Tape Measure Snappy Bag Tutorial

This summer I was invited to a "Favorite Things" party. I wasn't lucky enough to come home with a snappy bag, but the seed was planted and they have become my go-to sewing project ever since.

I love that they're quick, useful and I can use up some scraps to make them. The tape measure inside snaps itself straight, making for a self-closing bag. No more loose change, toys or chapstick floating around your purse!

Let's get started:

Cut two pieces of fabric, identical sizes. A good starting point is 7" x 14". I've done bigger and smaller, too.

Stack them, right sides together.

Stitch around the outside edge, leaving an unsewn opening, about 1.5". Before turning the bag right-side out, clip those corners to help those corners turn to a nice point.

Turn the bag right-side out through the opening. Then push the corners out (I use my bone folder) to get sharp corners.

Press seams open and flat.

Fold inside edge (of short end) over tape measure to measure width.

My tape measure was 1.5". Pin edge down, and mark opposite edge the same.

Sew both edges to create a channel for tape measure.

Fold bag in half, wrong sides together. Stitch just ONE length of bag closed. (I chose to stitch the side with my turning opening first, to make sure I caught that.)

After sewing the first side, measure the length of tape measure needed, accounting for seam allowance. Bend tape to length and crease. The easiest way to cut to length is to snap the tape in half with a pair of pliers (second time raiding the tool box for this project!).

Cut two lengths.

Round off the edges of the tape measure (with a pair of BAD scissors, not your sewing scissors!!) and cover the sharp edges with tape. Electrical tape works really well, but I'd raided the tool box too many times and we were out. Packing tape works well, too. You just want to cover those edges so they don't cut through your fabric. Trim off your extra tape to keep bulk down.

 

Slide tape measure into channels, making sure the concave side (the one with the numbers) is facing the lining, or inside, of your bag.  

  

Push the tape as far away from opening, pin and sew closed.

Almost done!

 

Pinch off bottom corners to square them off, making the bottom of the bag boxy. You will have a pointy triangle. Mark both corners and sew across.

After sewing both corners, clip the excess fabric.

You can zig-zag stitch that raw edge, but I've never had a problem leaving it as is.

Turn the bag right-side out (working the tape measure can be a little tricky, but just make it bend for you as you flip it out), push out corners and enjoy!

Week at a Glance

One of my New Year's resolution is to plan better. To take control. To be proactive and not reactive.

In order to be proactive at home I know that I'll need to have a plan. I usually do pretty well at flying by the seat of my pants, but have recently realized that there might be a better way for me. So I'm going to give planning a chance. I made up this simple chart to help me. There is so much packed into this bad boy that I'm actually giddy over it! I've taken some ideas I know will work and some I think may work for me and combined them on one sheet of paper to hang on my fridge. The idea is that Sunday mornings I'll print a new one and start plotting out my week.

Week at a Glance

There's a box for every day of the week, duh. And a box for notes. Right now it is being used as my shopping list. Then there's a spot for me to plan a menu in advance. I've never been a meal planner and I know even trying to plan a week at a time is setting myself up for failure, so as long as I have the next day filled out before I go to bed it will be doing its job. By having a dinner plan before 3 pm will put me in control of that situation.

The next line is for housework. This is my take on the FlyLady system. Everyday I'll pick an area to spend 10 minutes working on and eventually my house will be immaculate (ha!). Even if it isn't immaculate it will be better than it was before. Its all about the baby steps!

The dots at the bottom are to keep me accountable to myself. The top 2 are for exercise. Each dot represents a half hour, The next line of 5 is for my servings of fruits and vegetables and the bottom 8 are for glasses of water. I'll put a check mark in the bubble to keep track. Hopefully there are no empty bubbles at the end of the day.

So there it is, my effort to plan ahead while still allowing the flexibility I know I need. Feel free to download your own weekly planner and join me in being proactive in 2011!