My first Tutorial - Crafty

So for Christmas I made each of my nieces, nephews & my boys a fold over organizer thing to hold a notebook/coloring book & crayons.  It was FUN!!!  So here  is my best shot at a step by step tutorial. (Since it's my first...bear with me!)

 Basic Inside Layout!

Fabric A

Pieces Needed

FABRIC A (inches)

1- 9x18 outside cover

2- 6x8 Elastic pocket (mine was 6x6...to small)

4- 4 1/4 x 5 flap

Fabric B

FABRIC B

1- 9x18 inside main

2- 5 3/4 x 8 pocket flap

3- 6x2 notebook flap

4- 4 1/4 x 5 flap

IRON ALL PIECES

Use piece #4 from each fabric, sew right sides together on 2 sides, then turn right side out & iron unsewn edge in to make seam then top stitch.  Set aside - this will be flap for pocket on right side.

Use piece #2 fabric A & sew a 1 inch pocket for elastic on the 6 inch side 

Insert 6 inch piece of elastic into this pocket & fold right end over 1/4 inch & stitch all the way down length of side.

Use piece # 3 fabric B...fold in half, iron & fold 1/4 inch ends in for finished edges & iron

Use piece #2 Fabric B...on one 8 inch side, fold over 1/4 inch, iron for finished edge

Now to pin it all together...

Piece #2 (fabric B) pin on right side of Piece #1 (Fabric B) matching bottom & right edges.  Piece #4 flap goes to top center of Piece #2

Piece #3 (fabric B) goes in the center on the bottom.  You will also pin in 2 pieces of 6 inch elastic in the center (not pictured) to hold a notebook in.  Pin end of elastic under pockets on each side.

Elastic pocket piece #2 (fabric A) goes on left side matching left side & bottom..this one is a little trick because it has elastic at the top...you will have extra fabric on the bottom to work with...fold & pin it as evenly as possible at the bottom...should measure to 6 inches.

Now....using this inside panel & outside panel (piece #1 fabric A)...you are going to sew them together...I used 2 pieces of stabilizer interfacing & one piece of 1/4 quilt batting in between. Line them up & pin.  Sew along fold lines....this is  an 18 inch piece so my fold lines were @ 6 inches & 12 inches...these fold lines will attach all the above pinned pieces together also.

Then pin biased tape or ribbon along all of the outside edge & sew it completely around to finish. I did use my embroidery machine on the from & stitch each kids name on (first step - before sewing together all pieces).

Attach about 10 inch piece of ribbon to left side & one in the middle edge (when folded) these will tie the organizer closed!

There you have it!  Hope no one is too terribly confused!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Sander Family!!!  We have had an amazing year...I will get to that later...I have been pondering alot lately about Mary & the feelings she must have felt.  I think about the first time held each of my little boys as newborn babies...the thoughts & rush of emotions...indescribable.  The love & joy you feel is overwhelming.  So (all you moms out there)  think about those moments & add on top of that that fact of knowing not only are you falling completely in love with your precious newborn baby, but the fact that you are holding the Savior of the world.  I can't imagine all of her feeling through this.  I am continually amazed at the way my boys help me to love our Creator even more & more everyday.  The love my Father has for me is so much more than I could even imagine, but each time I look into the eyes of Lincoln or Justice & see them look at me with love, I feel like I have a little glimpse of that love.  I just pray that my eyes look at HIM the way Justice & Lincoln look at me.

Celebrating Him!