She made a darling little coin purse for me. She used a tape measure for the snap closure.
I found a tutorial on You Tube but the inside edges were raw and finished with a zig zag.
Andrea's example was much classier. No raw edges.
I spent much of Saturday afternoon trying to come up with one that looked like hers. I should have just asked for the dimensions. Finally I created one that I liked.
The possibilities for this technique are endless. You can make different sizes. Use a larger tape measure for larger purses,though.
I found an unfinished, lined drawstring bag on the sewing table. I put a tape measure closure in it. I like it A LOT
I fully intend to write out this pattern. As I was driving home from work today I contemplated another technique for inserting the tape measure. I will certainly give it a try.
I used my White ZZ in the treadle for these. It has a left homing needle which provides a 3/8 inch seam allowance. I think I will change to a Singer 201 or a 15 when I make it again. That way I can have the 1/4 inch seam allowance. I can manage to create a 1/4 inch seam allowance with the White but the fabric does not sit under the right feed dog if I do that. What's the point?
I do have a Kenmore 158.1760 all set up in the loft. I did use it a bit. It's electric, through no fault of its own, has a center homing needle and winds a lovely bobbin. I could have used it to make these little purses. It's a free arm too. Yet, something happened to me last summer as I was preparing for the TOGA. I became a PP convert. (People Powered). I prefer the treadle.
Perfect timing, thank you for the tutorial!!! I had seen these bags at a quilt show a while back and really wanted to make them, but I couldn't bring myself to cut up a perfectly good tape measure (I think I may actually have more than just a sewing machine obsession, I think I have a tape measure in almost every room of my house, and one in my truck!) I just picked up two non-functional tape measures at a thrift store last week, so now I am ready :)
ReplyDeleteDoes it have to be a good tape measure? A cheapo one like from Harbor Freight would work or no? I will have to look and see if inserting the tape is a more difficult task than I an handle. Quilt bindings I can do well a d quickly now, but small things like this are more problematic. Looks great!
ReplyDeleteDOLLAR STORE. Works just fine. 5/8 inch. I think it i about 10 feet long. Imagine how many little things you can make with THAT? Plus I think I have found the SECRET to inserting the tape measure into the casing. STAY TUNED.
DeleteI love PP (people power). In my student share-house where the electricity is abit dodgy, people power is much more reliable!! I wish people here would get into self-sufficient people-powered sewing machines and gadgets so I can 'adopt' their bits and pieces as they move onto bigger and better things!! Thanks for always sharing your lovely creations and those of your friends! You inspire me to try new things!!
ReplyDeleteAbbi, You make me want to visit OZ!!!
DeleteIs there a width requirement for the tape measure? Most of my broken ones are the little about 3 feet long that are usually only about an eighth of an inch wide. Does the metal tape have to be the half-inch-wide kind to work?
ReplyDeleteI don't know. I used 1/2 inch and 3/8 inch. I bought the 3/8 inch at the dollar store. The 1/2 inch I sacrificed. I am thinking the 1/8 inch might be a bit narrow.
Delete1/8 sounds a bit narrow. In any event it should fill your casing so it can snap properly. If there is too much wiggle room it will want to twist. After snipping I wrapped the cut edges with making tape so they couldn't slice the fabric.
ReplyDeleteI trimmed the edges making them round. This created very sharp scraps of tape measure which landed on the floor and threatened canine paws. I like the masking tape idea
DeleteI bought fancy shmancy "steel jig" tape years ago for this project and just dug it out so I can make some of these. I might not get around to it until after your secret is revealed. I like this tutorial.
ReplyDeleteLillian
After watching the video - seems the tape has to have that slight curve to give it strength and make it stay straight. Skinny or any tapes that don't have that stabilizing curve might not work ... No?
ReplyDeleteI found it very hard to get the tape to work right. Material to thick or tape to long . ?? tried ma few times.
ReplyDelete