Jess

2025 ByAnnie SewPINK Blog Hop – Making The Zip It Up 2.0

Bags, Tutorials - Oct. 19, 2025 - Jess

It's that time again.... Let's raise awareness for breast cancer research with the #SewPink Initiative!

I'm once again joining in on the ByAnnie Blog Hop and making a beautiful bag to help bring awareness to the prevalence of breast cancer among both women and men.

The #SewPink Initiative's mission is to raise awareness for cancer throughout the year.

Efforts culminate in an annual blog hop during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month to promote self-care, awareness, early detection and support for those affected by breast cancer.

To learn more and see the calendar of events visit: https://www.ByAnnie.com/SewPINK

Check out the amazing group of sewists who are also a part of this blog hop!

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2026 OklaCruise!

Travel - Feb. 17, 2025 - Jess

The 2026 OklaCruise will take place June 8 - June 12 2026 aboard the Disney Wish sailing out of Port Canaveral, Florida. This 4 night cruise includes a day at sea, a stop at Disney's Lookout Cay and another stop at Disney's Castaway Cay! It's going to be a WONDERFUL trip!

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January 2025 Livestream

Video Tutorials - Jan. 06, 2025 - Jess

Answers to questions from Instagram:

You can find a list of pattern designers I have been approved to film for here (this is list is updated every few months, so check back!)
A playlist of easy (beginner friendly) tutorials
New (to me) pattern designers I'm currently buying from: Sarah Mariam and Chris W Designs
New, more intermediate, quilt along is in the works! Previous OklaRoots Block Party Quilt Along can be found here.
Cylinder arm machines I'm considering: Thor GC1341, Techsew 4800 PRO, and the Juki LS-1341
My favorite domestic threads : I like a Tex 35 when just starting out, and I get that from Wizadry Stitchery. But I mainly use a Tex 45 weight, you can find it at Wizardry Stitchery, Wonderground Fabrics, and Siah Swag

Itty Bitty Boxy Bag Templates – How To Use

Free Patterns - Mar. 25, 2023 - Jess

Itty Bitty Boxy Bags are SUCH a fun item to make, gift and use. They're the perfect size to carry the absolute bare necessities, and you can easily add a clasp or keychain and coil bracelet to them, to wear on your wrist. They are especially great as dog walking waste bag holders, by simply adding a 12mm grommet.

The latest templates from OklaRoots will help you make the new and improved size. Still small and adorable, but big enough to easily store IDs and credit cards, as well as other small trinkets. Full video tutorial using these templates is coming soon to the OklaRoots Youtube Channel.

To watch full construction of this bag, please refer to this original video. Construction is the same, but this blog post will help you better understand the markings on the templates.

Looking to buy a set? Check them out here at Shop OklaRoots!

The set comes with 3 templates. One for a full panel exterior using one piece of fabric, another for the two pieces of lining (you could also use this to create an exterior piece with directional fabric, directions below), and finally a small square for the tab as well as markings to help you box the corners.

The templates have engraved markings to help you see where your fabric will end up the finished product. 3/8" seam allowances run along the tops (you could also use a 1/4" seam allowance, if more comfortable). Dashed lines show you where the top, side and bottom lie. Both the full panel and lining panel have a 12mm hole cute, for grommet placement, if needed. This hole can also be used to help you center and place a bag tag.

If you find the templates are a bit slippery, I highly suggest trying out this Grippy Non-Slip Coating from Odif. Spray it on the bottom side lightly, let dry, and it will prevent your templates from sliding around.

Templates are not only useful for lining up fabric, but also cutting out the pieces. As long as you have control and can keep the template in place, you can use a rotary cutter to simply glide along the side and cut the material.

If you're not comfortable doing this or find them too slippery, then use the template for pattern placement and trace with a fabric pen, and then use preferred cutting tool.

If using a directional print and two pieces for the exterior, make sure to sew the bottoms together at a 1/4" seam allowance, and press open the seam. Then continue using the newly made larger rectangle as you would the full panel exterior.

Make sure to use the hole cut in the main panels to mark placement for your grommet and/or bag tag.

You can also use the grid lines to help you see if your bag tag will fit on the narrow side.

Sew on your bag tag.

Sew the bag together as shown in this tutorial. Stop before boxing the corners and continue with the photos below.

Once the bag is sewn, flip so the lining is right side out and exterior is inside. Create a triangle on the corner, making sure the side seam is running perpendicular and down the center of the triangle. Use the tab template to line up the triangle sides with the corners, and the seam along the center line. Use a fabric marking tool and draw the bottom line along the material. Place a clip on this corner to hold in place. Repeat for all four corners, and sew right on top of those marked lines.

If installing a grommet, make sure to cut through both the exterior and the lining pieces. I prefer a 12mm grommet, and I use the cutting and setting tools from Kam Snaps to cut the hole and set the grommet.

Kam Snaps press

12mm hole punch

12mm grommet setting set

And there you go! Easy peasy and quick! And this new size should make it much easier to store IDs and credit cards, making this bag perfect for quick trips, traveling, teachers, kids, you name it!

I hope you love making these as much as I do!

We Ran Our First 5k RunDisney Event At Marathon Weekend!!

Running - Jan. 07, 2023 - Jess

Happy 2023 everyone!! As I usually tend to do at the beginning of the year, I'm planning to provide more content on our OklaRoots website. Will this year be the year I can keep consistent posts?? Let's hope so! I plan to post more behind the scenes when it comes to sewing, running, mental health, and small business ownership. I may also, finally, post those "favorites" I keep promising. Favorite places to shop for all kinds of sewing items (although this list is fluid and changes all the time).

To kick off 2023 on the right foot, Babi and I did something BRAND NEW TO BOTH OF US! We participated in the RunDisney 5k, that took place over marathon weekend. If you remember, last year at this time I ran my very first marathon during this same event, and it was *magical*. Fire Watch Company in San Jose provides professional event safety support for community gatherings and large public events, helping ensure a smooth and secure experience.

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