So another bag - and another unknown quantity of time spent on pinterest (sometimes I feel like Alice in a pinterest rabbit hole). Anyway, I have also sorted some boards so now one board is only for pinspiration and is edited as each project is done.
This bag, origami bento, is easy peasy, easier if you don't line it (which I should have done, and then flat felled the seams to finish them). The handle on this is a bit clunky looking, as the fabric is doubled but its a minor quibble. It has the feel of a beach bag, and takes less than an hour to make so is well on the way to top 10 quick-sews. If I make this again, I will make the side dimensions of the main square 15inch instead of 17inch and not line it, and consider a lighter cotton strap tie knot!
The tablet cover is for my friend Cathriona, who I am teaching to sew (as she taught me bodran - irish drum), Its should be pretty straight forward. We were supposed to sew today, but she has her law exams so we are leaving it till they are over. While she was sewing, she was to bring her tablet so I could work on making a cover. The idea is to have a fold over wallet. I have posted photos of the cut out for the moment.
The cardboard will fit inside the wallet, and there will be pockets on one side and the other will hold the tablet. The tablet holder tabs will either be in the clear plastic from swatch book covers or elastic bands. Either way, it wont be done till next month and I will post it then.
And finanlly, I tried out google drive for uploads to download (as I want to put up a pattern next week) and I uploaded a 1930s pattern catalogue and the link is in the 'down-load-able' page. I was given this by my sisters mother-in-law. She said it was from clearing out the local church sacristy (I think), and there were some church crochet patterns for tablecloths, and one maudella pattern.................... for an apron!
The catalogue is so interesting, and I love flicking thru it every now and then,it just seems so curious - from the patterns suitable for renovations, the one ones for short lady (you just have to quote 'short lady' when ordering), and the nurses uniforms...... (I originally thought it was a nuns habit). Hope you like it!
These swatch books from Kathy are amazing, and coincidentally last week just as I posted the patou top, I got another text from Kathy with the offer of more books - and more fantastic books arrived that evening. Big thank you to Kathy!
James has been looking at the covers and is taking them and the metal corners for book bindings (he makes his own sketch pads), so they are slowly being used up. There are a lot that will be left for cushions and curtain trims, and later in the year.
This week I was playing at a few things themed red and came across the pattern for the yy bag.
The linen pieces in the swatch books had a great tight weave and sheen finish, so were perfect for this bag. The bag made up in no time at all. I only changed the base as I had cut the brown linen piece in half as I had matched it with last weeks top at one point, but I made up the outside length for the yy bag easily and top stitched it and then lined it with an old pillowcase. I used an iron-on woven interface on the lining only.
I had also a belt that I could cut the leather strip handle from, so it was all was going so well - until I went to look for eyelets. There are so many advantages to living in a small town, finding large eyelets and small rivets for your new handbag is not one of them! Luckily there is always etsy - so they are on the way and I will update the finished bag when they arrive............... and hopefully the eyelet tool here will work! The yy pattern is a dream to work up - and I am thinking of enlarging it for a shopper - once the eyelets arrive (its now the chinese new year so the last update via etsy seller is there will be small delay). I am leaving cutting the handle until they arrive and will update the photo then (assuming my rivet and eyelet tools here work!)
Update - finally finished 22nd April - love the bag, eyelets were messy as I didn't get tool but improvised with hammer, pliers and plastic lino tool handle!
One book cover was made into a lil cat tent. I saw this pic, and had to make it. We have two cats and they are still adjusting to last years move to town after the previous 4 years living in the woods (we lived beside at 100 acre wood previously) so they don't spend as much time as they used to outside. The tent was inspected but it is of little interest currently while there are better seats nearer the fire!
and as its valentines - the anthropologie blog had this instruction, so I made this from some of the wallpaper samples......................
