2020 Wk 12 - Zip zip zippy day

we were not able to hold Crafty Church yesterday, but I did go and open the church for a time of prayer and reflection, and so I could use the doors/tables to plan a customer's quilt.

All planned now so I can start sewing

I may have done some shopping!    I do have a weakness for pre-wound bobbins and was delighted when I found a UK based site selling them.  Not only much cheaper on postage, but the USA site had pages and pages of machine manufacturers and which bobbin size . . . but my machines weren't on the list.  At www.embroideredjust4u.co.uk, she just listed 4 choices for Brother - nice and easy!

So I treated Lizzie to black bobbins and some pretty colours, and the sewing machine (which doesn't have a name) to a whole load of colours!

Two of the classes that have had to be postponed were for a zippy pouch - one was a machine class and one was hand sewing, but both needed samples, and my hand sewing ladies don't mind if I machine sew a sample for 'their' class.

My problem is that I wont remember the construction methods when I don't to teach these so I am saving my sanity by recording the methods along with the photos here!

The instructions are very "short hand", but if you do want more info just zap me a comment or email

Curt a piece of vinyl into a square or rectangle about 1/2 inch bigger than the size you want the pouch.  Cut the vinyl into 2 where the zip needs to go: could be 50/50 but I usually go for about 1/4 and 3/4 sections.

For all the methods you need to attach the zip to vinyl fabric using favorite method resulting in at least 1/2 inch fabric on both lengths of the zip.  I use this method (use instructions 1-7 here) -   Cut strips of fabric 2" wide fold in half, press, fold edges into the middle, press: you now have zipper binding 1/2" wide

Tuck the edge of one piece of vinyl into to the opening until it's flush with the back, pin or clip in place.  Place on top of the zip tape and sew through the zipper binding, the vinyl and the zip.  repeat on the other side of the zip so the vinyl is now once piece with a zip in it.

Cut internal fabric and external/backing fabric pieces the same size as the prepared vinyl.

Layer fabrics as shown (but so edges match), pin in place

Non- Bias Binding method
Cut length of non-bias binding equal to perimeter plus 8".  Bind as for a quilt.

 

Bias Binding method
As above, but round the edges of the pouch and bind with bias binding gently easing around the corners

Birthing method (full vinyl front)
Stitch all the way round but leaving a 6" gap for birthing

 

Birthing method (bordered vinyl)
I prepared the vinyl/window piece by adding a border to the vinyl, then slicing into the fabric border and adding a zip

 

The birthing method pouches have not been finished so we can look at them layered up in the class.  When birthing remember to turn by putting your hand in where you can feel the zipper pull and turn that section to the outside.

2019 Wk 17 Windowed Pouch

Jackie and I made some windowed pouches when she was last here but I found the instructions strange and felt sure there was an easier method, with much less binding.

So I made one differently!

(The previous version)

I plan to make more, so the instructions are here for me, but feel free if you fancy a go!

I cut a piece of vinyl for the window - mine happened to be 16.5" wide by about 6" deep.  (Don't go for much narrower or it will be difficult to machine later on)  I cut a length of binding 2.5" by 17.5" (width plus 1 inch).

I folded the binding in half along its length, and folded in 1/2" in each side to get rid of the raw edges at the two short ends, and then (using a teflon / non stick foot) stitched the raw edge to one long end of the vinyl

I got a zip that was longer than my 16.5", and cut both ends off in a V shape, then separated the zip into two long halves (I'm only using one half for this).

I folded the binding over to the back of the vinyl (*just* showing through the vinyl)  and put one half of the zip behind the binding, with the teeth and about 2mm of zipper tape showing.  The zip ends stick out equally at both ends

I top stitched through the folded binding and the zip tape.  I actually did three lines to make sure I had caught everything.

I folded the zipped vinyl in half (WRONG sides together) so the two short edges aligned.

I replaced the zipper pull.  It's a bit fiddly, but there are YouTubes and other bloggers who explain it well

I cut another 2 lengths of binding: 2.5" x  about 7".   On one piece I folded one end in to lose the raw edge, and then wonder-clipped the binding to the vinyl, covering the sides of vinyl from the top of the horizontal trim to below the end of the vinyl.  The other piece of trim got folded and pressed it in half along its length and opened it up.  I then folded the edges in to the middle, folded in half, pressed, and top stitched to make a strap.

I stitched the binding piece to the vinyl, then tucked the strap piece inside the top opening.  I folded the trim over to cover the edges of the vinyl and machine stitched it down as far as I could.

The top was far too bulky to machine stitch so I hand stitched it closed and also hand stitched the top closed to keep the strap in place

And breathe!

Next I checked the amount of vinyl remaining visible (ie the width of the pouch).  Mine was exactly 16 inches

So I cut lining and outer fabrics width plus 1/2 inches (16.5") wide and sewed them both into tubes (right side together, 1/4" seam allowance).  Another time I would line one piece with fusible fleece first

I then upended the zipped vinyl top and clipped the lining and outer fabrics in place to the raw edge of the vinyl, right sides to the vinyl, raw edges all meeting the edge of the vinyl.  The side binding just folds flat against the vinyl.

I stitched this seam with about 1/2 inch seam allowance, then flipped both fabrics down and pinned them to each other through the vinyl (with added wadding sandwiched between them).  At this size this just fits over the free arm of my machine - any smaller and it would have been fiddly

I top stitched at the top of the fabric, and then carried on quilting in a spiral.

I then needed to create a base.  I remember from school that C=2πR, but actually it's much quicker to use this link and input your own circumference.  So my radius came to 2.55" (and I should have added 1/2" for seam allowance - doh!)

No pic, but I folded a sheet of paper in 4 and marked just-over-2.5-inches from the folded corner in several places and joined the dots with paper scissors!

I used this template to cut outer and inner fabrics and wadding, and quilted them in a spiral shape

I clipped the circle to the inside-out pouch and, having marked the 1/4s on the pouch and the circle, I wonder-clipped the circle evenly to the pouch the whole way round.  I stitched this, then zigzagged it twice.  That's no longer a raw edge in my book so no binding needed.

Finally the whole thing gets turned right side out again

and is finished

ready to fill with goodies!  By using just one half of a zip it wants to stay open with a more-or-less circular opening, and by having half a zip remaining you just kind of have to make another one!!!