I had so much fun watching everyone’s NCW progress on Facebook and Instagram! Thank you to everyone who joined in. I really loved seeing all the variations: some people added straps, piping, back pockets, etc. It lends to the pattern how great it is that it can be adapted so easily to suit everyone’s needs. 

Here’s mine. I used Sweet as Honey by Bonnie Christine for Art Gallery, and the turn lock from Emmaline Bags. I used Lisa’s interfacing suggestions with Pellon Shapeflex 101, Craft Fuse 808, and Peltex 70. I really love the firmness, and all the pockets: there’s a spot for everything!

This is Evette’s first Necessary Clutch Wallet and I’m blown away! Look at the matching on the flap! Amazing!

Nanette sent in these pictures of one she made for her daughter who raises chickens. How perfect is that?! I love the addition of piping. 

Jessica at Jess Lynn Designs also made one and I love it! The vibrant colour combo is so refreshing!

I’m so glad this was a random contest, because it would have been too hard to pick “the best” one. They are all so great! With the help of Random.org, I came up with Kimberly T. as the winner of the credit at Emmaline Bags. Congratulations Kimberly, and thank you everyone for sewing with us! I’d also like to extend a special thank you to Janelle at Emmaline Bags for offering the pattern discount and prize. 

If you’d like to see more finished NCWs and some progress pictures, check out #HappyOkapiNCWSAL on Facebook and Instagram. Missed the discount and prize, but still want to follow along? Find Day 1 here. 

Coming Up…
I’ll be announcing another Sew-Along this week, so clear your cutting table and get ready to join me again.

I’ve decided to try this out: a sales tab where I’ll try to post sales each week. I’ve turned on comments so people can add sales to each week’s posts. Please only add Canadian shops or shops that have inexpensive shipping to Canada. Fabric Shop Owners: Feel free to email me before Sunday night of each week for the upcoming sales, and I’ll include them in my post. 

I get a lot of questions from other bag makers about my zippers. I often match my zipper pulls to the fabric I’m using, giving the bag an extra special touch. Today I’m sharing exactly how I make my zippers. I start with a #4.5 or #5 zipper tape, then choose the correct size zipper pull of whichever colour I want to match with my fabrics. I really love the By Annie Zipper By the Yard available at Stitch in the Ditch, and I also use the zipper tape and pulls from Paccana. 

I’ve created a quick video to show the rest. I also include directions for creating a double-pull zipper. 

Not only do I prefer this method, because of the endless possibilities of custom sizes and colours of zippers, but it’s much cheaper than buying these specialty zippers individually. I was able to make a custom coloured 36″ double pull zipper for 50 cents!  Go forth and make zippers! I’d love to hear what you think. 

The Thread Cutterz ring is pretty self-explanatory in its title. It’s meant to be worn as a ring, to cut thread or even yarn while crafting. The blade is tucked safely away so you don’t have to worry about little helpers getting poked or cut, and you don’t poke yourself either (not that I’ve ever done that, nope, not me)! It has an adjustable strap so it can fit fingers of all sizes. It’s very light and easy to use. It currently comes in black or pink, but I’ve seen some preview pictures of green rings on Instagram.

My youngest loves to be independent, and now with the Thread Cutterz ring, he can cut his own string for crafting, and I don’t have to worry about him cutting himself. Of course, his older brother thinks it’s fun to use as well!

I have a really nice (read: expensive) pair of thread snips that I hardly ever use anymore. They used to get lost on my cutting table under scraps of interfacing and fabric. Now I still use them, but only when I’m finished a project and do my final once-over to make sure there aren’t any threads sticking out. My Thread Cutterz ring has become a sewing staple for me! 

I’m quite surprised how much I like it. As I said earlier, I half expected it to be just a gimmick, but I honestly don’t even like sewing without it anymore! It can get quite close to the fabric to cut the threads precisely, so it is really useful and easy to use. I love not having to search for my thread snips anymore!

Want to try one for yourself? You can order from www.threadcutterz.com and they ship all over the world! You can also follow Thread Cutterz on Facebook and Instagram to learn more about Thread Cutterz and stay in the loop for giveaways and new ring colours!

What do you think of tools like this? Do you have a favourite tool? Do you like to stick to “tried and true” or are you always looking for ways to craft more efficiently? Leave me a comment, or send me an email!

I have plans for a free tutorial , another sew-along, and kid-friendly crafts to share with you over the summer.

I’ve had my fabrics picked out for this bag pretty much the moment I saw its release as the April Bag for the Bag of the Month Club. The Manhattan bag comes in 2 sizes: the larger Mamma size, and a smaller Miss size. The pattern is from Emmaline Bags, and is the first Emmaline pattern with diagrams. I love the new format! There were still some pictures to help explain some trickier parts. 

About the bag: I made the Mamma size and love it as an everyday purse. The adjustable strap can be longer and worn cross body, or shorter as a shoulder bag. For me, the defining feature of this bag is the flap. It’s a zippered pocket! I tried something new and used my zipper tape from Paccana and a couple zipper pulls to create a 2-way double pull zipper for this. The flap has 2 magnetic snaps on the underside to help secure the inner bag’s belongings. The pattern includes an optional glasses case that is meant to sit (with hook and loop) in the flap. I left it out for this one, but I may give it a try on my next one. 

There is a zippered exterior pocket on the back; perfect for keys and other items you need to keep handy, yet safe.

Another unique feature of this bag is the front exterior pocket. The top of the pocket sits under the flap, so it is a pseudo-closed pocket. It’s nice and deep. I think I’ll use it for my phone!

The lining calls for a slip pocket, and suggests using the same method on the back exterior zippered pocket for additional lining pockets. 

Interfacing: I used Pellon Shapeflex throughout and Pellon Thermolam fusible fleece as called for in the pattern. I added Pellon Craft Fuse to my lining for extra firmness. 

Fabric: Fabric Spark has a selection of fabric that matches my tastes perfectly! The main fabrics are Echino linen blends: the Buck and Dots for the flap and front, and the Birds and Chevron for the exterior. For the lining fabric, I wanted to match the hot pink in the glasses on the buck, so I emailed Daryl at Fabric Spark and asked her if she could help me find a perfect pink. I had narrowed it down, but just wasn’t sure if the colours on my monitor were a true match. She sent me this picture with a few matches, and I thought long and hard about the decision, but finally chose Alison Glass’s Lucky Penny Bike Path. This isn’t the first time Daryl has gone the extra mile for my order, and yet another reason I continue to support this wonderful Canadian shop.

Review: I really love this bag! The pattern is so well written, I didn’t have any hiccups or need any help with it. The zippered flap had me a bit nervous that installing the zipper on the curve wouldn’t turn out, but it did! The diagrams in the pattern were so clear, and the few pictures in it were helpful as well. I appreciated the placement markings in the pattern pieces. I find the Mamma size to be perfect to carry everything you need, plus a bit of extra room for other items that are nice to have. It’s such a functional bag! I’ll definitely be making more. I think the bag could be made a confident beginner. The pattern is currently only available as a set with the Bag of the Month Club, but will be available individually in July. 

If you missed the previous days, they can be found here: Day 1, Day 2,Day 3 and Day 4. Today, Lisa explains how to add an optional wrist strap and/or cross body strap.

I showed you how I add the anchors in day 2. There are lots of different ways to do this so experiment with what option you like best.
For the wrist strap and cross body strap you’ll need: 2” x 9” piece of fabric (1), 2” x 42” piece of fabric (1), 3 ½” or 5/8” swivel hooks.
I usually cut the long strap the width of my fabric and just clip off the selvages. This makes it about 42”.  If you prefer a shorter strap – cut it to whatever length you like best.
For each of the strap you’ll need to press them in half the long way. Then unfold and press each side in so it meets the centre crease line.  Then fold both halves together so your raw edges are hidden inside.  The finished strap will be about ½” wide.  For the long strap you also need to turn each end in by a ¼”. You can leave the shorter wrist strap ends raw as we’ll finish this in the next step.

Wrist strap: I use Emmaline’s ingenious tutorial (scroll down to step 2) for this step.  Take your folded wrist strap and thread your swivel hook onto it.  Now open out each end of the strap and pin them pretty side to pretty side.  Make sure that your strap is not twisted.  Your hook will still be on the strap.  Sew the ends together using a ¼” seam and finger press the seam open. Refold along you existing press lines.

Time to top stitch!  Again, if you have a top stitching foot it comes in really handy here.  If not, sew close to the edge of each side of the strap, sliding the hook along as you sew. When you’ve finished top stitching, Move your hook to the end where your seam line is (where the two ends were joined) and stitch through the seam line to secure your hook. Go back and forth across the strap a couple of times to really secure this.

Crossbody strap: Take your long, double folded piece and top stitch along both sides as you did with the wrist straps.  The ends have already been folded under ¼ inch so this will provide you with finished ends for this piece.  Be careful when you get to the end, the folded pieces stay under as they like to poke out sometimes.
Once you’ve top stitched both sides you’ll add a swivel hook to each end. Slide the hook onto the 
strap, fold over about 1 inch and stitch across the strap close to the bar of the swivel hook. Sew across the strap a couple of times to secure.  Repeat on the other end but make sure that you’re folding your strap under in the same direction on both sides.

And you’re done!  Attach your straps to your anchors and you can easily swing your wallet on your wrist or carry it on your shoulder like a purse.

Thanks so much Lisa for guiding us along! Her NCW turned out beautifully! Now I’d like to see everyone else’s! You have until June 30 to submit your entries for the prize of a $20 shop credit from Emmaline Bags – Thanks Emmaline Bags! Choose any of these ways to enter: 

• Post a picture of your completed NCW on Facebook using #HappyOkapiNCWSAL, make sure the post is public so I can see it; it can be on your business page or personal page

• Post a picture of your completed NCW on Instagram using #HappyOkapiNCWSAL, make sure the post is public so I can see it.
• Email me a picture of your completed NCW
• Post a link of a picture of your completed NCW in the comments here on the DAY 5 blog post (that’s this one)

I’d also love to share them here, so let me know if it’s ok to do that.

Today we take the exterior we completed in Day 2 and combine it with the card slots and zippered pocket we made in Day 3. First we take the exterior panel with lining side up and center card slots below the flap. You can use wondertape along the underside of the edges to make sure slots don’t shift, or just pin in place.

I’m so excited for today; we’re finishing the main wallet!
If you missed it, here are the previous days: Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3. 

Now fold the rounded sides in over the card slots so that the edge of the card slots line up exactly in the fold of the rounded edge, then pin or clip in place. Once you’ve made sure all the raw edges of the card slots are inside the fold, sew with a 1/4″ seam allowance and a longer stitch length, down both folded edges. 

As before, center the zippered pocket under the flap. Now find the center of the pocket and mark with an erasable marking pen, then create a stitch box, by marking a line 1/2″ on either side of the center line. Very carefully, stitch a box, using the 1/2″ lines on either side of the center line and to within 1/8″ from the edge of the pocket piece. This secures the zipper pocket to the wallet, and also closes up the lining of the zipper pocket.

Draw a 3.5″ line from one bottom corner of the flap to a point that meets the rounded side edge, then draw a line from the corner of the box stitched in the last step to intersect the first line. Repeat for bottom edge, and again for other side of wallet.  

Now using those lines, pinch the rounded side edge around one end of the zippered pouch and clip in place. Sew in place, using a 1/4″ seam allowance, being sure to backstitch at start and stop. Repeat for other side of pocket, and again for other half of zippered pouch with the remaining 2 folds, sewing a total of 4 lines at this step. The pattern suggests starting just below the top and backstitching, but depending on your machine and your interfacing choices, it may be easier to start at the bottom and sew toward the top. Make sure to fold the other pieces out of the way so you don’t sew through those as well. This can be a bit tricky, but just take your time. It may also be helpful to use a larger needle at this step, a leather or denim needle for instance. Some people also find that their machine simply can’t sew through all these layers very well, so opt for rivets at this step. Rivets look nice as well if that works best for you.

You’re done! If you chose optional straps, we’ll complete them tomorrow in Day 5. 

Congratulations! If you made tabs for optional straps, check back tomorrow for those final steps. If you didn’t, come back anyway and you might pick up a tip or 2 for your next NCW! Make sure to share your beautiful wallet pictures! Share on Facebook or Instagram with #HappyOkapiNCWSAL or link up here in comments, or email me. Let me know if I can share your projects as well. 

Find Day 5 here.