2 new handbags

Off the back  of some lady in a back street sweatshop in Glen Eden I am now the proud owner of 2 designer handbags for just $20.  These are one-off bags, not another like them anywhere else in the world. The designer is so exclusive few have ever heard of Jannew.

One Audrey Hepburn tote bag.  Made from Black and White vinyl.  Featuring an embroidered design of the famous rebel Audrey Hepburn who wasn't afraid to smoke in public. This large bag closes at the top with a zip and has an interior zip pocket in the lining and 2 pockets inside for phone, etc.

The other is a black vinyl messenger style handbag that nearly broke the sewing machine in the sweatshop, sewing through 8 layers of vinyl in some places was not what the labourers sewing machine was designed to do.  This handbag features a fold over flap that closes with a magnetic closure.  On the outside there are 2 pockets one on the front and one on the back, handy for keeping those items you want to be quickly accessible.  Inside are 2 compartments, separated by a zippered compartment and 3 pockets in the lining.

Both bags feature the label of the designer to prove authenticity.

Photos and video are attached for your delectation. 

Grocery bag

Supermarkets are going plastic bagless here.  I have bought some canvas bags but don't have quite enough if doing a big shop.   I bought some corduroy a few months ago that was intended to be a pinafore dress.  However when I pre-washed it the colours faded along crease lines. So I decided to use it to make another grocery bag.

The embroidered design is a freebie from Kreative Kiwi.

To make the bag I cut 2 panels 20" x 20".  To box the ends I cut out squares from 2 corners of each panel measuring 4 1/2" x 4 1/2".  I cut two pieces for handles 20" x 5".

Using 1/2' seams I sewed both side panels and the bottom seam.  I then pinched the cut out corners together, aligning the seams and sewed across them.  To reinforce the seams I finished on the overlocker.  I then pressed the seams and did wrong sides together sewed a 1/4" topstitch along the side seams and the bottom corners and bottom seam.  To make more of a boxed look, I pressed again along the boxed edges to create a crease and then did another 2 topstitched edges on both sides.

The top was turned under 1/2" and turned under again and hemmed. 

Handles were made by folding fabric in half, wrong sides together.  Opening it up then folding outside long edges in to the centre, then folding again in half to encase all raw edges.  They were then top stitched on both sides. 

To attach the handles to the bags I turned under the raw edges about 1' and attached so the raw edge was against the bag and sewed 1 1/4" in from the edge of the bag, sewing a box with a X in the centre to reinforce it.

A skirt, a bag and a purse and a mini purse tutorial

My first make of 2018 was another Itch to stitch Vientiane skirt.  I made a Sirena dress from this cotton sateen and had enough left over for this skirt.

I've always liked the quilted roses bag by SweetPea so finally got around to making one for myself.

Contents are kept safe with a zip in the top.

And handy pockets inside.  A zip pocket and a double pocket that holds my cell phone.

Of course it needed a matching purse.

I knew what I wanted in a purse but couldn't find a design that matched what was in my head.  I wanted plenty of credit card slots, plus a zippered coin pouch, and a place for notes.  I also wanted it so when I opened up the purse everything faced the same way.  So many of the purse/wallet patterns have them facing opposite ways and when you open them one side flips down so all the cards fall out.  Ask me how I know!

this purse has 8 card slots.  4 are on the side you can see and 4 are on the other side of the coin purse.  There is room for notes to fit behind the coin purse.

So my design hat went on and I designed my own.  The following is a very mini tutorial so I can repeat this another time.

Supplies:

Fabric:

1st card pocket,  2 x 6 3/4" x 7 1/4"

2nd card pocket 2 x 6 3/4" x 8 1/4"

Zippered pouch 2 x 6 3/4" x 11 1/4"

Lining  1 x 6 3/4" x 12"

Outer 1 x 6 3/4" x 12"

Other:

Nylon zipper

Snap fasteners

Sewing is done with 1/2" seam allowance

1.  Interface lining

2. Insert snaps on outer card pocket (6 3/4" x 7 1/4").  Put these 1" from bottom edge and 1" from side edge.

3.  Fold both  zipper pouches in half.  Fold long edges under 1/2".  Insert zipper into folded edges.

4.  Baste card slots to sides of zippered pouch.  Stitch centre line down all card slots to create compartments for cards.

5.  Place the pouch and pockets on top of the outer fabric.  The outer fabric should be facing up and the snaps facing down (facing right side of outer).  Place lining on top of pockets, right side down.  The pockets should now be sandwiched between the outer and lining fabric.

6.  Sew all layers together, leaving an opening for turning.

7.  Turn right side out, you will need to turn the pouch and pockets twice.  Press, then top stitch 1/8" around all 4 sides, turning the unstitiched edge under.

8.  Insert snaps into the outer/lining.

Finished.

Cross body purse and reversible newsboy caps. Spring cleaning

I've been busy making things from leftover material.  I had quite a lot of fabric left over from the dress in my previous post.  First off I made I made thisEmzed foldover clutch purse.  There is also a facebook page with a lot of gorgeous purses.

Rather than a clutch I wanted a cross body bag so I just lengthened the strap.

It has 2 zippered pouches on the 'outside'.

And on the inside there is a pocket behind the card slots, and a hidden zipper compartment on the opposite side.

It is optional whether to add snaps to the inside,  I wasn't going to, but once I made it up the outside pieces fell apart slightly and spoiled the look, so I added a couple of sew on snaps to the inside on each side.

I love this bag.  It is just the right size for all the essentials - it takes my phone, cards, cash, tissues, keys.  The only thing I wish I'd done differently is to attach detachable straps, so when I'm using a larger bag I can just pop it in and use it as a purse.

I wore this with me new dress when I went to lunch with friends on the weekend and felt tres chic with a smart dress and matching bag.

It was quite time consuming to make, but worth the effort and a great way to use up some excess fabric.

Also made from scraps were a couple of  reversible newsboy caps.  I couldn't find a pattern that was exactly what I wanted.  I knew I wanted  it to be held by elastic at the back to get a comfortable fit, but couldn't find any free patterns that had the elastic.

I ended up combining 2 patterns, and then adding my own twist so there was elastic at the back.  First I traced the  pattern pieces for the top from This free sunhat pattern and the instructions from free reversible newsboy hat.  For the brim I traced around the brim of a baseball cap I already have.  I then had to adapt my own take to get the elastic on the back.

The first one turned out too tight, and I didn't get the band right.  One side is made from red cotton duck, and the other side is a floral quilting cotton.

Too tight!

The second one I was able to fine tune my own directions and it turned out just right.  The blue is more of that fabric leftover from the dress and the cross body purse.  The inside is leftover poplin from a shirt made last year.

I've also been busy spring cleaning.  I've washed the outside of all my mothers windows and done about half of mine.  I'm also cleaning my net curtains.  After winter they were infested with mold.  I found the best way to bring them up clean is to first scrub the affected areas with Sards Wonder Soap.  I then soaked overnight in Nappisan - actually they had about 15 hours to soak as I put them in around 2pm and took out around 7am.  Then put on a gentle machine wash with Nappisan added to the washing detergent, then hang out in sunshine.  Lovely and clean again.

I've also subscribed to Burda magazine.  The July issue just came into the shops here a couple of weeks ago, and on Saturday I got my November issue in the post.  Yay, no more impatient waiting.

Two tops and a bag, and Gossips cross stitch update.

I've been using the fabric bought at the hospice shop to make another couple of tops.

This is the second top I've made from BurdaStyle 1/19 #103A.  See here for my first top.This time I used the patterned lace fabric from the hospice shop with some pink knit I got ages ago from Spotlight.  The sleeves are meant to be the same fabric as the top part (the lace) but I wanted slightly warmer sleeves and also was concerned th lace would be too scratchy against my skin, so I used the pink for the sleeves as well.

 

I have enough lace left over for another top. total fabric cost $8.

The second top was the first time I've made this from BurdaStyle 2/16 #122a.

This is the Burda photo.

And here is my version.

This is the first time I've made a peplum top and I'm pleased with how it has turned out.  The sizing is for a petite (5ft 3").  As I'm 5'9" I considered lengthening it, however the length given in the magazine seemed my usual length so I left it as is.  On reflection though, it would have been better if I'd lengthened the bottom red band so it sits under the bust, as in the pattern photo, rather than under the bust.  If I make it again I will lengthen that band by 2.5 - 3 inches.

It also is meant to have an invisible zip in the back.  As this was a knit with a fair bit of stretch and a lowish front neck I didn't bother using the zip.  It is easy enough to get on and off without the zip.  However as it is quite fitted, if made with a firmer material, such as the cotton satin in the magazine, a zip would probably be needed.

The instructions were pretty hard to figure out. One of the descriptions was to turn the sleeve hems to the inside and sew one.  Why would you only sew the hem of one sleeve?  I naturally sewed both sleeves.  Also the assembly of the peplum was pretty confusing, I managed through pinning in various ways and assembling on my dress form to make sure I was doing it correctly.

I am happy with the fit of this, it is nicely shaped with darts in the back and at the sleeve caps which give nice structure to it.

The other thing I've made is a new tote bag.  I found this tutorial by the Missouri Quilt company and decided to make it.  I had bought a sewing magazine a few months ago that came with some quilting fabric that I thought would be great for this.

I like pockets and closures, so I added 2 internal zipped pockets and a magnetic snap fastener.

Finally, an update on my Gossips cross stitch.  I've now completed the first row- that is 9 pages out of 72.

Most of this is sky which doesn't show up very well in the photo.

January update

Another month is over.

I've tried my skills at sewing clothes for the first time making a skirt and top which turned out very well.  No photos yet.

I've also been doing an online beginners crazy quilt course with Kathy Shaw.  She is an incredible tutor providing lots of information with very clear instructions.   I finished the course yesterday and I'm looking forward to doing the intermediate courses she runs.  The next one opens for registration on 26 Feb.  This is the beginners block:

 

 

 

I also managed to start and finish a crazy quilt drawstring bag.  This was a kit that I bought at the craft fair in Hamilton in August.  The kit is by Helen Dafter.  I was a bit disappointed with the kit as there was a list of contents and I was missing quite a few.  Also the material to make the bag was meant to be cut to 30 cm high, but the material provided was only 28 cms.  However I did enjoy doing it and I am pleased with the way it has turned out.   There are 4 external pockets, each of which are crazy quilted.  It had chatelaine accessories that are meant to be attached to the pockets with ribbon. However  I felt it would be a nuisance if every time I wanted the scissors I either had to undo ribbon or pull the entire bag over to the project, so I just made a needlecase and thimble pip which slip inside the pockets.  I already have a scissor fob so didn't need to do another one.

 

I'm using this bag to keep supplies for whatever crazy quilt piece I'm working on.



 

 

I also finished another page of Spirit of Winter.  I'm now up to page 17.  As other projects are taking over from cross stitch, I'm going to concentrate on this one this year and hopefully I'll be able to finish by the end of the year.