Scrap Buster---Bag holder

How about that winter weather? I was right in the middle of a quilting project and ran out of stabilizer during one of the recent snow storms. There was no way I was going to brave the elements to pick up some stabilizer. Fortunately, I keep a list of quick projects that I would like to stitch some day perfect for times like this.

 For months I had been eyeing a big pile of plastic bags growing underneath my kitchen sink. I usually use reusable cloth bags but give myself  occasional permission to grab a few plastic bags because I reuse the plastic bags for things like small garbage cans. But lately the plastic bags seemed to be multiplying in the cupboard into a spread out mess. A bag dispenser was on my quick project list. An added bonus was that I could make the bag dispenser from scraps leftover from other projects.

Here is what I used for this project:

*16.5 inch long fabric strips
*One 16.5 x 26 inch piece of fabric for lining
*One 10" piece of 1" elastic
*One 16.5 inch x 1 inch piece of  Floriani Stitch N Shape

So I grabbed my scrap bag and pulled out a few strips that were at least 16.5 inches long. After pressing the strips I trimmed them all to the 16.5 inches long. I then stitched enough strips together until I had a piece of pieced fabric 16.5 x 26 inches long.

I stitched the Floriani Stitch N Shape about an inch down from the top of the pieced fabric.

I stitched two 2 inch x 16.5 inch strips right sides together for a handle. I turned the handle right side out and pressed. I basted the handle to the top of the right side of the pieced fabric about four inches from each side matching raw edges.

Then with right sides together I stitched the fabric lining to the pieced fabric leaving an inch on each side a 1/2 inch from the bottom open for turning and insertion of the elastic. After turning the sandwich I inserted the elastic and stitched the edges of the elastic into the seam on each side.

I folded the bag in half, right sides together  and stitched down the side. After turning right side out I had a bag that can dispense those plastic bags and my under the sink cupboard was cleared out for other things.  

Turn your Sewing Hobby into a Day Job

There has been  an increase in demand for quality, handmade goods in recent years. And never has it been easier getting those handmade goods to the market of customers hungering for those custom made products.

If you've been wondering if you could make money off of your sewing machine--- the answer is yes you can. And in coming weeks we'll be dishing up tips to get your products sewn, packaged, photographed, marketed and sold. We'll be offering ideas on the kind of products that are in demand and how to price and ship your items.

If you're living in an area where the economy is still weak, selling items that you sew is a wonderful way to supplement an income and make more money so that you can support your sewing hobby. Or maybe you've been dreaming of building a sewing business to replace your day job so that you can spend the day doing the things that you love to do. Or do you need to supplement your income while spending time taking care of young children or an elderly loved one?

In just one average month in 2013 online shop owners on Etsy, the internet's number one retail outlet for handmade crafts,  sold $109.5 million in products. Quilts, sports related products, custom made gadget cases and bags, and personal embroidered items have been top sellers.  Quilting patterns and quilts are in the top 10 products sold on EBay too. So grab that box of stash, some thread, and that sewing machine and let's have some fun being creative and building an exciting business.

And with the exciting new line up of Husqvarna Viking machines it is so easy for the home sewing enthusiast to take that wonderfully creative hobby and turn it into a dream job.