01 Jul

Cork Bi-fold Wallet

July 2, 2018
Posted by Sara Lawson
cork mens wallet, how to, leather bi-fold wallet
16 comments

In this video, I will show you how to make a quick 10-minute bi-fold wallet. You can use cork fabric or any other fabric that does not fray, such as leather, vinyl, or wool.

Find cork fabric here: https://tinyurl.com/y6w7arsy

Click Here to Download the Template – Cork Wallet

Happy sewing!

23 May

Bag Making Techniques, Bags, Tutorials

VIDEO: How to Use Knit/Stretch or Garment Fabric for a Bag

May 23, 2021
bag purse, garment fabric, how to, knit stretch fabric
Leave a comment

In this video, I will demonstrate how to use Pellon SF-101 Shape Flex interfacing in order to "take out the stretch" so that you can use a knit or garment fabric for bag-making! [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtfNqX9eau0]

09 Dec

Bag Making Techniques, Bags, Tutorials

VIDEO: How to Make a Rolled Handle

December 31, 2018
how to, rolled handles, video
6 comments

In this video, I will show you how to make a Rolled Handle for a bag. You can use Cork fabric, faux leather, leather, or vinyl - any material that can be cut and left raw. Before beginning, please download the templates: Rolled Handle pattern pieces [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqKuAD5U5y4]

29 Aug

Bag Making Techniques, Tutorials

VIDEO: How to Install a Twist Lock

In this video, I will show you how to install a twist lock, a piece of purse hardware that looks beautiful on the flap of a bag. You will need a small Phillips-head screwdriver and fabric glue (I recommend Beacon 3-1 or Beacon Fabric-Tac). [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeSM6opRt0k]

Sew Sweetness Video+PDF Pattern: Ansel Camera Bag

03 Mar

Bags

Video Available: Ansel Camera Bag

March 3, 2018
camera bag, how to, sewing pattern, video
Leave a comment

Electronic devices, especially cameras, need a bag with extra padding; and that's where the Ansel Camera Bag pattern comes into play! The Ansel Camera Bag is one of our newest online workshops now available for purchase! The video for this pattern is 1 hour 46 minutes long, and I'll walk you through the entire process from start to finish. I'll...

Sew Sweetness Video+PDF Pattern: Aeroplane Bag

03 Mar

Bags

Video Available: Aeroplane Bag

March 3, 2018
aeroplane bag, how to, sewing pattern, travel bag, video
Leave a comment

Everyone needs a travel bag - perfect for an overnight trip or to fit under your seat on the airplane! The Aeroplane Bag is one of our newest online workshops now available for purchase! The video for this pattern is 1 hour 23 minutes long, and I'll walk you through the entire process from start to finish. This pattern is available...

24 Oct

Bags, Bags, Tutorials

Video: Selvage Zipper Pouch

February 24, 2021
free, how to, selvage, video tutorial, zipper pouch
92 comments

Here's a free video tutorial on how to make a Selvage Zipper Pouch. Zipper pouches are really easy to make and are a great start into bag-making for all of you potential bag ladies out there! And who doesn't have selvages! Before you start the video, please download the cutting instructions and template here by clicking on the blue text: Selvage...

01 Mar

Bag Making Techniques, Tutorials

VIDEO: How to Use Traditional and Invisible Magnetic Snaps

March 1, 2015
how to, invisible magnetic snaps, sewing bags, traditional magnetic snaps with prongs
10 comments

Traditional magnetic snaps with prongs and invisible magnetic snaps, which are encased in clear vinyl sleeves, are two pieces of purse hardware that can be used to easily add top closure in your bag or to finish a bag's flap. I'm pleased to share this post, which I wrote for the Craftsy blog, which features a step-by-step photo tutorial on...

05 Nov

Uncategorized

Thoughts on Having Creative Business

April 4, 2014
creative business, how to, sewing business
40 comments

Photo that Steffani K. Burton took of me at my book signing - thankful for all these ladies in line! Being at Quilt Market always makes me re-evaluate what I am doing, sewing-wise. I thought it might be interesting to put some of my thoughts to typing; not that I am an expert or anything, but I feel like I...

24 May

Uncategorized

2 Book Reviews on Printing Fabric

March 24, 2014
book review, dying fabric, embellish me, how to, jen swearington, laurie wisbrun, printing on fabric
2 comments

I recently was asked to review two books; both of them were completely different, although both tackled the art of printing and dying fabric. I have only dyed fabric with procion dye (and you can read about my most recent adventure here), so I'm not terribly experienced in the subject. But, my friend Emily went to school for this...

21 Feb

Bags, Uncategorized

Locked and Loaded Bag

March 1, 2015
hobo bag, how to, large bag, large scale prints good for, locked and loaded bag, metal twist lock, pattern review, sew sweetness, sewing pattern, tote
25 comments

I'd like to introduce you to the Locked and Loaded Bag sewing pattern, available as! This is a large bag that many of my pattern testers have deemed a confident-beginner bag (the lining zipper pocket is what possibly carries it over into the intermediate level). The pattern features templates needed to make the pattern, 12 pages of sewing...

07 Feb

Uncategorized

I Want to Lawyer Up

March 24, 2014
how to, llc, s-corp, setting up, starting a craft sewing business
34 comments

I don't have any cool pictures of me visiting the lawyer...perhaps I should have brought him a little mug rug to thank him for his help, lol.So I've been whining a lot lately about the legal and tax-related mumbo-jumbo that comes with setting up a small business. I started selling pdf sewing patterns about a week and a half...

16 Oct

Uncategorized

Zippers 4 Ways

January 12, 2016
free tutorial, how to, instructions, invisible zipper, step by step photos, zipit, zippered panel, zippered pocket, zippered pouch, zippers
29 comments

Me in my Sewing Summit Zippers class - shot by Faith from Fresh Lemons Quilts. See, zippers *can* be funny. I had a great time this past weekend at Sewing Summit. One of my classes was 'Zippers', however, the class was very quick and we only got through 2 out of the 4 zipper techniques (and even the 2nd one...

Dawn Tenneson says:

July 1, 2018 at 8:05 pm

Love the wallet pattern! Thank you so much! It was so great to see your family tonight!!!!

Reply
Laura Rhoads Wadman says:

July 1, 2018 at 10:43 pm

Thank you so much for your generosity Sara!

Reply
Laura Rhoads Wadman says:

July 1, 2018 at 10:56 pm

Thank you for so generously sharing!

Reply
Brenda says:

July 2, 2018 at 4:43 pm

Great video! Can’t wait to try this. Have you tried it with kraft-Tex?

Reply
1. Sara Lawson says:
  
  July 3, 2018 at 8:52 am
  
  I haven’t but that’s a fantastic idea!
  
  Reply
Barbara Bradford says:

July 10, 2018 at 10:54 pm

I love this wallet its cool. Can you tell me what size rivets you use in your bags. Your bag making ideas are helping in making my bag . Thanks a lot!!!

Reply
1. Sara Lawson says:
  
  July 12, 2018 at 5:31 am
  
  Hello Barbara! I like using 8mm rivets! Thank you!
  
  Reply
Debbie L Butcher says:

July 30, 2018 at 3:21 pm

Have not tried this one but it is on my list!

Reply
L W says:

January 12, 2019 at 11:01 am

Love your pattern! I think maybe if you started sewing at the bottom arc & sewed completely around & ended back at the arc you would avoid a “start/stop” area that shows on the top. Just a suggestion! Can’t wait to make this! Thank you!

Reply
1. christinaharrison18 says:
  
  January 1, 2020 at 1:22 pm
  
  Smart idea!
  
  Reply
Christine O'Brien says:

February 2, 2019 at 8:16 am

Thank you for sharing this pattern it’s so useful

Reply
Linda Wilmoth says:

April 18, 2019 at 1:09 pm

Perfect timing, I have a friend who was asking me about making him a wallet and this might just do the trick. Thank you so much. Linda

Reply
bluecitytrain says:

June 4, 2020 at 7:58 am

Thank you for sharing this. I made two of these today from left over cork. So easy to make. Wonderful project to practice sewing with cork fabric. I would like to improve the wallet by hiding the raw edges all around the wallet . Do you have any suggestions?

Reply
1. Sara Lawson says:
  
  June 4, 2020 at 8:09 am
  
  Hi there! You could use a product like Edgekote to cover the raw edges. I have a video about Edgekote here: https://sewsweetness.com/2019/02/video-how-to-use-edge-kote-to-finish-raw-edges-of-cork-leather-or-vinyl-fabric.html?v=7516fd43adaa Alternately, if you would rather use a fabric that frays (like quilting cotton), you can add 1/4″ to all sides of the pattern pieces and sew the fabrics right sides together (you’ll need to have an exterior and lining fabric in order to do this). Thank you!
  
  Reply
  1. bluecitytrain says:
    
    June 19, 2020 at 1:13 am
    
    Thank you so much! I will try these methods. The wallet is lovely, I love using it.
    
    Reply
Norma Osorio says:

March 13, 2021 at 10:40 am

I was looking to make my husband a cork wallet, and I found your pattern, it’s perfect! Love it and will be making it soon. Thank you Sara for a free lovely pattern and tutorial.

Reply