DIY Drawstring Lunch Bag | Turquoise Lunch Tote

I am on a roll with this crafting-using-supplies-I-have challenge (check out my DIY tassel key chain and air dry clay fish art).  I think I need a catchier name though - any suggestions?

Today's DIY sewing project: a drawstring lunch bag, tailor made for the massive salads I like to take to work.

Do you remember that cute turquoise patterned tote from Skylark + Owl?  They used a cloth bag to wrap their bedding for shipping and of course I was smitten with the print:

In theory, I love the idea of wrapping bed linens in a tote for shipping because it reduces shipping waste, but in reality I couldn't actually find a use for the tote bag because I have so many open tote bags and this one was a bit floppy and useless.  I originally wanted to sew the fabric into a cute throw pillow, but I actually needed a lunch bag big enough to fit the awkward container I use to bring my lunch to work, so my Mom and I whipped up a drawstring lunch bag instead!

Supplies:

• Fabric (a sturdier, upholstery weight)
• Sewing machine + thread
• Single fold bias tape (optional)
• Satin cord
• Large crimps (check local craft stores)
• Craft glue
• Large safety pin
• Needle nose pliers

How to Sew a Drawstring Lunch Bag:

Because I was hacking fabric already sewn into a tote, I could skip some steps - like sewing up the sides (yay)!  However, I also had to do a bit of seam ripping to remove the handles and open up the top seam, so it probably didn't save me any time in the long run.  But I love any opportunity to use my new teal seam ripper...

I wanted this lunch bag to offer up a nice big base so my salad containers can sit upright - and not on their side, threatening to leak -  so I sewed the corners straight across, eyeballing the size:

You can see my lunch bag taking shape, once I removed the handles, trimmed the top edge and sewed the bottom (I trimmed those "ears" after snapping this photo):

 

This fabric was too heavy to turn under twice for a neat hem (we worried my poor old sewing machine wouldn't be able to handle it), so we opted to sew on bias tape to hide the raw edge instead:

Then we opened the side seam a little to create a hole for the drawstring.  We sewed around the opening, to keep it neat and tidy:

 With the drawstring hole sewn, it was time to form the channel for the drawstring.

The drawstring closure is comprised of two continuous loops of silk cord, running parallel inside the channel, which is how we created the "handles" and avoided any raw, unraveling ends of cord or awkward knots.

To thread the drawstrings, my Mom had this handy tool, but you can also use a large safety pin to help guide the silk cord:

The last step doesn't have an in-progress photo because it was messy!  Like I mentioned above, because I didn't want dangling ends of cord or having to make knots to keep it from slipping back inside the channel, we created two continuous loops by gluing the ends together and sealing with a large metal crimp:

I used my favorite gel epoxy for this, but you can use your favorite fabric or craft glue.  Place the end of the cord in the crimp, apply glue, let dry to a slightly sticky (not goopy) state before closing the crimp with needle nosed pliers.  Keep the crimp as round and smooth as possible - with no sharp edges to catch the fabric.

Here's what it should look like:

Once the glue has dried completely, we worked the cords around so the sealed crimp is in the middle of the channel and it won't be seen when the drawstring bag is cinched closed.

And that's it!  I love that I could customize the size of this DIY drawstring lunch bag to fit the containers I use for lunch - plus it folds up into a tiny square on the weekends :)

I am really loving the challenge of making things using supplies I already have on hand, but if this is going to be a regular feature, I'm going to need some suggestions for a better name! 

Easy DIY Tassel Key Chain

While I was organizing the fish room (I still need to show you a tour of the finished room!), I came across so many craft supplies that I had forgotten about.  Having everything in one lovely space, in beautifully organized Ikea cabinets no less, has really sparked my creativity and I decided to challenge myself to use up some of these sidelined supplies.  I have been quite the prolific crafter lately, and I can't wait to show you everything I've made!

Today I'm sharing this sweet and simple DIY tassel key chain.  

This project is using up a supply that will really date me: embroidery thread.  I found a big bag of it, but it's not from my abandoned embroidery project.  Nope, it's from those ubiquitous knotted friendship bracelets - when they were trendy the first time around.  I've been really loving the tassel trend, but couldn't think of where I wanted a tassel (pillows? throw blanket? nope - can't be anywhere the puppers can reach).  Then I came across my collection of vintage skeleton keys (they used to be framed) and it suddenly dawned on me:  make some cute tassel key chains or purse fobs!  As luck would have it, I also happened to have two large bead caps that I had purchased about 15 years ago for another project and these caps made the finished tassels look very polished.

When I was done, I had re-purposed a lot of pretty bits and bobs, which were all collecting dust, into two pretty key chains - one for my Mom and one for me.

If you want to add some flair to your keys or purse, here's what you'll need to make a large embroidery thread tassel.

Supplies:

• Embroidery thread (I used three skeins per tassel)
• Large bead cap (mine is approx. 1" L x 3/4" W)
• Small bead (optional)
• Eye pin
• Small jump rings
• Key ring
• Vintage skeleton key (optional - you can add any charm, or no charm) 
• Needle nose pliers 
• Sharp scissors

Although you can make a tassel by simply folding a skein in half, I wanted to really mix the different colored threads together.  My Mom offered up a second set of hands and I wound the thread into a loop, working the coppery hue evenly in with my bright aqua.

Then I folded the loop we formed in half and tied it tightly with a length of embroidery floss.  I wrapped it a few times, tied it, then kept wrapping and tied it again so the knot was secure.  Then I just let the ends of the knot blend into the rest of the threads.

 

Before moving on to the next step, I grabbed the sharpest scissors in my arsenal and trimmed the edges.  Five or six times.  There's always that one that thread skips a trim!  Luckily I am a pro at this, because it seems like I always need to re-trim my hair when I come home from the hair salon.

I opened up the loop on my eye pin and slipped on the thread before closing the loop with needle nosed pliers:   

Then I added my bead cap and a turquoise bead at the end (optional), before cutting the end of the eye pin shorter and forming a loop with my needle nose pliers.  I have a great how-to for creating eye pin loops in my tutorial for beaded Christmas spiders, linked here.

I added a jump ring, which I connected to a slightly larger jump ring, which was then attached to my vintage skeleton key.  Easy peasy!  I added a key ring and was happy to add a splash of aqua to my truck keys (which were worryingly devoid of my favorite hue). 

For my Mom's blue ombre embroidery thread tassel, I used a ball chain instead of a key ring:

I love the embroidery thread tassel on its own, but the addition of a vintage skeleton key is fun - and I get to use pieces of my collection!  Skeleton keys have always fascinated me, but my framed collection didn't really jibe with the beachy look I'm cultivating in the lakehouse so I had packed them away.  It's nice to be able to enjoy them again. 

Plus there's something really soothing about smoothing out the strands of the embroidery floss - it's kind of like a stress ball.  When I hold my keys, I started to calmly fiddle with the strands and it's interestingly meditative; it makes me feel very chill.  

   
If I can find some more bead caps, I'd love to use up the rest of the embroidery floss and vintage keys to make these key chains as gifts - I already have a couple of friends dropping heavy hints...

P.S. you can also purchase a cute tassel key chain, like this adorable one with a horse, this chic leather one, or this cute monogram version.

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DIY Felt Tomte (Scandinavian Gnomes)

My little red felted tomte (a mythical creature from Scandinavian folklore, called a tontuu in Finland and a nisse in Denmark and Norway) have been a holiday staple in my home for the last decade.  Every year I'm asked for the DIY tutorial, but they were actually a gift from my Mom.  She said the one with the dark grey hair is me, and the one with the light grey hair is Hubby, lol.  They're made in Sweden and something about their small stature and hidden faces makes them irresistible.  For the first few years we had them, Hubby would always move them to a different spot when I wasn't looking.  Even he was smitten with them... 

(I may or may not have a matching tomte table runner).

This year I decided to try making my own felted tomte to start a colorful collection.  I definitely don't think mine are as cute as the originals, but they are pretty darn adorable!

Quarter for scale (real tomte are never more than three feet tall):

Making them was pretty straightforward and  with a few simple and inexpensive supplies, you can easily whip up a batch of these for gift toppers or a fun holiday crafternoon with friends.  I found my supplies at Windsor Plywood (where they had tons of small wood hearts and little do-dads), Lowe's (they have a huge dowel selection) and Michael's (where they also had wood bits and bobs, plus a great assortment of inexpensive sheets of felt made from recycled plastic bottles).

Here's a full list of what you'll need:

Supplies:

• Small wood hearts (for the feet)
• Small wood balls (for the nose)
• Wood dowel (I used 1 1/4")
• Felt (not too thin, something with a little more substance works best)
• Wool rovings
• Wood glue
• Craft glue
• Sewing needle and thread
• Chop saw or hand saw

How to Make Tomte:

First cut the wood dowel to length.  I chopped various lengths, anywhere between 2" and 3".  Gently sand the cut edges to avoid splinters while working with the wood.

Glue one end of a dowel piece to the heart using wood glue.  Then attach the wood ball somewhere between one third and one half of the way from the opposite end of the dowel.  Let dry and set aside.

Measure the circumference of the dowel and the height between the top of the feet and the bottom of the nose.  Use those measurements to cut a piece of felt and affix with craft glue, placing the seam at the back.  Let dry.

Cut the rovings to the same length and line up with the cut ends lined up, these will be hidden under the cap.

Apply a bead of craft glue along the top of the wood dowel and affix the rovings to act as a hair and bear.  Place a small dab of glue under the nose as well.  Really press down on the rovings to ensure they are glued securely and as snug to the dowel as possible.  Let dry.

To make the hat, I didn't employ my hard earned high school math - I just cut out roughly one quarter of a circle from paper, tested it on the tomte for fit, trimmed a little and kept that as my template.  A little looser is better, because it will fit over the hair more comfortably.  With my template in hand, I traced it onto my felt and cut out the pieces.

For each hat, I held the right sides facing together and quickly stitched a blanket stitch along the edge, turned it right side out, and applied it with craft glue.

Here's what the back looked like when I was done:

And that's it!

My original tomtes are made with what looks like a leather band with "hair" already attached, making the original much tidier than my wilder gnomes.  But I do love the wacky hair and colorful garb, and I had the rovings in my craft supply stash already.  If you're making these, feel free to paint the feet, choose smaller or larger hearts, change the dowel size, chose different felt (wool would be sturdier and easier to work with), or look into doll making supplies for the hair.

There's only one stipulation: you have to let me see if you make some!  Tag me on Instagram or share a link in the comments.

Happy holidays to all my gnomies.

;)

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