Wallet Tutorial

Savings Wallet

I’m making this for my saving money but I’m sure that it can be used as a regular wallet if you want.

You need:
1/4 yard Solid Fabric
1/4 yard Complimenting Patterned Fabric
1/8 yard Contrasting Fabric
Medium to Heavy Weight Double-Sided Fusible Web (you might want to get a lot while you’re at it because it comes in very handy!)
Velcro or Snap (if you use a snap you’ll need the tool also)
Matching and Contrasting Thread
Fabric Glue (optional)

Make the pattern:
I used a plain sheet of paper from my printer as a pattern piece
Fold the bottom of the paper up about 3 inches
Fold the top down over the bottom flap about ½ from the bottom edge
Open the paper back up and fold in all the edges about ½ for seam allowance (this will help to lessen your trips to the ironing board)
If you want pockets, decide how many, what shape and what size (you can use the measurements for the pocket I made below if you like)
Draw them on your pattern

Cut the pieces:
Open the paper all the way and use it to cut one rectangle out of your patterned fabric, one out of your solid fabric and one out of the fusible web
With the contrasting fabric cut out your pocket and the flap, with a ½ inch seam allowance. (on the flap add about an inch to the length if you’re using your own pattern not mine)
For my pocket I cut two rectangles, one 4in by 3in and the other 4in by 2 1/4in.
Now, iron all of the pieces flat
And, using your pattern as a guide, iron down all the creases and seam allowances in both large rectangles and the pocket pieces

Cut embellishments:
If you want some decoration on your wallet, like flowers leaves, circles, swirls or anything else, then be sure to draw it on you pattern to see how it looks
Measure and make a stencil of your design if you need to
In center creased rectangle of the fabric for the outside of the wallet (the solid fabric), carefully cut out your design.
Cut and pin a rectangle of contrasting fabric to the backside of the solid fabric, completely covering the cut-out
Now comes the most difficult part; sew along the edge of the cut-out (for beginners with the sewing machine, I suggest making and embellish with no round edges)
Trim any excess of contrasting fabric around the sewn edge

Sew on pockets (instructions for my measurements):
On the flap piece of your pocket, sew down all seam allowances (along two sides and the top edge) then sew (or glue) on the velcro
On the main pocket piece, fold in the two sides and hem along the top edge
Lay the large solid rectangle face down and fold up the bottom edge along the crease
Layer the pocket flap with the main pocket on top (all its seam allowances should be tucked inward) where ever you want it on that flap
You’ll have to keep pinning and un-pinning both pieces and move them around to get them in just the right place
Sew the pocket down along the side and bottom edges

Front side:
Back side:
Sew on velcro:
To sew (or glue) the velcro in the right place, layer the two rectangles right sides out
Fold it up so it looks like it will when it’s finished
Sew (or glue) one or two pieces of velcro to the top of the patterned fabric and one or two pieces on the bottom of the flap of the solid fabric

Sew the rectangles together:
Lay the two rectangles on top of one another and make sure they’re the same size; trim if necessary (that really helps keep the finished edges straight)
Layer the pieces like this: Fusible web, solid piece facing up, patterned piece facing down
With the seam allowances un-tucked, sew along the edges uses the creases as a guide
Remember to leave about a 3 inch gap.
Now, turn the wallet right side out and very carefully iron flat (also it’s a good time to iron the pocket flap down also)

Finish the wallet:
Fold the bottom edge up (this is the pocket for the money so make some last minute adjustments and make sure its tall and short enough. Also make sure the velcro matches up)
Then, sew along the very edges of the wallet (careful while closing up the gap make sure the side stays straight)
Now, fold the top flap down and iron it all to get the fusible web to stick.
Yay! You’re done!

Monster Plushie Tutorial

Here's how to make a cute little monster for yourself!


First you draw and cut out a pattern for your monster. On this on I used a picture Peanut drew. Its fun to close your eyes and draw scribbles and loops then try to make something out of it, but anything you do make sure its wide and bold and a little larger than you'd like the monster to be.

These are some things I came up with yesterday while I was drawing with my eyes closed. Who knows, when I'm bored I may make one of them!

Lay your pattern on the cloth and cut two pieces. This monster is going to have hair all the way around it like Peanut drew so I basted (held it down in place with large stitches) some rick rack about a fourth of an inch from the edge.
Then I laid the other piece face down and backstitched along the stitches I made for the rick rack (You don't have to use any rick rack if you'd like to have a hairless monster)
Remember to leave a hole about 3 inches long while stitching the skin together. After your done turn the monster's skin right side out and stuff him. And add any extra stuff, on her picture, Peanut drew a spider that I thought was so cute I had to put one on. Extra stuff are always cute!
Lastly, cute out eyes, mouth and nose from felt (on this one I used a button for the nose) Maybe you could do sharp pointy teeth, or a small smile or a wide smirk, or no mouth at all. You can have big googly eyes or small beady ones, only one eye or maybe six!

You can also cover your monster's nakedness by making a shirt. You can wrap a piece of scrap fabric around him and measure where you should sew. Then fold it in half inside-out and sew. Then make arm holes (if your monster has arms)

I've also seen it done with socks. Its easier since you don't have to sew, just cut holes for the neck and arms, but I've never done it because I haven't found the right size socks that I can just cut up. My monsters are fairly small so I think I'd need baby socks. For larger monsters you can use your own socks (if you'd like to cut them up...)

Would you like your monster to have hair? Here's how:





Put thread, the same color as the yarn you want to use for the hair, and poke it through the front of the head as close to the top as you can get. Then put the tip of the yarn onto the needle but don't pull it all the way though.

Figure out how long you want the hair then bend the yarn at that point and poke the needle through the yarn leaving a tiny loop on the needle. Do that four or five times then put the needle through the back of the scalp to the front. The little loops of yarn should be in a group on top of the head.

Thread the needle through the front of the scalp to the back and repeat making little loops until you have a head full of beautiful hair.

You can do a little hair, or a lot. Use fuzzy yarn for a completely different look. Make it short or long...or make it short in the front and long in the back and make a monster mullet!!

After your done be sure to give your monster a name (something crazy that you'd never name your kid is best like Sebastian or Napoleon or Winifred) Then give him a personality and a hobby (you don't want a bored monster, that's just inviting trouble!) Make him a house to haunt, sew him a little monster quilt, give him a Myspace and voila, your done!