Handmade Monday 37

Another handmade Monday and another 30 day Project! This is my 4th project and something I have put off doing for sometime now so I was glad I have finally got round to making it! It is from the Cath Kidston book ‘Sew’ where you get the fabric and pattern to make a lovely handbag. One of the main reasons I had put off doing it was that involved making buttonholes. Since getting the book I have bought my new machine which has the option of doing 4 stage buttonholes, so it seemed like this project should be fairly straight forward!

The pattern pieces were already cut out, so I followed the instructions on how to join the main exterior fabric. I also decided to make a lining for the bag, and so attached this also.

In the instructions it gives details on making a rouleur loop as the fastening for the bag. However after many attempts I got a little frustrated with trying to turn out the very small bit of fabric and took the easy option of using a magnetic snap instead!

Next step was making the strap then making the buttonholes. I practiced on a spare bit of fabric first and then went for it…I think I could have done them a bit better, and I spaced them too far apart but not bad for first attempt!

So here is the finished bag…

I think the only thing I’m not happy with is the strap seems really wide. I also found the instructions in the book a little confusing and took several reads to understand the next step. I do love Cath Kidston fabric though and love how you get the little badge to sew on the front too!

Please go check out everyone elses Handmade Monday posts to see what they have been making this week.

My next and last project is the jelly roll floor cushion. I have already started this and I think I have underestimated the length of time it will take to finish. I fear I might have to extend past the limit of the 30 day challenge, but I am determined to finish it! So will keep you updated on my progress!

Sarah x

Handmade Monday 36

Time again for another Handmade Monday! As promised last week, here is my 3rd Project of the 30 day Challenge – the T-shirt Tote. This was quite a nice quick and easy project so didn’t take long to complete! I got the idea from a Pinterest Post I saw a few weeks ago, which gave a really quick tutorial on how to convert a t-shirt into a tote bag! I had a few t-shirts lying around that I no longer wear, but still liked and couldn’t give to the charity shop,  so thought they were ideal ginnea pigs for my next project!

Very simply, lay out your t-shirt and cut off the sleeves, as close to the seam as possible. Get a dinner place and place around the neck of the t-shirt and when happy with the look, draw around and cut out. Turn Inside out and sew the bottom of the t-shirt together, I also boxed of the bottom to give more shape and voila…here it is!

It has now been renamed the chopper shopper!

Check out everyone else’s Handmade Monday posts over at Wendy’s blog.

Next weeks 30 day challenge is the Cath Kidston Bag!

Sarah x

Tilly Mint’s Book Club #2

So September’s book club offering is ‘The Bag Making Bible’ by Lisa Lam. I have been a fan of Lisa and her website U-Handbag ever since I first got into sewing, so I was very keen to read her book. It definitely didn’t disappoint! It is a fantastic resource giving details of tools to use and different techniques to create beautiful bags. All patterns are included with the book and she gives clear step by step instructions, reinforced by close up photos.

This is a comprehensive sewing book which I am sure you would return to time again. Great for first time sewers and those who are not afraid of the sewing machine, the projects progress in complexity, until you are making a bag which is all singing all dancing with all the trimmings!

One little extra touch I like is on the back cover there is a glossary of terms which can flap over to the page you are reading – she really has thought of everything to make bag making straightforward!

Go out and buy this book, you won’t be disappointed!

Sarah x

Handmade Monday 35

Another handmade Monday and another 30 day challenge ticked off my list of projects! This week I have completed making the Upcycled Bag, now renamed the Beano Bag! A month or so ago I dragged my Hubby around the charity shops in Warrington, in search of some inspiration for my next unusual sewing project. I came across a ‘Beano’ single duvet cover and pillow case for £2. I couldn’t leave it there for that price and my fingers were itching to get making something out of it!

The main thing that attracted me was a large image of Dennis the Menace which I thought I would be able to cut around and turn it into a bag. So I set to and got snipping with my scissors. I found that by smoothing out the duvet cover, as I cut around the image on the front I also cut out the fabric for the back of the bag, therefore getting both pieces the same size. The size of the bag was determined by the size of the image and it looked like it was going to turn out to be a rather large shopper style bag! I had some left over fleece interfacing which was just the right size, therefore I ironed it on to both front and back pieces.

Since the back of the duvet/bag was white I thought It would be a bit plain. I therefore cut around the Beano logo on the pillow case, arranged, pinned then sewed around the edges of the letters. I think it gives a bit more interest and gives 2 different choices for which is the front of the bag!

With right sides together I sewed a 1/2 inch seam around the sides and base. Then pinching sides seams together, making sure they were in line, I made a triangle measuring 4 inches across. I sewed across this line and trimmed off the top of the triangle to give the boxed bottom for the bag.

For the lining I had found a red and black striped material which I though was very apt! I measured it out the same size as the exterior, and fitted a magnetic clasp. On the duvet cover there was a part of it that read ‘Menaces for ever’. Using my rotary cutter I carefully cut around it and created a shaped that could be used as a pocket for the interior. I ironed on some left over interfacing to give it a bit more stiffness and then sewed around the sides and bottom and also down the middle to create 2 pockets. I then sewed together the interior as for the exterior, leaving about a 10 inch gap across the bottom seam.

I chose a cream webbing for the handles and after playing around with the length pinned on the handles to the exterior and sewed using a box and cross to make sure the stitching was nice and strong.

Then with right sides facing I placed the exterior inside the lining and pinned together at the top, gathering the material for the lining and making sure the side seams for both the lining and the exterior were matching. I then sewing a 1/2 inch seam around the top therefore attaching the lining to the exterior and then turned it right sides out through the gap in the bottom of the lining.

With a bit of pressing with the iron here and there and with the sewing of the gap in the lining done the bag was complete!

I am really chuffed with my efforts, especially making something new out of something old! I also kind of made it up as I went along and think it kinda turned out ok?!

Why don’t you check out Wendy’s Handmade Monday blog to see what everyone else has been up to this week

Next week I will tell you how I get on making my T-shirt Tote, number 3 of my 5 projects in 30 Days challenge!

Sarah x