More checkbook covers and a couple clutches

I have been making more checkbook covers and zippered pouches lately and thought I would share them with you.
First is my pink and yellow checkbook cover.

Next I made a coordinating pink and yellow gathered zipper clutch, following the great tutorial from over at Noodlehead.  Make sure to check it out; it is a great tutorial!

I made a non-gathered zippered pouch in this adorable animal print.  I made a checkbook cover that matches this as well.  It even has hearts on it, perfect for Valentine's Day!

And last but not least another checkbook cover in brown and yellow map print.  I love this fabric.  I have a pillow that I made out of this too, and best of all, I got the fabric on the clearance rack!

If you would like to make your own checkbook cover, it is extremely easy.  You can see my tutorial here.

Handmade Accessories

I had been working on a few coordinating pieces for a birthday present for my amazing sister in law, but couldn't post them until she opened them.  She opened them this morning, so I can finally post pics!  I sure hope she likes them!  And a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my great sister in law Kaitlyn!

First I made a gathered zipper pouch with a large rosette.  I got the tutorial for this pouch from Noodlehead.

Here's a shot of the inside:

I also made a checkbook cover with a ruffled accent (Wanna make one of your own? See my tutorial here).

And here's an inside shot:

Here's the wallet (for a tutorial on how to make this see here):

And a shot of the inside.  This was my first attempt at using the zig zag stitch, as you can tell I need some practice.

I also made some rosette bobby pins (if you want to see the tutorial to make them see here).

Checkbook Cover Tutorial

I finally got fed up with my flimsy plastic checkbook cover that my bank gave me.  So decided to make my own!

What you'll need:

• 1 piece of outer fabric, 1 piece of inner fabric, 2 pieces of fusible interfacing each piece cut to 8" x 14"
• Sewing Machine
• Iron
• A junky checkbook cover you want to replace!

1)  Fuse your interfacing to the wrong sides of the fabric, following instructions on the package
2)  Placing right sides together, sew 1/4" from the edge of the fabric leaving a couple inch gap on one of the short ends (for turning)

3)  Clip the corners

4) Turn inside out and push out the corners (I use the back of a skewer to push the corners out, but any stick-like object would work i.e. pen, chopstick, twig)

5)  Using your iron press all of the seams and make sure to press in the few inches that you left open to turn right side out.  You should end up having a long rectangle like this:

6)  Sew 1/8" from the edge on both of the short ends of the checkbook cover

7)  Using a checkbook fold over fabric to the desired height and pin in place (can you tell I don't like measuring?).  Do this on both ends of your fabric

8)  Sew 1/4" around the entire outside edge of your cover

9)  Fold in half and press seam with your iron.  Insert your checkbook and you're finished!

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Pretty easy, huh?  And way better than the plastic one!