The Claire Fold-over Clutch was my very first published pattern just over a year ago. I can’t believe it’s been that long already. I put my own twist on the popular bag style with a large easy access pocket on the back and the simple use of leather one side of the bag – making it easier to sew. You can read more about my design here and see lots of different versions with #clairefoldoverclutch on Instagram.
My designs are meant to be practical, but also chic enough to work with new trends and fashion with just a change of fabric. This is the case with the Claire. Although it was written to use both fabric and leather, I thought it would be fun to make a full leather version — in cobalt blue for a real statement bag. This blue leather is pretty edgy and gave me rock ‘n roll vibes right away. So, I thought a guitar strap would give the bag a new look all on it’s own…even after making dozens of other Claire Fold-over Clutches!
This amazing woven tapestry-like ribbon was found at a yard sale a few years ago. I think I bought it for $1-2 and was drawn to the bright blue edges contrasting against that moody floral motif. I like mixing up new and old looks, so this trim was definitely all me. The leather was picked up from a destash group and so I was able to grab an amazing deal. The seller was getting out of her baby shower business and had so many pretty pieces of leather to get rid of. Her loss was definitely my gain!
Make the Claire Fold-over Clutch
To make the bag itself, you will need the pattern and instructions from my shop here. The main modification I made was to use leather on both sides of the exterior, instead of just one. (I would only recommend this ONLY if you have a machine strong enough to handle all of the layers.) But if you are just beginning, try out an all fabric version or one with very thin leather/vinyl.
Since the bag is made of solid color all around, I made sure to add in some accents and interest with metal. I used metal zippers (which I actually installed at the wrong places — I should definitely remember to read my own instructions…but I thought going from memory was good enough. Wrong!) If I was using fabric, I would have swapped out the zippers, but with leather, the needle holes are permanent and I didn’t want to mess with all of that and just moved on! In light of my zipper faux pas, I added a line of rivets along the top zipper (through the lining) to play with the same edgy feel of the cobalt leather. What do you think?
Make the Guitar Strap
For the strap, you will need the pattern pieces below. I drafted the ends for 1 1/2″ or 2″ wide straps. Anything else more narrow won’t give you that guitar-strap, but feel free to widen/narrow the pattern for your own look!
Instructions:
1. Use the templates to cut out pattern pieces based on whether you have 1 1/2″ wide or 2″ wide strap. You will have (2) Strap ends and (2) Reinforcements.
2. With each Strap End wrong-side facing up, center a Reinforcement as shown with wrong sides together. Glue baste in place. It’s tempting to skip this step, but this will help your leather from stretching and distorting with time and wear.
3. With the leather needle installed, stitch 1/16″ around all four sides of the Reinforcement. Repeat with other Strap End.
4. Take Ribbon and center it on one half of the Strap End with wrong sides together, aligning it to the Reinforcement. (You may need to cut off the ribbon’s corners so they don’t hang out of the Strap Ends.) Clip or glue into place. Repeat with other Strap End.
5. Slide one Swivel Clasp onto the Strap End. Repeat with other Strap End.
5. Flip the other side of the Strap End up so it is folded in half with wrong sides together, encasing the clasp. Clip or glue together. Repeat with other Strap End.
6. Use your Zipper Foot to sew a seam to secure the Strap End onto the Swivel Clasp, sewing as close to the clasp as possible. Back-stitch well. Repeat for the other Strap End. TIP: Add washi tape under the foot if you don’t have a Teflon Zipper Foot like me.
7. Switch to a Teflon or Walking Foot and top-stitch each Strap End together with the Ribbon using the stitch guide on the template. Repeat with other Strap End.
8. Finish with rivets, if desired. Congratulations on your new guitar strap!
It doesn’t stop here! I’ve been seeing beautiful striped belt strappings used on designer bags like here on my Pinterest page. I’m already planning out my spring bags with these looks! You can use this same method to easily update any bag for the changing seasons or add new life to a great hand-me-down or thrifted find. The options are really endless. Enjoy and let me know how you like the tutorial!!!
Happy Sewing Friends!
Cristy
This post may contain affiliate links. Please visit my Disclosures page for all details.
What great timing on the launch of these Peppermint Pajamas by Blank Slate Patterns. We’re heading into holiday season and I’ve always sewn family PJs for Christmas Eve. I’ve also always drafted my own (making different tweeks every year) and have yet to add pockets. Well, now I actually have a pattern (that fits!) and won’t have to spend as much time making my holiday pajamas!
Pattern
The Peppermint Pajamas comes with patterns for BOTH the woven pants and the knit top. This is like a 2-for-1 pattern with sizes ranging from XXS-3X (bust 30″ – 53″ and hips 33″ – 55″.)
The pants feature an elastic waist, roomy slash pockets, and a separate cuff. The bottoms can be made into shorts, capris (by leaving off the cuffs) and full-length pants.
For the knit top, it features a crew-neck with raglan sleeves. You can make cap sleeves like I did, or use the long sleeve option. It has a nice relaxed slim fit for shaping, but not body-con tight.
Fabric
I knew I wanted something luxurious for my first pair of Peppermint pants. I am usually a boxers gal and wear all of my old flannel Xmas ones in colder months. I’ve been very conscious lately of my fabric consumption and was happy to find this Rifle Paper Co floral already in my stash. It is a Rayon Challis and feels incredible!. It has a soft hand, wonderful drape and feels silky to the touch. However, with these features, it can be very slippery to handle. With Rayon, I always use twice as many pins I usually do and I try not to pick a design which requires fabric matching – it is already hard enough to sew a new pattern!
For the top, I dug into my stash again and found just enough of this Robert Kaufman Dana modal knit to make the cap-sleeve version. It’s a nice off-white cream color and so soft. The knit is a bit lighter and slightly sheer, but is perfect if you are looking for a tissue tee or for some great drape. I purchased this from Imagine Gnats, but this is a staple from RK and you can find it also at Fabric.com, here.
Modifications
With pants, I always measure all across the board. I’m a small in the waist and am in-between a medium and large in the hips. But since the Peppermint PJs are meant for lounging, I sized up to the large and then graded the waist to a medium since the elastic would pull the sides in more. I love the extra room – perfect for laying on the couch for family movie night! I also made my regular pants adjustments of extending the crotch by 1/2″ and deepening the seat by 3/8″.
Since I was working within my stash, I did not have a contrasting rayon that would work with my floral print. So I added piping where the cuffs attached to help keep the look cohesive. I also added piping at the pockets to balance out the look.
As you know, I’m also a shortie at 5’3″. I used the shorten/lengthen line to reduce the front and back legs by 2″. On the cuff, I took another 2″ off the total length because I didn’t want this delicate fabric to drag on the floor at all. So overall, I took 4″ off each leg.
With the top, I made a straight medium with the cap sleeve and didn’t make any additional adjustments. The length is great for a PJ tee and I think this is great pattern for any basic tee. It’s a great neutral to wear with jeans and a light jacket for fall!
Final thoughts
The Peppermint PJs were great basics to sew and I love the video on Melly Sews YouTube channel on making the waistband. It’s always great to get that double-check while sewing to ensure the correct construction! I think this is beginner-friendly and a great value with two patterns for the price of one! I hope you enjoy making this set as much as I did!!!
Hugs and Stitches,
Cristy
The pattern was gifted to me by Blank Slate Patterns, but I was not required to write a blog post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Also, this post may contain affiliate links. You can read about all of my disclosures, here.
Right before I left for a college football game last year, there was just something that made me check the stadium’s bag policy, even though I’ve attended games at the same venue for years. Thank goodness I did because it turned out, I couldn’t bring in the bags I always used to! I could either bring in a small wristlet that couldn’t even fit my phone, or opt to bring in a clear bag to accommodate more of my stuff. With this game being out of state and lots of walking around the campus, I knew I had to bring a clear bag. With some remnant vinyl and scraps of canvas from my stash, the Emma Stadium Bag was born.
At first, I didn’t think this bag would be a pattern. It was a just a quick late night project based on need rather than want. But with public safety on the forefront of large gatherings, there has been a continuous change of bag policies across other public venues and schools. We are seeing the need for more and more clear bags to ensure safety for all. Even with this movement, I know us, bag-makers still love to add our own personal spin to a make. We have the power to make things our own and I hope you are able to use the Emma Bag to keep your own style and show off your personality while out and about.
Original from Fall 2018 – I didn’t have the right hardware late & improvised with leather and plenty of rivets
The Namesake
As with all my bag patterns, they are named after one of my eleven nieces. Emma is the youngest girl on my husband’s side of the the family but she is far from the “baby” of the bunch. This young lady has so much grit and confidence from being her household’s resident jock. Emma has played travel, club, and high school soccer which allows her to criss-cross the midwest for tournaments. She is also an incredibly talented track star, so it’s only fitting that the bag inspired by sports venues is named after my strong and beautiful Emma.
Features
The Emma Stadium bag is based on using clear vinyl as the main body with a fabric zipper top. This makes the zipper easier to sew on and allows you to use your favorite fabric to stay unique and stand out from the crowd. Not only does the zipper keep your belongings from falling out, it keeps strangers’ hands out too. It helps protects your phone and wallet from the elements, as well as from that possible beer spill 😐
This is my first pattern offered in multiple sizes. I did a little crowd-sourcing on Instagram and asked all of you about my ideas for this bag. Initially, I thought I would write a pattern for the maximum sized bag allowed in the NFL – thinking you would want to maximize your space. But you told me smaller was actually better! So, I listened hard and have THREE different sizes available for all of your needs.
Small with Wristlet strap – This size is for the light packer who just needs the essentials. It fits a cell phone, sunglasses, a small wallet like the Shuffle Cardholder, plus tissues, keys and lip balm.
Medium with Cross-body Strap- This a great size to hold more items while still having the ease of a cross-body. You can hold items for a whole day’s worth of activities from tail-gate to the game. I like this size in colder weather to hold earmuffs, hand warmers, and gloves.
Large with Shoulder sStraps- The large bag, will hold the most when you want to bring in all of the above plus an extra sweatshirt or blanket. It can hold seat cushions and all the game-day merch you want to buy! *While it does not exactly conform to the NFL/PGA policy. It IS the same on a volume basis. I don’t know if you would run into issues, since all security is different. You can open the zipper when going through security if they ask to measure the bag.
Although each size has it’s own instructions for straps, you can mix and match the styles along with two different ways to attach D-ring tabs. There is a short optional that leaves an “ear” on your bag while the long option sews the tab back onto the body for a smooth side silhouette.
Pockets – The medium and large sizes include instructions to include slip pockets for extra organization. This is perfect for your tickets and slim wallets.
Vinyl side seams are sewn down for smooth interior – Your hands won’t be scratched by hanging seam allowances, especially if using a more rigid vinyl.
Fabric Zipper Top completely encloses the vinyl body for a clean finish inside and out
The Emma Stadium Bag is definitely not just for sporting events. Many concert halls have similar policies and many schools are adopting a clear bag policy. If you’ve ever worked in retail, there has generally been a clear bag policy to avoid theft. The large size can double as a school/work bag with its generous sizing. The medium size makes for a great project bag for yourself or the kids! It can hold lots of art supplies and you can easily wipe down the sides. It’s also a great toiletry bag for travel and the gym. With the TSA a permanent fixture at airports, the small can be used in lieu of all of those quart sized bags – saving the planet and your contents from spillage!
Fabrics
The body of the Emma Stadium Bag is about 2/3 vinyl, so there is not much fabric involved to make this bag. The zipper top was designed to use Quilt Cotton and other similar weight woven fabrics. This allows you to use your favorite fabrics and customize each of your makes. All of my examples are using a waterproof lightweight canvas which makes them great for the outdoors and for my traveling adventures with the family.
Vinyl thickness is measured by gauge number – with the smaller number being thinner compared to a larger number.A 20 gauge will provide a more rigid bag, but a 12 gauge is easier to sew and more pliable when trying to manipulate your bag under your sewing machine.
Vinyl – Clear 12 gauge purchased from Joann Fabrics and the fun Rainbow 12 gauge purchased from Sew Hungry Hippie – This shop has SO many great colors available! (aff link)
Check out all of the amazing tester versions of the Emma Bag. I love their uses of different fabric and how they decided to use their bags. Click on each image to find the maker on Instagram.
Medium by Sherrene
Small by Maggie Marconi
Small by Meagan
Small by Mallory
Medium by Maggie Ann
Medium by Nela
Large by Tiahna
Large by Michele
Large by Yasmin
I hope you enjoy making the Emma Stadium Bag as much as I have loved designing it! You can find other examples of the bag by following #EmmaStadiumBag and find my other patterns with #LoveYouSewPatterns.
Hugs and Stitches!
Cristy
This post may contain affiliate links. You can read about my Disclosures here.
Out of all the sewing patterns I’ve written so far, this Maya and Harper Travel Changing Set is definitely the most sentimental for me. Long before I had this blog, a sewing business, an even an Instagram account, I made these items just for myself and my babies (who are now 8 and 6 years old!) It’s been a long time coming, but these patterns are now available to purchase in my shop, here!
Background
As a new mom I was packing SO much stuff in my diaper bag for any type of situation and it was bursting at the seams. I was digging around for changing supplies and knew I needed some kind of organizer. But of course, there was nothing modern and slim back in-the-day. All the retailers had the same cutesy animal prints in the same four pastel colors. (Cue eye-roll.) With my new found sewing skills, I developed these patterns and they both have gone through MANY revisions over the years.
One of my early designs. The one I first carried had a button and elastic loop closure.
After I made the ones for myself, friends started commenting on them which led me to make them as gifts for awhile. Then after a lot of encouragement, I started to make these baby accessories to sell and opened my Etsy shop in 2013! With over 1,000 sales in my shop and countless ones vending at indie craft shows, I knew I had some special accessories. Now that I’ve retired from selling retail product, it was time for me to share these patterns with you!
More early designs with different closure options I offered in my shop
With most of my patterns, I name them after my nieces. Maya and Harper are my sister’s sweet and ridiculously adorable girls. Since they are quite the pair and are usually decked out in matching outfits, I knew they had to be the namesake for these patterns. They are two little people that go together just like how the Travel Changing Pad and Diaper Clutch go together!
Maya Diaper Clutch
The Diaper Clutch was designed to hold diapers, wipes, bibs and large enough to also hold the Harper Changing Pad. It has a slim design which will expand with your needs. It has the following features:
Two Large Slip Pockets for diapers, wipes, bibs, etc
One Zipper pocket for ointments and creams
Detachable Wristlet strap for easy carrying
D-Ring which can be hooked onto diaper bags or backpacks
Metal Snap for one-handed opening and closing
This is a great project as a beginner sewist. You will learn how to use heavier fabrics, create a welt zipper pocket and install a magnetic snap. You also will learn how to make a wristlet strap. This same technique can be used across other pouches and accessories whenever you want that extra feature!
Harper Travel Diaper Changing Pad
The Changing Pad was designed to have a waterproof surface for changing, while being able to use beautiful fabrics to match your personality. Let’s face it, changing diapers is not glamorous at all, but you might as well look good doing in! Making the pad in a pretty fabric helps to lessen the pain…LOL. The pad features:
A Slim profile to help you better utilize that diaper bag real estate. I was not into the incredibly thick mats that came with many diaper bags…There was no reason to carry around a sleeping mat IMO!
Waterproof side for changing
Fabric side to show off your favorite fabric
Hook and Loop Closure for one-handed accessibility
Quilted design to make folding easy
The Harper is another pattern perfect for a beginner sewist. It is a very quick and satisfying project while you learn how to use laminate and/or other waterproof fabrics.
Material Sourcing
D-Ring, Swivel Clasps and Magnetic Snaps – I’m a loyal fan of Emmaline Bags (I carry their products in my other bag kits,) but also love the quality of Ning Bags on Etsy (aff link)
Zippers – Like most of you, I grab mine from ZipIt Zippers on Etsy (aff link) or I grab them from Wawak when they’re on sale.
Canvas – Fabric.com (aff link) always has a steady selection of different canvases…from organic to solid, to other great modern prints. It’s a great spot for the most selection, especially when making a gift 😉
PUL (Polyurethane Laminate) – You can find a lot of great prints in PUL, but my pattern uses the smooth laminate side as the “right” side. The designs are usually printed on the soft knit side of the fabric which would be hidden. So make sure you read the fine print when ordering! Joann’s carries the Babyville line of PUL which is thicker than other brands. I like how the white is fully opaque and is available 60″ wide. Diaper Sewing Supplies is a great spot for Eco-PUL which is more environmentally friendly, but is slightly transparent and thinner. I like DSS for the solid color selection, but would stay away from the light colors or because you’ll see the seam allowances through the Harper Changing Pad. You can also find great waterproof oxford at DSS which is heavier and you can find fun prints to use.
Project Inspiration
Enjoy all of these incredible versions of the Maya and Harper Travel Changing Set by my tester group. Click through each image to the maker’s IG feed if you would like to follow them on their sewing journey!
Please note, the position of the magnetic snaps were adjusted after testing on the final pattern templates.
Made by Yasmin Schmalix
Made by Yasmin Schmalix
Made by Tricia Stadelbacher
Made by Tricia Stadelbacher
Made by Nela Barrow
Made by Nela Barrow
Made by Mallory Theiss
Made by Mallory Theiss
Made by Ruth Bhakta
Made by Ruth Bhakta
Made by Sherrene Mar-Tang
Made by Sherrene Mar-Tang
Made by Tiahna Conrad
Made by Tiahna Conrad
Made by Maggie Marconi
Made by Maggie Marconi
Made by Emily Isaacson
Made by Emily Isaacson
Made by Jean Werling
Made by Jean Werling
Made by Nikki Hartnett
Made by Nikki Hartnett
I hope you enjoy making sewing baby gifts as much as me! Please don’t forget to tag your projects with #MayaAndHarperTravelChangingSet and #LoveYouSewPatterns so I can see your fantastic makes on social media!
Hugs and Stitches!
Cristy
There are affiliate links in this post and you can read up about my disclosures here.
I was so excited when D&H Fabrics approached me to collaborate with their exclusive fabric collection with Katie Kortman. I was asked to make something using one of the three available prints and I knew I would have to make a statement maxi dress using the Dash fabric with the Derby Dress pattern by Christine Haynes. Katie’s designs are always so colorful and dramatic. I wanted to make a garment that’s also fun, bold, yet approachable – like the designer, herself!
The Derby Dress (aff link) pattern has been in my library for awhile now. I’m a sucker for the classic feminine styles which Christine has in her patterns. I made the knee-length version a few years ago with a rayon challis and it’s still on rotation in my closet. So I knew a full maxi version would get the same wear…if not more!
Fabric
After checking out the available prints at D&H Fabrics, I fell in love with the vibrant pink and red Dash. There was just something about these analogous colors that pulled me in. I admit my garment fabric game is a bit neutral (aka boring) so it felt good to step out of my comfort zone a bit…especially for summer! If you follow Katie on IG, you know she has her own personal movement to get more of us sewists to use fun color combos. I SO appreciate the extra fun inspiration and color push 😉
This gorgeous print is made of a 56″ wide lightweight rayon poplin which is incredibly soft with a soft hand and beautiful drape. The tight poplin weave makes the fabric easier to handle than a rayon challis which is much more slippery. With this more delicate fabric, I like to use a smaller universal needle sized 75/11 or 70/10.
The fabric design is printed directly on a white basecloth and washes very well. Most of these pictures were taken after three washes and yes, even with delicate tumble-dry. (I wash my handmade garments along with my RTW.) The colors remain saturated and I even sweat through this for hours in 90* heat.
Pattern & Modifications
As I mentioned above, I’ve made this Derby Dress by Christine Haynes before and love the flirty ruffle feature — plus it has pockets! I actually use this pocket pattern as my go-to for any dresses which need an in-seam pocket. It’s just a nice shape and perfect size for my hands. I’ve used these pockets on my Sylvie seen here, and my Alix dress found here.
The front of the Derby is drafted with 3 separate panels for princess seams and the back has 4 panels for additional shaping. This is great for a solid fabric or a busy print, but I didn’t want to disrupt the dashes in this fabric design. I definitely did not have enough fabric for all of the pattern matching either…nor the time! So, I used a RTW maxi dress from Target (aff link) I have to work out the width and length of the dress.
I laid the RTW dress over the fabric on the fold and used the facing of the Derby to cut the top of the dress (of course, adding in seam allowances.) The Derby uses two different facings for the front and back, but I took the easy route and made my front and back pieces identical since all of the panel seams we eliminated. I then cut out two of the front facings on their own to match the front and back of the Derby. The straps were later shortened to account for these changes to the neckline.
With the dress lengthened out to a maxi, I also extended the length of the neckline ruffle by 1″ to balance the proportion. I though the ruffle would be cute on the back as well, but it ended up being a bit “too much.” Sometimes you have to know when to edit, and the back looks much better with a clean line. To play with the neck ruffle, I also added a 7 1/4″ (finished) x WOF ruffle to the bottom of the Derby to make it as close to the ground without touching as possible. It adds to the flirty feel of the dress and adds some extra swing.
I LOVE how this maxi version of the Derby came out. The print needed to become a statement dress and I can definitely tell you it turned a lot of heads at the airports! The lightweight rayon poplin was just perfect with the dress pattern for all the great movement. It’s the perfect summer dress for travel and pairs beautifully with my vintage denim jacket….so that means I can also extend the season on this make! Yay!!!
Are you a bold and colorful person or usually a bit more reserved and neutral like myself? I have to admit that stepping out of my usual color scheme was a lot of fun and I’m reaching for this dress a lot more than I thought I would! Try it out if you haven’t already!!!
Hugs and Stitches,
Cristy
The fabric for my dress was provided by D&H fabrics for advertising but I was not contracted to write a blog post. As always, I like to share my makes and good fabric finds 🙂 There are affiliate links in this post and you can read up about my disclosures here.
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