Sunday, January 27, 2008

Stitcher's Wallet Tutorial

Sajou Be Glad (freebie)
Stitched on 32ct Raw Linen Belfast with DMC 498
Finished into a Stitcher's Wallet

I completed the Sajou Be Glad in October and had wanted to finish it as a stitcher's wallet. In my blog travels I hear they'll be a Stitcher's Wallet SAL at Tempus Fugit starting 2 days from now. So I decided to finish mine up today and perhaps my tutorial will give stitchers out there an idea on how to go about it. No doubt, there are many ways to finish a stitcher's wallet, mine is just one of the interpretations :)

Here's what you need:

1. A 4 panel stitched piece
2. Smallish stitched pieces for scissors sheath and pincushion
3. Backing fabric
4. Felt for pins and needles
5. A little polyfill
6. Short strip of lace
7. Small piece of interface
8. Leather strip for closure
9. Matching sewing threads
10. Hard interface or skirtex (optional)
11. Thread rings

1. Cut the backing fabric into 4 pieces with addition 1" allowance on each side of an individual panel.
2. Then cut two smaller pieces for the pockets

Left most panel

1. Sew a strip of lace onto the top of the pocket
2. Stitch the thread rings onto the left most panel (Note: I should have only used 2 rings instead of three as the width was only 3")

Reverse of left most panel

1. Use some scrap fabric for the backing of the holding stitches of the thread rings, so that it is more sturdy.

Right most panel

1. Sew a strip of lace onto the top the pocket

Iron a small piece of interface behind the small stitched piece for the scissors sheath so that the point of the scissors will not catch on the threads.

Centre right panel

1. Stitch the scissors sheath piece onto the backing fabric using blind stitch. Reinforce the stitches on the top side of the sheath.
2. Stitch a length of ribbon onto the backing, again a fix a piece of scrap fabric at the back for sturdiness.

Centre left panel

1. Stitch the small pin cushion piece onto the backing fabric using blind stitch. Leave an opening to add in some polyfill. Do not let it bulge too much, a flat pin cushion is more desirable in a stitcher's wallet.
2. Sew a strip of wool felt beneath the pin cushion

You now have all the 4 panels ready.

Carefully sew the parts together as precise as you can, trim the seams to 1/4" and iron them open.

Mitre the stitched piece in all 4 corners and stitch to fasten. The stitching need not be neat :p since you'll be covering them up with the backing fabric. If you're using the hard interface or skirtex, now is the time to cut a piece according to the stitched piece and insert it under the folds.

Trim the backing panels accordingly to the folded 4 panels stitched piece and stitch the edges of the backing fabric along the edges of the stitched piece.



Fold the panels and tie it up with a strip of leather.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment. I'll answer all your questions in my following post.

23 comments:

  1. Oh wow! Thank you so very much. This has been printed out, and placed in my tutorial notebook. You are so blessed in your finishing skills.

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  2. thank you so much for the great tutorial. This piece is just so pretty.

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  3. BJ
    Great finishing and tutorial!

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  4. Thank you for the great tutorial.

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  5. Just dropping by your blog from the Freebie Gallery after seeing this beautiful stitcher's wallet there. Thanks you so much for the tutorial. I hope to make one of these.

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  6. Your stitcher's wallet is beautiful! Well done on your finish and a great tutorial too.

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  7. Excellent tutorial! Thanks!

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  8. Anonymous3:33 pm

    Hi Barbara,

    Great tutorial, I've bookmarked it for future use! I've never "finished" a cross stitch piece before, I was just wondering whether you know where to get polyfill from in PJ / KL?

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  9. Anonymous10:36 pm

    It's lovely !!! Thank you for these explanations and the link to your blog :-)

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  10. Great tutorial! xx

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  11. Thanks for the tutorial! Your stitcher's wallet is beautiful.

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  12. Thanks for the tutorial - it is fantastic!!

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  13. congrats on your another great finished piece bj.:)
    keep 'em coming!
    hugs,
    lody

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  14. Hi Barbara, just catching up with my blogging.
    Your stitchers wallet is lovely and your tutorial has also been printed for future use. I started collecting all these patterns last year as they came out and as yet haven't used them. I quite like what you made and I think I might have a go at one to.- Sandra.

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  15. Love the look of your finished piece. Magnificent work, as usual!

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  16. Anonymous3:09 pm

    Thanks for your tip re polyfill and your generous offer to give me some! I went to Jusco today, and managed to get a bag. Your price was spot on too. :)

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  17. Anonymous1:41 am

    Your stitches are gorgeous!!!I love!!! Congrats!!!Kisses

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  18. Wonderful tutorial. Thanks :D

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  19. Anonymous5:17 am

    Your stitchers wallet is just gorgeous - thank you so much for the tutorial :)

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  20. Anything goes for a free tatted bookmark! Hehehe Happy Valentine Day, BJ!

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  21. I see Janet's here but where is MW? Looking forward to my bookmark!

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  22. Anonymous2:16 am

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    ReplyDelete