by joann7657 21 Mar 2012

I have not posted 2 question for fear of sounding a little stupid, but if I don't ask I will never know. Sorry if to long.

1) I have not made ITH pouches yet because I get confused with the instructions. Can't figure out the way to lay the fabrics over zippers.
2) I have been going crazy trying to put a strap on a small should pouch(purse) without leaving an opening between strap and zipper. More or less unfinished edges between zipper and strap.
does anyone understand what I am trying to express? I have picked this poor little pouch(purse) apart so many times until I have put holes in the fabric. I need the top area to be neatly finished with the zipper and strap in place. I am still learning to put in zippers. I did finally get the hang of that, now I am trying to put a single strap with it. I can do the straps on either side it is that shoulder thing that is killing me, single strap. Help!
Oh yeah how do you PM or send private messages if someone is willing to take some time and give me some clue of what I am doing? THANKS EVERYONE!

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by eyeztodiefor10 22 Mar 2012

Well, I've wanted to ask this one question myself. Thank you for asking as I have no idea how to start these ith things and I sew want to make them! Now I have a reference to come back to.
Meri

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by hightechgrammy 22 Mar 2012

There are no stupid, no dumb questions! We've all asked them, we are all learning. You are just asking a question someone else needs to ask too! Sometimes the questions we ask sparks exactly what we need to know to make it all fit into place. Thank you for asking!

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by tilde01 22 Mar 2012

Good questions. Thanks for asking.

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by spendlove Moderator 21 Mar 2012

What Lesleyann said is spot on and is the method I prefer. However, there is an alternative way to do the fabric around the zip which you might find easier. You take the piece of fabric, the width and double the length of the finished space it will fill. Fold it in half and press. Now lay the fabric over the zip with the folded edge along the teeth of the zip. Repeat when you do the second piece so that the two fabrics meet neatly. That is how this one is done:

1 comment
joann7657 by joann7657 21 Mar 2012

Thank you so much.

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by blueeyedblonde 21 Mar 2012

Thanks for asking the ques. and such a nice explanation from Lesley. This will make it easier for me to do it when I finally try it.

1 comment
joann7657 by joann7657 21 Mar 2012

You are so welcome.

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by lesleyann 21 Mar 2012

Hi Joann,lesley here from south africa,I myself have just worked these ith bags out,so lets start a the beginning,hoop stablizer,do first stitch out,possibly the outline of entire bag and zipper line,now its a good idea to slow sewing machine down, now plase the zip on the line Making sure that both ends of the zip are out of the bag outline.this won't make sense intil you are almost finished,now take the smallest piece of material face down,you can see the wrong side ok! now lift the sewing foot slide the material under,just enough that you can,t see the zip (the whole zip,not just the teeth) now stitch in place,easy! now lift the sewing foot ,flip the material under away from you,you can now see the zip and right side of material,now take the next piece of material face down again,slide it under the foot the whole way leaving enough material to cover the zip,so once again you can,t see the zip,stitch in place,lift sewing foot and flip material towards yourself,see zip is now in,now is the time for embroidery or pattern,so now all is finished except putting on straps and the back of bag,what I do is place my last piece of material face down covering the entire design,allow the machine to sew a few stitches stop the machine,now open the zip to about center of the bag,now place your strap wherever you want it,I use a small piece of double side sticky tape to hold the ends of the strap in place(make sure the sticky is out of the bag)tuck thr strap out of the way of stitch line,smooth the material in place,finish the bag, voila! Hope this makes sense,sorry not much of a teacher.
regards Lesley

2 comments
spendlove by spendlove 21 Mar 2012

Excellent explanation!

joann7657 by joann7657 21 Mar 2012

Thank you so much I am coping this and putting it with my designs.

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by noah 21 Mar 2012

you sound just like me hugs

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by dino 21 Mar 2012

No question is stupid. Questions are how we learn. I'm sure someone who knows more than I do will come along to help.

1 comment
joann7657 by joann7657 21 Mar 2012

Thank you, ur a good confidence builder.

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