{Make} A Bag Sew Along: Mini Makeup Roll Tutorial

Week Five of the {Make} A Bag Sew Along.

I realise I never let you all know the outcome of the poll I posted a couple weeks back. I asked whether you all would like me to slow down the sew along to a new tutorial every 2 weeks instead of every week. The end result was 140 votes for no {to not slow down} and 133 votes for yes {to slow it down}. I found this fairly amusing as the point of me posting the poll was to help me make up my mind! I decided to stick with my original timeline of a new tutorial every week. I figured that those of you who wanted me to slow it down would always be able to come back later and get the tutorials, whereas those of you who were up to date would have to wait too long for the next step in the sew along.

Having said all of this, however, I have decided to take a break next week for one week. Writing 5 weeks straight of tutorials has taken a considerable amount of my time, and there’s a few other things I need to catch up on. My kids also start 2 weeks of holidays next week, and competition is fierce between my youngest and I for computer time! I would also be competing with the older 2, except that they have their own computers. Yes indeedy, we are a family of nerds. Anyway, I hope to take the time to catch up on other blog related things: answer the unanswered questions about the sew along sitting in my inbox, and also to finally write the first post featuring your creations.

This week we’re making a mini makeup roll to hold your on-the-go makeup needs, like mascara, lipstick and touch up foundation. This tutorial is fairly simple and straightforward.

Here is the PDF version of this tutorial.

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Materials you’ll need this week from your supplies:

• your 5″ x 5″ squares
• lining fabric 2
• light fusible interfacing
• ribbon

{Click on any image to see a larger version.}

Choose 6 of your 5″ x 5″ squares.

Cut 1.5″ off 2 of the squares.

Cut these rectangles in half along the width, so that you have 4 rectangles measuring 2.5″ x 3.5″.

Cut your other 4 squares in half.

Make 2 blocks with your longer rectangles by sewing 4 rectangles together, long edges together. You will end up with 2 blocks of 4 rectangles each. Press seams in one direction.

Make another block out of the smaller rectangles by sewing the long edges together. Press seams in one direction.

Iron the light fusible interfacing to the wrong side of one of the larger blocks and also to the smaller block.

Cut a rectangle from lining fabric 2 measuring 8.5″ x 3.5″. This is the lining for the pockets in the roll.

Now we’re going to make the pocket piece. Sew the smaller block to the lining piece right sides together, along the top edge only. Turn the fabrics out the right way and press the seam.

Place the larger block without the interfacing attached right side up on the table. Place the pocket piece on top, pieced side up and bottom raw edges aligned. Pin in place.

Sew up the 3 seam dividing lines on the pocket piece. This will make 4 narrow pockets.

Cut 25″ from your ribbon.

Lay the fabric piece down on the table, pocket side up. Fold the ribbon in half {right sides together if it has a right side}. Place the folded edge at the left of the fabric piece, in the centre. Let it overhang by about 1/4″.

Place your other pieced rectangle on top, right side down. Make sure the tails of your ribbon are tucked in and won’t be sewn into the seams. Pin in place, with one pin placed in the ribbon to keep it in place.

Sew around the sides, leaving a gap at the top about 2″ long for turning. Clip the corners.

Turn your roll out the right way, push out the corners. Press the roll, with the seam allowances of the gap you left turned in. Pin along this gap.

Topstitch around the top of the roll, around the top part only, about 1/8″ from the edge. {Don’t sew on the pocket.} When you topstitch around this rectangle, you will also be sewing your gap closed.

Prevent the edges of the ribbon from fraying by turning the ends over and stitching them down, or by applying a product like Fray Stop.

Finished! Now you can add your makeup to your roll. Close your roll by rolling it up and tying the ribbon around it to keep it closed.

The mini makeup roll will fit nicely inside one of the smaller pockets inside your bag.

The collection is building! So far we’ve made the bag and 2 accessories…

I’ve been using everything as soon as it’s made. I’m no longer searching for a ringing phone in a disorganised bag full of ’stuff’, which has been great. I noticed that some of you have changed some of the bags or accessories to suit yourself, which I think is excellent. Some people have added clever stuff like fancy closures – awesome! Hope you’re enjoying what you’ve made so far.

I’ll be back in two weeks for the next part of the sew along. I hope those of you in the Northern Hemisphere are enjoying your summer. Southern Hemisphere inhabitants, the shortest day of the year was yesterday, so from now on out there’s more daylight to look forward to! Yippee!

Happy Roll Making!

Tagged as: Accessories, Scrap Busters