Love Handles...A Tutorial...

Yesterday I whipped up a little gift for a group of my sewing friends that I wanted to tell you about.

We often get together for a sew day or we like to go away together on sewing retreats...and we also like to exchange little gifts on retreat every now and then.

So anyhoo...this month we decided to extend our sew day into a week long sewing marathon!

There are 8 of us in our group and we are sewing at my friend Judy's house for the week.

We set up our machines and projects where we can leave them all week long.

We arrive early in the morning and stay until 10:00 PM and then we go home to get some beauty sleep so that we can 

come back and start all over! 

We all live within 20 minutes of each other.

We divided dinner duty and we

 bring our own lunch.

I created a little something I call

 "Love Handles" to gift everyone.

I got the idea from our last retreat we went on.....we all have featherweight sewing machines that we use when we retreat...

and as you know...

all of the cases are exactly the same.

Last time a few of us got our machines mixed up after loading and unloading them.

So I thought if I made a cute little handle out of different fabric for everyone that would solve the problem...so came the invention of Love Handles:)

I thought I would show you how I made them so you can make some too.

Not only are they handy for identifying your sewing machine...but they make your machine comfortable to carry because of the padding...and most of all...they make your sewing machine case extra cute!

They are easy to make and you only 

need a few supplies and a 

few minutes to make one.

You will need...

 2 - 5" x 5" squares of fabric

1 - 5" x 5" square of batting

4" of sew on hook and loop tape (velcro)

Place your fabric squares right sides together and add the batting on top.

Use a 1/4" seam allowance and sew around all edges leaving a 3" opening in 

one end for turning.

Clip the corners to reduce bulk...

Turn right side out and turn under 

opening seams 1/4" and press.

Like this.

Sew one half or the velcro on one side...

And the other half on the other side...

So that you can roll it up and 

close it like this!

I made all 8 of mine in about an hour.

Fast and Easy.

Now we won't get our sewing machines 

mixed up anymore!

These would also work great for luggage....

you would be able to identify yours 

quickly and easily while traveling:)

Just wrap one around your handle for 

comfort and cuteness!

I put each one in a little cellophane bag...

And added a tulle bow on the top. 

Everyone picked the one that they wanted.

I hope you enjoyed my little tutorial 

on how to make 

"Love Handles"...

and I hope you make a few of your own!

Until next time my friends...

have a quilty kind of day:)

xx

Lori