How to make an easy, hand-sewn make up bag

Sometimes I get the urge to make something but then the idea of getting out the sewing machine (which invariably involves moving lots of clutter that has gathered around it) feels too much like hard work. And I just want to do something while sitting on the sofa with a glass of wine. This is the perfect project for that, or if you're just starting out or trying sewing again after a break this will take a few hours and be very satisfying. 

I used this project at an alternative, craft hen party that you can read about in this blog post.

This make up bag uses just two basic stitches - the back stitch and the running stitch. If you're not sure how to do this have a look at my basic stitches blog post.

To make your make up bag you will need:

• Cotton thread
• A needle
• Pins
• Zip (any size, this will determine the size of your bag)
• Lining fabric
• Outer fabric
• Scissors
• Ruler, paper and pen

FIRST STEPS

Pick the fabric for the outside of your make-up bag, some lining fabric and a zip

Use your zip to create your pattern – simply make the length of your bag as long as your zip and as wide as you want

Mark out the measurements on a piece of paper or card and use this to cut out your fabric

CUTTING YOUR FABRIC

For a 10 inch zip, I created a template 10 ½ inches long and 6 inches wide

Place the template over your fabric and either pin in place or draw around it

Cut out two pieces of your outer fabric and two pieces of your lining fabric

FIXING THE ZIP

Lay zip across your fabric and trim any extra edges

Open your zip about half way

Take one piece of your outer fabric and place it down right side up

Lay the zip on the top edge with the pull side facing down onto the right side

Place the lining fabric on top of the zip, to create a zip sandwich

If using patterned lining fabric make sure it is right side down

Now pin it together so it doesn’t move around while you’re sewing

Sew the sandwich together using backstitch about ¼ inch from the top of the fabric. (If you're not sure how, find out how to sew a backstitch here.)

When you have finished tie a knot and cut off excess thread

Turn it over with the right side of the outer fabric facing up and the zip the right way round

To sew the next side put the lining down right side up and place the zipped section on top with the zip along the top

Put the outer fabric on top of the zip, wrong side up to form another sandwich

Pin it all together and sew it like the other side

The fabric might look like it doesn’t match up but remember your zip is open

Pin it all together and sew it like the other side

The fabric might look like it doesn’t match up but remember your zip is open

Keep your zip open about half way so that you can turn your purse inside out

SEWING THE EDGES

Now you’re going to sew it all together

Your two lining pieces should be together and touching each other and your two outer pieces should be together as well

Pin everything down, as you’re pinning try to push the outside seam toward the lining so that when you’re done it will lie properly

Sew all around the edges with backstitch leaving an opening at the bottom of the lining to ensure that you can turn the bag (about 3 ½ inches will be enough)

One thread will not be enough you’ll have to rethread a few times on the way round

TURNING THE BAG

When you have finished turn the bag inside out. A chopstick is a useful way to push the corners out.

Sew up the opening with whip stitch. (If you're not sure how, find out how to sew a whip stitch here.)

FINISHING THE BAG

Push the lining back into the bag and you’re finished!

Lampshade Making Workshop at Creative Biscuit

I love doing workshops. Not only do you get to learn a new skill but it means that I actually have time in my diary dedicated to making something. It's all too easy to let it slip down the to-do list at home. A friend introduced me to Creative Biscuit in South Woodford, a lovely crafting cafe that serves great tea and cake where you can paint ceramics which also runs some brilliant workshops. So last Thursday night, after a few glasses of wine nearby, a friend and I went along to the Lampshade Making Workshop to join three other girls and the super nice teacher Karen who also owns the shop. It was very friendly and informal; we were offered tea or coffee when we arrived and two of the girls were drinking Prosecco that they'd brought with them so I knew I was in the right place!

We started off with a lampshade making kit each and initially I think we were all wondering how we'd manage to make lampshades that would look as professional as Karen's. But the good news is that it was incredibly easy. It is a little bit fiddly in parts and you can definitely do with another pair of hands for some of the steps but the end result is well worth it. Everyone's material looked lovely once it had been stuck to the backing and we were all very pleased with our final lampshades.

I chose to make one for my little man's bedroom. It's surprisingly difficult to get an interesting, stylish lampshade that isn't too babyish, too twee or just too expensive. I used the Michael Miller Retro Rocket Rascals fabric that I have used in the past to make lots of bibs and baby gifts for Stars and Buttons. I'm really happy with the way it turned out and it was a really enjoyable way to spend the evening; making something in a relaxed atmosphere while catching up with a friend. You can buy lampshade making kits online and you could probably find some instructions online too but I think that you can't beat having someone experienced to show you their own little tricks and shortcuts.

The owner Karen told us that she is planning some more workshops at Creative Biscuit in the future so I'll be keeping an eye on the website for the next set of dates - past classes have included wooden jewellery making, screen printing, vintage tea cup candle making and embroidery.

Visit the Creative Biscuit website.

The homemade cot bumper is finally complete

There will come a time when your small baby that once slept placidly starts moving around in their cot. Hitting their arms, legs and then probably their head on the bars - often at the same time. This can be a bit frightening so you'll want to rush out immediately and buy them a cot bumper. Then maybe, like me, you will stand in the shop looking at them thinking 'how much?' before spluttering 'but it's just a big rectangle of material'!!! I also didn't like most of the designs which were all pretty twee and certainly not worth over £40. Hopefully, you will then head home and run one up on your sewing machine. Sadly for my son, I bought the materials then moved house, dealt with Christmas, didn't unpack the sewing machine, <insert more excuses here> and so the poor boy continued to bump his head as he wriggled around at night.

But lucky boy, I have now finally made him a cot bumper. So when he wedges himself in horizontally to the end of the cot he should no longer have bar marks! He likes to hit it enthusiastically before he goes to sleep which I think must mean that he likes it. It is actually incredibly easy and just needs some large pieces of material and wadding. I'm sure there may be 'proper' patterns online but I couldn't be bothered to hunt one down and just decided to make my own based on the material I had. I will post a full tutorial on here soon.

New Cushions

Back in the summer, I made a cushion for a friend with some lovely African style material that she picked up in Ridley Road market in East London. Luckily, she liked it so much she asked me to make another one for her. I really like this material, I must get up to Ridley Road myself in the new year and get some for myself!

You can find out how to make this cushion by reading my Easy Peasy Envelope Cushion Cover tutorial.

Happy Birthday Holly

My goddaughter and very first Stars and Buttons model celebrated her 2nd birthday this week. Cue usual laments about how quickly time flies/they grow up etc.

I think she's getting even cuter, even if I am a bit biaised. Now I need to start working on some more toddler outfits...

How to Make an Easy Peasy Envelope Cushion Cover

One of the many wonderful things about living in East London is the range of markets. Ridley Road Market in Dalston is a brilliant place to find lots of unusual and relatively cheap fabrics and has loads of great African tribal prints, which also happen to be bang on trend at the moment.

My friend Amber asked me to make a cushion for her, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to share a tutorial as it really is very easy. It's perfect for beginners and can also be sewn by hand if you don't have a machine.

You will need:

• Cushion filler - I used one that is 44cm x 44cm (you can buy these new or upcycle an old one)
• About 1 metre of material - I used 1.05m of material with a 0.5m width  (the amount will depend on the size of your cushion filler)
• Measuring tape
• Pins & chalk 
• Fabric scissors
• Cotton thread
• Sewing machine (or needles if sewing by hand)

1. Measure your cushion filler, the one I used was 44cm  x 44cm.

2. Now for your fabric; if it's wide enough you can cut out one big piece so that you have less sewing! Add on a few centremetres as a seam allowance - I've added 2 cm. Measure out your material, mark the length you require with chalk on the wrong side of the fabric and cut it out - the fabric I used was 46cm wide and 105cm long. 

As you will see in the diagram below the two sections that you will fold over to form the envelope need to total more than the length of your cushion filler so that the material overlaps. 

(If you are working out your own measurements, you don't need to worry about being too exact but a good guide is to take the length of your cushion filler then add on about a 1/4 of that length again then divide that total between the two sides of the envelope. Don't divide it equally but make one side longer than the other as this will look neater.)

3. Iron your material so that it is all flat 

4. Fold over the ends by 1 cm each end, pin into place and then hem them on the machine (or by hand).

5. Lay the material right side up and put the cushion filler in the middle. Fold over the ends so that they overlap. Make sure it is quite tight around the cushion so that it isn't all saggy when it is finished. Use pins to mark where the folds are on the material.

6. Take the cushion filler out and then pin all around the edges.

7. Sew up the two sides and cut away any excess if necessary.

8. Turn the pillow the right way out and insert the cushion filler. And you're done.

9. Place on a chair and put the kettle on : )

Sunday Sewing

Thankfully, I managed to stay in long enough this weekend to start making things again - which is just as well as I have some pre-orders in for some bibs and the babies are on their way. I also finally got around to making some cushions with this Orla Kiely Car Park Print material that I've had for ages.

As you can't seem to buy Orla Kiely material by the metre, (surely there would be a market for it?) I ended up buying some pillowcases and picking them apart. I used the smaller print on one side to cover a footstool from a junk shop and always intended to make cushions with the larger car print on the other side. I managed to cover the stool almost a year ago, so I'm very pleased I can now cross the cushions off my to do list. They were so quick to make I'm not really sure why I put it off for so long.  

I've seen on Twitter that a few crafters are already talking about Christmas. I have to confess that I started thinking about it on the first day of September. (I get a bit over-excited about Christmas so I'm banned from talking about it until this month.) So the next job is researching some new product ideas which I'm looking forward to - a glass of mulled wine anyone? 

Open For Business!

Finally! Today I am flinging open the virtual doors of my online shop and inviting you all to come on in and have a look around. I hope you like it.

You can find the Stars and Buttons Etsy shop here.

When some of my close friends started having babies, I spent quite a lot of time looking for original yet trendy little gifts. That's more difficult than it sounds when you throw in the word 'affordable' so I decided to make my own and Stars and Buttons was born. Now I'm selling my homemade bibs and burping cloth gift sets online which I'm very excited about. I love sourcing lovely printed fabric to turn into bibs, burp cloths and lots of other handmade things. Watch out for a wider range of fabrics and gifts which I'll  be listing in my Etsy shop soon. There'll even be pretty things for grown-ups.

I want to say a quick thanks to the lovely Amy who runs the excellent Robin & Mould Etsy shop for her advice and for providing the motivation to stop worrying about the details and just start selling! And to my lovely model Eléna, who was one of the first to road test the bibs and who is already proving a great bib saleswoman!

You can follow me on Twitter @starsandbuttons.