I wish I could say fall was in the air here in Texas…. but a girl can dream right?!?! Not to fear my southern ladies, the new Art Gallery line, Heartband by Pat Bravo is the perfect fabric to make you get all those fall feelings…. even if it’s still in the high 90’s 😉 (Psst FREE pattern and tutorial at the end of the post!)

If you follow me on social media or here on the blog, it’s no surprise I’m a huge Art Gallery fan. I just adore their fabrics. The quality is top notch and their customer service is fantastic. The quilting cottons are soft enough to use for garments and their knits… ohhh so buttery soft! I ohhh and ahhh at every line they release and Heartland is no different. 

The colors are soothing, yet vibrant. They are modernly fall with rosy taupe, warm yellows and dusty pine greens.  I choose Liten Ditsy Whisper for the bodice, Unn Cross Silver for the sash ties, Blomma Garden Golden for the skirt and Hus Hoot Gra in Knit for the leggings. 

I wanted to make my daughter something she would love to wear to school. I went with our Harper pattern, in tunic length paired with Bonny leggings. I chose the simple Harper bodice and added a little lace to the center bodice. The short sleeve with optional elastic work great now while it’s still warm and later we can layer with a sweater. The sash ties add the perfect pop of color.

Leggings are a fall staple for us and these owls just slay me! They could not be more perfect. I had to make my sweet niece an outfit with the owls too, because I knew my sister would love it. Our granny collected owls, so we always LOVE anything with owls. 

Although my niece was not into modeling. 😉 She was quickly over it, but looked OH so cute in the upcoming BABY Hampton and BABY Rose Ruffle, releasing later this week.

I had a little extra fabric and decided to make a FREE pencil clutch (a term my 6 year old made up) pattern too. This little fold-over style pencil bag is quick and could be used for your little ones at school, add a gift card inside for a teacher gift or throw it in your purse for yourself. It takes scrap fabric and is very quick to sew up.

You’ll need 2 main fabrics, 1 lining fabric and a zipper. You could use a zip with a decorative, pretty pull, but I just used an all purpose one I had. Any size over 7″ will work, you will just cut it down, like me. Measurements are given in inches, length by width. Press all pieces after cutting.

ALL SEAM ALLOWANCES 1/2″.

Top fabric- cut 2:      3″ x 8.25″

Main fabric- cut 2:      6″ x 8.25″

Lining fabric- cut 2:      8″ x 8.25″

Zip cover- cut 2:      1″ x 2.75″

Strap- cut 1:      3″ x 9″

ALL SEAM ALLOWANCES 1/2″.

Step 1: Piecing main front and back

With right sides together, stitch your top piece to your main piece.Press seam open. Top stitch if desired. Repeat on other top and main pieces.

Step 2: Strap

Press strap in half lengthwise, wrong sides together. Stitch along raw edges.

Trim seam. Use a saftey pin to flip right sides out. Press seam toward back. Fold in half and then set aside.

Step 3: Prepping zipper

Lay main piece flat. Align zipper along the top edge. Place a zip cover on each side of your zipper, right sides down. Stitch zip cover to zipper and go back and forth a few times on the end you’re cutting off. You don’t want to stitch over the zipper stops on the top of your zipper. These pieces will just help hide the zipper later, you can skip this step if you want. Press zip covers back, covering seam. Trim zipper.

Step 4: Attaching zipper

Lay lining RIGHT SIDE UP. Place zipper along top edge, facing up. Use your zipper foot to baste zip to lining. You can skip this step, but I find it really helps if you’re new to zippers.

Lay main piece on top of zipper, WRONG SIDE UP. Stitch zip to main piece. Press lining to wrong side.

Lay other lining piece RIGHT SIDE UP. Place other side of zipper along the top edge, facing  up. Baste zipper to lining. Lay other main piece WRONG SIDE up. Stitch zip to main piece. Press lining toward wrong side. Trim extra zip cover.

Step 5: Finishing

Choose which side you want to be the front. Align the strap directly UNDER the top piece, matching raw edges of strap to the edge of the main piece. Baste to MAIN piece only, careful not to catch the lining under. Fold should be toward the center.

Un-zip your zipper at least half way. Open pieces up, so the main pieces are right sides together and lining pieces are right sides together. You want the zip covers going toward the main piece. Stitch all around the bag, leaving a small 3″-4″ opening along the bottom edge of the lining. Make sure your zipper is not zipped up… or your going to have a heck of a time trying to un-zip the zipper through the pieces and flipping right sides out.Trim seam, do NOT trim 3″-4″ opening on lining. Press as sewn. Press 1/2″ toward wrong side at opening. Flip the bag right sides out. Use a point turner on corners. Press.

Topstitch along bottom edge of lining, closing opening.

Press top piece down toward front. TADA. Admire your beautiful little “pencil clutch” 😉 If your daughter is like mine she’ll squeel with glee and fill it quick.