New bits for the shop...

So, I've been on a bit of a making spree during these half term holidays! I was told people at the shop were asking for purses and smaller bags. And what with another, second, shop opening on Monday, I got busy....


Purses: 

Bags - all reversible, various handle styles and sizes but all basically a small book bag / shoulder bag! 


(That all need ironing before I take them to the shop!!)

 

 

 

All together now!

Final day of changing bag project.....

Well, it's been a project full of blood, sweat and tears, literally!

Blood: Pricked my fingers, arms and even my face on the multitude of pins sticking out from the edge of the bag! Ouch!

Sweat: It's hot sitting at that table, working hard, especially when the heating comes on! And the straighteners only added to the heat!

Tears: I have never had the thread break so many times in one project - ever! It was ridiculous! By the 'finishing touches', I was ready to give up and resign this to an incomplete pile - but it would be alone on that pile, as I've never not finished anything, no matter how frustrating! And I think I shed a tear of joy when I signed the label!

So, we got there in the end and it is indeed finished! Here are some finished shots

~The inside...

~ The top!

~ Was trying to pose with it but didn't work out so well!

I do love this bag and may have to make more in the future!

Total hours: About 8, I think
Cost: £58 plus labour (of love!)

Day 2 of the changing bag project...

Well it was all such fun and going swimmingly! Finished the second outside part and got to the stage where I needed to join the 2 sides to make the whole of the outside. Looking good!

Then I had to make the inside pockets with the elastic bits.

Another top tip here - instead of constantly jumping up to iron seams, use your Hair Straighteners! Work a treat and are totally portable to the sewing table! Was very excited to get the insides done and sew together, including T-junction seams at the bottom to make the box shape, by the time I went out for lunch!

So I returned from lunch thinking I'd nearly get it done.... but I realised I didn't like the pointy bottom corners on the outside bag part, which you can see in the picture below, so I decided to 'quickly' change them to T-junctions too. Easier said than done, because that meant sewing through a squillion layers of fabric and oilcloth, which my machine was incredibly reluctant to do, so kept breaking the thread and the needle once too! Think I must have re-threaded that needle about 100 times this afternoon!

Got there in the end but alas, it was now the ZIP stage! The problem with me, when I sew, is that I need to get my head around the practicalities of the process first, so I completely understand what I'm about to do and why! This was not the case with the zip part, so I just went with the flow and hey, it worked!

So I put all the pieces together, used a million pins and it's ready to be sewn together and finished completely tomorrow! It's looking great though and I'm really pleased with how well it's going, despite hours of frustration today! (Total time so far about 5 hours.)

Day 1 of the nappy bag project....

So I thought all I'd do today would be cut the pieces, but that bit was easy! I'm trying to be very organised with sewing these days, so even labelled the pieces!

The first instruction was to sew the seam on the PVC oilcoth - now, I've done this before on a machine and failed miserably so ended up hand sewing! I was dreading having to so this on such a large scale, so came across this AMAZING TIP online - sprinkle the PVC/oilcoth with TALC! It works! Am so chuffed because it's so quick and easy, if a little messy!

After about 2 or 3 hours, can't remember cos I was 'In the ZONE!'... I got to the stage where 1 whole side of the bag was nearly complete - I just had to sew on the handles.

And here it is, hanging on the door, ready for me to do the opposite side and the lining tomorrow! Going well and it's looking FAB, even if I do say so myself!