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With December 1st just 8 weeks away, it’s time to think about how you’ll be counting down to the big day this year!
We have a huge range of advent calendars to offer that are super easy to make and really quick too! You could even make them with the kids and make memories together.
♻️ Hands up if you’re trying to reduce your plastic waste! Ditching plastic bottles of water in favour of a refillable water bottle is a no-brainer, right? Then you’ll need our free pattern for a water bottle carrier, for sure!
And our pattern is really cleverly crafted too!
We’ve designed this water bottle carrier with children in mind… so us grown-ups can feel less like a cart-horse & empower the youngsters to carry their own water 💦
The clever thing about this pattern is the multi-way strap – kids can carry their water on their scooter, their book bag OR wear it cross-body
Watch the multi-way strap in action to see what we mean below
AND the wadding we’ve chosen is amazingly effective – we’ve used Insul-Bright – a Thermal Insulated Wadding which will help to keep water bottles cooler for longer…
And – let’s face it – it’s not just for kids… Grown-ups would love one too!
You can feel proud of your sewing prowess, whilst helping the planet at the same time!
A sewing project for: A Confident Beginner
Finished Dimensions: 19cm x 9cm approx (excluding strap). This carrier is sized to fit a water bottle with a 23cm circumference and fits most water bottles we tried
Sewing Time: Sew in an afternoon
Disclaimer: Strangulation hazard: Children must be supervised at all times.
Request The Free Pattern For A Water Bottle Carrier here:
| Item: | Amount required: | We used |
| Fabric A: Cotton fabric for Outer Top Contrast | 1 Fat Quarter | Fabrics from the Acorn Wood Collection |
| Fabric B: Cotton fabric for Outer Main | 1 Fat Quarter | Fabrics from the Acorn Wood Collection |
| Fabric C: Cotton fabric for Lining | 1 Fat Quarter | Fabrics from the Acorn Wood Collection |
| Fabric D: Insul-Bright | 40cm x 50cm | Insul-Bright |
| 25mm Webbing | 2m | 25mm Cotton Canvas webbing |
| 25mm Slide buckle/ Glide buckle | 1 | Hemline Slide Buckle |
| 25mm Dog hooks/ swivel clips (20mm will also be ok) We used | 2 | Metal Heart Shaped Swivel Clip |
| 25mm D rings | 2 | Metal D-Rings |
| KAM snaps size 20 | 2 sets | KAM snaps |
Sewing Equipment You Will Need:
Make Life Easier With
Firstly, grab your Free Pattern For A Water Bottle Carrier here
Using the pattern pieces as templates pin & cut out the following from the fabrics *:
From Fabric A:
From Fabric B:
From Fabric C:
From Fabric D ( Insul-Bright Insulated Wadding):
* For directional fabrics the shorter edge on the pattern pieces runs top to bottom of the finished carrier
It’s time to sew!
1. Align the bottom edge of the outer top contrast piece with the top edge of the Outer Main piece right sides together & pin
2. Sew, then press the seam allowance open
3. Draw a line 1cm up from the bottom of the outer & lining pieces on the wrong side
10. Trim back the Insul-bright bulk. Press the seam allowances on the outer & lining panels open.
11) On both the lining & outer panels snip around the bottom edges; make cuts that stop 2mm from the 1cm marked line, approx 1cm apart
12) On both outer & lining pieces, mark ¼ points on the base circles & bottom edges
of the side panels:
a) On the side panels, fold the fabric on the seam & smooth & fold it across;
the seam line is a one-quarter point & the fold crease is another. Bring
those points together & smooth the fabric out to the sides; mark where the
next 2 folds form.
b) For the base circle, fold it in half, make marks at each end of the fold line.
Fold it in half again and mark both layers of fabric where they fold.
13) One at a time, match up the quarter points on the side panels & base circles & pin
14) Pin the fabric between the ¼ points, using the snips to help ease the fabric
around the outer edge. Aligning the fabric edges & pinning where the seam line will be sewn will help accuracy.
15) Sew the base circles in place. Dropping your stitch length to 2mm will help you
sew the curve. Keep adjusting the fabric on your sewing machine to ensure you don’t
sew in any puckers.
16) Trim back any Insul-Bright in a seam to reduce bulk
17) Turn outer piece right side out
18) Cut 2 x 32cm (12 ½ “) lengths
of webbing
19) At one end of each length,
Create a double fold – turn over 1cm, then another 1cm & sew to hem with a longer stitch length (If your sewing machine struggles with the bulk here, just fold one
hem & seal the webbing end with Fray Stop or a zig-zag stitch)
20) Position the unhemmed strap ends between the notches on the outer piece, edges aligned & clip
like the photo.
21) Baste each strap in place with a 5mm seam allowance
Eleanor Harris (American, 1901-1942)
22) Position the outer panel inside the lining panel, right sides together, seams
aligned, straps sandwiched between the layers & clip around the top edge
23) Starting at the centre back seam, sew all the way around the top
24) Turn the bottle carrier out the right way & press. A Tailor’s Sleeve Roll is a handy
tool here
25) Machine sew the opening in the lining closed, or hand sew using a ladder stitch
26) Topstitch around the top of the carrier
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27) Add male KAM snaps at the marked positions on the carrier, with the smooth cap on the inside:
c) At the centre of the snap placement mark use an awl to make a hole through the carrier, ensuring the fabrics are smooth
d) Thread the cap prong through the hole from the inside of the carrier
e) Slip the male snap socket onto the cap prong on the outer of the carrier
f) Sit the snap cap flush into the black dish of the plier base
g)Position the pliers on a solid surface & press firmly (lean into the pliers for added force) until the snap is fixed in place
28) Add the female KAM snaps to the strap ends – When positioning, ensure the snap cap is clear of the hemmed strap end or it may be too thick to attach properly
a) Use the awl to make a hole 2cm from the end, central to the width of the strap
b) Thread the cap prong through the hole from what will be the outside of the strap. Double check the female snap will fit the male part without your strap twisting before applying the snap
c) Follow the steps as before, using female snap piece
Watch our video tutorial on how to attach KAM Snaps here or check out our Beginner’s Guide to KAM Snaps post
29) Using the remaining webbing, thread 1 end through from the underside of the
strap slider. Bring the end over the central bar then thread back through to the
back
30) Sew the end to secure – a zipper foot can make this easier
31) Thread a swivel clip onto the strap, hook on the opposite side to sewn hem near the slider32) Checking the strap isn’t twisted, thread the unsewn end of the strap through the slider
33) Thread the unsewn end through the remaining swivel clip
34) Sew the strap end down to secure the hook around the final swivel clip
35) To add the strap to the carrier, thread the D rings onto the grab handles then clip and go!
