Patchwork Tote

Hi! Here's a simple tote bag I made a couple of days ago. I'd made the patchwork squares a little while ago, but wasn't sure what to do with them. Really glad I made them into a tote, because I know that will get used! Very useful to have one or two of these folded up in my bag :D

I love this fabric range - tempted to get more, and make a quilt, but that is quite a daunting task! Might stick with bags for a while first.

Fabric:
Perfectly Seasoned - Moda

Patchwork Addiction

Hiya

A friend of mine recently started a quilting course, and when she explained the Disappearing Nine Patch technique, I was fascinated, and had to have a go! So here are 5 make-up pouches I made, using the Disappearing Nine Patch, with a cork or faux leather base to make them firm enough to stand upright.

This one was a present for the friend who caused my quilting obsession:

This one was a birthday present for another friend:

I made these two with the same fabrics but different bases. I think I prefer the darker one.

 

I'm not sure how well these fabrics show off the disappearing nine patch pattern, because there's so much going on, but I really love the effect anyway. Love these fabrics!

Fabric:
Sweet Blend Prints - Moda
Natural cork fabric
Le Marais - Moda
Faux leather
Australiana - Nutex

Lori Pouch

Hi, I made this pouch a few weeks ago, to match the Two Zip Hipster bag I made. It went a bit wrong when I was turning it - I was stuck in the lining somehow! I think I'd accidentally sewn through both lining pieces when top stitching by the zip - what an eeejit! So I had to undo the stitching from inside the lining, and then I was able to turn the pouch. So one side of the zip hasn't got top stitching now, but hopefully it's not too noticeable! I'm really pleased with it, anyway :D

The pattern is the Lori Pouch, by Lorelei Jayne


Fabric: Perfectly Seasoned range by designer Sandy Gervais, for Moda

Phoebe Bag

Hiya. I made a couple more bags in the last couple of weeks. I don't really like this one, it's not really my style, and I'm not sure about the fabric either..but I learned a lot making it! I also made a mistake when doing the magnetic snap - I accidentally drew the marker for the snap on the front of the flap instead of the back, so I had to put a button over it to hide it! I tried to make it look like a design feature by adding buttons on the base of the straps, too...

This is the Phoebe bag, a free pattern by Rebeka Lambert.

Fabric: Petite Odile, by Moda

Sewing, and the usefulness of a deadline

Hi! I bought my sewing machine 2 years ago, and had a go at making a few things: a cat bed, a chicken, a cover for my sewing machine, and a few tote bags. I still don't really know what I'm doing, and I hadn't made anything for about a year and a half, so I'd pretty much lost all confidence. I really wanted to make a bag, and I'd bought the pattern and fabric a year or so ago, but I was dreading making a start, in case I messed it up.

My lovely cousin Helen started making bags recently, which gave me a bit of a nudge to get my machine out again. A few weeks ago, she made me join a group on Facebook for bag-making, and they are so supportive of beginners, and the beautiful creations on there are inspiring! So I dug out my pattern and fabric. Then did nothing. Then spent many hours looking at fabric online. Then bought more fabric. The watched tutorials to make other bags. Still didn't actually make anything. But the Hobbycrafts show at the NEC was coming up, and I decided that if I hadn't made a damn bag by then, I couldn't buy any more fabric at the NEC!

Two weeks ago I cut out all the fabric. A few days later I cut out the interfacing. The day before the NEC, I ironed all the interfacing on to the fabric, and MADE THE BAG! It took me all day and all evening, and I was exhausted from the concentration, but once I'd got going I didn't want to stop until it was done. I now have a 'proper' bag, with zips and pockets, and an adjustable strap! It's a bit wonky, but it's mine, and I love it.

The pattern is from Dog Under My Desk. Despite the time and stress it took to make, I'm really excited to get going on another bag!

I also had a little helper, Emily. She was a bit of a distraction, but she's beautiful :D

Fabric: Perfectly Seasoned range by designer Sandy Gervais, for Moda