Seat sack tutorial by Liz Noonan
Liz Noonan is an artist and crafter working north of Boston. You can read about her on her blog, and see what she’s crafting lately in her Etsy Shop, here [Liz is offering whipup.net readers a 10% discount off their total purchase in her shop use this discount coupon code: WhipUp10
Thank you for having me over on Whip Up today! My second graders classroom has very little space, so we came up with this idea for making a bag that hangs over the chair, for each student. Each “Seat Sack” has a large pocket for notebooks and other large items, as well as a smaller pocket, on the front, for pens, pencils, markers or other smaller supplies. I made about 50 of these total, since I made some for my other daughters’ kindergarten class as well. The tricky part was figuring out how to do this in as few steps as possible. I’m offering this tutorial today to show others how to make them as well.
Supplies needed for each “Seat Sack”:
- 1/2 yard (45 cm) heavy weight fabric, cotton twill or canvas
- 9–11 inch (22–29 cm) piece of heavy fabric for a pen pocket on the front, optional.
- Thread
- Each finished sack will be approx 15 inches wide by 14 inches long (38 x 35 cm)
What you need to do:
- Start with your 1/2 yard of fabric, press and finish top and bottom edges.
- Stitch your front pocket about 2 inches (5 cm) from the top of the front pocket, and center it.
- Press your 1/2 yard into approx thirds: the pen pocket section should be about 12 inches (30 cm), and the other two thirds will be about 14 inches (35 cm) each, these measurements will vary depending on the width of the fabric you buy and includes a half inch seam allowance.
- Fold your front pocket up, so that it measures 12 inches (30 cm) and press the bottom.
- For the rest of the fabric, the middle is half the distance of the rest of the fabric, so measure up halfway (about 14 inches) and press so that the end of the fabric covers the front pocket. It will look like a kind of sandwich – it should cover the pocket.
- Sew this side seam with a small straight stitch or serge so that it is strong. I reinforced the bottom seams for good measure.
- Turn your “Seat Sack” inside out and you’re finished!
I love this method of getting really neat piles of folded fabric. Doesn’t this look gorgeous.
Good Housekeeping Clutter Rescue!: Just Minutes a Day to Get Organized – Forever!
by C. J. Petersen at good housekeeping. Hearst; Spi edition (January 6, 2009).
Just the book I need before getting stuck into re-organising my crafty space. With a handy spiral binding and neat small take-anywhere size this book will hopefully save you.
I love the quick tips and ideas – although some require a bit more handyman skills than you average person might have – like turning a broom cupboard into a pantry complete with sliding doors and pull out swinging shelving system. There are lots of space saving and storage tips as well as that 15 minutes per day de-clutter rule. Lots of nifty storage solutions for tools, sports equipment, clothes, the study, mud room etc. All this is all very well in an ideal world – but if you have more stuff than places to put it you are already in trouble.
The One-Minute Organizer: A to Z Storage Solutions: 500 Tips for Storing Every Item in Your Home by Donna Smallin. Storey Publishing, LLC (December 10, 2008).
Another handy little book – full of one minute solutions – using common item as alternative storage devices – in this book there is a place for everything in your life.
All month we have had fabulous studios and crafty nooks and craft room features – I have been getting some fabulous ideas. Its obvious that one of the main resolutions for crafty folk is to reorganise, de-clutter, simplify or just get some more space in which to craft craft and craft.
Does your space look anything like these studio ‘before’ photos from the craft room flickr pool? if so read on…
planet treasures jewelry table : gemgirl art beading room : flying michelles’ craft table.
You will need to clean and declutter – Some people say that the best way to get into a declutter habit is to spend 20 mins each day working on one section of your space – don’t tackle it all at once as it can be overwhelming – give yourself a target – drawers today – fabric stash next time, notions and tools then work table and patterns etc etc – work methodically and you will eventually get to the end.
I am usually more impatient than that – I am an all or nothing gal and like to get stuck straight into it – making more mess as I go – which eventually starts to clear and finally I can see the light at the end. As my husband says “to create you must first destroy”.
Whatever your method – ask yourself a few questions as you sort – do you love it and do you need it – will you use it? Everything that is a no – then straight to the garbage bag to be donated – for the yes things then you will sorting these into categories later.
