Catching Up - Bags of the Month

So I had these great intentions for the year, then about 8-10 weeks ago work took a turn straight into insane. As in  "Where am I??? and how did I get in this handbasket???" I was putting in enough extra hours that I had my choice of A) keeping my house clean (HAHAhaha, ummmm, NO), B) sewing, or C) blogging about what I had sewn.  Without the sewing there would be nothing to blog about, so B it is.

I'm going to try and catch up what I have done, so I'll stand a semi-chance of remembering what I did later on.  You know,when I want to use a pattern again and I know I changed it but can't remember how.

These are the February and March Bag of the Month patterns.  Both are messenger type bags and I seem to remember the patterns were well drafted and the instructions were well written.

The only change I made was to the February Hyacinth Bag.  I changed the pockets under the front flap, because I remember thinking that there was no way I was going to get 4 edges turned under 1/4" and have straight edges.  I made a zipper pocket using this tutorial by Dog Under my Desk and it worked like a charm! And then to get the card holders basically the same size, I played around until I got a 4-card unit instead of 3.

 

The March Campfire Messenger bag was made pretty much as written, except for the closures.  Mine are the fireman's clasp found here at Silhouette Patterns.  I was looking to avoid the snap application at all costs!

 

More catch-up posts to come, Happy Sewing, Suzanne

Another Bye Bye Love

When my dear daughter-in-law was here in NC last, I forced made asked her to choose the bag pattern and fabric that I would use for her birthday present.

She chose the Bye Bye Love pattern previously blogger here. I don't think I made any changes to the pattern this time (unlike the first time it I just followed the instructions!). I did use a heavier zipper in the top. And I was running low on the Soft and Stable, so this bag has tricot bonded foam that was too thick for the bras I had bought it for.

Since we were headed to the coast this past weekend and it was going to be the only opportunity to get my daughter's opinion before I sent it off, I got her to help with some on location photos -

The front

 

The back

 

Interior

Close up of the front to show the handbag bling

 I am pretty pleased with the way it turned out and I hope she will be too! Dear daughter has claimed dibs if dear daughter-in-law doesn't like it -

Can I keep it? We don't really have to send it to OK do we???

I leave you with some pictures of where I have been the past week -

Jeanette's Pier - Nags Head, NC

Bodie Island Lighthouse, NC

Sunrise over the ocean - Kill Devil Hills, NC

 Happy Sewing, Suzanne

A bag for Easter

I made a bag to go with my Easter dress.  An easy, quick make with a pattern from Sew Sweetness'  Accordion Bag. 

Just a couple Several quick points about this bag -

1. It's super easy to sew.  I had the thought that it would a great pattern for teaching someone to sew.
2. I would call it a medium sized bag (although sizing can be subjective). Personally I like my bags a little deeper, so next time I make this I will adjust my pattern.
3. All fabrics were from my stash and I don't remember where most of them came from.  A good many were just pieces I couldn't seem to let go of.
4. Instructions for the braided piecing was found at Studio Kat Designs. Also pretty easy to do.
5. I added some additional pockets inside.  Next time I may add a zipper pocket on the back exterior.
6. The bag bling came from Emmaline Bags.



 

 

 

with dress and goofy expression

Happy Sewing, Suzanne

Bye Bye Love

Or "What's black and white and red all over?"  Song titles and corny jokes, just can't get away from them.  Although in this case, the song title is the name of the bag.  Back in December I joined the Bag of the Month club - a new bag pattern January thru June. Sounds like fun, sign me up! And I did with the intention of sewing the bag the month I receive the pattern.

So far, so good! I would have gotten done a little sooner, but I had An Incident with the local wildlife

 

 

Poor little car is now in the shop being appraised and repaired.

 

The bag, on the other hand, is great! January's bag was from Sew Sweetness and she named it Bye Bye Love.  I'm not quite sure why, because as I remember the lyrics, they go on to say "bye bye happiness, hello loneliness, I think I'm gonna cry". Well, contrary to the lyrics, I am extremely happy with this bag and the only tears I'm shedding are tears of joy.

 

 

Pros -

1. This is a great pattern.  Very well written and clear pictures.  For my first one from this designer, I am extremely pleased.
2. It's a structured bag, holds it's shape really well.
3. Inside pockets!
4. It's huge.

 

Cons -

1. It's HUGE! If you are not as Amazonian as I am (I'm 5'10"), this may not be the bag for you.  Although I think it can altered down or shortened without any problems.  I may try that the next time I make it.
2. Not a major con, but it uses Soft & Stable to give it structure, and she gives you several alternatives, but I was not able to source any of them locally.

I added a solid bottom, by adding a seam.  I also left the handles flat, the faux leather I used did not want to cooperate with the rolled handles. All fabric is from the stash! The only thing purchased for this bag was the 22" zipper for the top.

 

 

Overall a great bag, and I will be making again.  Next time I will take a little more time to find a heavier zipper for the main bag.  I'm not sure how long this one will hold up if I used it a lot.  Not a problem because I tend to just leave a bag open once I have it open.

 

Oh, and the answer to the question "what's black and white and red all over?" - MINE!

 

 

Runs away cackling gleefully "mine, mine, mine, all MINE!"

 

 

Happy Sewing - Suzanne