So Simply Stephanie

Month of bag making project 10 & tutorial Gather your materials: * 12 1/2" x 29" piece of cotton fabric for the OUTSIDE of the bag * 12 1/2" x 29" piece of matching canvas for the LINING of the bag (or you can use regular cotton & iron on some lightweight interfacing to give it a bit of structure) * 6 1/2" x 12 1/2" piece of fabric (same as you used for the lining) for the crayon pocket * 2 - 4" x 20" pieces of fabric (same as you used for the outside of the bag) for the STRAPS * 3 1/2" x 12 1/2" piece of lightweight interfacing Coordinating thread Sewing machine Scissors Ruler Fabric pencil/pen (chalk based or disappearing ink - whichever you prefer) ~Seam allowances are 1/4"unless otherwise noted~ NOTE: The width used for the crayon slots is 3/4" which is very tight.  It may be difficult for younger children to insert the crayons.  If designing for a younger child, make the slots 7/8" wide.  You...

Lately, I have been making several child sized tote bags & matching crayon rolls.  Here is how I made the totes.  Enjoy! Gather your materials: * 13" x 29" piece of cotton fabric for the OUTSIDE of the bag * 13" x 29" piece of matching canvas for the INSIDE of the bag (or you can use regular cotton & iron on some lightweight interfacing to give it a bit of structure) * 2 - 4" x 20" pieces of fabric (same as you used for the outside of the bag) for the STRAPS Coordinating thread Sewing machine Scissors Ruler Pencil ~Seam allowances are 1/4" (for my machine that's the width of the presser foot) unless otherwise noted~ Throughout the tutorial and at the end I will have some helpful hints enclosed in *.  If you're a beginner sewer, it may be helpful to read through all of them before beginning this project.  I hope they help!  Let's start with making the STRAPS.  Take 1 piece of the strap fabric and fold it in half le...

Month of gift making project 8 (AND TUTORIAL): Monkey applique t-shirt for my son's 2nd birthday! Here's the finished product: Here's the tutorial: Gather your materials - T-shirt (or make your own) Monkey clipart (I found mine here ) Brown scraps of fabric & thread to match Tan scraps of fabric &  thread to match Pellon Wonder-Under scraps (or any other brand of lightweight fusible web) Pellon lightweight fusible interfacing scrap (or any other brand) Permanent fabric marker OR embroidery thread and of course scissors, a pencil, and a sewing machine if you want to stitch around your applique 1)  Pre-wash the t-shirt and the fabric to be used for the applique. 2)  Looking at the t-shirt, decide roughly what size you'd like the monkey face to be. 3)  If you're artistic, draw a monkey face.  If you're like me, find some monkey clipart online.  If you need to resize it then copy and paste the graphic into MS Word.  Right cl...