Tutorial: How to Make a Simple Indian Style Kurti/Tunic

July 7, 2014sudeshnascreation 3 Comments

When you cannot visit India that often, you have to come up with creative solution to make Indian attire for your casual ethnic parties. That’s when I started looking for ready made sewing pattern available in fabric store in US. Guess what I found? Butterick Pattern 5812.

http://butterick.mccall.com/b5812-products-27960.php?page_id=155

You can get it either online or from fabric store. I bought mine for $1 sale from Hancock Fabrics 🙂

It is a very simple and easy pattern to sew. Let’s get started.

What You Need

Floral Printed Fabric – 1 yard. (Mine is polyester, but cotton/cotton blend is perfect too)
Double Folded Bias Tape
Trim 3.5 yards
Fabric Glue
Scissors
Matching thread
Butterick pattern 5812

Let’s Get Started

Step 1: Do some measurement and figure out your size from the top back of the envelope. It is a loose fitting top so no accurate measurement is needed. Open up the envelope and cut out pattern piece 9, 10 and 11. Yes that’s it, only 3 pieces if you attach sleeves or use piece 9, 10 if you want sleeveless.

Step 2: Fold the fabric in half as shown in the picture below( unfinished edges together). Unfinished edge is called selvage. Place pattern piece 10 ( along the fabric fold line) and piece 9 and 11 on the fabric. Use a pair of sharp scissor to cut the fabric.

Step3: Change the neck line like shown in the picture if you would like to alter the neckline. You can keep the exact rounded neckline for simplicity. That will work fine too.

Use this new pattern to cut the piece 10 (front of the tunic).

Step 4: Sew style B using the pattern instruction and finish the neckline using double folded bias tape. Now use a fabric glue to attach the trim along the neckline. I used a sequin trim so I cannot use machine to sew. But if you use a embroidered trim or fabric based trim you can use machine to sew it on.

Note: I altered the pattern at the back side. You can sew the whole backside up. The neck is wide enough that the top should slid right into your body without any back opening. Try it first. It makes the back sewing a breeze. No need to worry about finishing with button or zipper, as instructed in the pattern.

Step 5: Attach the sleeve according to the instruction and after hemming glue/sew the trim.

Step 6: Finish hemline and glue/sew the trim.

End product:

What’s New in My Shop?

July 5, 2014sudeshnascreation Leave a comment

Stunning Black and Red Cross Body Bag

www.sudeshnasdesign.etsy.com

Perfect Summer Bag

www.sudeshnasdesign.etsy.com

Please stop by my Etsy Shop.

Thank you for supporting my Facebook page. Its been awesome recently.

Rainbow of Waves

July 2, 2014sudeshnascreation 3 Comments

I know its probably a little too warm outside to enjoy a quilt. This quilt is sunny and bright like a summer. So thought might be appropriate to share this quilt that I made last year for my son.

This very simple chevron pattern quilt is made out of half-square triangles. I picked nine different shades of cotton batiks and white cotton as a back ground. The quilt binding is a contrasting green batik fabric that is also used inside the quilt. As you can see in the detail picture above, some quilting lines are straight and is done using a walking foot and some are free-motion quilting inside the colored portion to give it a wavy look. The whole project is done in my home sewing machine.

Hope you enjoy the burst of colors. Thank you for visiting my blog and Facebook page.

Ready For Summer

June 20, 2014sudeshnascreation 2 Comments

Lime Green Crepe Dress

Expanding my summer closet. Looking to add some bright colors to my collection of outfits.

Simple Lace Yolk Floral top

Navy Polka Chiffon Top

Satin Back Crepe Dress with White Piping Stipes

Satin Back Crepe Dress with White Piping Stripes

Floral Crochet Lace Top in Light Peach Color

Double Knit Magenta Dress

Enough to last this summer? Probably not. I am still planning to add few more, but World Cup Soccer is keeping me away from my sewing room 🙂

Tutorial : Quilted Pencil Pouch

November 28, 2013sudeshnascreation Leave a comment

I started this project to learn the special zipper insertion technique. But the product turned out to be too cute to miss. Thought this could be a great little tutorial for lot of different techniques to learn and try on. But believe me it is quick to finish and at the end you will realize how many new things you learn. Okay let me start.

Materials List:

1/3 Yard of Outer fabric (Can be cotton or any other scrap fabric you have),
Cotton batting/Fleece for lining
1/3 yard interfacing
7″ zipper
piping cord
matching bias tape
Thread to match
Sewing machine, Scissors

Step 1: Cutting Fabric

Cut out the following from outer fabric, lining fabric and interfacing:

9.5″ x 9.5″ square from Outer fabric + Lining fabric + interfacing + batting/ fleece ;
3.5″ diameter circle from Outer fabric + Lining fabric + interfacing + batting/ fleece
2.5″x4″ rectangle from Outer fabric + Interfacing for pull tab

Step 2: Making Pull Tab

Take the 2.5″x4″ outer fabric and interfacing and place fusible part of interfacing on the wrong side of the fabric and iron it to fuse it. Then fold the fabric lengthwise right side of fabric facing together. Stitch 1/8″ seam as shown to close the 3 sides , but a little opening at the end to turn the fabric inside out.

Use a pencil or knitting needle to push the closed end to help turn it around to right side out. Press and fold the fabric.

Step 3: Marking for the Zipper Insertion

Fold the outer fabric and lining in half to make a crease to mark the center and draw a rectangle as shown 3/4″x7″ in the middle.

Step4: Quilting

Place batting on the wrong side of the fabric and then fusible interfacing (fusible part facing the batting), making a sandwich of fabric and interfacing with batting as a filling.See pic: I have intentionally cut a hole in batting in the middle where I drew the rectangle ( previous pic) to reduce the bulk. But that is optional. Iron the interfacing to fuse it to the batting.

Now take the quilt sandwich to sewing machine and sew straight stitches. I used a quilting walking foot but normal walking foot will be just fine. See how I straight stitched to make a grid. This is the simplest form of quilting and looks quite effective in handbag or garments.

Use the same technique to make the quilted side circles. At the end you will have:

Step 5 : Adding Piping(Optional)

This is an optional step. But piping adds an extra dimension to any bag.

You can buy ready made piping from store or use the following method to make one.

Get any single folded store bought bias tape and piping cord. I used a double folded bias tape because that is what I had. It just make the seam a little bulky and hard to tackle. You can get piping cord from the upholstery section of fabric store.

Note: You can make home made bias tape also. I was lazy to make mine. It works out just fine. Search YouTube for ” Make Bias Tape” and you will find plenty of tutorials.

Put the cord inside the bias tape as shown and pin it.

Use a zipper foot to stitch very close to the cord as shown.

Now piping is done.

Align the raw edge of the outer fabric right side with the raw edge of the piping and pin them together.

Note: This is the side of the pencil pouch. So if you want to place your fabric in a particular way, this is the time to decide that.

Again using a zipper foot stitch along the piping.

Now put the lining and outer fabric right side together to be ready for zipper insertion.

Note: The marking on the lining with respect to the piping position needs to be perpendicular to each other.

Step 6: Zipper Insertion

Place the quilted outer fabric and lining fabric right right together and stitch along the marked lined rectangle. After that cut an incision right in the middle and clip the corners.

Then turn the fabric right side out by putting the lining through the incision. Press well to make a clean edge.

Now place the zipper right under the opening and pin it as shown.

Now stitch through fabric and lining layer and zipper together as shown.

Now open the zipper at least half way through.

Step 7 : Making the body of the pencil pouch

Now pull the outer fabric together as shown and also the lining fabric. Both should be at 2 sides of the zipper.

Stitch the long edge of outer fabric (see pic below).

Now put the folded pull tab on the circular side and pin it. Tab can be placed on one side or both the sides. I just used one.

Pin the circular quilted fabric on the side over the pull tab. On the other side pin the circle without the pull tab. Stitch 1/4″ seam along the circumference of the circle. The result is shown below.

Do exactly the same for the lining except there is no pull tab to place and keep the bottom of the lining open ( leave about 3 ” opening) as shown. This opening is needed to turn the fabric right side out.

Finally Wah La !

Now put your fingers inside the hole in the lining and pull the outer body of the fabric through the hole completely.You might struggle a bit but don’t worry it will work. Your pencil pouch is now ready. Isn’t it Magic or what?

I hope you liked my tutorial. Please feel free to ask me any question. You can email me or post in my Facebook page. I will be happy to answer it. Show off your project. Email me I can post it on my Facebook page.

Below is my inspiration for this project: I changed several dimension to make it easy for me and used quilting.

http://www.sewtogether.com.au/1/post/2011/10/tutorial-a-barrel-shaped-knitting-needle-holder-or-pencil-case.html

Handmade Clutches – Would you like to own ?

November 12, 2013sudeshnascreation Leave a comment

Clutches are perfect accessories for any evening parties with any formal wear, be it Indian attire or western. The inspiration for these clutches came when recently I visited my local fabric store and saw these beautiful brocade fabrics lying in the holiday section. I knew I had to make something with these fabric. And here is the outcome!

If you like to own them please visit my Etsy store

sudeshnasdesign.etsy.com

Double Card Trick

November 7, 2013sudeshnascreation 3 Comments

I saw this quilt block somewhere and I knew I had to make it. It took me a while to come up with the pattern. The person was selling the pattern for $9 or so. But I wanted to challenge myself to come up with the pattern in paper piecing. I have no idea what method she used whether traditional piecing or paper piecing, but this one created by me is solely designed by me. The completed block measures 14″ x 14″ square. I hope you like it.

As there is an active interest in this block and lot of folks asked me for the pattern I am posting it here. Please click on the link below.

DoubleCardTrickPattern

Please feel free to ask any question about this pattern. I would be happy to answer.

Snowflake Star

October 29, 2013sudeshnascreation Leave a comment

That’s the name my son chose for this star when I asked him to name it. I could never see a snowflake until he pointed it out. Now I can clearly see one. Aren’t the kids amazing? Amazing is their imagination.

Let me write a thing or two about paper -piecing and what I found out while doing this kind of quilt piecing. If you read books or article about this technique people would mention how easy it is and it will give quite accurate corner without worrying about perfect cutting etc. That is all true. If you always dread about making cutting perfect pieces and make it all magically match after you sew them together then this is the perfect method to quilt. You follow the previously drawn pattern on paper and stitch along the lines, no more worries about not being able to make a perfect 1/4th inch seam or cutting.

But let me tell you some cons as well. This method is rather slow than normal quilt piecing. So unless you have lot of patience its very hard to finish a big quilt using paper piecing. And another thing about it is wastage of fabric and paper. At the end of the project you end up being the messiest person in your household with small cut outs of fabric and shredded paper all over.

In spite of all these drawback I admit I am quite addicted to paper-piecing quilts, mainly because the results turns out to be quite amazing.

I found this YouTube link very easy to follow when I learned this technique.

In the above tutorial she used rotary cutter and ruler to cut 1/4th inch seam allowance after the sewing. That is not necessary. You can you scissors to cut the fabric instead. This will not make any difference in the look or result of the finished block.

There are a lot of free paper-piecing patterns. One such website is http://piecebynumber.com/

Hope you like my rainbow snowflake star. If you want to know more about what star I am making next don’t forget to like my Facebook page.

Rainbow Star Quilt Block Series

October 24, 2013sudeshnascreation 1 Comment

Here is the first of my rainbow star series. Having a lot of fun creating my own paper piece quilt patterns of different stars and quilting it using paper piecing technique. I will try to post a new star every week until I have enough blocks to make a big sampler quilt.

Below are few picture showing the steps to make the block. Hope you can make one. You can use solid colors or printed to make it. Use your imagination and creativity.

Step1: Print the design on paper and piece the block using foundation/paper piece technique. For techniques on how to learn paper piecing search YouTube.

Step 2 Make Block 1 and block 2

Step 3 Stitch the two blocks together.

Step 4 Backside of the block after joining the two blocks.

I have created these patterns myself using Adobe Illustrator.

Dressmaking My New Craze!

March 23, 2013sudeshnascreation 7 Comments

After a long time back to my blogging world. Life is not easy these days after going back to my full time job. What keeps me alive is my sewing passion. Wanting to upgrade my wardrobe for a while. Now trying my hands on dressmaking. It is quite exciting I admit. The whole idea of making as many dresses as I want in a fraction of cost compared to department stores makes it very exciting.

B;ue Jacket P1000462_1

Semi casual Jacket made with Gabardine. The first jacket that I made. It has no closure.

The material for pink shirtdress is linen. As you can see the challenge with linen is wrinkle. This photo is taken after wearing the dress for the whole day. But the comfort of wearing linen makes up for the look.

Sudeshna's Creation

Passion for Sewing

Menu

Widgets

Search

Author: sudeshnascreation