75. Easy Batik Runner

What a fun summertime project. Create your own batiked design on store-bought or handmade table runners and napkins. All it takes is a gel bleach pen and a solid-colored table runner...

58. Easy Felt Eyeglass Case

Finished Dimensions: 
2 3/4" x 6 3/4"
Materials:
8" x 10" sage green felt, for case
11/2" x 2" mustard felt, for outer leaves
1" x 1 1/2" peach felt, for inner leaves
Embroidery floss in rose (for case, leaves, and button) and brown (for stem)
3/4" diameter button

Stitches Used:
Double Running Stitch, Blanket Stitch, Straight Stitch.

1. Cut Case Felt and Appliqué Pieces
With fabric shears, cut two 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" pieces out of the corners of the sage green felt.

With paper scissors, cut out the leaves from the template. Pin the paper patterns to the felt pieces as designated in Materials and cut out the appliqué pieces with fabric shears.

2. Assemble Appliqué Design
Assemble the appliqué design on the sage green felt as shown in the drawing below, with the peach inner leaves stacked on top of the mustard leaves.

Make sure that all the leaves slant upward, with the largest ones at the bottom. Temporarily secure the pieces in place with glue stick.

As you complete the decorative stitches for the design during this step, tie off all knots on the wrong side of the felt. Stitch around each inner leaf 1/8" from the edge using double running stitch and single-ply rose floss. Connect the leaves with a branch by sewing stems with 2-ply brown floss and double running stitch. At each point where the leaf and stem meet, make a single stitch through all layers.

3. Sew Case
With the appliquéd side down, fold the sage green felt on the fold lines shown in the drawing above, tucking the right side under the left to create a top flap piece. With the flap up and out of the way, fold and pin the overlapped fabric in place. Starting at the bottom left corner, tie a knot on the inside of the sandwiched felt with 3-ply rose floss. Blanket stitch across the bottom of all 3 layers with stitches 1/4" apart. Straight stitch up the seam on the right side through only two layers of felt, then to the left along the top opening, around the single-layer flap, and back to the opening on the right before knotting off on the inside.

Sew the button onto the center front of the case, 1 1/2" below the opening. Fold the flap over the button and mark a 3/4" horizontal slit for the buttonhole. Make sure that the button matches up with the slit before cutting the felt. Keep in mind also that the buttonhole should not be too large or loose, because the felt will stretch. Carefully cut the buttonhole open using the tip of fabric shears or small embroidery scissors. The hole should be roughly 1/8" smaller than the diameter of the button.

4. Attach Button and Cut Buttonhole

Source: Woman's Day

Note: the leaf appliqué pattern is no longer available on the WD website, so you'll just have to wing it, but you're pretty crafty—I have faith that you can swing it.

48. Backpack

This is essentially a fabric box with a lid-flap closure & straps. It looks difficult but is deceivingly easy. For the full photo tutorial, head over to Alice and Lois.

MATERIALS:

• 2 pieces of 12 x 15 in fabric
• 8 x 10 inches for outside pocket fabric
• 6 x 7 inside pocket fabric
• 2 pieces of 58 in long ribbon or cording
• ribbon
• sewing machine

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1 – Cut all fabric. 2 pieces of 12 x 15 cotton fabric (or heavier canvas) and inside pocket fabric 6 x 7 inches. Also cut a piece of fabric for the outside pocket (shown here: a scrap piece of heavy weight Amy Butler fabric), 8 x 10 inches.

Step 2 – Iron the edges in on the outside pocket and sew the sides and bottom on the front of bag. I used the selvage for the top of the pocket. If no selvage edge, fold down the top twice and sew before sewing the pocket onto the bag.

Step 3 – Sew the inside pocket on the other piece of fabric. Do the same technique to iron and sew 3 sides onto the bag.

Step 4 – Next iron down sides and bottom of backpack 1.4 inches. Sew along the 3 edges. Leave the top side raw.

Step 5 – For top of back pack, measure and mark 2 1/4 inches down. Fold down 1/4 in and again to meet the mark. Press and sew to close to create an opening for the ribbons.

Step 6 – Place right sides of fabric together. Sew together starting and ending below the openings on the top of backpack. Now inside out the bag. Now attach a safety pin to the end of the ribbon. Start threading it through the front right of bag and go around until you reach the starting point. Do the same for the second piece of ribbon but start on the front left side of opening.

Step 7 – Tie the ends of the ribbon together on each side in a knot. Next you need to make an opening on the bottom corners of the bag to attach the knotted ends of ribbon to create backpack straps. Inside out the bag, use a seam ripper to make the openings on the bottom (see picture).

Step 8 – Pull the knotted ends through the opening and sew using a zig zag stitch. Trim the ends of the ribbon and seal.

Source: Alice and Lois