Tea-party Baguette

I finished this today. It's my Baguette pattern.

The fabric is from the Charisma range by Chez Moi for Moda. I adore these prints - they evoke a late 1930's afternoon tea - lace gloves, fine china and pretty dresses. I used three different fabrics from the range, and I love them all. The colours are divine, and glow through a tea-dyed tone.. and they somehow still seem fresh and zingy (..for want of a better better ....ummmmm... vocabulary...?).

Below is the INSIDE of the bag...

This pattern is for advanced sewing skills, mostly because of these curved corners - although my instructions are designed to TEACH you how to get a really good finish with these.... and of course, a bit of practise helps!

The Baguette was one of my first patterns in 2004 - before I discovered Fast2Fuse. I now include a strip of Fast 2Fuse in the base of the gusset to hold it flat. (I cut it without seam allowances and fuse it behind the interfacing and wadding and then sew the gusset in place). It works a treat - and I'm yet to go back and revise the instructions with that tip.... you learned it HERE, folks!

I'm also loving these new 32mm flat o-rings in "antique brass" (that's the colour, not the age of them...). I did something a little tricksy (but simple) with a tube of fabric threaded with cord. A variation on the o-ring loop theme.

I have a lot of sewing to do over the next two weeks.... (gulp!) so expect to see a few more new variations on some old favourites!!!

And the winner is......

MY GIDDY AUNT!!!...
(No - actually... she didn't win at all. I'm just a tad overwhelmed by the HUGE response to the cover pic question!). Thank you all for your input and compliments. It really is very much appreciated.

I ended up doing a list of the bags and put little strokes beside for each vote (and a sidebar series of little strokes for second choice votes). It boiled down to a three-way split between the orange, mauve and Ikea bags.

• The orange was - as I thought - a love it or hate it one. No in-betweenies on that one.
• The mauve was out in front on FIRST votes and had quite a few second choice votes.
• The Ikea one had a more second choice votes than any, and quite a few first choice votes.

So.... I'm printing BOTH the mauve and the Ikea ones!! (In fact, I printed them this evening!).

Imagine a fold-line down the middle - so the big picture and title is on the front cover and the smaller pics and details are the back cover. For those of you who have bought my patterns before, I'm sure you'll recognise the formula.

The patterns will be ready tomorrow!!! YIPPEEEE!!! (You have NO IDEA how happy I am to see this project finished!!!)

SO ...who won the freebie pattern?

Bernadette... you were the lucky 172nd post!! You seem to have a knack of winning here. (We don't mind, because we like you - and you always leave lovely comments!!!).


The funny thing was, that after I'd spent forever deciding and making the covers I remembered that I'd used the mauve fabric (which, by the way is from the Loft 1800 range by Moda) on this purse pattern cover.... and today I was wearing a dress made from the co-ordinating print from the same range (also used on the Teardrop purse cover!!).

Should I have bothered with a vote at all....?

Supplies updates... and a materials list for the Laptop Bag

A few not-quite-on-the website items of note...
We finally found a new buckle for the MOD bag (since the one on the cover was discontinued by our suppliers the same week we released the pattern!!!). A super-shiny circular one - very MOD - with an inside measurement of 45mm. The little prong in the centre can be removed and it'll also work as a slide adjuster for an adjustable shoulder strap. CODE: BUCK01 $4.50 each.


We also now have large purse feet - which are great for the Beach Bag, the Laptop Bag and other largish bag bottoms!

We have them in Silver and Gold and the codes and price are as follows -
Pack of 6 - CODE: FEETFLG6 $4.90
Pack of 10- CODE: FEETFLG10 $7.40
Pack of 20 - CODE: FEETFLG20 $13.00
Pack of 50 - CODE: FEETFLG50 $29.65

We also have the small (flat) purse feet in ANTIQUE - same price as the other CODE: FEETFL on the website.

I've included Velcro on my new Laptop Bag (scroll down for the pattern giveaway) so thought I should supply the stuff! We have 25mm in black for $2.75 per metre. CODE: VEL25
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MATERIALS LIST FOR THE LAPTOP BAG
Since we're now taking pre-orders for the Laptop bag (CODE: BO825 $21.95) we thought it best to throw together a quick materials list... Instead of sending out a zillion email replies as to what's needed, we're going to post it here until the website is updated.

If you'd like to place an order you can email your list (including the codes,your address and preferred payment method) to Leah, and she'll sort it all out for you (she's great like that!).

YOU WILL NEED -

• 95cm-155cm Medium-Heavy Interfacing - CODE:IFMEDH $10.50 per metre
  If you’re interfacing the lining (needed for the expandable pocket) you’ll need 150cm. If not, 1 metre will be plenty.

110cm Medium Fusible Wadding - CODE: WADD640 $11.50 per metre

7.5cm Vilene S520 CODE: IFS520 $23 per metre. The mimimum cut of Vilene S520 is 10cm but 15cm will allow you to cut four bases.

7.5 x 37cm Template Plastic (you'll need to buy a whole sheet, which is 46.5 x 30.25 - so you'll get 4 bases out of it) CODE:TEMPL - $2.75 per sheet

See the interfacings page for details of all the above materials.

2m x 50mm Polypropylene Webbing - CODE: WEBB50 - $1.60 per metre

1 x 50mm Plastic Tri-glide - CODE: PLTRI50/4 $2.75

1 x 50mm Looploc ring - CODE: PLOOP50/4 $2.15
The plastic tri-glides and looplocs are available in packs of 4 pieces. These can be substituted for the 50mm Square Flat Tri-Glide and the 50mm Flat Oblong Ring in silver – minimum pack size is 2 pieces – if preferred.

120cm Velcro (see above)

6 x large purse feet (see above)

If you are using purse feet, you may also like to order a 4mm Saddler’s punch. CODE:SADP4 $5 each. BTW - These are about to go up in price by 25% (thanks to an increase on our suppliers part..!) so now is a good time to buy!

If you don't have an 18mm bias tape maker - CODE: BIAS18 $11.20 - you might find it a wise investment once you've learned how to make flaps like the one on the Laptop Bag. (Beware - it's a bit addictive and you'll be wanting to bind everything...!).

You can't iron over webbing or velcro, so a Rajah Pressing Cloth - CODE: RAJAH $7 -is another good thing to use while you're making this bag.

Optional: you may like to also use 35cm of clear PVC – this is available at Spotlight and Lincraft stores among others…

More Laptop Pictures

I'm all in a quandry about the cover picture for the new Laptop bag pattern.

Some of the best bags photographed badly... and some of them (like the one below) are too much like another pattern cover.....

Things that look great in real life look a bit DULL when you try to reduce reflection on PVC....

Then there are cases of "Am I completely biased OR does everyone think this is the best print ever...?"

Same print, different colourway (I'm like that...). Is this colour combination likely to attract or repel...?One for the blokes. This fabric SCREAMS Ikea, I think. Probably not my ideal choice for the cover pic but I thought I should put it in there.

Mind you - this weight of Ikea furnishing fabric is IDEAL for this design, and it's hard-wearing... and cheap.

OK - so I need your help here..... Let me know which you'd prefer and you're in the barrel for the pattern giveaway. Even if you're already in the draw you can have another go!!

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PS. Don't forget to keep your eye on the Handmade Help Blog for news of how your craftiness - or shopping for handmade goodies - can help people affected by the bushfires in Victoria.

Large Slouch Bag

I made a Large Slouch bag in a Joel Dewberry print.

Our house model looked fabulous in it....

I carried the original sample of this style for a LOOOONNNNGGG time. I loved that I could carry almost anything in it and the wide shoulder strap and weight distribution made it super-comfy. I shortened the strap and wore it around the small of my back as I zipped through traffic on a bicycle.... And then I had to re-design it as a nappy bag and stop zipping through traffic on a bicycle. COMPARTMENT POCKETS were needed!!


But wait... what's this on the other side of the lining...? A secret zip...?

Ah-HA! It's a whole new world in there... and look - EVEN MORE compartment pockets!!! You could stash a day's baby-gear in there!

The Large Slouch also makes a great overnight bag... or a big handbag for a gal who needs to carry lots of stuff. Gals like me.

And at the other end of the carrying stuff spectrum.... I also made another Curved Flat Bag.

...which is sweet and girly - and great for when you need to carry a few essentials (and a cute bag!).

Don't forget my pattern giveaway... looks like we'll be drawing it very soon...

Adding a little ZIP!

I've been sprucing things up a bit. Overhauling, upgrading, updating.... making LOTS of zip purses!
Lots of purse combinations and composition changes were photographed before this one won as the new cover of the Coin Purse Kit. Nice and bright - covering a few different tastes in fabric design (and strangely enough, matching half my daughter's wardrobe...!).

We get a few enquiries about WHAT'S in the kit, and what the difference is between the Coin Purse Kit and the Make-Up Purse kit (so this blog post is for posterity - it will be referred to in future with an easy link rather than a long email!).

There are four shapes and sizes of purse (12cm and 10cm boxed corner purses and 12cm and 10cm squared). The kit contains the instructions for putting a zip in a LINED purse with NEAT corners (not bunched-up-end-of-zip-in-seam corners). There are also 2 x black and 2 x white zips in each size. (If you need more zips, guess what? WE STOCK THEM!).

The Make-Up purse kit is ONE size (15cm) and comes with four 15cm metal zips (2 x black and 2 x white). We stock these zips as well. :)

Are you scared of zips? I'm surprised how many people are. So I'm going to be running a workshop at the Stitches and Craft Show to show zip-shy people that zips are (relatively) harmless haberdashery... nothing to be scared of.

I'll be teaching a super-easy way to make lined zip purses in all sorts of sizes - from coin purse to luggage pouch. See that lovley colourful pile above..? All done with this same easy method! (You may remember these xmas gifts? Same method!).

Just a visual reminder of where you can see me.... I'll be in the indie crafter section. The rest of the show will be fab too - the all new Living Creatively revamp will be worth seeing! But please come and say hello to me!

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PS. Thanks so much to all who have sent in more donations and bags for the Rainbow Comfort Packs. To follow updates keep your eye on Handmade Help blog. I'm posting there - along with a few others - and you can keep up to date on news of what's happening on that whole front. There are lots of ways that we can help - no matter how near of far you are from Victoria. Eg. Check out Trash's raffle.... you may have a few hours to enter before she draws it.

Laptop Bag Pattern arriving soon....

I spent a great deal of time developing some pocket instructions. I've spent even longer developing the pattern for the rest of the Laptop Bag. I'm embarrassed about just how long it's taken to make a pattern for what appears to be a straightforward-looking satchel style bag.
Ah... but the devil is in the DETAIL. There have been structural changes and pocket changes inside and out.

And finally I'm happy with an expandable pleated pocket on one side and a compartment pocket on the other.

And a patch pocket on the front of the bag (concealed by the flap).

There were lots of other things to work out (read: sample, tweak, sample, tweak.....sample tweaksampletweaksampletweak...), like the size relationship between the bag and the laptop sleeve insert (which can also act as a divider or document wallet)...

And the size relationship between sleeve and laptop....

Jiggling around purse feet placements to accommodate our NEW large pursefeet (watch this space for news on those!)... Getting the SHOULDER PAD right, getting all the tips and hints for using PVC, webbing and velcro throughout the instructions....

There are lots of finishing skills to learn with this pattern and the instructions (as always) are VERY VERY DETAILED. It's been a long journey, but the end is clearly in sight. There will be news soon.... which means I should do my regular giveaway draw for a pattern hot off the press. Leave a comment here and I'll draw a lucky winner when the pattern goes up on the website.

Edited to add: The fabrics are (brown bag) Lindsey by Timeless Treasures and (blue) You Got the Notions by Robert Kaufman.

Leah was one of my pattern testers for this one. She made a very teenage-daughter friendly version in this Alexander Henry skull print. I think it's fab. (It won the approval of said teenage daughter, too - it'll be her school bag).

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PS. Update on Rainbow comfort Packs HERE....

More thanks...

We're now well over the 100 mark with the bags for Rainbow Comfort Packs. Thanks to those beautiful people who dropped in with their finished bags today.

Thanks also to the fabulous person who made these biscuits for Saturday's sewing bee. They are absolutely delicious. Let me know if you'd like your jar back and I'll try to get it to you.

..although I'm making no promises about the biscuits.

Have you bought your ART FIGHTS FIRE raffle tickets yet? Only $10 each and a bunch of great art to be won.

I highly recommend that you have a sewing bee!

Get a bunch of crafty types together, tell them to bring food and whatever they think might be useful, and watch them move mountains.... or at least CREATE mountains.

Mountains of BAGS...

Mountains of donated toys and activities for kids.

Mountains of donated fabric... thanks to all who bought and brought. Thanks to Spotlight for donating (and to the Spotlight gals who came).

We took over the empty room next door to my studio (well... there was no lock on it!!) and called it a cutting room. It was a flurry of activity with rotary cutters and scissors.

Next station Embellishment Room...

Is that a BLOKE in there?? (My goodness.... didn't I have some Ikea furniture to put together....? OH - and he can design Appliqué motifs??!! Come in, Mr Tacc!!)

Team ZIG-ZAG....

(You should have heard the audible GASP of star-stuck awe when they realised they had a sewing super-star in their midst!!).

Yo-Yo Central was a hot-spot of activity and learning. (Thanks Becc for passing on your skill/addiction to so many!).

The construction room was a buzz of activity. Lots of wonderful people, including a few lovely bloggers (thanks Tinniegirl, Sooz, MissP, Kitty, Dr Bones, Muppinstuff, Hoppo Bumpo, Mistea, Sugarlemon...) and lots of people who heard about this sewing bee through channels other than blogland.


Special thanks to my sister Leonie, my cousin Helen and my friend Fi, who managed to get the word out through school, work and arts community newsletters. And thanks to those communities for responding so generously.

And the results...?

Stacks of freshly-pressed bags... I counted 80 finished bags (PLUS half a dozen nearly-finished ones sitting on my sewing machine), and goodness-knows how many that went home to be sewn up and returned. The day inspired a couple more sewing bees over the next few weeks in various corners of Melbourne.

I also counted 22 gorgeously appliquéd t-shirts....

...and 21 super-gorgeous hair-ties.

We'll be collecting handmade bags and things to put in Rainbow Comfort Packs. When the first essential wave of Bushfire Relief has settled, and the agencies involved feel that it is an appropriate time, these packs will be delivered to the children who make up some of the SEVEN THOUSAND (yes, I said THOUSAND) people who have been left homeless by the recent bushfires. It now looks like it'll be an ongoing project, as there are now SO MANY to get out to the affected communities.

If you think this is a waste of time and resources, I suggest you read this and this. If you think you'd like to help, perhaps you could sew something, or organise a sewing bee. There are lots of ways you can use craft to help out.

It's amazing what can be achieved when a group of people channel all their grief and empathy into something constructive and positive. If you need fabric we still have a donated stash to be used for this cause. Let me know if you're organising a sewing bee and I'll happily pass on the fabric and spread the word for helpers to join you.

Edited to add:

From little things, big things grow... Check out what happened when Gay put the message out in her community. She's having her second sewing bee next Saturday. If you're near Lake MacQuarie /Newcastle (NSW) you can join her!

Details for the Sewing Bee

Just to save time sending individual emails tomorrow... The sewing Bee is from 10am to 7pm on Saturday at the Brunswick Business Incubator. You can stay all day or stay an hour - anything is appreciated.

PLEASE RSVP BY EMAIL - I need to know how many to prepare for and I'll email details about how to get into the building (the security doors are closed on weekends).

Bring whatever sewing equipment and fabrics you think would be useful. Bring your sewing machine.... but bear in mind there will be either two or four flights of stairs to contend with (depending which room you're in). I have about 6 sewing machines and 2 overlockers that you can borrow if your machine is particulary heavy. If you have a portable overlocker please bring it. Label your scissors and things so they don't get mixed up with anyone else's.

We have kitchens with microwaves and sandwich toasters. We have filter and plunger coffee. We have tea bags. Bring a small amount of food to share for lunch. We have cakes and afternoon tea sorted (thanks to some generous souls).

Bring things like cotton tape, narrow ribbon and buttons. They make quick handles, straps and fastenings on bags. Bring plain coloured fabric and any cute kiddie-prints you think would be good.

Ummm.... I'm getting eyestrain and have to get away from this screen. If I've forgotten anything please email me!!


many thanks -
xn