How to make a fabric lunch wrap in 5 easy steps and just 15 mins!

You can make a fabric lunch wrap like this in 5 easy steps and just 15 mins! 

Simple!

Perfect for sandwiches, and also doubles as a mini picnic mat:

This size fabric wrap is perfect for a single 'round' of sandwiches, a bun or a slice of quiche.  You can simply make a bigger or smaller square for different sized snacks or lunches.

How to make your own:

Step 1.

Cut 2 squares of fabric 26.5cm square.

1 for outer fabric

1 ripstop nylon for inner fabric

 (this fabric can be wiped easily after use as it is waterproof)

1 piece sew in velcro 8cm long.

Step 2.

Pin one piece of the velcro to a corner of each square diagonally - like this:

Stitch around all four edges of the velcro to secure.

Step 3.

Place the squares right sides together with the velcro at opposite corners.

Then pin and stitch around all 4 sides with a 3/8" seam, leaving a gap open of around 8cm on one side.

Step 4.

Snip the corners off close to the stitching:

Turn the squares right side out through the gap you left in the stitching, and press flat.

Step 5.

Topstitch close to the edge around all 4 sides:

And your fabric sandwich wrap is finished!

You can make all sorts of colours and sizes:

To make the perfect picnic:

Then when the food is gone, just gently wipe the inside of the wraps with a damp cloth, or if they need more of a clean, just throw them in the washing machine!

Simple!

For the downloadable PDF version of this tutorial, click here.

I hope you liked this tutorial - if you have any questions feel free to ask.  Have fun making your own fabric sandwich wraps!

Click here for more simple sewing tutorials of 5 steps in 15 mins.

And for over 100 more free sewing tutorials for all levels of sewing ability, head over to My Free Sewing Tutorials Page.

Another clothes upcycle in My Creative Space

It is now winter here in Australia - and although winter here is nothing compared to winter in many places - like where I grew up in the North of England, you do get used to the climate where you live, and for me now - when I get up in the morning and it's 10C  that feels pretty cold to me.

Anyway, I don't like being cold - never have, and have found that lately, I've been drinking more hot cups of tea, which always seem to need a chocolate biscuit or piece of cake with them, and sitting around more being generally less active.

For me, less active, means less motivated in general, and so less productive. Not good when I have goals and aims and things to do!!

So I decided I needed to take action! 

My solution? To brave these ever so cold mornings and get up and onto our exercise bike! Get my metabolism going and ready for the day ahead!

I like to listen to something while I cycle (music or Anthony Robbins) but since I'm getting up before everyone else, I have to listen on my MP3 player with earphones.

So I decided to make myself a little holder for it - I've seen lots of people runnning and walking with them - they look fairly simple!

So I took one of my daughter's old t-shirts (that no longer fits):

Cut a nice wide strip off..

I just used one side of the strip - the pretty front side.

Right sides together stitched it, and finished the edges off..

Then pulled it on my arm, folded in half to make a pocket and there you have....

A groovy - roxy - MP3 player holder for exercising!

A grand price of $0 !! What a bargain!

And I have to say morning cycles have returned my motivation and I'm feeling less 'cold' now!

What helps you get motivated?  Does the cold slow you down too? 

(I was definitely some kind of reptile in my last life! I need to be warm!!)

Laptop bag tutorial

I started out with the intention of making a laptop cover using a tutorial I found, but our old laptop has these little catches on the inside, which would have been covered over and then wouldn't have shut properly!  Sigh! Nothing is every simple and straightforward is it!

Love the palm tree in the reflection here!!!

Anyway.... I decided to make a bag instead.

Our daughter has our old laptop - but it's set up right in front of my sewing machine..which as you can imagine is not ideal for me - and I have to keep moving it!

So now that it has it's own bag - moving it will be much easier!

So here's my tutorial if you'd like to try one for your laptop !

--------------------------------------------------

The laptop I made this for measures 36 cm x 27 cm x 4 cm.

All laptops are not made equal so you would need to measure yours to see if you need to enlarge or reduce my measurements.

This bag holds the laptop itself, power cord, mouse and cord and mouse mat!

Materials you will need:

2 Pieces strong outer material( I used curtain fabric) 44 cm x 42 cm

2 Pieces soft inner material (I used fleece) 44 cm x 42 cm

1 Pocket piece 30 cm x 23 cm

1 Pocket piece 22 cm x 22 cm

2 Straps 34 cm x 10 cm

Stitch in velcro - 2 pieces for pockets 8 cm each

1 piece for main bag 33 cm

First take your two pocket pieces - and double turn and stitch the outer edge to neaten, and stitch on one side of the velcro centrally placed:

Next lay one of your outer pieces of fabric over the laptop to help you place your pockets:

Pin in place, turning the raw edges under.

Concertina the corners just a little like this so that the pocket is not totally flat:

Pin the other side of the velcro to the main bag piece, then stitch the velcro and the pocket firmly into place.

Repeat for the other pocket:

For the straps - fold them in half, then open out and fold the outer edges in towards the centre fold, and stitch along both long edges:  Pressing the fabric along the folds will make this easier:

Now you're ready to assemble the bag:

Pin the outer pieces of fabric, right sides together and stitch around 3 sides - leaving what will be the top of the bag open.

Repeat this for the inner pieces of fabric.

Clip the corners, then turn the outer fabric right sides out - and slip the inner 'bag' inside it like this:

Pin the handles in place on both sides of the open bag top, then stitch securely:

Turn the outer and inner fabrics in on themselves to hide both raw edges. Make the turning around 3cm to allow for plenty of secure stitching!  Pin the inner and outer fabrics together:

Stitch two rows all around the top of the bag - then pin and stitch the velcro in place on the inside opening of the bag:

Now your bag is finished and ready to put your laptop and accessories in:

For the downloadable PDF version of this tutorial, click here.

And for over 100 more free sewing tutorials for all levels of sewing ability , check out my Free Sewing Tutorials Page.

Happy Sewing!