Revamped

At last, we have a new and reliable source of grommets for the Fan Bag, so we can add it to the list of revamped and rebranded YOU SEW GIRL patterns. 

It's been hanging in limbo for months, so I'm very happy to announce that it's NOW available.  If you can't make it into Northcote to see us, you can ask at your favourite YOU SEW GIRL stockist to order it in for you.

The Fan Bag is an instant gratification sort of bag project.  It's super-quick and very easy to make (even for beginners).  It's fully reversible and can be made as a day or evening wristlet (or both... being reversible).   It's also a really lovely gift-wrap for small presents (think: Christmas).

 

Another revamping - this time as a digital download - is the Make-Up Purse.  Like the Coin Purses, it's a great way to use up scraps and offcuts and makes practical, attractive gifts.  Also like the coin purses, the instructions for this one are all about making neat zipper ends (no bunched up corners).

I've revamped the pattern completely, making 2 x sizes for 15cm/6'' zips (one is the original size and one is taller and wider) and then there's an adjustment on the larger size to make purses to fit 18cm/7'' and 20cm/8'' zippers (all the maths and patternmaking is done for you for these sizes, but you can also extend the pattern to make pencil cases or purses of any length).

 

Watch this space for more new patterns for Christmas gifts.  I have a few new designs on the back-burner.

What's new...?

Well... for a start, the new SEWING CLASS 1 - Shopping Bag is in the shop!!
You may have seen it HERE... or HERE...or HERE... and you may be waiting to hear who won the giveaway....? Mr Random-Number-Generator picked out Shell. Drop me a line Shell, and we'll pop a pattern in the post to you!!

I'm hoping to schedule a few real life Absolute Beginners classes as soon as we move to the new building - watch this space!!!
I've also been working on another QUICK project - the Fan Bag. This one is suitable for beginners (although it isn't a sewing class one, it'd be a good follow-on from the Shopping Bag).

I'm in the final-tweaking stages of the instructions, so it's a matter of days before this one is ready to go. I'll try to get it up on the website for pre-ordering as soon as possible so that if you want both of these patterns, you can save a bit on postage by getting them sent out together.
It can be flat (like a fan) or have boxed corners (which makes it sit up like a cute little parcel). It's also fully reversible.
Like the Shopping Bag, I think it'd be a cute way to wrap small presents for Christmas.
It's also the perfect Christmas party purse. Simple, and hands-free... (and you can rummage in the bag without having to fully open it).

Or open it up and have a good ol' look around in there (while ignoring the fact that I haven't slipstitched the base seam closed.... oops).

Yes - that's a plastic grommet, which the strap pulls through to close the bag. That will come with the kit. You can then buy extras to make more bags.

If you can make a bound buttonhole, I think a large one would make a really interesting alternative to the grommet (bound buttonholes are not a beginners technique, so the instructions are not in the kit).

The Fan Bag tarts up quite well with a bit of razzle-dazzle fabric and a bias-cut rose*, too...

*There's a book coming out mid-2011 that will show you how to make things like fabric roses, among various other fabulous tips, tutorials and projects....

Anyhoo - it's so quick to whip this one up, you'll be able to make one to match every mood or outfit.

In other news, I'm still waiting for the lease contract to be drawn up for the new digs, I'm still getting last-minute rewrites to do for Le Book and it looks like we'll be moving to a house where we might be able to get a new....

....

...PUSSYCAT! (woohoo!)