Tuesday, January 20, 2009

All Dressed Up

I've been making new bag samples to take to the Stitches and Craft Show in (eek!) March.
The Dress Bag is a particular favourite of mine. It's called the Dress Bag because it's the right size to take out with you when you're dressed up! Think lipstick, phone, keys, money... all you need dangling from your wrist when you're looking gorgeous at a party or the races. It's simple to make, needs very little fabric and can indeed be dressed up for any occasion.... it's very versatile, and I like a pattern that's versatile.

Here's some detail of the rose on the front. It's a bagged-out bias strip that is hand-stitched into place.

It appears that I'm on a bit of a detachable strap bender.... (Swivel hooks are a marvellous thing!!). The purse can be a wristlet or a clutch purse. It can also have a zippered gusset closure (with a plastic rectangle zipper pull).


This one - in Flutter-By and Full-Moon Forest (both by Moda) has been around since last November, but it fits in here because it shows the flap....

...and an alternative closure - magnetic catches (snaps). It also shows the optional inside zip pocket (and a little patch pocket on the other side that I added just for fun).

And here it is all ready for a spring garden party in a gorgeous Sandi Henderson print... I put the yo-yo maker to work and included a flat o-ring in the strap. I think that's all the decoration it needs.
...Oh.. and there's a zipper pull on the zipper.

We still have these plastic zipper pulls, some oval ones and a few of the brass teardrop ones left (finite resources!). We're on the lookout for more supplies of the discontinued flowers and hearts.

Watch this space for more of my new Stitches and Craft samples.... and hopefully a new pattern before too long!

10 comments:

smileykylie said...

Nikki, these are really beautiful, keep up the good work! I'm about to have a go at your purse frame kit...wish me luck! Cheers :)Kylie

Kirrily said...

Ohhhh love the second one you've got there!!!

Are you coming back to Sydney for stitches and craft??

Nikki said...

The plan is to do the Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane shows. Hope to meet lots of bloggy friends at each show.

Anonymous said...

You are so clever Nikki it's not funny!!!!!

Gay McDonell said...

Yeah the Dress Bag is a fab pattern, I love how the whole zipper gusset thing works - and your instructions to do this are equally as fab! Sew happy to hear that you're coming to Sydney!!!!

CurlyPops said...

I'm loving the bias strip rose. Ingenious!

our shabby cottage said...

Oh, I love little wristlet purses - they are so handy! Love the rose!

Katy said...

That's great to here you are coming to Brisbane..

I finished one of your patterns i bought a while ago yesterday. Take a look at my blog,

http://whatkatydiddesign.blogspot.com/2009/01/currently-making.html

Your patterns are fantastic, the best i have worked with, it has taught some new skills and it is my best made bag yet, thanks !!

Katy said...

oooooo! Of course you can link to my post! How exciting!

Taccolina said...

Those purses are fantabulous. Made me go 'OoooOO!' - especially the first one. And I've just added 'yo-yo maker' to my long list of loot to search out this weekend. Inspiration = Lovely!