Bagmaking: Swoon Lola

So this is Lola. One of the latest patterns from Swoon

I really wanted to have a go at this ages ago, but I've got soooo many things on my list as well as commissions, it just didn't happen.

This fabric is from the Cotton and Steel Lucky Strike set from the Fabric Guild. It looks so adorable and fresh with the white faux leather (http://www.u-handbag.com/)

As usual, the pattern was easy to follow. Swoon patterns have simple printables (no taping together 10 sheets or whatever) clear instructions and they walk you through from start to finish. If you have any issues, you just need to ask - Alicias always available via email or facebook to help, as are the hoards of other Swooners on the facebook pages.

As you can see I've also started putting my own zip pulls on now which are just little feathers.

Bagmaking: Mermaid Maisie - Swoon Patterns

So this is my Maisie. She was one of the 'blood, sweat, tears' variety.

I had the 'Drift Away' fabric at the ready for this bag. I'd been hoping to get the mermaids with the blue background, but some things are just impossible to get hold of when you want them in the UK, so I settled for this beigey background.

I used linen for the contrast. The piping and zips actually looked like they matched when I did this. They clearly don't in the picture. You'll have to ovelook that. My dining room is very dark and in hindsight I should have double checked the match in daylight.

I started cutting this bag out at bag camp. After a few too many. This was a gross mistake. When I got home I realised I hadn't cut out the contrasting linen panels for the back, and I'd run out of this particular linen - and so had every shop in the UK apparently.

I tried to get hold of some similar, but it didn't cut the mustard, so I worked with what I had. I'd already cut out a strap, so I used part of that to make those panels. They aren't cut on the grainline, and they didn't exactly have the correct amount of seam allowance, but honestly I don't think anyone will notice unless I point it out.

See how different those greens are - how could I ever have thought they were similar?!!

I love the bright lining. Its like when you open the bag - the sun comes out!

So the hardest bit could have been anticipated - this bag uses foam on both sides and stabiliser on the bottom. Trying to sew smallish curves with those factors - well lets just say it took a lot of passes. 

I'm pretty happy with the result though. Love a Swoon :)

Hardware from Emmaline Bags

Zips from Jaycotts

Drift Away fabrics and Kaufman Brussels washer linen in Charcoal from Billow Fabrics

Piping from Sew Hot

Outer Fabric

Pocket Fabric

Lining fabric

Strap and contrast fabric

Bagmaking: Swoon Ethel (Free Pattern)

This is Ethel. She is quick, and easy, and free.

I added a bit of piping on the pocket.

I don't have much else to say :)

Fabric is Robert Kaufman essex linen in jungle green

Ruby Star Rising tea by Melody Miller

I can't tell you what the lining is as it was a secret sister gift from Bag Camp

Bagmaking: Swoon Harriet for the lady who sews

So here we are. Harriet. A pretty quick sew, but not an easy one as my machine did NOT like working with the faux leather. Its not been too bad in the past, but I think its had enough now and is refusing to play ball. I spent HOURS trying to get it to work, fiddling with the tension and the threads and the needles etc etc and it still isn't perfect.
As a result, I'm not happy with the top stitching on the handles, or the attachment of the base which looks messy as I had to restitch a few times which is a no-no for leatherette. Overall though I'm happy, but I actually wish I'd used foam not fleece to stabilise as its a bit floppy for my liking. Honestly I should know this by now but I wanted to follow the instructions as far as possible.

This is what it looks like with the zips open. You can see the contrast fabric at the sides.

This is with the zips closed

This is inside. There's a zipped pocket and a couple of slip pockets.

And slightly closer up showing the flip lock that I'm rather proud of (it took me ages to install this as I was trying to be ever so precise)

Fabrics used as below: 

Vintage Couturier in Cream by Robert Kaufman

Accents and zipped pocket in Fancy and Fabulous by Riley Blake

Lining in I'm a Maker by Art Gallery

Faux Leather came from Doughtys Online

Bagmaking: The Evelyn (Swoon)

So, the last post I wrote has only just gone up - because I forgot to actually publish it! 

In it I described how I was trawling the Handmade fair with Tanja to find a fabric that would be the lining for my Evelyn bag. It was really flipping difficult. I kept producing my swatch in hope but failing to find the ONE.

I chose this bag pattern ages ago to go with the Fringe Flowers Mari fabric from Michael Miller. Its a large print so needed a large bag to set it off (bag comes in two sizes - I normally start with small but this time I went straight for big!) 

My search came to and end at the Eternal Maker. I bought two fabrics as I wasn't sure which would be best, but in the end I went for the more subtle mustard. Both the main and contrast (black) have these sketchy lines running through them as well. The pink is from the same set, the mustard isn't (but is probably from the same set as the black - I'm really bad at keeping track of names - it could be timeless treasures, but then it might not be)

so without further ado...

Ta Da

My favourite Swoon so far.

Next time, I should probably take the fabric requirements with me, as I ran out of the mustard so had to piece it together. I'm sure no-one will notice ;)

Bagmaking - Ramona bag

A couple of weeks back I made a bag for the eldest daughter of a friend of mine as it was her 8th birthday (see bottom photo)

Well its her little sisters birthday coming up, so she's also getting one.  

This time its mermaids and whales and fishes.

Bagmaking: Della Wallet in Robert Kaufman Hello Tokyo

I'm pleased to say that even though I had a minor disaster yesterday (my sewing machine went kaputt - after I took the morning off work to finish off commissions!) I finished a wallet. Should have been two, but I borrowed a friends machine and it can't cope too well with thick fabrics so it unfortunately has to wait. 

She wanted something bright and cheerful, and of the options given, chose this fabric below.

I then took it upon myself to select the contrast fabrics (which are from the same range)

The Della Wallet is a pattern by Swoon - my favourite bag pattern company. I rarely use my own patterns, because I see so many independant designers doing their thing and I always want to give their bags a go!

This is the finished product :

I love the prints. There are a couple of errors on the wallet which irk me. There is a pen mark (used permanent ink pen by mistake when should have used disappearing ink pen) on the inside in the middle. You can see it on that last photo on the zipper edge in the middle. Its small, but annoying. 

Also the seam thread is are a bit prominent. You can't see on these pics as its on the edges. Thats the nature of sewing with massive thicknesses. 

Also, I haven't managed to get all the creases out, which were caused by turning it the right way out. This is massively annoying as it was perfectly flat before I did that, but construction means you have to sew inside out before turning.

Otherwise, I'm happy LOL!

In which I make a Della Wallet - with Vinyl :)

Due to ongoing dramas with British Gas, I had to take the day off work yesterday (my 5th day off for BG visits since 29th December - and I need to take another next week!)

I took the opportunity to make this - its a sort of cross between a purse and a clutch (it has a wrist strap) and its made with a vinyl exterior.

Vinyl is hard to work with. This particular stuff is very thin though so I figured I'd give it a shot. 

Unfortunately what I didn't know is that it can crease, which is exactly what happened in the finishing stages when I was turning it all right side out. I am still working out how to remedy that without melting it!

The inside is very busy! There are credit card slots (8) note/voucher slots and also two zipped pockets which would easily fit a phone.

It fastens with magnetic snaps to a band on the outside.

Fingers crossed I can get those creases out!

Happy Birthday Holly!

Its half term at the moment, so I haven't got much time to fit in sewing, but I did manage one thing!

I have three gorgeous nieces (two from my sister in law, and one from my sister), and I made this after my sis saw this fabric I posted and said Holls would love it (if you recall I purloined it from the Voodoo Vixen stand at London Edge - they were using it to cover the bar)

I needed a quick sew, so I opted to try this Mabel bag - a vintage style free pattern by Swoon. 

I'm not going to lie - it uses a very stiff stabilser and getting it through my machine was hard work, but I really love the outcome (yes the front is slightly wonky - lets overlook that for now)

Apparently there is one nine year old that loves it too!

Time I caught up - bags and more bags!

Its been a while since I posted. I've been so busy sewing you see! So this post is all about the bags.

First up - the camera bag. This is self designed as I just wanted something to fit my new camera. Its lined with soft and stable for padding, and the external fabric is a laminated cotton. I added a little pocket for the usb cable. It doesnt has straps as its just for storage - you can carry it about using the the camera strap, or attach a separate strap.
(which I didn't make, because I didn't need to, but I could do!

Next up. The telephone crossbody. I need to sort out my camera settings as the colours of this make it look garish but it just isn't. 

Thirdly, the very British satchel. A classic style with a very English theme. 

And finally... the Vintage panda. This is for me. It is our 10th Wedding anniversary tomorrow and we're going out tonight and this is coming with me. It took me a long time. There was much swearing. Vinyl is a bu**er to sew with, especially on a non-industrial machine. I persevered because I knew in my head that it would look just right when finished. I used the Vivian pattern from swoon with strap modification.