More Triple-Zips and a Tip!

I have almost 12 grandchildren and I usually send them money for their birthdays. I'm always looking for creative ways to give it to them. My oldest grandson's birthday is this week and as I was making my first triple-zip pouches, I realized that they would make great money holders for the birthday kids! So I got busy this morning and whipped up this one for my airplane-loving grandson. The top picture is the front and the bottom one is the back.

Obviously, the pieces were fussy-cut to get those planes placed just right. But the front and backs also had to be cut separately and then sewn together at the bottom. I goofed at first and just cut the outside piece in half (with added seam allowances). But when I went to put it together I realized that the back is bigger than the front, so I had to re-cut those pieces.

The original pattern calls for an 8-inch width, but I wanted this one a bit wider to be able to hold pencils so I made it 9 inches wide. I also cut the fusible batting one inch shorter than the outside pieces. It still has that sturdy appearance the batting gives, but without all the bulk in the seams. I also cut the largest lining just 1/2-inch shorter, so it doesn't bunch up in the bottom of the pouch.

 So...with all that said, on to my tip! First of all, I have to admit that this tip is not original with me. I read it in a quilting magazine recently, but I don't remember which one. However, I tried what they suggested and found that it worked, and that's why I'm sharing it here.

I have a rotary cutter for cutting paper that's entirely different from the ones I use to cut fabric. As you can see, it's labeled, "Paper," but it makes it much easier to grab the right one since it doesn't even look the same. I save my used blades and put them in this cutter until they won't even cut paper, then I toss them.

With the triple-zip pouches I've been making lately, I've been cutting quite a bit of fusible batting and I was getting frustrated that the cut pieces would stick to my cutting mat and then leave lots of little "fuzzies" behind when I pulled them up. The tip I read said to put a piece of paper underneath the batting when you cut it. So yesterday as I was getting ready to cut more batting, I looked around my studio for a piece of paper. I didn't see any paper, but I DID see old quilt magazines. I ripped out an ad page from a magazine, laid my batting on it and cut--NO fuzzies! I was thrilled! Obviously any paper would do, but what a great way to recycle some of those old magazines that you no longer want. Try it--you'll like it!

I'm linking with Connie at Freemotion by the River and Fabric Tuesday.