You probably know by now how much I love taking Harlow’s artwork and using it to create something new. If I kept every paper and card and creation, I would already have 10 file boxes filled — and that just can’t happen. But finding a way to capture her current trends and special drawings and writing is something I love taking on as a challenge. From Father’s Day Mugs to Dry Erase Placemats to Pen & Pencil “Duffle” Bags perfect for back to school!
All of the pieces of the bag are cut with the ScanNCut Machine — you could easily cut a big stack of pieces, and then have them ready to sew up as gifts or whenever a new one is needed. I used a multipurpose cloth for my bag. This fabric doesn’t fray, so I didn’t line it. If you want to use a canvas material, I would serge the seams after you sew them! For the zipper, you would want to serge the top edge before attaching the zipper.
The first thing we will do is cut the pattern pieces from the multipurpose cloth. You’ll need two sides pieces (rectangles) and two end pieces (circles).
You can download the file here, or use these measurements to create them from the basic built in designs and shapes.
Rectangles: *9.5 inches x 4.75 inches // Circles: 3.5 inch diameter
*you can make the bag however long/short you’d like by increasing or decreasing this measurement. Adjust zipper length accordingly.
After the duffle pieces have been cut, we will scan in the handwriting or drawing.
my favorite cut settings:
// blade depth: 5
// blade pressure: 3
// speed: 1
Place the paper on a used Standard Mat. I love keeping mats that are on their last leg for scanning computer paper — it sticks enough to keep it in place, but isn’t difficult to remove the paper either.
Place your Iron-On Transfer Material on your mat – be sure to place it glossy-side down and mirror your text to be cut.
my favorite cut settings:
// blade depth: 1
// blade pressure: 0
// speed: 1
Be sure you cut only through the Iron-On Material and not the glossy support. Remove the negative material from your design.
Place the text or drawing design on one of your side pieces – or both! Using a piece of scrap fabric between the glossy support and the iron, press and hold the iron for about 30 seconds. Be sure to follow the instructions for the Heat Applied Material you are using.
Next, we will construct our bag! Line up the edge of your zipper tape and the top of one of the sides. Place them right sides together and sew about 1/4″ from the edge.
Press the seam open and topstitch.
Repeat on the other side of the zipper and remaining bag side.
Be sure to have your helper and artist near by!
Next, place right sides together, sew a 1/4″ seam along the bottom of the bag.
Optional: I like to open the zipper and topstitch along the bottom seam of the bag as well. It helps keep its shape and just looks nice!
Here is the trickiest part of the bag construction. Line up the edge of a circle end piece with the bottom seam of the bag. Place your sewing foot in place to sew a 1/4″ seam – forward and back stitch to lock the stitches in.
Now as you sew slowly, continue matching up the edges as much as you can as you go.
It’s a little bit awkward, but just keep bringing the edges together, sew a few stitches, repeat.
You did it! Now repeat on the other bag end – almost finished!
Be sure to open the zipper at least 3″ or so before sewing the second side. You need to be able to turn the bag right-side out!
And there you are!
Happy back to school days!
xo
I am a paid contributor for Brother. All ideas and opinions are my own.
I struggle throwing things away, because I love imagining what new life I can give old items. ….marry a fellow artist who also struggles with that, and you get scheduled purging sessions, so the things don’t pile up!
But this project is all my sister’s idea! She loves her ScanNCut just as much as I do, and it is so fun to share ideas and projects with each other.
They had a collection of window blind blades – some wood and come composite – sitting around from the extra length on their shades. She had the genius idea of using them as garden label stakes: let’s jump right in!
For this step, you’ll need a handsaw or bandsaw. Using the natural spaces left for the string of your blinds, cut into shorter pieces. I used two different types and one ended up being about 9″ long, the other about 11″.
At one end, create a point. This side will go into the ground or dirt in a pot.
Next, write out the plant names. I love using handwriting for projects like this, but you can choose a font on your ScanNCut machine or use ScanNCutCanvas as well!
Place your paper on a Low Tack or Standard mat (I like to keep “beat up” standard mats around for scanning computer paper.) and select the “Scan to Cut Data” option.
Use the zoom feature to be sure all of the details were picked up.
I’m super excited about this project today! If I’m honest with you, after doing this project, I want to embroider just about everything Harlow writes or draws! I love how it captures a moment in time: there will be a time when she writes all of her letters the same size, and I’ll miss this sweet season of “creative” letters.
I love when I try to correct her writing of a specific letter, and her response is always, “I’m just writing it fancy and different, mommy!”
You guessed it: I’m really excited to share today’s project with you! Harlow and I had a blast making this produce bag together to use for the Farmers’ Market. We totally lucked out and there is a market held every Monday just 2 blocks from our apartment! They have awesome produce, prepared food, music and kids activities each week: it’s pretty awesome!
For this project, I thought labeling these bags using the built in ScanNCut Machine designs would be perfect paired with the Heat Applied Materials. Harlow picked out Flocking and Glitter for our apple, so it was pretty snazzy.
The great thing about the mesh material is that it stretches and doesn’t fray. We’ll finish the edges on the inside of the bag, but I wanted to keep the inner part of the handle raw, so it would roll and stretch as needed. I love how it turned out!
The first thing we will do is cut out the cotton canvas that will hold our image label. The label will sandwich the mesh material. I love the idea of the perimeter of the label getting frayed with use and wash, so I allowed (and encouraged) that as I removed my labels from my mat and sewed them on.
I used the built in rectangle shape with rounded corners. They are 4″ x 2.75″.
Place your Fabric Support Sheet on the Standard Mat. Place canvas on mat and load into your ScanNCut Machine.
ScanNCut Tip: If you are having difficulty seeing the white canvas in your background scan, change the background from the grey option (less saturated) to full color to see the outlines a bit better.
My favorite cut settings:
// Depth: 3
// Pressure: 5
// Speed: 1
Cut out the labels!
Next we will cut the Heat Applied Material.
My favorite cut settings for Glitter and Flock:
// Depth: 4-5
// Pressure: 0-1
// Speed: 1
If you are cutting a design with multiple colors, resize the image first. Select the color to start with and upon completion, your ScanNCut will give you the options in the above photo. Be sure to choose “Select the next part” to keep your changes (resizing, mirroring) when cutting the remaining pieces.
Layer the Heat Applied Material and iron to adhere to canvas. Use a piece of scrap cotton fabric between the transfer plastic and your iron. Set aside.
Next, we will cut the mesh fabric for our bag. The fold will be at the bottom of the bag and will allow for the bag to stretch. I measured about 14″ wide.
TIP: Cut slowly through a line of mesh hole to ensure a straight edge.
Trim the sides and top.
Next, cut the handle. Measure about 1.5″ from the top and cut a straight line. Start and end about 1.5-2″ from the edges.
After you’ve cut the fabric for your bag, open it up to lay flat, so we can pin the label.
Sandwich the labels on either side of the mesh. Pin in place.
Because this mesh has such large holes, we want to use a tiny stitch length to ensure our needle hits every bit of fabric that it can! Sew around the perimeter of the label – about 1/4″ from the edges.
Next, trim the top corners from your bag. This will allow the bias tape to curve around those edges, giving us a nice and finished perimeter.
Starting at the bottom fold of your bag, clip the bias tape in place. You can use pins, but the thickness of the fabric makes that difficult. If you don’t have quilt clips, tiny duck bill clips can work as well.
Continue working your way around the perimeter of the bag.
When you’ve got it in place, sew around the bias tape edges. You just need to make sure you grab both edges of the tape. Again, using a small stitch length will ensure you hit all the small lines of fabric.
Now head to the Farmers’ Market! This bag is fully reversible, and you could even make the labels different – apple on one side, carrot on the other – if you desire. Text labels work as well, I just recommend working glitter into it somehow. ;)
Have fun! I can’t wait to see your finished projects!
hope you are having a wonderful summer!
xo
This post was done in partnership with Brother International. All opinions and ideas are my own.
A month or so ago, my friend Audra texted me a photo of the most precious gift she had received for her son, Hugo. Her friend, Jessica modified a puzzle in the cutest way with photos of Audra’s family! Immediately, I thought: SCANNCUT! (duh.) and since we were heading to Minnesota to see my sweet nieces, Harlow and I picked out photos together to make a photo puzzle for them.
It was the most perfect project for my ScanNCut machine and the most perfect project for Harlow to help me with. She chose the photos and helped me decide what photo should go where. She helped me trace the pieces and glue the photos down. All in all, the project probably took about 30 minutes — after we had the photos picked and printed.
Welp! I was supposed to be working on some new projects with the ScanNCut Machine with a few of my favorites at Brother, but weather, flights cancellations and delays had other plans. Domino effect is real. Boo.
So instead, I’ll share my new favorite with you all: this magnetic quilted tic-tac-toe board! I know, just about every new project becomes my new favorite. Either I just change my mind a lot, or it’s like my own “good job!” pat on the back. Oh well. I digress.
But really. I love this thing.
This project combines a few different materials being cut on the ScanNCut machine. It’s a great beginner quilting project to tackle as well! Not a ton of piecing — and the ScanNCut marks your seam allowances for you anyway! Let’s jump right in.
1. Begin by prepping your materials. Place your Fabric Support Sheet on the Standard Mat. Trim your fabrics down to a size that fits on the mat. The Fabric Support Sheet goes onto the mat, glossy side down. Remove the protective blue sheet when you are ready to use.
2. We will begin by marking seam allowances.
3. Place fabrics on the mat. Background scan to see exactly where the fabrics are placed.
4. Arrange the tic-tac-toe squares on the screen, using the background scan image as your guide.
5. Begin first by marking seam allowances. Next, cut out your fabrics.
MY SETTINGS
// blade depth: 3.5
// blade pressure: 5
// blade speed: 1
6. Continue with the perimeter fabric pieces of the board.
7. Begin piecing your quilt. Start with the tic-tac-toe grid. Piece in strips, 3 across. Then sew the strips together. You can either press seams to the side or open.
8. When you’ve finished piecing the top, we will attach the magnets that we will pocket inside.
9. Cut a piece of quilt batting the size of your tic-tac-toe grid. Measure a grid matching your quilted grid.
10. Using scrap quilting cotton, iron the Iron-on Adhesive to one side. Cut out the magnet squares from the pattern download.
I used the Standard mat with the Iron-On Adhesive down. I used the same settings as the settings used for the quilting cotton.
11. Place the magnets in the center of each tile.
12. Iron the magnet squares over the top of each magnet to hold in place.
13. Place the magnet grid batting-side up under your quilt. Place another, larger piece of batting under it. Complete the quilt sandwich with a large piece of quilting cotton at the bottom.
14. Quilt the sandwich using your sewing machine. If you have a walking foot — use it! :)
15. Now we will cut out our playing pieces from stiff poly felt.
16. Place the felt on your Standard Mat with the Fabric Support sheet in place. (Remember, if you have a lot of fuzzies and frays, use an alcohol-free and scent-free baby wipe to remove it and clean your mat.)
17. Background scan your felt and place the pattern pieces on the felt.
18. Change your settings and sit back and let your ScanNCut do the work. ;)
CUT SETTINGS
// blade depth: 8
// blade pressure: 9
// blade speed: 1
19. Sandwich a small magnet between the two layers and sew the perimeter.
20. Next, take the circular template and cut from a piece of cardstock or large paper. Measure and mark center on your quilt and mark the circular perimeter using the template. Cut and discard scraps.
21. Now we’ll add the binding!
22. Bias tape is a great way to bind curved edges! You can see in more detail how to bind using bias tape here.
23. Attach a large hair elastic at the edge. To roll game, fold in two sides and roll towards the elastic. Use the elastic to keep game rolled up.
Go play tic-tac-toe! Harlow is enamored with the game — she’s still learning, but her favorite thing to do is block my pieces. She’s also super fair, and we take turns winning. ;)
Hope you are enjoying summer travels — and having better travel luck than I had yesterday! This tic-tac-toe board makes the perfect game to bring along!
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