, that's all for now. I hope this at the very least gave you some ideas on how to spruce up or cover up some of the unloved spaces in your home. How do you deal with toy storage?

Wild Card Wednesday: Twisted Handled Hobo Bag

Twisted Handled Hobo Bag

I have been dying to find some time to make a bag with the leftover fabric I had from recovering my dining chair cushions.

I also had some yellow fabric, that looks really pale in these pictures but isn't, from some old curtains I didn't want to use anymore.  The material is a thicker fabric from the home decor section of Joann's.  I wanted this bag to stay sturdy!

First of all I would try and give you measurement, but I used an old bag that I already had as a pattern.  So sorry, but I'm sure you'll be able to replicate it pretty easily.

So, I started by folding my yellow "liner" fabric in 4ths.

I laid my "pattern" bag on top.  I had the folded edges lined up!  Crucial step, otherwise you will have a seam running right down the middle of your bag.

Then I traced it.  Notice that I didn't trace the entire handle, because I am adding a handle on later.

Then I got my outside fabric and used the yellow "liner" as a pattern.

Then cut those bad boys out!

I sewed up the outside edges of both fabrics.  The outside fabric I had turned inside out, sewn, and then flipped it out so the seam was hidden.  The liner I just sewed a seam.

Then I placed the outside fabric inside the liner like so:

I sewed up one side of the opening.  I hope this doesn't get confusing, which is why I took a ton of pictures!

So now one side of the opening is sewn and the other is left open.  I then flipped my purse right side out.

I took the edge that I had just sewn and reinforced the seam by doing another one.  This one will show.

 Next I ironed the seam about a 1/4 inch on the other side of the opening.

I placed both ironed pieces together and sewed them up.  Now both sides of the opening look the same.

I then closed up the edges of both handles.  I left the edges raw, because I am going to tuck this into the twisted handle later on.

Your bag is now complete!  Now onto the handle!

I roughly measured the length of the handle on my "pattern" bag and then timed that by 1 1/2 times to get the right length.  I wanted it longer because I am going to lose some length while twisting and scrunching it up.

Sew that handle strip into a tube and turn it right side out.

And now start scrunching and twisting away!

I used my iron to press it as I went along to help keep it's shape.

I also used a million pins!

Then I ran it through the sewing machine.  I didn't worry about keeping this seam straight.  It went all over the place.  This picture shows the first time I stitched it.  I also stitched it again.  The nice thing is that with it scrunched and twisted you expect the stiches to be a bit crazy!

Then you are going to tuck the ends inside and iron it flat.  Do this on both sides of the handle.

Take the handle part of your bag and insert it into the end of the tube handle.  Pin shut!

 Then sew it shut!

Repeat on the other side of the handle.

(See my crazy stitching on the handle!)

And here is my lovely model!

It hangs really low on her, but is the perfect length for me.  That's just what I get for having my 8-year-old model.  (better her than me, she had showered, I had not...yikes!)  I can hang it from one shoulder or hang it across my body.  Either way works.

You can find this awesome post linked up to the following Fantastic Parties: