carrotflowers

Made: two new bags

I recently made a couple of bags for a friend. I’ve made each of these patterns before. The first is a pattern from Amy Karol’s Bend the Rules sewing book. It’s a sweet little pattern, although it makes for a tiny bag. So I decided to also make a larger bag as well, based on the tinyhappy pattern. The trouble I have with the tinyhappy pattern is closing the strap. First I don’t sew by hand very well, and second it tends to get a bit bulky for me, where the ends meet and need to be hand sewn. I had the idea to not sew the ends into one strap at all, but to instead add buttons and have the 2 ends button together to form the strap. I also added a ribbon closure instead of doing a button and loop.

Project Notes: The modifications to the tinyhappy pattern, modest as they were, went well. The trickiest part for me is having the ribbon face the right way when I sew it in.

Mistakes/Complications: The repeated mistake I make is easily recovered from but not ideal. I often forget to leave an opening in the lining to pull the outside fabric through, and I have to rip stitches to make an opening. Not properly closing the seam on each end of the opening does not please me.

Notes for Next Time: I’ve begun marking the 2 spots, on the piece which needs it, where to leave the opening. This helps me remember when I’m sewing.

tutorial for Reversible Shoulder Bag

Yet another bag tutorial. This one has a separate piece sewn on for the bottom, which is something I have not yet done. Otherwise resembles the tiny happy bag.

Made: ottobre free bag pattern

This purse pattern is free from ottobre design. It is one of the nicest free patterns I have ever made. I only started sewing in September of 2007. Any time I had a question, I would ask my co-worker Linda. She always had an answer! I wanted to thank her with an apt gift- sewing something! Naturally, picking the fabric and then the rick rack was my favorite part. The pattern actually calls for velvet ribbon and a bow where I put the rick rack.

Project Notes: My friend made this bag as well. Now the pattern actually shows it made with polka dot fabric on the top half and for the handles as I made it. She however used a solid color for the top half. Her bottom half was made with Heather Bailey’s Freshcut, and she used the Freshcut for the top as well. she also skipped the ribbon but rather than substitute anything for it as I did, she embellished by adding a row of 3 lovely glass buttons in the center of the top half. The result is exceedingly lovely!

While it was not in the instructions, I interfaced the snap area (photo #2). What was in the instructions: basting the handles on first. Nice! Never did that before. It rules! I also used wonder tape to hold the handles in place as a pre-basting step. Niiiice. also not in the instructions - trimming the SA from joining the top to bottom. But this makes it way easier to attach the trim.

Mistakes/Complications: The fabric I used for the bottom half is a one way print. The instructions have you cut this piece on the fold, which meant after I cut it, I noticed that my birds were upside-down in the back! And this was after I spent several minutes carefully picking where to cut the pattern out for optimal placement of the fabric design! So, I had to cut the back piece separately, allowing extra fabric for an SA, and sew the back pieces together. I then used my new back piece, after joining it with the top, as the pattern piece for cutting out the lining.

Notes for Next Time: Pay attention, duhr : P

About the photo collage: I decided to document the steps of this project, because I thought it would be interesting.

1. The top half and botton half sewn together. My Janome Sewist in the background.
2. Sticking the outer back into the lining, RST
3. After pulling the outer out through the hole in the lining. Hopefully one remembered to lave a hole! But more often one has to cut a hole.
4. After shoving and poking and prodding the lining into place.
5. After ironing and topstitching! Yay!
6. Shot of the inside so you can see my pocket. All’s well that end’s well. And she loved her gift.

Made: variation of Jordy bag for my moms

I made my mom a charming handbag (that is the name of the pattern from Amy Karol’s Bend the Rules Sewing) for Christmas. Two months later she called me and gleefully told me it was all worn out and she needed a new bag. Now, lucky for her she had been calling me every once in a while since Christmas to hint about future features she would like in a new bag - dimensions, outer pocket, etc. So when she managed to “wear out” her Christmas gift, I already knew what to make.

It is a variation of the bag pattern from the Jordy tutorial on craftster. Here are a couple of photos and my notes.

Project Notes: I did not interface anything because the outer fabric was a home dec weight, from Amy Butler’s Forest line. What else to say? I was happy with the color/design combination of these fabrics.

Mistakes/Complications: My only ‘mistake’ was that I made the inner pocket too deep. I meant it to hold a cell phone but if you put a phone in there, chances are you would be digging it out! Oops.

Notes for Next Time: this is a pretty customizable design. Coming up with a flap would be cool. Embellishing with buttons or ribbon would be cute. And if no flap, then maybe some kind of ribbon closure or a button and loop closure would make a nice addition.

zipper top bag tute

I went looking and found this promising tutorial for a zipper top closure for a bag on craftster. Can’t wait to try it out!

lovely bag tute - “everything” bag

I’m finding free bag tutorials left and right. I love the format of this one, lovely photography. Although it’s not as handy of you like to print it out. Has a loop and button closure.

another tute found: Japanese knot bag

I don’t know if I would ever use one, but it is pretty and would probably make a lovely gift. Link here.

Want to make: totebag

Found another tute, and I love the design of this totebag. I’m actually very behind, however, on just adding my project notes for the last couple things I’ve finished. Argh.

By the way, I found it by following a link from this blog, a sort of sewalong group that appears to be aimed at newbies? looks like a great place to hang out!

zippered pocket in a bag

Just read this tutorial on making a zippered pocket. I look forward to trying it soon!

I love this handbag!

And I don’t even use bags. But I saw this gorgeous bag on a blog, and am now sitting down to see if I can copy it. The blogger has an etsy shop and makes a lot of really lovely bags. Her blog is nice too; should add it to the roll…

So I am going to start with a smaller version. Very excited!

In other news work on my JJ blouse is proceeding apace. No disastrous mistakes thus far; hope it fits well enough.