Kid Stuff

Oh, the cuteness of this Aunt Lindy's Paper Dolls fabric.... I'm in lurve.It inspires all manner of cutesy-wutsey bags and hats for littlies. I made my Small Tote and Kids Hats patterns up in a patchworky mix-and-match style. Tonight, I was trying to beat the fading daylight to finish and photograph these (no time for a final press)....but the light beat me.

Yes, things look better with a bit of a press and proper lighting.... see? (I'll have to press and re-shoot this one).Earlier in the week, I'd made the winter kiddie set, using the Kids Beret and the shorter version of the Small Tote (a variation included in the Small Tote pattern) in pinwale corduroy. And I discovered a new page-load craft.... Kanzashi flowers! (Previously, they'd only been TV craft).

A very simple Small Tote Bag

The Small Tote is one of my "beginner" bag patterns. Nice and simple in its overall shape, it teaches you the basics of making a well-finished bag.... ..including a facing, a magnetic snap and a simple zippered pocket. I decided to tart it up with a bit of Auntie Cookie fabric, denim and clear PVC. The straps were easy-peasy webbing.

...And every seam I sewed, I sewed and unpicked twice. Then I sewed the strap on back-to-front and didn't notice until I'd topstitched the facing to the bag. Then I sewed it all up and realised that it had no magnetic snap in it.

I made every imaginable botch-up on this, the simplest of simple bags....

And I couldn't help but think that this girl was being a bit sarcastic....

...and that perhaps I should be thinking more about what I'm doing while I'm doing it.