1-hour Zip Pouch Tutorial

Have an hour? We've got a fun zip pouch for you. And with Valentine's Day fast approaching, you can use fun themed fabrics (like Greta Lynn's Smooches collection for Kanvas, shown in our pouch!) and stuff it full of chocolates or a gift card for a sweet present for someone special.

First, a peek at a few of the Smooches fabrics, full of glamour, style and all things girly! 

See the rest of the collection here.

Materials:

• 1 fat quarter each of 4 prints
• Fusible batting
• 7" zipper

Cutting:

Lipstick on white:

One 3" x 7-1/2" strip and one 2-1/2" x 7-1/2" strip

Lips on black:

One 3-1/2" x 7-1/2" strip

Red/black stripe:

One 7-1/2" x 8-1/2" piece (for backing)

White/black stripe:

One 6" x 7-1/2" piece, one 2-1/2" x 7-1/2" strip, and one 7-1/2" x 8-1/2" piece (for lining)

Fusible web:

One 5-1/2" x 7" piece, one 2" x 7" strip, and one 7" x 8" piece

Make the Pouch

1. Sew the 3" x 7-1/2" lipstick on white strip lengthwise to the 3-1/2" x 7-1/2" lips on black strip. Fuse the 5-1/2" x 7" fusible web piece to the back side, leaving 1/4" of fabric exposed on all sides. Fuse the 2" x 7" fusible web strip to the wrong side of the 2-1/2" x 7-1/2" lipstick on white strip.

2. Lay the zipper right side down on the lips/lipstick fused piece from step 1 and pin in place. Layer the 6" x 7-1/2" white/black stripe piece on top, right sides facing, and pin in place. Using a zipper foot, stitch along the edge of the zipper. 

3. In the same manner, pin the 2-1/2" x 7-1/2" lipstick on white strip and 2-1/2" x 7-1/2" white/black stripe strip to the opposite long side of the zipper. Check to make sure the fabrics will be oriented correctly after sewing, and then stitch to secure the zipper. It should look like this:

4. Using a walking foot, topstitch on both sides of the seam line and 1/4" on either side of the zipper seams.

5. Fuse the 7" x 8" fusible web to the wrong side of the 7-1/2" x 8-1/2" red/black stripe piece for the back side of the pouch. 

6. There are two options for finishing this bag: 

a) the super easy one--layer the pouch front right side up, pouch back right side down, and 7-1/2" x 8-1/2" white/black piece right side up. Make sure the zipper is open. Pin pieces together and stitch around all four sides. Clip corners and turn right side out. Easy, right? The drawback of this method is that the seams will show inside the pouch. 

b) this clever technique by Projects from Jane. Your pouch will be fully finished, no seams showing! Click here to see Jane's tutorial so you can finish your pouch in this manner.

Back of the pouch--love this fun fabric!

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Mug Rug Blog Hop: Day 4

We're so glad you joined us for day four of the Mug Rug Blog Hop. Today we're getting a head start on Valentine's Day with some sweet heart-shaped mug rugs. Our design team used two Kanvas lines: Smooches by Greta Lynn and Puppy Love. Don't miss your chance at the end of the post to find out how to enter for a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of fabric!

Grab a mug and pull out those valentine chocolates! 

It's time to make a mug rug!

You'll Need:

• 2-4 fat quarters of valentine prints (will make 2-4 mug rugs)
• 9" square of batting per mug rug
• Pinking shears

Smooches and Puppy Love: We <3 these prints!

Click here to download the pdf of the heart templates.

Make the Mug Rugs:

Print out the pdf with the heart templates and choose which size hearts you want to use. We used the largest, the 3rd largest, and the smallest on one mug rug, and the largest and 2nd largest on the second mug rug. Cut out the heart templates you want to use.

Cut two squares of fabric 2" larger than your largest heart. This will be the back and the background of the mug rug. Cut a batting square the same size. Layer the backing fabric, batting, and background fabric right side up.

Pin the cut out heart template on top.

Stitch around the outer edge of the paper heart. Use a walking foot for easier sewing. Remove the paper heart. 

Using a pinking shears, cut out 1/4" past the stitched line.

Choose your second heart fabric and heart template size, cut out a fabric square 2" larger than the template, and pin the template to the fabric. Cut out just past the template with the pinking shears. 

Position the medium-sized heart on the quilted large heart, center and pin. Stitch 1/4" inside the pinked edge to secure to the background. Repeat to make and sew on the small heart.

The back side:

Here's our second mug rug, made in the same manner.

Cute, aren't they?! Perfect for spreading a little love for Valentine's Day!

For a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of Benartex or Kanvas fabric, simply sign up to follow this blog, either through Bloglovin' (or another blog reader service) or email (both options are in the right hand sidebar) and leave a comment letting us know you follow. In your comment, also tell us your favorite thing about Valentine's Day. Leave a second comment and receive a second entry by following us on Facebook and letting us know. This giveaway is open through Friday, February 7 at 11:59 PM EST. 

Make sure you check out all the Mug Rug tutorials!

Day 1: Benartex Design Team featuring Bohemian Rhapsody

Day 2: Debby Kratovil from Debby Kratovil Quilts featuring Fossil Ferns

Day 3: Stitched Together Studios featuring Shaken or Stirred

Day 5: Candace from Saltwater Quilts featuring Gramercy

Day 6: Julie from The Crafty Quilter featuring Sweet Tweet

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New Year's Central!

New Year's Eve is right around the corner...are you ready? 

If you're not, we can help! 

Mix up a batch of martinis using Shaken or Stirred from Kanvas. Inspired by the hit TV show Mad Men, these prints feature cool martini glass and olive geometrics, as well as an allover print with oh-so-helpful recipes--perfect for ringing in the new year!

Need some party beads, streamers and masks? Pull out the Mardi Gras favors early with our Bourbon Street collection, also from Kanvas.

And when it's time to ring in 2014 with that special someone, get your glamour on with Smooches: lipsticks, high heels, and more. Just right for a kiss as the ball drops in Times Square and Auld Lang Syne plays in the background!

Wherever and however you spend New Year's Eve, we wish you a happy and healthy 2014!

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