Split Pouch Sew Along: Week 4

Split Pouch Sew Along: Week 4

We are moving right along in the Split Pouch Sew Along. It’s week 4, and I made two more pouches. I also thought it’d be fun to share a patchwork project that I pulled out too.

Week 4 Video

Here’s the video for the week.

This week I dive deep into both of the pouches I made. Let me know what you think!

Coverstitch Pouch

Last week I adventured to Houston, Texas for Quilt Festival. It was my first time there, and I was delighted to take in the quilt show, shop a bit at the vendors and see familiar faces. I also managed to take a coverstitch class with Gail Yellen–a real aficionado! The class was great for many reasons, but what is relevant for the SAL this week is that it inspired this first Split Pouch.

In class, we used a coverstitch machine to install a zipper. A fabulous thing about this is how it finishes the back of the seam while also giving you an opportunity to jazz it up with some fun threads. I used a decorative thread by Wonderfil in the looper. (I picked up this entire set and others while at the show.)

To do this, I sewed the Exterior and Lining fabrics together first at the zipper seams, and then turned them right sides out. Because you are attaching and finishing the zipper in one step, I thought that might be an easier way to handle the fact that I was using a lining fabric.

The Exterior fabric is a recent-ish one from Leah Duncan, and the Lining fabric is mine. I also added a blue heart label to the side from Sarah Hearts.

Upcycled Pouch

The second pouch was inspired by something a clever friend did–she upcycled one of my totes into a different project. It’s fun to realize you can deconstruct something and re-use it in a new project. So, I did just that!

I used one of these totes from my shop. It give me plenty of fabric to make a Large Split Pouch, and I have the handles and more canvas left for another project. I’m sure there’s even enough plain canvas to make another pouch.

It’s so fun to see how the print comes out once the pouch is sewn up. I love how the bottom looks when it’s snapped together.

On the inside I used a very fun, Japanese print from my stash. The design is a large-scale motif, which works really well as the lining.

Inside you’ll also see a “Bespoke” label from Kylie And The Machine.

I think it’s really fun how playful the inside is in contrast to the outside, which I think of as kind of calm.

This is a good thing to keep in mind if you have an extra tote lying around, OR if you see a tote that you like, but you might be looking for another way to use it.

Patchwork Update

I’ve loved making Split Pouches, but I really felt a hankering for some patchwork this week. I pulled out a scrappy Long Leaf project that started as a class sample. I’m working through a scrap pile and using the acrylic templates to put some blocks together. It’s the perfect amount of scrap using/cleaning, color play and easy-to-get-into sort of project.

I’m thinking I’ll work towards seven rows of seven blocks each. This means I’m well more than halfway there. Maybe by next week I’ll have the rest of the blocks made? There’s nothing like setting a goal to get you to where you want to be.

Thanks for following along this week!