Why should you sew with laminated fabric? It is sturdy and often doesn’t need the interfacing and stabilizers that patterns call for. It is also much more durable and easy to wipe off than regular cotton. This laminate fabric came from laminates.etsy.com (Deborah has an awesome selection). When I received it I loved it so much I knew that I had to make something special. That’s why I decided to make a little suitcase.
This is the ‘Honeymooner Suitcase’ from Sara Lawson’s new book Big City Bags. I wrote a book review about it here. Isn’t it cute the way that it zips open all the way? The inside seams area finished with bias trim.
The outside seams feature piping which I would totally love if the book asked for store-bought piping. It tells you to make your own using the bias trim that you’ll also use on the inside. I just don’t think my home-made piping gives the professional finish that I’d like.
I do have to warn you that attempting an intermediate level bag like this with laminate fabric does make it a bit trickier, but it was certainly doable using Deborah’s tips for working with laminate fabric here. I didn’t use stabilizer with the laminate exterior layer, just medium weight fusible interfacing on the inside lining.
The small suitcase was a present for my daughter Chloe which she brought with us last week when we drove up to Tennessee on a little family vacation. My Floridian kids were dying to see snow for the first time. The weather happily obliged.
Cadie made good use of her wool mittens in sub-freezing weather almost every day. The girls’ DIY mittens {tutorial here} were much warmer than the boys store bought ones. 🙂
More about our vacation coming soon… happy Monday!
Sew an organizer covered with pockets that you can hang in your closet! This easy sewing project is great for organizing sewing and craft supplies, fashion accessories, bathroom necessities, gift wrappings, and more. There are pockets on both sides plus a big interior pocket so every bit of space is used. I’ll show you easy step by step instructions for sewing this organizer and putting it to use in your home. Get sew organized today.
Are you sewing a Closet Organizer with me? I hope so! This is Part 2 of our free sewing tutorial for an amazing organizer with a coat hanger inside so you can hang it anywhere.
If you are getting started, make sure you start at Part 1 of the free pattern.
Be a basketmaker! Sure, you can sew, but did you know that you can make amazing baskets too using your sewing machine, some fabric and the same materials that you use for your other projects?
Have you fallen in love with Quilt as You Go yet? It’s a fun technique for quilts, of course, but I’m having lots of fun using it for pouches and tote bags too.
I’m so excited to share with you the pattern for our first mini quilt of 2018… Flora! This beautiful little quilt was designed by the very talented Lauren of Molly & Mama…
At my daughter Chloe’s high school (can you believe my baby started high school???), the lunch lines are so long that she has been skipping lunch! She’s always starving by the time she gets home because she doesn’t want to carry a big lunch bag as well as her heavy backpack – poor girl!
Looking for free table runner patterns? I gathered up all my favorites in one place – here are free quilt patterns for table runners for fall, winter, spring and summer!
I am so in love with the beautiful look of simple patchwork quilts with lots of squares. This is the perfect way to use up fabric scraps like I did, or you can make a beautifully coordinated quilt with pre-cut 2 1/2’’ square fabric pieces that come in mini-charm packs.
I’m also in love with the process. If you feel like quilt making is your escape from the world and sitting down to sew for a few hours makes your troubles fade away… this is the quilt for you!
Sew an easy beautiful apron with this free sewing pattern that only uses one yard of fabric! Whether you are sewing for yourself or for a friend, an apron always comes in handy and makes a great gift. This blog post includes a link to a free template that I digitized for you.
Disclosure: some of my posts contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of those links I may receive a small commission, so thank you for supporting SewCanShe when you shop! All of the opinions are my own and I only suggest products that I actually use. 🙂
I’m a newbie beginner visual sewer and I’m dying to make a cute suitcase like this. I need a step by step tutorial in making this bag especially that zipper. Thanks!
Love your suitcase. We must be in sync, I was taking a break from cutting the same fabric to make another Sara Lawson bag when I saw your post 🙂
Are you serious? That’s too funny. I love Sara’s bags!
I’m a newbie beginner visual sewer and I’m dying to make a cute suitcase like this. I need a step by step tutorial in making this bag especially that zipper. Thanks!