Pink and Green Nomad

Pattern Description:

Hot Patterns Nomad Hobo Handbag

Free pattern from Fabric dot com 

Lined Hobo has a square base, a seamed front & back and wide cut-on handles. Hobo is open at the top with an optional magnetic closure, and features optional phone and zippered interior pockets.

Pattern Sizing:

One size, but depending how you print it out you can change the size.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

Well, kinda, but different because of the fabrics.

Were the instructions easy to follow?

Yes, but there was a problem with the placement of the magnetic closure. If you do it as the instructions say it would be located on the sides of the straps. I changed this and placed the snap on the other sides.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

I like the slouchy, casual hobo look to it. And it holds a lot of stuff! The placement of the magnetic snap in my opinion should be on the open sides not the strap sides.

Fabric Used:

Cotton fabric for the outside and a silky poly print for the inside all from JoAnn’s fabrics.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

When I printed the pattern I changed my printer preferences to print it at 90% of the original. This made it a tiny bit smaller than the original size, but it still is a large bag and holds so much. For the outside of the bag I sewed fabric strips in a quilt braid design. Like this Quilters Cache Braid. I traced the pattern onto cotton muslin and then marked placement for the fabric strips. Sewed the strips and when finished I trimmed to the pattern size.

Then like a quilt - I used a muslin backing layered with cotton batting and then the pattern piece on top. I hand quilted each piece with cotton pearl in pink. For the straps I did not cut and quilt as the rest of the outside, I made handles that I inserted when the outside and inside were stitched together.

After all the pieces were quilted I then assembled the outside as the instructions. I sewed the inside as the instructions except for the zipper pocket. I did the zipper pocket as I always do like this toot at Handbag-U.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

Yes, thinking of gray suede for this fall.

I would say its an easy sew, and fun.

Conclusion:

Cute, casual and fun. Pay close attention to the magnetic snap placement.

Make it fun or funky depending on the fabric choice.

Purple Purse Part 1 Drafting

It all starts with an idea, then comes the pencil and paper. I want a very feminine deep purple purse in either faux suede or velvet. I pulled out some graph paper and started on a very primitive outline. I want softness both in fabric and design details.  Soft pleats or gathers will evoke a feminine feeling and softness.

 

Next I made a cleaner line drawing showing the details I want to incorporate, topstitching and the placement of the pleats (as you see in the picture above).

 

I use Pattern Ease for tracing and drafting patterns. First I trace the purse front at actual size (no seam allowances that comes later). In the above picture you see the purse front including the top band.

I then trace the front again without the top band and add seam alowances. Then trace the top band and add seam allowances also. I used a seam allowance of 1/2 inch. This will be the top band for the inside and outside, I will cut 4 of the top band from the out side fabric. The bottom front is traced and 1/2 inch seam allowance added and then becomes the inside lining pattern, from this I will cut two from the lining fabric. Later I will show how I drafted the inside pockets.

I retrace half of the bottom front without seam allowances these will be added after I add the pleats. Using the front bottom I marked where I wanted the pleats. Starting 1 inch from the center front I added the first pleat marking and 1 inch out another and so on until I had 4 pleats marked. Then cut and spread to add the extra fabric to create the pleat. Each pleat uses 3/4 inch of fabric and by taping to a piece of scrap Pattern Ease it helps to keep everything even. I then retraced the outside front bottom pattern piece and added 1/2 seam allowance as before.

Now to find some fabric.

The Jenny Bag

A great little purse with a unique shape, tutorial from Lola... again (Jana Nielson) with a down loadable PDF pattern.


The purse is small, but has a cute shape. I enlarged the pattern to make it a slight bit larger (more below). One outside pocket and roomie inside even for its size. My purse measures about 15" wide x 7" tall x 4" deep, with a strap drop of 11" (from the top of the handles to the top of the purse when worn on the shoulder, or how do you measure a strap drop?).

It has a unusual shape that looks cute and carefree, but polished at the same time.

The tutorial is wonderful! Pictures explain each step in detail. Even the tricky part on the bottom of the bag was made easy by her tutorial.

I love the shape and size. Its not a big bag, but holds everything I need for the day at work. It has a wider bottom than the opening, so the bag has an illusion that is would not hold much. I have a small note pad and pen (for sewing ideas on the go), compact/makeup, wallet, cell phone, tissues, pack of gum and chapstick in my purse and could fit a bit more. I love how she came up with the pattern draft to create the unique shape!! I have no dislikes at all.

I used Amy Butler's Belle fabrics love the wild colors and neat prints, fusible fleece in the body of the bag, heavy fusible interfacing in the handles, and magnetic snaps (one in the pocket and one in the bag opening).

When printing out the pattern it looked a bit small for me so I thought why not make it bigger. I work in an office where we have a copier (thanks to my boss) I was able to enlarge the pattern. I enlarged it by 29% (129% size ratio on the copier), I used 29% only because that was one of the default settings. I Changed the size of the outsize pocket just a bit bigger and did not stitch in the center of the pocket, wanted this to be my cell phone pocket.

I will sew this again. I have some black and white fabric (similar to this) that I will over dye with purple to make a fall purse. I recommend this pattern because of the great tutorial with pictures.
Cute style and the best part it's FREE!!

Handbag project put on the back-burner

Well, the 'Share the Love' tote is now moved farther on the WIP list. I have been slow on getting all the Christmas sewing done. I have started another pair of shorts for DH, but haven't found the right fabric for son's next pair. The slippers have even been started yet, I am still trying out different things to make the sole comfy (if you have any great ideas let me know). I did get some fabric dyed for a special order - beautiful color wheel of fat quarters. They are in the wash now and I'll post pics tomorrow. The tuff part in all this is I dislocated my knee, but all is well and I am healing fine. So - I limp around, but sitting at the sewing machine ain't so bad after all.


Here's one of my partners in crime. Tessa was resting while I was hand sewing today and I just had to share this picture.

Christmas Sewing

I have started sewing my gifts. Like many other bloggers I am not buying premade things this year, but trying to make gifts that are special. So the first WIPs (work in progress) are shorts from McCall's OP 2568 .

I have had this pattern since 2000, when I made my DH some shorts (sleep/lounge shorts). Those have since worn out and now I have been told more are needed.



I found this COOL fabric at my favorite little quilt shop here in town. It's called "Madame Butterfly" in the Opulance series by Paula Nadelstern. This pair of shorts will be for DH.


And this flaming colorful fabric from the Headgear series by Fabri-Quilt will be for my son. Saying all this my DH and DS don't read my blog, so I should be ok.

I have to be honest, I really wish I was sewing the 'Share the Love' ruffle bag- the fabric turned out very nice.

And I found a cute rose & vine print in my stash for the lining. I did get the 32 ruffles cut out, yep 32. See there are 8 on each side = 16 ruffles total. I am using the self fabric as the facing so that makes 32 curved pieces. If I was using suede or leather I wouldn't need all this, just 16 ruffles. Any-who this looks like its going to be very funky!!

Fab free purse pattern

If you don't already know, you need to check out the free purse pattern from Hot Patterns

'Share the Love'

It's way to lovely to pass up!!

I am very excited and ready to make one up for the holidays, in a soooooo HOT red fabric.

The fabric in the dye is sittin' in the sun as I type and by tomorrow I will have a beautiful piece of fabric to start on my new fab bag!!

Hmmmmm, what should I line the bag with? I am off to find something fun for the inside.
Happy sewing!!

Holiday Purse

Yes - strange but true, I have made myself a Christmas holiday purse.

It's a basic bucket style bag/tote, big enough for a few extra items while out shopping this holiday. Inside are the simple pockets and a magnetic snap. I stitched angled strips of fabric onto a canvas foundation (sorta like easy crazy quilting), then various yarns and embroidery for the accents. The handles are made from fabric covered cotton clothesline, with a fuzzy black yarn added in between the two cords. This helped disguise the dip between two cords.

I got the strap idea from 'It's a Wrap' By Susan Breier , the clothesline is a good weight for straps and they hang nicely. I have this book and have to say it's full of fun ideas. Love the bowls, and it's a great way to use up fabric scraps.

Next I need to start on Christmas gifts. I know two guys who are getting slippers this year. I plan on taking a basic slipper pattern and adding something to the sole to make them very comfy, but more on this when I have figured that part out.

New bag

Well, the last few days got swallowed up by sewing. I made a few 2008 planner covers and was commissioned to create a handbag. The really fun part was creating a handbag out of recycled military BDU fabric. Her name is 'Cami',

Cami

She's a beauty that 'Cami'
all dressed in her camouflage,
ready to take on the world.
Just like you she's a tuff one on the outside,

but really very feminine and girly.
She is a wash me in delicate type
and with her convertible strap
she will cross-over or hang on you shoulder.

kira bell ©2007

Shopping day

Not a great day, I guess if I had unlimited funds and could shop anywhere I wanted it might be more fun. I am trying very hard to shop for two weeks, and a little more. This going to the store every other day is quickly draining any funds we have. I outlined a menu for two weeks and stuck to it. Two weeks sounds like a short time period, if you weren't limiting yourself to 'not shopping again for two weeks'. So you see I am trying to limit the 'lets run to the store' which in turn always cost $60.00 and up, and those are not items that you can even remember half the time and not always really necessary. Yep I am also tracking every dollar spent (no I don't usually do this but its a good way to see where we spend our money). Not a lovely thought but its a way to keep reality in check, well who's taking bets to see how long this lasts.

The safe way to double your money is to fold it over once and put it in your pocket. ~Frank Hubbard

On the crafty side I finished my owl purse. All from recycled items. Even the hook, purse magnet, and zipper. The only new stuff on this is the thread used in the embroidery and construction. The embroidery designs are from Hatched in Africa. The owl and side flowers are from the Jacobean Jewels 4x4 set and the back butterfly is a mix of the Jacobean Jewels 4x4 and the Butterfly jewels.