Saturday Sewing: Scrap busting project with Janome >> make a clever Clicker Bag

I love to recycle and reuse items. I found a great scrap busting project that uses small pieces of fabric and an old broken measuring tape.

The nice thing about the clicker bag is you can make it any size you want. The lining needs to be 5″ longer than the outside piece and the measuring tape should be 1″ shorter than the width of the bag.

For this example I used:

• Fabric for the outside of the bag 10″ x 7″
• Batting 10″ x 7
• Fabric for the lining of the bag 15″ x 7
• Fabric for pull tabs 4″ x 4″ (cut 2)
• Measuring Tape piece 6″ (cut 2)
• Thread
• Electrical Tape
• Janome Artistic Tack Temporary Adhesive Spray

Fold the 4″ pieces in half to form a triangle. Press. Then fold again and press.

I like to have a nice finished edge, so I did a 1/4″ top stitching. 

I have a scrap bin of batting, so I put 2 pieces to the back of the front piece of fabric and attached it with
Janome’s Artistic Tack Temporary Adhesive Spray.

Place the outside of the bag on the lining piece wrong sides together. There should be 2.5″ of the lining showing.

Fold under the edges of the lining 1/4″ and press.

Place the triangle tab in the center of the outside piece.

Fold the lining piece over and pin in place.

Sew the lining in place.

Repeat for the other end.

I cut the measuring tape using old scissors. I rounded my ends of the measuring tape and put electrical tape on the ends so it doesn’t rip the fabric. See the first picture.

Please be careful when you cut the tape as it is very sharp. (Ask me how I know). Also when rounding the ends, make sure you angle into the garbage can as they can fly across the room.

Slide the measuring tape into each pocket or casing  at the top. Make sure the tape is bowed to the front of the bag.

Fold the bag in half right sides together. Make sure you straighten the inside fabric.
You don’t want it to look like this.

Pin or clip in place and sew down the sides making sure to back stitch on both ends.

You can use a serger, but you have to be careful with the metal measuring tape inside.

Turn the bag right side out.

You now have a great little bag.

This is just one of many ideas you can learn to do with our new online Creative Fun With Scrap Busting class. If you are interested in taking this class, contact your local Janome Canada dealer. Happy Sewing.