Waterproof Wash Bag

I made this bag as a Christmas present for my Dad.  He wanted a 9" x 6" bag to store miniature toiletries when travelling.  I chose this cotton backed PVC fabric as it seemed quite masculine and fitted in with the travel theme.  I lined it with a waterproof fabric which I already had in my stash (PUL - polyurethane laminate).  It has a flat base, so it stands up by itself and has a zip closure.  I wanted it to have a rectangular shape once completed which meant making the bottom edge wider than the top edge to allow for the extra depth at the base.

I made the zip tabs differently this time.  Usually I make them so that they join up with the side seam, but I've noticed that commercially made bags have a shorter zip and a slight gap between the side seam and where the zip starts to avoid the bulk you can get in the corners.  I didn't know how much shorter to make the zip so I guessed at ½" shorter than the width of the bag and covered each end of it with very narrow zip tabs, as shown in the photo.

Then I sewed up the side seams, ensuring that I didn't sew into the tabs.   I really like the result. Not only is it easier to make, but it also looks better.  If I was doing it again, I would probably make the zip even shorter to keep the top corners more square.

I wasn't sure how deep to make the bag, so I waited until I had sewn all the edge seams before sewing across the corners to create the flat base.  It was harder to do, but enabled me to put off the decision until I had a better idea of what the bag looked like.

I was very happy with the end result.  More importantly, so was my Dad.

Kraft-tex Wallet

I have wanted to try out this revolutionary 'fabric' for ages.  Kraft-tex is a paper product that behaves like a fabric.  It sounds intriguing, doesn't it?  Well, when I opened the packet it felt just like cardboard.  I had heard that it softens with soaking in hot water, so I soaked it for about 10 minutes and then let it air dry.  It had a bit more texture and was a bit more 'leathery' but probably would have benefitted from a few more washes to make it softer.  When dry, I stamped it using a rubber stamp and versacraft ink and then heat sealed it to make the ink permanent.

I used the wallet pattern that came with the fabric.  It was quite easy to follow.  To be honest, it felt like sewing a piece of cardboard.  You can't use pins because they will leave permanent marks, so I used Clover wonder clips.  For the same reason, if you make any mistakes in your sewing, the needle holes will be there for all eternity.

So, what do I think of Kraft-tex? Well, I've not yet been won over.  The wallet feels as though it's made of cardboard which will tear at any moment, but only time will tell.  I think the real advantage is that it can be printed on, painted and embellished, so it's ideal for making something really original. Definitely something to play with to test its possibilities.  I have seen it used to good effect making bag corners and handles.

If you have tried it, let me know how you got on and any tips for using it.