Father's Day comes at a great time of year for the dad that enjoys fishing and a summer fishing trip with a new fishing pole-carrying bag makes a perfect and relaxing afternoon.

Janome Maker Heidi Proffetty has just what the Fishing Dad in your life will treasure! A free tutorial for a fishing pole bag using her Janome Continental M7!  Not only does the carrying bag sew up in a jiffy, but the fabric is also made from is waxed canvas which is both durable and water-resistant. You can also customize this bag. Make alterations to the overall length to fit Dad’s specific fishing pole length and change the bag’s accent panel to give it that extra special touch. Give him something he will love using the rest of this summer and beyond. 

Skill Level: Beginner 

Makes: 1 Fishing Pole Bag 

Dimensions: 48” Length x 10” Width

Time: 1 ½ hours

Before You Begin: 

Measure the fishing pole’s length and width around the reel (if the reel is attached). This will determine your specific dimensions and the amount of fabric that you will need for this project. This project is suited for a lightweight, freshwater, 4.6” to 5” fishing pole with an approximate 10” diameter (attached) reel. 

Project Supplies:

1 ½ yards of waxed cotton canvas fabric, Color: Moss

½ yard novelty upholstery or canvas fabric, Pattern: Fishing

24” x 1 ½” webbing or belt strapping 

20” piece of cording and a cord stop

2 – 2” x 3” twill patches

General color matching sewing thread for construction

Scissors

Fabric marking chalk pen (light colored)

Cutting mat, rotary cutter & ruler

Mini clips (not pins)

Compass

Glue Stick

Janome Continental M7, Overcasting M foot & HP foot & plate

Part 1 – Cut Fabric

Use your rotary cutter, cutting mat, and ruler. 

1. Cut 1 – 35 ½” x 12 ½” piece of waxed fabric

2. Cut 1 – 5 ½” x 12 ½” piece of waxed fabric

3. Cut 1 – 10 ½” x 12 ½” piece of novelty fishing fabric

Part 2 – Sewing Instructions

Set your sewing machine up with the Overcasting M Foot (or serger). Use mini clips to hold the right sides of the fabric together at each end. Position the novelty fabric so that the fabric is facing in the upright direction (not upside down) to the top section of the bag.

On the outside of the bag, using the fabric marking chalk pen, mark a center indications at 1 ½”, 6 ½”, and 24” down from the top edge of the bag. Next, draw a vertical centering line from 1 ½” mark to the 24” mark. 

The 6 ½” mark will be the guideline for the top edge of the shoulder strap and the 24” mark will be the guideline for the bottom edge of the shoulder strap.

On the wrong side of bag, use a glue stick to temporarily secure a twill patches to both ends where the strap will be sewn . The patches provide extra support for any tugging on the shoulder strap.

Using a chalk pen, mark indications on the strap, 2 ½” down from the top and bottom edges.

Fold the strap under a ½” at each end, sew the strap onto the right side of the bag at the 6 ½” & 24” markings you made. 

To securely hold the strap to the bag, stitch on top of the strap around all 4 sides creating a box. Stitching close to the outer edges. Inside the stitched box, mark an X from corner to corner. Then stitch on top of the X markings you made. Repeat this for each end of the strap.

Trim the excess fabric around twill patches close to stitching but be careful not to cut bag’s fabric.

For neat inside seams, serge or fold the raw edges ¼” under twice. Using mini clips to hold folded edges in place. Then sew close to the folded edge. 

To create the casing for drawstring at top of the bag, fold the fabric under twice ½”. Then sew close to the folded edge, creating an opening for the cording to pass through.

Place right sides of the bag together, hold edges secure using mini clips, and tucking the strap inside the bag out of the way. Starting approximately 4 ½” from the top edge of the casing (top of bag), backstitch, then stitch (or serge) down the side seam or edge of the bag. This closes the bag and will create a long tube with a 4 ½’ opening at the top.

Use a compass to mark and cut a 2” diameter circle from a leftover piece of waxed canvas. Fold the circle in quarters and mark to create temporary alignment markings.

Starting at the seam on the bag, mark 4 (90 degrees) cross indications around inside bottom edge of the tube. Using the 4 cross markings on the cut circle to align with the markings on the inside bottom of the tube. Use mini clips and attach the cut circle to the tube aligning bottom edges evenly. Using HP Foot and HP plate (or your preferred sewing foot) to sew ¼” around inside bottom edge.

Part 4 – Finishing the Bag

Turn the bag right sides out.

Using a safety pin attached to one end of the cording, work the cord through the casing. Add a cord lock and tie a secure knot at the end. Add a dab of glue to the cord ends to keep them from unraveling. 

Now this fishing pole carrying bag is ready to go on Dad’s next fishing trip!

Happy Sewing and Happy Father’s Day!

Heidi

www.heidi@heidiproffetty.com

Independence Day is always a special day but this year it feels even more so as many of us make plans to celebrate it once again, in the company of friends and beloved family.

Nothing says summer like the laughter and unity of a fourth of July celebration, in the great outdoors. In that spirit, I bring a super quick environmentally friendly project (completed in under an hour) that even the children in your life can join in on the preparations. It uses few supplies and blank napkins. It is also beginner-friendly with minimal stitching, re-usable and practical for all occasions this summer.

Let’s get started. 

Helpful Hints: 

You can make this project even if you don’t have access to an AccuQuilt cutter, by tracing the shapes instead. You can also add it to favorite garments in need of a “refresher,” (scroll to the end to view).

Start appliqueing with a new needle and match your thread as much as possible for a seamless look, using a straight stitch with 2.0 length. 

Practice your stitch on a fabric remnant to see if you like the look and make desired changes to length and width before tackling your project. 

Please adjust supply quantities depending on how many napkins you wish to make. 

The supplies below are for appliqueing on three napkins. 

If you use a glue stick, please ensure that it is temporary glue so that it does not gum or hurt the internal components of your sewing machine. 

Supplies:

Blank cotton napkins – white or your favorite color

Cotton thread to match the applique 

Steam A Seam 2 Double Sided Fusible Web – (3 pieces 5”x10”)

Blue fabrics (3- 5”x10” rectangles assorted blues)

Organ needle size 12 or 14

AccuQuilt Go! Star die no. 55028 and mat 55202 (both optional)

AccuQuilt Go! Cutter (optional)

5”x10” Cardboard to create star templates (if not using AccuQuilt die) 

Marking pen

Fabric scissors

Paper scissors (optional)

Stitch and Tear stabilizer (optional)

Bohin Temporary Glue Stick or your favorite brand (Not permanent glue)

4th of July assorted paper decorations (optional)

Don’t forget the food! ☺

Machine

Janome 9450 QCP with HP foot and plate.

1. Iron napkins. I did not use steam. 

2. Iron double-sided steam a seam web to the wrong side of the blue fabric rectangles. Please follow the fusing instructions for steam a seam 2 from the manufacturer, for best results. Now you can place the fused rectangles through the AccuQuilt cutter to cut the stars. 

3. If you are not using AccuQuilt to create the star shapes, make a cardboard star template in different sizes to trace shapes on the wrong side of the blue fabrics. 

4. Peel the paper from the back of the stars, if you used steam-a-seam 2, and iron lightly on the napkin, once you are satisfied with the placement. Note: Skip this step if you are using the Bohin glue stick to temporarily adhere stars before stitching. Please see below. 

4A. Using the Bohin glue stick - apply to the wrong side of the stars using smooth, short strokes (to avoid globs) and place on the napkins. 

5. We are ready to applique raw-edge style with coordinating or your favorite thread color. 

Note: Stitch and tear stabilizer, non-fusible, can be a good partner during the applique process. It supports the stitching and can prevent puckers (see an example below).

5A. This is what stitch and tear looks like on the wrong side of the napkin to support applique shapes (optional). This is especially important when appliqueing on delicate fabrics.

6. If you have a bit more time, echo stitch around a few of the stars to emphasize their shape, create texture and movement. Note: Fray check (pictured below) can prevent additional fraying around the stars; it should dry transparent but always test to make sure that it will not leave any stains on the napkins you chose.

7. You are ready to use your new napkins all summer long!

Applique as a technique offers so many possibilities at any stage of your sewing journey. Use it to cover unsightly food stains or holes on your favorite garments to prolong their wear, on pillowcases, towels and so much more. I hope you take this simple idea and make it your own.

Thank you! 

Maday

www.sustainabletextiledesign.com