Welcome to Day 4 of the Hemingway Pouch Sew Along!

Today, we’re finishing off our Hemingway Pouches by sewing the pouch closed and adding binding.

SEW THE POUCH CLOSED

When turning the pouch inside out and lining up the edges, I like to hold everything in place with Wonder Clips.

If you weren’t able to get the sides perfectly even on each side of the zipper, that’s okay! Let the side that’s further out overhang the underside, draw a straight line for the vertical seam, then after sewing the pouch closed, you can trim the edge (and the excess zipper tails) so it’s about a 1/4″ seam allowance.

TRIM THE CORNER SEAM

After sewing around the outside edge, take some fabric scissors and carefully trim the edges leading up to the corner seam so they are less than a 1/4″ seam allowance. I also like to trim a tiny bit off the corner (shown below). Just make sure to not trim into the stitch line!

Trimming the seam allowance smaller will lessen the bulk in that area and help that corner pop out a little better when you turn your pouch right side out.

FINISHING YOUR POUCH

After attaching the Inside Binding, you can turn your pouch right side out through the zipper hole.

Use a blunt object to push on the binding and get those corners popped out. I usually use a wooden dowel that comes to a blunt point, but there are also sewing tools called “Point Turners” made for this exact purpose.

Those are my tips for today!

And remember to come back tomorrow for some bonus instructions on how to make a mini Hemingway Pouch from the triangle cut-off piece.

Links from today’s assignment:

Black LDH Scissors: click HERE
Clover Wonder Clips: click HERE
Point Turner: click HERE

Thanks for sewing along!

-Kristina

Welcome to Day 3 of the Hemingway Sew Along!

Today’s a big day. We’re sewing on our zipper then reattaching the pull. If you’re struggling with getting the zipper pull back on, I have a handy video on my Instagram account that should help: click HERE for the zipper pull video. I also recommend trying size #5 zippers (especially the By Annie and Sallie Tomato brands). The larger zippers are generally easier to get the pull back on. And please know that it will get easier the more you do it!

You can also try out a product called the Handy Zipper Jig by Gypsy Quilter (link HERE). I was surprised at just how well it worked and it definitely helps get those pulls back on!

ATTACH THE ZIPPER BINDING

Follow the instructions in the pattern to attach the Zipper Binding onto the quilted panel. If you’ve ever bound a quilt, it’s a similar process. My biggest tip for this is to make sure you attach to the lining side first. Then pull it taught before stitching onto the Main fabric side.

PREPARING THE ZIPPER

If needed, remove any metal zipper stops (cut across the zipper teeth with utility scissors) and take the zipper pull off. Then separate the two sides of the zipper tape.

When you line up your zipper to sew it on, center it across the zipper binding so there are equal lengths hanging off each side of the panel.

ATTACHING THE ZIPPER

As you sew the zipper on, sew slowly and stay about 1/8″ away from the edge of the zipper binding. I use my standard presser foot when attaching the zipper because it’s pretty thin and works well. Feel free to use a zipper foot or whatever works for you!

REATTACHING THE ZIPPER PULL

As mentioned above, the first couple of times getting a zipper pull back on can be pretty tricky! Keep at it and try out the trick from my Instagram video HERE.

Also, give a larger #5 zipper a try. They are much easier to get the pull back on than a standard #3 zipper. The Handy Zipper Jig by Gypsy Quilter is also a great tool for getting the pulls back on (link HERE).

Those are my tips for today! You can watch the video for today’s assignment on my Instagram account HERE.

Favorite zipper sources:
Handy Zipper Jig Tool (click HERE)
Sallie Tomato Zipper shown in photos here (from Missouri Star Quilt Co)
Patterns by Annie Zippers by the yard (click HERE)
Zippers that look metal but are nylon (click HERE)
Zipper Valley (click HERE)
Zipit Etsy Shop. I particularly like their “long pull” zippers (click HERE).

Thanks for sewing along!

-Kristina

Welcome to Day 2 of the Hemingway Pouch Sew Along!

Today’s assignment is to quilt our basted panels then trim to size. Whenever I’m quilting fabric for a bag, I always start off with a bigger size than necessary, then trim to size after quilting. The process of quilting often shrinks the panel (the denser the quilting, the greater the shrinkage), and sometimes the layers shift a little, too. The extra size is always built into my patterns, so no need to cut even larger than the Cutting Instructions given.

When you are trimming to size (both when trimming using the table on page 3 and when trimming the diagonal corner off), pay close attention to the width and height dimensions given. This will tell you how to orient your fabric so it is cut correctly. Please note that the small size is the only size that is taller than it is wide, so make sure you position your quilted panel accordingly.

Let’s get to some tips on the quilting now!

MARKING QUILTING LINES

When I’m quilting a design that needs guides to follow, I like to use a Hera Marker to mark my lines (it only leaves an impression-not an actual ink mark). The dull side of a butter knife also works great!

There are many other ways to make guide lines (air/water erasable pens, strips of tape, etc.) or forgo the lines altogether and choose an organic design that doesn’t need lines to follow. If you’d like to see some of these other method in action, check out the video I shared on my Instagram account HERE.

QUILTING

To keep things easy when I quilt, I use the same thread and needle that I use for all of my general sewing projects (my thread of choice is Aurifil 50 wt and I like a 90/14 needle).

For machine quilting, I do like to increase my stitch length a little. A standard stitch length on my machine is 2.5 and I like to increase it to about 3.5 for quilting. You can play around with your machine’s settings to see what you prefer.

When quilting on my Juki sewing machine, I use a slim presser foot to quilt smaller projects. The Juki comes with a walking foot, however I’ve found that it doesn’t work really well and I prefer to use a regular presser foot. If I’m quilting a larger foot then I get out a Bernina that I also own and use it with a walking foot. The walking foot can really help feed the layers through at the same speed and avoid puckering. If you have a walking foot, I’d generally recommend using it to quilt, or at least trying it out to see if it works better for quilting.

TRIM THE QUILTED PANEL

When you’re finished quilting, trim your quilted panel to the size listed in the table on page 3 of the Hemingway Pouch pattern. Again, note the dimensions of width x height to make sure that your panel is oriented correctly!

Then measure and trim the diagonal corner off. If you’re making the small size, pay close attention to the width x height and orientation of your panel before you cut. It’s the only size that is taller than it is wide.

If you’re making the Large or Extra Large size, keep the diagonal triangle you cut off because I’ll be sharing an easy way to turn that into a mini pouch on Day 5.

Those are my tips for Day 2! You can find the Instagram video that accompanies today’s assignment HERE.

Links for products from today’s tips:
Olfa Ruler (click HERE)
Hera Marker (click HERE)
Organ 90/14 needles (click HERE)
Juki Sewing Machine (click HERE)

Thanks for sewing along with me!

-Kristina

I’m so excited that you want to make the Hemingway Pouch with me! I originally posted these Sew Along tips and tricks in February 2024 in conjunction with a Sew Along I hosted. I’m posting the daily assignments and bonus tips here to my blog for those who didn’t get a chance to join the Sew Along.

The assignment for the Hemingway Pouch Sew Along Day 1 is to cut everything out, then baste the Main and Lining fabric. Cutting everything out is pretty self explanatory, but I did want to mention a couple things. First, the Accent pieces can be cut from one fabric piece (as explained in the Cutting Instructions), but feel free to mix it up and use different prints if you’d like! You are definitely not required to use the same fabric for both of the Accent pieces. Second, if you are using a directional fabric for your Main print, pay close attention to the dimensions. Everything in the pattern is written as width x height, so make sure you orient your directional prints accordingly.

Now, on to basting our fabric!

PREPARE FOR BASTING

Before I start basting, I try to make sure that all of my layers are pressed really well. This will help everything lay smoother and you’ll be less likely to get puckers in the fabric when you quilt.

I’d even recommend pressing the batting or Soft and Stable (or other foam stabilizer–unless it’s fusible!) before layering. Both batting and Soft and Stable press well and having the wrinkles pressed out will really help all the layers stay flat.

BASTING

Basting is a way to temporarily hold layers of fabric together. We don’t want the layers to move around while we’re quilting, so we baste them for the best results.

There are many different methods of basting (pins, adhesive spray, sewing long stitches, etc.). I’d recommend trying a few out so you can figure out which method you like best.

I prefer to spray baste smaller projects with Odif 505 (shown below), but I frequently use safety pins for larger projects.

PREPARE FOR QUILTING

Once I have my layers basted, I choose a side of the panel that I can start most of my quilting lines from and stitch a line along one of the edges (just 1/8″ away from the raw edge) to stabilize the three layers.

Even though we’ve already basted, if you start your machine quilting from that stitched line as much as possible, it will further help keep the layers from shifting.

Those are my tips for Day 1! You can check out the video that goes along with the Day 1 assignment on my Instagram feed HERE.

Links for products from today’s tips:

Odif 505 Spray (click HERE)
Oliso Iron (click HERE)
Juki TL2000 Sewing Machine (click HERE)

Thanks for sewing along with me!

-Kristina

Meet the Hemingway Pouch! It’s a fast and easy pattern with a unique diagonal zipper that really elevates the look!

The Hemingway Pouch comes with four size options: perfect for fitting everything from eye glasses to iPads.

The Hemingway Pouch pattern has clear, easy to follow instructions, full color diagrams, and is available as a digital download so you can get sewing right away. You can find the Hemingway Pouch pattern in my shop HERE.

I get asked all the time about where to find specific supplies, so I thought I’d put together a list of items that I have personally purchased and used for the Hemingway Pouch (and other bag sewing projects). Many of the products are linked to Amazon, because I know that’s an easy source for a lot of people to purchase items from. Please feel free to check out other options, too, as you might be able to find the products elsewhere.

Supply Recommendations:

Zippers:

I recommend using a larger size #4.5 or #5 zipper by the yard, as the zipper pull will need to be removed and put back on for the Hemingway Pouch pattern. The larger zippers are generally easier to get the pull back on than a standard size #3 zipper that you’d find at a store like JoAnn Crafts or Hobby Lobby. In addition, zippers by the yard allow you to cut exactly how much zipper tape you need and usually come with extra zipper pulls to use for additional projects.

By Annie zippers by the yard: Amazon or Missouri Star Quilt Co
Sallie Tomato zippers by the yard (I’ve used Sallie Tomato zippers in both size #3 and size #5 and they are both high quality and easy to get the pull back on): Missouri Star Quilt Co.
Metal Look zippers by the yard for a great price (I’ve purchased this brand multiple times and really like them!): Amazon
Zipper Valley Zippers have a great variety of colors and options: Zipper Valley

Quilting material:

I prefer using Soft and Stable in between my layers as I quilt. Soft and Stable is a foam stabilizer that gives more structure and protection than a regular batting. There are other foam stabilizers (like Pellon Flex Foam) that also work well–just make sure you are getting a big enough piece for your project. You can also use regular batting like Warm and Natural or Hobbs Heirloom batting (these pouches are GREAT for using up batting scraps left over from quilts!).

Soft and Stable: Amazon
Pellon Flex Foam: Amazon. (Pellon Flex Foam comes in 20″ width, so make sure it’s big enough for your project! Also, Pellon Flex Foam has fusible options–I prefer the non-fusible versions, but the fusible work well, too).

Other Sewing Supplies:

Hera Marker for marking straight quilting lines: Amazon
Wonder Binding Clips. (I use these ALL the time to hold things in place while I sew): Amazon
Zipper Jig for easily getting zipper pulls back on. I tried this and was amazed at how well it worked! Amazon link

Please let me know if you have any other supply recommendations. You can always look at my Amazon Favorites page HERE for items that I have purchased and use regularly.

Happy sewing!

Kristina

To get a head-start on handmade holiday gifts, I’m hosting TWO sew alongs in December! Yay! To simplify things for me (and you), there is one sign up form for both sew alongs (you can sign up HERE). That means you just need to sign up once and you’ll receive the daily tips and tricks for both patterns.

If you can’t sew along with me in December, you can still sign up to receive the emails! That way, you’ll have all the tips and tricks saved in your inbox for when you are ready to sew.

The sew alongs will be held the first two weeks of December with the Holland Pouch running from December 4th -11th and the schedule below:

And the Alpen Belt Bag Sew Along running from December 11th -15th with the schedule below:

A few details on how the sew alongs will work:

• The sew alongs are free to join, but to make the bags, you will need the corresponding pattern. You can find the Holland Pouch pattern HERE and the Alpen Belt Bag pattern HERE.
• Sign up for the sew alongs HERE. Again, you just need to enter your info in this one form and you will receive the emails for both sew alongs. You can participate in one or both, but having one sign up will help keep things simplified.
• Gather your supplies and be ready to sew on the start date(s). I have some supply links below if you’re looking for recommendations on where to find certain materials for the patterns.
• Once the sew along starts, you’ll receive an email every day detailing that day’s task. There are no “live” or “in-person” parts of the sew along, so you can complete the task at your own pace. If you follow along with the daily schedule, you’ll have a completed bag by the end of the week! You are also welcome to work ahead and finish ahead of schedule, or if you miss a day or two, you can catch up when you have the time.
• I’ll be sharing daily videos on my instagram account HERE. These videos will show parts of the process and will hopefully be a big help to those of us that are newer to bag making and/or visual learners.

If you’re looking for recommendations on places to find supplies, I’ve compiled a list below. You can find the supplies needed for the Holland Pouch and Alpen Belt Bag in the corresponding pattern or in the pattern listing in my pattern shop.

Stitch Supply Co:
Zippers: Neon, Stripes, and so many other colors.
1 1/2″ Webbing: Solid Cotton colors or Webbing with designs (just double check that the width is 1 1/2″ wide for the Alpen Belt Bag).
Alpen Belt Bag Hardware Kit (they’ve put together the pieces you need for the Alpen Belt Bag pattern–just choose what color you’d like!)
Alpen Belt Bag Kit (this has the hardware needed plus zipper, webbing, and fabric!!).

Knot and Thread
Alpen Belt Bag Finishing Kit: includes everything except the fat quarters!!

Georgia Girl Stitches:
1 1/2″ Cotton Webbing (just double check that the width is 1 1/2″ wide for the Alpen Belt Bag).

ZipIt Etsy Shop:
Great selection of zippers in lots of colors and sizes (I like their size #4.5 long-pull zippers–just make sure you get a long enough zipper for the pattern you’re making).

Zipper Valley:
Huge selection of zippers, webbing, and hardware (again, for the Alpen Belt Bag, just make sure that the webbing and hardware are the same size!)

Missouri Star Quilt Co:
Rose Gold Hardware (a bit harder to find!): 1 1/2″ Triangle, 1 1/2″ Swivel Hook, 1 1/2″ Strap Slider.

Amazon:
By Annie Zippers by the yard in a lot of color options.
Rose Gold zippers by the yard (I love these because the zippers look metal, but are vinyl).
Soft and Stable (this package is enough to do multiple projects).

Ma Tante Quilting (for Canadian bag makers)
Alpen Belt Bag Kit with everything except the fabric!
Hardware, zippers, webbing, and Soft and Stable to purchase supplies individually with great prices for shipping to Canada.

Let’s get planning our bags and collecting the materials so we’re all ready on December 4th!

I’m so excited to sew along with you!

-Kristina

Meet the Alpen Belt Bag Pattern (available in my shop HERE)! The Alpen Bag is a quilted zipper pouch that’s easy to wear cross-body for both daily use and exciting adventures. The main zipper compartment is perfect for a wallet plus phone, while the two interior slip pockets help keep smaller items contained.

If you’d like to make your own Alpen Belt Bag join me for a Sew Along the week of Monday, May 15th. We’ll have small assignments each day, where I’ll share tips, tricks, and videos, and by Friday, May 19th, we’ll have completed our bags! You can sign up to receive the daily Sew Along emails by clicking HERE.

And for those wanting some recommendations for the supplies needed, I’ve got you covered! The Supply Requirements are below, along with a list of shops and items I’ve personally ordered from before. Just make sure when you’re looking at options that you choose 1 1/2″ wide webbing/strapping and 1 1/2″ wide hardware so they are compatible. If you have additional shop or product recommendations, please share in the comments!

Stitch Supply Co:
Zippers: Neon, Stripes, and so many other colors
1 1/2″ Webbing: Solid Cotton colors or Webbing with designs (just double check that the width is 1 1/2″ wide).
Alpen Belt Bag Hardware Kit (they’ve put together the pieces you need for the pattern–just choose what color you’d like!)

Georgia Girl Stitches:
1 1/2″ Cotton Webbing (so many colors!!)
Webbing with designs (just double check that the width is 1 1/2″ wide).

ZipIt Etsy Shop:
Great selection of zippers in lots of colors and sizes (I like their size #4.5 long-pull zippers–make sure to get at least 16″ long for the Alpen pattern)

Missouri Star Quilt Co:
Rose Gold Hardware (a bit harder to find!): 1 1/2″ Triangle, 1 1/2″ Swivel Hook, 1 1/2″ Strap Slider.

Amazon:
By Annie Zippers by the yard in a lot of color options
Rose Gold zippers by the yard (I love these because the zippers look metal, but are vinyl)
Soft and Stable (this package is enough to do multiple projects)

Ma Tante Quilting (for Canadian bag makers)
Hardware, zippers, webbing, and Soft and Stable with great prices for shipping to Canada

I’m so excited to share this pattern with you!

-Kristina

Last month while I was at a quilting retreat, several of my friends made themselves a Holland Duffle bag and there were a few of the discarded quilted boxy corner cut-offs floating around the sewing space. Meg from Monograms for Makers saw potential in those small cut-offs and made a couple tiny pouches. I was in love with the result and she gave me her blessing in turning the idea into into a free bonus pattern for those wanting to repurpose the boxy corner cut-offs.

The Bonus Bag is teeny tiny, but oh so cute! If you’re up to the challenge of reusing the boxy corner cut-off in a fun way, the Bonus Bag Pattern can be downloaded by clicking on the link below.

BONUS BAG PATTERN

And for those of you who tossed the boxy corner cut-offs in the trash or haven’t made a Holland Duffle yet, I do have a short note in there about how you can quickly whip up a small quilted piece to make your own Bonus Bag.

Happy sewing!

-Kristina

The Holland Duffle Sew Along starts on Monday, March 20th. Are you joining in?

Before we get started, I want to share a little bit of information so everyone knows what to expect. If you’ve signed up for the Sew Along (click HERE to sign up if you haven’t), then starting on Monday, March 20th, you’ll receive an email each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning until Friday, March 31st with the day’s assignment. On assignment days, I’ll also share a short video on instagram (@centerstreetquilts) that will be helpful for visual learners.

The Sew Along Schedule is listed below, but you are welcome to complete the day’s assignment at any time, so don’t worry if you miss a day or two and need to catch up. Or feel free to work ahead if you just can’t stop at that day’s task. If you have a busy schedule over the next couple weeks, save the emails and bookmark the videos on instagram to come back to them when you’re ready. The videos will stay on my instagram account to watch whenever you feel like it.

To prepare for the Holland Duffle Sew Along, make sure you have your pattern ready (click HERE to grab it if you haven’t already) and gather all the supplies. If you’re unsure on any of the supply requirements, I’ve included some handy information below to help with gathering them.

Foam Stabilizer: If you choose a foam stabilizer over batting, Soft and Stable is a great brand. You can find the 36″ x 58″ size package, which is plenty for the Holland Duffle HERE. When using batting, any low-loft batting such as Warm and Natural or Hobbs Heirloom will work well.

Fusible Interfacing: I prefer using Pellon SF101, which is available from many different sources. Click HERE for the Amazon link, but also check your local quilt shop or big box fabric store (e.g. JoAnn Crafts), as they might have it for a better price.

1″ Handle Webbing: Polypro webbing is available in a lot of different colors on Amazon HERE. Or cotton webbing (my preferred webbing if I’m not covering the handles with fabric) can be found at Georgia Girl Stitches (HERE).

Zippers: I recommend getting the larger #4.5 or #5 size zippers for the Holland Duffle. They are easier to work with (especially for the longer 30″ zipper needed for the Holland Duffle). I love By Annie Zippers by the Yard and they are available in a lot of different colors on Amazon HERE. Another favorite source of zippers is the Etsy shop ZipIt. Look for the “4.5 long-pull zippers” found HERE.

I’m so excited to get started on Monday!

-Kristina