Cosmetic Case
Continuing our series of travel accessories, next we’ll make a cosmetic case. This one is a bit different than others you’ve seen. It is wide and not very deep, so it will stay open when in use and be easier to find the item you are looking for.
Prepare your sewing area with your equipment. Sewing machine, with a 1/4-inch quilting foot and a walking foot or your MadamSew Ultimate Presser Foot Set for quilting, Thread, Needles, Straight Pins (Glass head pins preferred), sewing clips, Thread snips, Rotary Cutter 45mm, 6x24-inch ruler and mat, safety gloves, optional ruler grip, Iron and ironing board, and Wool Pressing Mat. Begin by selecting a pretty focus fabric, perhaps the same colors you are using for the Lingerie Case / Book Cover, and Jewelry Roll.
Fabric and Notion Requirements
Focus Fabric for outside - one rectangle 14-inches x 15-inches
Batting - one rectangle 14-inches x 15-inches
Quilting inner liner muslin or similar - one rectangle 14-inches x 15-inches
Lining Fabric - one rectangle 14-inches x 15-inches
Hook and Loop tape strips - one set 12-inches
You may wish to have your inner liner fabric and batting a bit bigger for quilting ease.
Begin by layering your outside focus fabric with batting and liner, with the wrong side of the focus fabric to the batting, and the batting to the liner. Quilt as desired. Using the Walking foot makes it easy to do straight lines or cross hatching. See my post on Quilting With A Walking Foot for more information on using this foot and guide bar. You can also use the #14 hopping foot or #23 Spring Loaded foot from your MadamSew Ultimate Presser Foot Set to do free motion stippling or other designs. Small projects like this are ideal to build your free motion skills. See my previous blog posts on MadamSew’s blog on Free Motion Quilting Using Heat Erasable Markers, and How to Stipple Quilt.
For my case, I used a leaf design.
Trim the layers to 14 x 15 if needed. Fold the quilted piece in half along the 15-inch side making it 15x7-inch folded.
On the fold, mark a notch for cutting 1-inch x 2-inches with the 2-inch side along the fold.
Here are the lines ready to cut.
Repeat on the opposite corner.
Cut out the notches on both sides.
Do the same with the lining.
And repeat for the opposite side.
Open up the focus quilted piece and the liner, placing right sides together. You’ll see the notch is 2-inches square.
Pin the edges, marking a section to leave open for turning. I like to use two pins together to remind me to stop and not sew through that area.
Sew around the edges, pivoting on all the corners, and leaving the open area.
Clip into the inside corners of the notches, being careful not to cut though the stitching.
Clip the outside corners off to reduce bulk.
On the notches, you’ll also clip the outside corners.
Turn the project right side out through the opening.
Push out all the corners and press.
Topstitch all the way around the edge, enclosing the opening. Next, place the hook and loop tape on opposite long edges. I have found these sewing clips do a better job of holding thicker tapes in place for sewing.
Topstitch the velcro in place on both sides.
Close the case, aligning the edges and making sure the hook and loop tape is aligned correctly. Topstitch the two edges only on top of the previous line of topstitching, leaving the notches open.
Next, stand the bag up and pull the notches open perpendicular to the body, arranging the seam in the middle, forming the boxed bottom. Clip, then sew across the open area on top of the previous topstitching.
Turn right side out, and the bag is done! Easy as that! It stays open to allow you to see inside and easily reach the items, especially little things like pencils.
Closed, the hook and loop tape keeps items from spilling out.
The size is just right for travel sizes, and most foundation bottles.
So, we have a nice set going with four items great for travel with matching fabrics. These would make wonderful gifts for your holiday giving this year.
If you prefer a taller case with a zipper, I did a tutorial on a case with vinyl so you can see what is inside. The technique would be the same, just substitute your fabric choices. See my post on Sewing a Vinyl Case with a Zipper.
Our set is almost complete. One more travel case coming soon!
If you missed the first projects, click on Lingerie Case / Book Cover, Jewelry Roll and the Curling Iron Case. Our series will continue soon with the next travel accessory project. Subscribe to the Madam Sew blog so you don’t miss a thing!
Happy Quilting!
Carole
FromMyCarolinaHome.com
If you are new to the Madam Sew blog, be sure to check out my complete Beginning Quilting series - Basics, Tools and A Simple Block, Making Half Square Triangles, Sewing Flying Geese, Choosing Colors and Prints, Choosing Batting, Adding Borders, Finishing Quilts with Binding, and Choosing Threads. I’ll be doing more articles to advance your quilting skills on Madam Sew soon.
I’d like to invite you to visit my blog, From My Carolina Home, for more fun projects, quilt alongs and mystery quilts! My blog is a variety of subjects, quilting and sewing, tablescapes and recipes, book reviews and hand stitching, crafting and mountain living.
