October 2020 – Stitches By Christy

You might ask…”what is strike sewing?” The short answer is that it’s for promotion! In the custom fabric and hardware world, shop owners get samples (or strikes) in to make sure they like them before selling. After they approve them, they will send them to the strike team to sew up…the reason for this is people want to see what it will look like as an actual finished item. After we sew them up, it is our job to promote everywhere and to drum up as many orders as possible!

Now that we have that info out of the way…do you want to see my most recent strikes?

This is the Pixie crossbody from Spencer Ogg patterns! It is the cutest little bag with tons of storage.https://www.spencerogg.com/product-category/patterns/ The fabric I chose is hexi rainbow from Tula Pink and black chambray from So Sew English Fabrics…but the fabrics are not the strikes. This fabric was chosen so that I could feature this little lovely:

I mean, seriously, how gorgeous is that pull?!?! This one is in the current preorder at Zip-a-DeeDooDah Hardware https://zip-a-deedoodah-hardware.myshopify.com/collections/hardware. I wanted to make sure this pull was the focus on the bag but I also didn’t want it to be a boring solid bag. I feel like this fabric was the perfect choice! Part of being a strike seamstress is getting lots of pictures so you aren’t posting the exact same thing in every spot. Here are some of my other photos of this bag:

Taking photos from different angles and used in different ways allows people to visualize themselves using it!

Zip-a-DeeDooDah Hardware has several pulls up for preorder, but they are also offering amazing zipper tapes! I was sent this beautiful floral to sew up and here is what I made with it…

Pattern is Zippy Clutch from Amy Lynne Designs https://amylynnedesigns.com/shop/25394535/pdf-sewing-pattern

It was so beautiful that I didn’t want to take away from it with a busy print, so I chose a herringbone chambray from Surge Fabric Shop https://surgefabricshop.com/ and paired it with cork from Hobby Lobby! I used a gold teardrop pull from Wizardry Stitchery and Crafts https://geekyhardware.com/. This zipper tape is very high quality and so easy to work with…there are several others available too! https://zip-a-deedoodah-hardware.myshopify.com/collections/hardware

This is the third round I have had the pleasure of sewing strikes for, plus I purchased some before that…they really are awesome products! Here are my previous round makes and in case you are wondering…retail has not happened for them yet, so you may want to join the Facebook group to keep in the loop!

I hope this has been entertaining and maybe even helps you to find hardware that you love or gives you the courage to apply to be a strike sewist! Happy Sewing! ~Christy~

*links may include affiliate links, which don’t cost you anything but give me a little incentive.

Today I will teach you how I make a basic zipper pouch. The great thing about this pattern is that you can easily adjust it to be any size you need. Here are the materials you need:

2 pieces main fabric 5″ h x 7″ w
2 pieces lining fabric 5″h x 7″ w
2 pieces fusible interfacing 5″ h x 7″ w
9″ or longer zipper

Start by fusing the interfacing to the outside fabric pieces only…you can interface the lining if you want to but for a simple pouch it really isn’t necessary. However, when you branch out to wristlets you will want interfacing to help hold pockets up.

Take one lining piece and lay it right side up on your table. Now lay the zipper on top of the lining with the teeth facing up. *I like to use a longer zipper so the pull hangs out the end because it makes sewing so much easier* Next place the main fabric right side down on top of the zipper. Using your zipper foot, sew through all 3 layers.

Flip both pieces so that they are wrong sides together and topstitch very close to your zipper.

Repeat with the remaining 2 pieces of fabric!

Push your zipper pull in, so that you don’t cut it off! Stitch over the open zipper end~ this isn’t a required step but it will make your life easier! Switch back to your regular sewing foot, you are finished with the zipper foot now.

Open your zipper most of the way, just keep it in farther than your seam allowance.

Match up your outside pieces so they are right sides together, then repeat with the lining pieces. It should look like this:

Fold your zipper tape in half towards the outside fabric and clip in place. Then clip all the way around the outside.

Start on the lining side at one corner and sew all the way around, only leaving a small hole in the lining to turn.

Trim off both zipper ends and clip all four corners.

Turn the pouch through the hole you left. Use a blunt object to poke all 4 corners out, making sure you don’t poke all the way through the fabric. Then carefully push the zipper corners out.

Fold the opening in and topstitch. Push the lining into the main and your zipper pouch is finished!!!

I hope this tutorial was helpful! After you get comfortable with the basic pouch it is so easy to adjust it for wristlets, cosmetic bags and so much more!

Happy Sewing!

~Christy~

Month: October 2020

Strike sewing!

Basic zipper pouch tutorial!