sewing for charity

So that I can feel like I'm doing something good for society I have found an outlet for my sewing that can help a children's charity.  Chicks provide free respite breaks for disadvantaged children from across the UK.  As part of the experience they give each child a memory bag and are looking for people to make these bags, so I made one!

If you want to feel good about yourself you can sponsor my bag production at http://www.justgiving.com/JoHobbs1

My own pattern!

I've finally given in and got an iPhone.  Now that I have carried it in my handbag in a sock all day (oh yes!) I realised I need a case for it.  Remembering that I have lots of fabric and some wadding I thought I'd have a go myself.

Equiment:

• 
  
  pencil
• 
  
  paper
• 
  
  normal scissors
• 
  
  Fabric scissors
• 
  
  Main fabric
• 
  
  Lining fabric
• 
  
  Wadding
• 
  
  button (or other fastening device!)
• 
  
  Sewing machine and thread!

So I started by drawing round my iPhone on the paper and then adding a seam allowance. I did this twice and on the second one added a flap towards one side of the top (to provide a closing to keep the iPhone secure but allow space to plug in headphones. And then cut them out.

I used these patterns to cut out the shapes in both lining and main fabric.  Make sure to flip the pattern over between doing the lining fabric and the main fabric so that when put wrong sides together the flap is on the same side!  I cut two of the non-flap pieces in the wadding, which means the flap isn't padded. Oh, and iron everything - you need flat fabric!

I started the sewing by putting the front main and lining right sides together and sewing across the top.  Turn right sides out and you have a nice, neat top seam.  Do the same with the back pieces, sewing around the flap end.  Turn right sides out and make sure the flap is fully pushed out.  You can then slot the wadding inbetween the front main and lining, and the back main and lining.

Put the two pieces together withe main fabric inside.  Sew around the three unfinished sides to create a pocket.  Trim the excess wadding (so that it isn't clumpy when you turn it out. ... Turn it right side out!  Hopefully the iPhone fits inside (mine did - actually if you try this yourself you probably want to double check against your phone the whole way through the process.

Add whatever type of fastening you like to hold the flap down to the front.  I used one of the many spare buttons I have knocking about and, for the first time, used the button hole setting on my sewing machine. It's so clever!!! Et voila! One padded iPhone cover.