8.31.2011

New Bag

So I've been working on a few projects at the same time (as I tend to do), so I'll be posting those up here soon. First I want to show you the bag that I just finished.

I've been needing a new purse for awhile and since I liked the way the wallets turned out I decided I'd make my own. Well I took a trip to the fabric store and bought this dark mustard colored linen. In my mind I could see a cool slouchy bag and I was super pumped about it. I was even going to line it with the white leafy fabric from one of the wallets. Well lets just say that the bag did not turn out even remotely close to what it looked like in my head (and it's pretty ugly, but it was experience I guess). But on the plus side I now have a bag for knitting projects.

So I still needed to make a purse. I went back to the fabric store and looked around at all different fabrics. I wandered for what seemed like forever and I was beginning to feel like it was a lost cause, then I saw it...the perfect fabric. Exactly what I needed to make my bag. All my feelings of despair left me and I was ready to try again!

I decided to try a different style of bag, but my main thing was that I wanted an adjustable strap so it could be a shoulder bag or go across my body. I looked online for awhile and found a style that I liked...pleated body with a yoke across the top, and I went for it. Grabbed a pencil and paper and started making a pattern. Here's what I ended up with...
I wish the color didn't change so much (it's really a darker mustard color).


I raided an old bag for the hardware.

I think it turned out quite nicely, I'm very happy with it! It's a little bigger than some people may like, but I love big bags. Just might do a tutorial with my pattern.

8.17.2011

More Wallets

Okay so I've completed two more wallets, one for my sister and then one to keep. If you missed yesterday's post, I found a great tutorial on how to make this wallet: http://elily00.wordpress.com/tutorials/wallet/
The instructions are really easy to follow, I highly recommend it if you're looking for a sewing project!

I'm feeling more confident with my new sewing machine, although my sewing skills still leave a little to be desired.
But I think I've had my fill of wallet making (for now) and it's time to move on to a new project, when I find what I'm going to do next I'll let you know. For now here are the two wallets I've gotten done in the last two days.
My mom gave me this fabric a couple of years ago,
I've been saving it for the perfect project.

At first I wasn't sure about using such a plain color
on the inside, but I think it was the right choice.

Bought this fabric yesterday with my sister's wallet
in mind, luckily when I sent her some fabric photos
she picked this one.

I love the 70's colors inside here, I really thought
about keeping this one for myself...

8.16.2011

Holy Moly!

Okay so it has been forever since I've posted anything on here. It's a lot of work to put up new tutorials weekly like I first envisioned! Well I guess it's time to start fresh with a few changes...

We've gotten all settled into our new city, and since I'm still without a job it's a great time for me to craft. Have gotten a lot of work done for my etsy site and just started to try and sew some stuff for the heck of it. My mom gave me one of her old sewing machines so I spent all day yesterday figuring out how to use it. I made a wonky little bag which I am determined to use one way or another. Then after that I got started on a wallet as a present for my mom.
I found this great tutorial:
http://elily00.wordpress.com/tutorials/wallet/
I worked like a dog and got a super cute (I think anyways) wallet done over the course of a day. It probably wouldn't take near as long if I were any good with a sewing machine. But here is what I ended up with.

I love this fabric!

I added a loop in the center to hold a pen (that's the only change I made from the pattern).

I made a trip to Joann Fabric today and found some great fabric to start on another wallet, I have yet to decide if it will be for my sister or for me to keep.