Casserole Carrier Picture Tutorial

Photo Tutorial

I am about to lead you through my first Photo Tutorial of a casserole carrier! I take no credit for the pattern. I found the pattern at allpeoplequilt.com. Click here for the link.

I decided to photo document the steps following this pattern because I myself had some seam-ripping moments, but I feel that the end product has great result. Hopefully my photos, along with their pattern (found in the link above) will save you any frustration!

Because I respect copyright laws, I am not going to copy their pattern. Please see their website for specifics, but feel free to use my photos to help clear up any confusion. I will include some helpful hints that I learned the hard way too! Enjoy :)

Materials

Most projects move along smoothly if you gather necessary materials ahead of time. You will need the following items. Granted the music is optional for some, but the very first step for me! The right playlist can just set the mood!

Cut Material

Disclaimer: I may have mixed up the pictures of the pocket pieces, please use measurements from the pattern! These will at least show you how many pieces of material that you need!

Straps

Pocket Backing (x2)

Pocket Flap 1

Pocket Flap 2

Batting: 2 Pieces (One pocket, one carrier)

Outer Carrier Large: 1 Piece

Outer Carrier Small: 2 Pieces (there is a cut down the middle)

 

Assemble Straps

Assemble Pocket

I won't lie, I had a difficult time visualizing this on my first attempt. I think it will be most helpful to begin by showing you the pocket as a finished product. As seen in the picture, the spoon is jutting out of the pocket, but it can be tucked into the upper flap to be hidden completely. My apologies for choosing the polka dot material to work with. It looks great in person but is rather dizzying in pictures!

*In layering photo, materials are placed staggered on each other so you can see each material. When sewing, they should be directly on top of each other.

Pocket Finished Product

Layering (Bottom to Top): Batting, Pocket Backing right side up, Pocket Flap 1 & 2 (w/ folded edges in middle/selvages at short ends) folded edges should overlap, Remaining Pocket Backing right-side down

Sew long sides, creating tube.

Mark and sew to form pocket. We don't want to loose anything!

Here is the pocket! I've open the flap where they over lap and you can see the pocket backing.

Assemble Outer Carrier Section

IMPORTANT!! If using material with a directional print, take a moment to think ahead and place straps carefully. The edge that you place the raw edge of the straps on will be on the bottom of the carrier. the other side will wrap around to cover the pocket. Clear as mud? I thought so! Scroll down to the third picture of this section to see how the straps will line up on the bottom of the carrier. If you aren't careful, the print of  one of the pieces could end up upside down! Speaking from experience here ;) If you are still in doubt, pin and play with your material for a bit before you make any stitches. 

Also, measure carefully. The straps need to line up when the two small pieces are assembled. To make this easier for me, I changed the 3 3/8" measurement to 3 1/4" because it was easier to see.

Strap on one Outer Carrier Small piece. Make sure the handle isn't twisted!

Sew up the strap six inches. I chose to add a box stitch at the top to reinforce and add strength. Casseroles can be hefty!

Here is how the pieces should look in order for the prints to face the same direction. Notice how the straps are carefully placed to line up together.

Assemble Carrier

IMPORTANT!! When sewing the unit together, make sure ALL layers are caught (especially around the pocket). If you have a walking foot, I would suggest using it as there is a lot of material being sewn .

*In layering photo, materials are placed staggered on each other so you can see each material. When sewing, they should be directly on top of each other.

Layering (Bottom to Top): Batting, Outer Carrier Large right-side up, Pocket (centered carefully), Outer Carrier Small right-side down

Corner Cutting. I simply used a cup, but feel free to print their pattern if you desire.

Repin, cut and sew! You are nearly there!

 

 

Finished Product

After turning right side out and stitching up the hole here is your finished product! After taking this picture I decided to go back and top stitch around the outer section. I found it has a much more finished look and the batting feels more secure too. This is merely a matter of taste though!

Stay Tuned

My next few blogs will be out soon! In one I will be showing off the wonderful sewing gifts I got for Christmas and in another I will show you my latest loom knitting projects!

Respectfully,

Harmony

Pieceful's Sister's Gift

Thanks-mas!

Pieceful loved being a snow-bird so much last year, they left for their warm Florida home nearly a month earlier this year! Because they were heading south at the beginning of December our extended family decided to have Thanks-mas. We shared lovely Thanksgiving traditions such as a lovely big meal, shopping at the outlets on Black Friday and this year we also went to see the Trans Siberian Orchestra (wonderful show) we also started the Christmas season that long weekend to by exchanging gifts with Pieceful's side of the family.

Pieceful gave this lovely red, white and black quilt to her sister! It was much admired and will look really great on their black leather couch!

I, Harmony, gave the casserole carriers from my last post to my aunts. Stay tuned for the Casserole Carrier Picture Tutorial!

Respectfully,

Harmony

Quick Update!

Good Afternoon!

Just a quick update on what I have been working on!

Cutting

I spent today cutting the material out for a number of gifts I will be giving between now and December. I really don't care for the cutting process of projects so I find that if I get a bunch finished at once, I'm much happier in the long run. Here is the list of what was cut today.

Lunch Bags

Casserole Carrier

Diaper Bag

Dust Cover

It doesn't sound like much, but it feels great to have done!

Stay Tuned!

I also started photo documenting for a tutorial that I will post on how to make the casserole carrier found on allpeoplequilt.com. I am making this for Pieceful for Christmas. I can safely post about it since she asked for it and knows that she is getting it!

Respectfully,

Harmony

Done!

I have been working on  this cream and red pinwheel quilt since the middle of August and am delighted to report it is finished .The quilt is for my sister-in-law and will be backed with a cream and red toile fabric. It will be off to the quilter's  but  since we will be headed south soon, I do not expect it to be done until after the first of the year. I will have it mailed to me to be bound . Here's hoping that Maryann and Pat get down to visit so the delivery can be made in person! (Hint, hint)

Harmony came to visit this weekend and took the picture for me. The beautiful smile in the picture belongs to a wonderful friend who LOVES to sew. She finished a Christmas present for her grandmother and is eagerly planning more sewing sessions!  

Evan's Quilt

This is a quilt the Pieceful made for her nephew's high school graduation! I am posting it as she is having some technical difficulties, but she will share more about in either a later post, or the comments below! In the following picture you can see some of the front as well as the dollar bill backing.

Here is a better shot of the fantastic quilting!

More Later!

Done!

Finished Projects

Just a short post today to show the finished products of yesterday's post!

Snack Bags

Some are lined with the light teal color others are lined with the same material as the outside. I really like the print used on a project this size!

 

Mail Bags

I think my middle school students will appreciate this funky print for their important papers! This pattern is so simple. I could have been done both in about 30 minutes but I unfortunately had what I thought was machine trouble. I got a bit panicky because I'm going to a quilt retreat in two weeks and I don't have time to get my machine to a shop. It turns out I was using an old bobbin that was the wrong size for my machine. Simple fix (after over an hour of frustration), and even better I took the time to brush the dust out of my machine so it is running super smooth!

 

 Camera Settings

I've also spent some time playing with the settings on my camera to take better pictures of printed material. I think I'm getting better, but am always looking for tips!

Stay tuned! Tomorrow I am cutting the material for Dad's quilt.

Respectfully,

Harmony

Excited!

September

Good morning! The first of September has brought a nice crisp fall-like morning. I LOVE it! When I woke up this morning it was like Christmas morning because I have some new projects I get to work on and I'm very eager to start!

First thing is first though, I had to start my day by throwing on a nice comfy hoody, my hat (I like to wear a ball cap when I sew, it keeps my hair out of my face), and my slippers! I bought the comfiest slippers years ago and I still look forward to putting them on every chance I get.

Once dressed, I made a bagel thin with apple butter and a pot of tea. Can't think clearly enough to cut fabric without a strong pot of black tea!

That material you see in the background is a little foreshadowing of the project that I am most excited about today!

Snack Bags

Last year I made some plastic lined snack bags for my boyfriend and I to pack our school lunches in. They have worked very well and I have to watch them closely because I have some colleagues who have sticky fingers ;) One colleague in particular asked if I would please make some for her daughter who was going through approximately five plastic bags everyday. Anything for our environment! So of course, I said I would. Below is a picture of one of my snack bags that has seen much use and the material I will use to make her bags (left over material from a diaper bag).

Mailbag Duo

Last year I made a pair of mailbags to use on my school bulletin board in the hallway. I don't get to that school until mid-day, but students can still have access to what they need in order to be prepared for class ahead of time. They proved to be so handy that I desperately need to make more! I use them to keep important papers, assignments and extra copies in for each of my performing groups (bands and choruses). Last year I had a pouch for Middle Level (both band and chorus together) and a pouch for High School. The kids truly used them, but requested that each group have their own bag so they can find things faster. Very reasonable (and actually quite mature) request! School colors are black, orange and white. I will be sewing up two more mailbags in this great fabric.

Christmas

Finally, the project that I've really been waiting to talk about! My father is like most fathers...incredibly difficult to shop for. This year, for Christmas he is getting his very own quilted throw! To start, it took me awhile to find a pattern that I thought would suit him. Wouldn't you know after a lot of searching I ended up going through the same old issue of The Quilter Magazine that I got my Summer Blooms wall hanging out of and there was the perfect pattern! It is called Once Upon a Dream. Here is the picture from the magazine:

Next came material choice. I thought for sure I would be doing lots of shopping around to find the 'just right' material. Locally, I have three stores to choose from. A quilt shop, Marden's (a discount store), and Walmart. The day after picking the pattern, I was waiting while my boyfriend got his back-to-school haircut so I wandered down to the fabric department. I don't know how it happened, but these fabrics just appeared in my basket!!

My father is a retired forester. Nothing frilly or flashy for him! I will use the green in place of the white, the tan and dark brown will be the light and dark blue solids and the leaf print will be substituted for their medallion print.

Time to get cutting! My goal is to complete the snack bags and mailbags this weekend. It shouldn't be too difficult as I've made them before and it's a long weekend. My goal for the quilt is to get the quilt cut out and bagged because I am going to take it with me on my very first quilt retreat in two weeks!

Stay tuned for more! I'll post pictures of completed projects.

Respectfully,

Harmony