Tuesday, 2 August 2022

A dress and a bit of patchwork

     I had an old T-shirt in a good shape and a piece of fabric that I bought a long time ago with no purpose in mind, just because I loved it. I had also a box full of fabric pieces. 

    So, in an afternoon I improvised a patchwork block and I sewed it on an interfaced backing. Then I measured the circumference of the T-shirt, then I sewed together the short edges of the piece of fabric making a cylinder and I wrinkled the top edge of it until I obtained a circumference equal to that of the T-shirt. I sewed the patchwork block onto the piece of fabric as a pocket and next I sewed the piece of fabric and the T-shirt base together.I gave it a good press and that was all. I made a new dress in only a few hours.


    I wear this dress with great pleasure, not only because I made it myself, but because it is also a pattern that will never go out of style and above all, because I prolonged the life of a piece of clothing, which would otherwise have ended up in the trash, although with an insignificant effort, it can be worn for a long time from here on out.



I hope I woke you up feeling like sewing new clothes out of old clothes!

Have a beautiful day and happy sewing, my dears!



Saturday, 23 July 2022

TUTORIAL - How to install invisible magnetic snaps on a bag

 



Overview

    The pronged magnetic snaps (standard magnetic snaps) are a very easy and fast closure for a bag, but when your bag needs a clean-looking, flat profile, hidden from view magnetic closure, a practical variant is using invisible magnetic snaps, known also as sew-in magnetic snaps. They are very useful for many types of bags, for wallets or pocket flaps. 

abeeautifulday.blogspot.com-How to install invisible magnetic snaps to a bag Tutorial

    These invisible magnetic snaps are composed of two parts, like the standard magnetic snaps, but both parts are flat discs, encased in a soft, clear plastic pad that is easy to sew through with no special needle. Anyone can do it.abeeautifulday.blogspot.com-How to install invisible magnetic snaps to a bag Tutorial

   They come in different dimensions and in sets. One set includes two magnetic pieces, a positive and a negative. Depending on the manufacturer, some of them have the positive piece marked with a "+" in one corner of the plastic pad and the negative piece marked with a "–". 

Dimensions of my magnetic snaps: 
– magnet 3/4" diameter 
– plastic pad 1 ¼ " square. 


Positioning the snaps


abeeautifulday.blogspot.com-How to install invisible magnetic snaps to a bag Tutorial


    To see which is the front and which is the back of the two magnets, bring them close to each other. The right position is, of course, that in which the two magnets have the greatest strength of attraction. Mark the back of the snaps with a permanent marker - you will need this later.




    Place one bag panel wrong side up. Measure one side of the magnetic snap pad (usually it is a square). Mine is 1 ¼" and the following instructions are based on this.

abeeautifulday.blogspot.com-How to install invisible magnetic snaps to a bag Tutorial

Mark 1 ¼"  and 2 ½" down the top edge. See the horizontal orange lines. Mark the center of the bag panel. See the red vertical line.

 If your pad has other dimensions, draw the first line at a distance equal to the side of the pad, and draw the second line at a distance equal to the side of the pad x 2.


abeeautifulday.blogspot.com-How to install invisible magnetic snaps to a bag Tutorial

    Fold the top edge over. Press and pin or use clips to keep it in place. 


Installing the snaps


abeeautifulday.blogspot.com-How to install invisible magnetic snaps to a bag Tutorial

    Center one snap (doesn't matter which one) back side up, over the folded edge. Use clips to keep it in place.


abeeautifulday.blogspot.com-How to install invisible magnetic snaps to a bag Tutorial

     Top stitch as you wish: close to the magnetic snap or close to the pad edge. Use a zipper foot if you prefer. Use matching thread.
    I recommend placing a piece of fabric or vinyl, or cork etc. between the snap area and needle plate (the orange piece in the photos above), to weaken the strength of the magnet while sewing. Just be careful to keep it away from stitching.


abeeautifulday.blogspot.com-How to install invisible magnetic snaps to a bag Tutorial



    You might secure the seam either by back stitching at the beginning and end of the seam or by burying the ends of the threads in the panel folds. The latter gives a cleaner look.



abeeautifulday.blogspot.com-How to install invisible magnetic snaps to a bag Tutorial

    Place the bag panel wrong side up. Fold the top edge over one more time. Press and use clips to keep it in place. Now the snap is tucked between folds, front side up.

abeeautifulday.blogspot.com-How to install invisible magnetic snaps to a bag Tutorial


    If you use fabric straps, now is the time to attach them. For this bag, I used leather straps and I attached them after the bag was assembled, as the last step. 

    Sew a seam on the bottom edge of the folded side and one seam at about 1/8" down from the top edge of the panel.

    Repeat for the other bag panel.

abeeautifulday.blogspot.com-How to install invisible magnetic snaps to a bag Tutorial

  




  As you can see, the invisible magnetic snaps closure looks so good and provides the same security as the standard magnetic snaps. 



abeeautifulday.blogspot.com-How to install invisible magnetic snaps to a bag Tutorial




    Almost nothing to see on the inside. Only a fine stitched square that is barely visible.




abeeautifulday.blogspot.com-How to install invisible magnetic snaps to a bag Tutorial




    Nothing on the outside.





abeeautifulday.blogspot.com-How to install invisible magnetic snaps to a bag Tutorial

    If you have already a pair of invisible snaps in some drawer and want to use them, you have the right project here 

Mihaela Alexandrescu - Unlined shopping bag with removable interior pocket Pattern

    The bag in this tutorial was made following the instructions of this pattern, which allows so many variations.

When ordering Unlined shopping bag with removable interior pocket Pattern, leave me a message if you want to save this tutorial and I will send it to you as a .pdf file.

                                                     

abeeautifulday.blogspot.com-How to install invisible magnetic snaps to a bag Tutorial
 To remember, pin this for later.
   

    Other ideas and tutorials you may find HERE, on my blog. 
    Have a look to my pattern shop www.etsy.com/shop/1BeautifulDay for more ideas too.


    Have a beautiful sewing day, my dears!


Tuesday, 19 October 2021

New sewing pattern - Tama Handbag

Here where I live it's a beautiful autumn. With sunny days and golden colors in gardens, but also rainy days, when you better read, knit or sew something useful and beautiful. It was precisely these days of bad weather that were the ones in which I managed to sew a few bags. 

Thus, today I'm happy to share my brand new bag pattern, Tama Handbag!


abeeautifulday.blogspot.com-Tama Handbag pattern Mac design



What do you think? Pretty, isn't it? I'm sure you noticed the zippered pockets. Not one, not two, but three! A lot of things to keep at hand.

abeeautifulday.blogspot.com-Tama Handbag pattern Mac design


Of course, there are also two slip pockets

abeeautifulday.blogspot.com-Tama Handbag pattern Mac design


Finished dimensions of this bag are: 13¼"(33.5 cm) wide; 13¼" (33.5 cm) tall (without handles); approx. 2¾" (7 cm) deep on top; 4" (10 cm) deep on bottom.

abeeautifulday.blogspot.com-Tama Handbag pattern Mac design


For this bag I recommend you use quilt weight fabrics, denim, light weight cotton duck, light weight home decorating fabric, or canvas. The fabric does not have to be too thick, as it will be difficult to sew it if you have a home sewing machine.

Here is a list of materials needed (fabric requirements are based on 44''/110 cm wide fabric):
For exterior bag:
- from fabric A – half yard/meter for the front and back panels; from fabric B – half yd/m for gusset.
- for reinforcing the fabric:
- from 20"/50 cm wide light weight interfacing – about 3 yds/2.5 m.
- a piece of about 30"/76 cm x 45"/114 cm batting.
- optional – 30"/76 cm of fabric for backing
For lining – about 1½ yd/1.5 m.
Zippers - for exterior pockets - 3 zippers - at least 9" (23 cm) long (teeth dimension);
Magnetic snap - one set of 18 mm (¾");
Sewing thread to match the fabrics;
Zipper foot, free-motion quilting foot,100/16 sewing machine needle.

abeeautifulday.blogspot.com-Tama Handbag pattern Mac design


 Would you like to make a  Tama Handbag of your own? Then click here for the pattern.

You will sew a handy and beautiful quilted handbag to carry many items in.
Ideal for everyday use, it has plenty of storage, giving you quickly access to your most needed things placed in three exterior pockets and two interior pockets. 
Mix and match the fabrics to create the perfect handbag for your style and the season.

abeeautifulday.blogspot.com-Tama Handbag pattern Mac design



My wonderful friend and talented quilter and sewist Silvia Ciubotaru sewed up this beautiful Tama Handbag:

abeeautifulday.blogspot.com-Tama Handbag pattern Mac design

You are welcome in my little Etsy Shop. Maybe your next project is there.


Have a beautiful day, my dears!
Thank you for your support!


Tuesday, 17 August 2021

La vie en rose…

 

Is it any wonder that we associate the Summer months with feeling happy and carefree? 

Maintain this mood by sewing (or asking someone to sew for you) a light and cheerful bag in which to hold everything you need to feel good when you are not at home.

A bag without lining but with 2 zippered pockets? Yes, of course! Just click here if you want to receive the pdf pattern and to find out how is it possible to make in no time, all kind of beautiful and useful bags using one single pattern. 

🌹🥤🥪💊🔑📚✏

.

abeeautifulday.blogspot.com - bag pattern


abeeautifulday.blogspot.com - bag pattern

abeeautifulday.blogspot.com - bag pattern


Have a beautiful sewing day, my dears!

Friday, 27 November 2020

Thankful

I am thankful for the talented people supporting my tiny business to come true.

I am thankful for my creative friends who generously and unconditionally inspire and help me.

I am thankful for my family who understand my passion and encourage me to grow and share my ideas by making beautiful things from fabrics.

I am thankful for you, my dear reader!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends who celebrate this day!


Thankful-abeeautifulday.blogspot.com

Have only beautiful days, my dears!

Monday, 8 June 2020

Unlined Shopping bag with removable pocket - pattern for sewing easy and practical bags

It is a common truth that we live in interesting and challenging times.
My generation will have full bags of memories to share.

We are about to reach  the middle of this turbulent full of fear and unknown things 2020, without realizing it. The Pandemic brutally stopped the whirlwind of life in which we all were carried. The two months of isolation meant to prevent the spread of the SARS virus - Covid 19, reminded us, among other profound things, that we are the sons and daughters of planet Earth, not its masters. The geographer in me keeps telling me this. 

At my small individual level, creating bag patterns is a concrete way to help preserving our natural world. In just a few hours someone can sew one bag which will reuse hundreds of times, instead of using hundreds of single use plastic bags which has proven to be so harmful for our environment.

So, right from the isolation period came out 
my Shopping bag with removable interior pocket pattern

abeeautifulday.blogspot.com Unlined Shopping Bag with Removable Interior Pocket pattern
One pattern - multiple variants of Shopping bags

I designed this bag in such a way that:

- to be roomy - 16 ½" (42 cm) wide; 13 ¾" (35 cm) tall (without straps); 4 ¼" (11 cm) deep
- to be durable - enclosed seam allowances raw edges
- to be worn both on the shoulder and in the hand
- to be easy and quick to do - no lining, but with all its benefits - seam allowance invisible raw edges and interior pocket
- to be practical:
- the exterior pocket closed with a zipper
- the inner pocket can be taken out and carried in the hand or moved with all its contents in another bag.
- to be beautiful (original curved shape of the exterior pocket)
- to catch the eye (the applique design).

The Unlined Shopping bag with removable interior pocket is a lovable bag, for everyday use.
It has a fresh look and a practical structure. 

Its two big zippered pockets (one exterior pocket and one removable interior pocket) make it perfect for shopping, sport and outings.

This bag is very useful when you go to the market or to the grocery store, but you might need such a bag when going to the beach or to the gym.It is that kind of "big on inside - small on outside" all-in-one bag, as you don't need another bag/purse/backpack for your belongings.

The exterior zippered pocket will keep some of your things safe, while the removable interior pocket plays the role of a real pouch - as it gives you the possibility to keep at hand those things you need all the time. 

abeeautifulday.blogspot.com Unlined Shopping Bag with Removable Interior Pocket pattern
  

Special features of this Unlined Shopping bag with Removable Interior Pocket pattern:
- one exterior zippered pocket
- one removable interior zippered pocket
- templates and detailed (beginner level) illustrated directions to appliqué the face design
- hidden raw edges
- tips and illustrated suggestions for customization 

abeeautifulday.blogspot.com Unlined Shopping Bag with Removable Interior Pocket pattern


The pattern guides you step by step to make one of the most useful shopping bag that someone might need. 

abeeautifulday.blogspot.com Unlined Shopping Bag with Removable Interior Pocket pattern


You will find a lot of easy to follow instructions and 87 color photos and diagrams, plus the printable templates in order to get the exterior pocket original shape and for the option to applique a face to your bag.

abeeautifulday.blogspot.com Unlined Shopping Bag with Removable Interior Pocket pattern


You will learn how to make a bag that combines the advantages of a unlined bag (light weight, short time to complete) with the ones of a lined bag (nice layout of the bag interior given by hidden raw edges of the seam allowances) and the ones of a pouch (the removable interior pocket).

The pattern includes:

-suggestions for the best materials for such a bag and how to prepare them.

- instructions for preparing and fusing the applique pieces
- instructions for securing the applique edges
- detailed instructions to sew the zippered pocket using two different sewing technics

- tips about how to give to the zippered opening of the exterior pocket an original look.

- illustrated detailed instructions for making the interior pocket removable

- a lot of tips helping you to sew a bag with professional looking seam allowances, hems and straps

All measurements are in both inches and centimetres. 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/1BeautifulDay

Please, give it a try! You will find it in my Shop.

Thank you for your suport!
Stay healthy and safe!

Have a beautiful sewing day!