Pretty Sharpie Roll Tutorial

I began sewing in November 2011, when I enrolled in a local sewing class to make a tote bag and fell in love with the craft instantly. A year and a half later, I've made clothes for my son and daughter, tote bags, pouches and tons of little stuff for my friends and family. It felt wonderful to be able to give all handmade presents this past holiday season. But then I got cocky. I asked my sister and sister-in-law what they wanted me to make. I figured anything they asked for, I can find a tutorial on the internet. That's what pinterest was for, right?

So when my sister-in-law asked me for a Sharpie roll, I looked for a tutorial I can use. There were a few tutorials for crayon rolls, colored pencil rolls, but it wasn't what I had in mind so I decided to try to create it myself.

And share it with all of blogland.

Here's what it looks like

This is my first prototype. 
It only has 11 markers in it, but I since changed it to fit twelve markers. 
Of course I didn't take a picture of the final product with the markers in it. 

So this is my final product, sans markers, which I ended up giving to my sister-in-law. But I did put markers in her roll, before giving it to her, I just didn't think of taking pictures of it. 

Want to know how to make it? Here goes:

Materials:

1/2 yard fabric A (outer fabric) I used Michael Miller Bird Swing in gray

1/4  fat quarter fabric B (lining)- I used Lotta Jansdotter Scattered Sand in seaspray

9” x 13” cotton batting

2/3 yard Ribbon

Got your materials? Let's get started:

Cut the following fabric (please take note if the fabric print is directional)

From fabric A –

One 9”h x 13”w – outside piece

One 6” h x 13”w – pocket piece

One 5” h x 13” w – inside flap piece

From fabric B –

One 9”h x 13” – lining piece

One 5”h x 13”w – outside flap piece

1. Take the pocket piece, fold 1/2 inch from the top (long side) of the fabric then press. 

Fold another 1/2 inch then press and topstitch.

2. Lay the pocket piece right side up on top of the lining piece from fabric B, also right side up, match the bottom of each fabric. Pin or baste stitch the pieces to hold them together.

3. With a fabric marker, mark 1/2” from right edge of the pocket piece. Mark and stitch 1” from the 1/2” mark (back stitch on the start and the end). 

 Mark and stitch every 1" until you are left with 1/2” on the left edge. Set aside.

*The 1" measurement is for Sharpie markers. You can adjust the measurement depending on what you plan to use it for. Colored pencils and gel pens are smaller so you might want to use 3/4" measurement. 

4. Take the outside flap piece and inside flap piece and lay them right sides together. 

Mark 1/4" from the bottom left and right corners.

Mark 1 1/4" from the top left and right corners, 1/2" from the top. Draw the border by connecting the dots on all four corners.

Starting from the bottom right corner, sew the pieces around on the line that you made. Leave the bottom open. Trim the seam allowance with pinking shears or 1/4". Be careful not to clip the seams when you tri. 

*Please disregard the lines I made on the drawing. I first did the 1/2" and 1 1/2" marks but that didn't work out so I had to readjust.

Turn it right side out and press. Topstitch the sewn sides. 

This is the side of the flap when it is open. 
Note the top of the fabric is the shorter side and it is finished. 
The bottom longer side of the flap is left unfinished. 

Next we need to put the pieces together. 

5. From the bottom, lay the lining with pocket piece, flap piece, both pieces facing up. Place the outer fabric on top of the lining and pocket piece, right sides together. Cut 2 feet of ribbon and fold it in half. Insert in between the outside piece and lining piece.

Place the batting on top of the layers and pin all around, making sure the ribbon is pinned.

6. Sew all around, with 1/2” seam allowance, leaving 3” open on the side opposite the ribbon. Make sure to back stitch on the start and the end. Cut the corner seam allowance and trim the seam allowance to 1/4" all around.

7. Turn it over right side out. Using a chopstick, poke on the corners to make sure the corners are squared off and press. Slip stitch the opening and top stitch all around the main piece, making sure the flap is open and out of the way when you sew. 

Put the markers in and enjoy!

Hope you like my first tutorial and come back and visit me again. 

Gigi

Drawing class with Lucas

I've always wanted to draw but I never really thought I could. I'm more of a doodler than a drawer, until now.

I decided to teach myself how to draw, once and for all. So I tried drawing the one thing I always carry with me, my iPhone. And of course, Lucas decided to join in the fun! This is his take on my iPhone. I helped with the outline but the buttons are all his.

Then he wanted to make a ninja, an alien and his sister's stuffed puppy. And at that time he was posing as our model, Puppy was playing tea party with Leila so of course we had to draw the cup of tea and the yummy cupcake.

So we are making progress. Everyday, we will draw at least one thing and see how much better we get in a month or so.

That's all for now. Thanks for stopping by.

And the blogging begins!

So, I am finally taking the plunge into this wonderful world of blogging. I love reading blogs, I get so many ideas and inspiration that I decided I should join in the fun.

My goals for this blog is really just to express my creativity and share what I have to offer. I love the idea of crafting but with a full time job, two little ones to care for, and a home to manage with my husband, I really have absolutely no time to spend crafting. But somehow I find little pockets of time, mostly when my super supportive husband takes our kids to visit their grandma. It's not a lot of time, but it's precious to me so I take it every chance I get.

So maybe the title of this blog should be Downtime Crafting, because really, that's all I have time to do. But I won't give in to that thought. I really believe I will eventually have time to do crafts, sew, draw or any other DIY I find on pinterest and the other blog I follow. Despite the lack of time though, I am able to complete projects I set my mind to doing. I made all the holiday presents for girlfriends, sister, sisters-in-law and my kids' teachers. They're little projects but I set my mind to it and got it all done. And I started it the day after Thanksgiving. Whew! I'll never do that again!!! Note to self, start working on Christmas gift making in June.

That is all for now. Thanks for stopping by.