How to not make an i-Phone pouch.... while learning a few interesting things on the way.

Our 90mm flex frames are really popular, and we started stocking them around the time that iPhones started to become popular.

The frames were a bit too tight to make an iPhone pouch. So we ordered BIGGER frames, and they've finally arrived.

Meet the new 115mm Flex Frames... (5-pack listing will happen soon. Slow connection tonight is making it too painful to contemplate right now).

This morning, I set about designing the much-requested iPhone pouch....

(I don't actually own an iPhone, so this involved roaming the building - with my tape measure - looking for unsuspecting iPhone owners).

I was distracted for some time by the desire to transfer a picture of a robot (that my assistant drew last year) to textile art....

There was much scanning and image-tweaking, followed by freezer paper cutting and inkjet printing....

..followed by the realisation that I'd printed on the SHINY side instead of the matt side of the freezer paper.... which led me back to basics. (Using a 2B pencil and a window, I traced the robot to the matt side of the freezer paper).

...and used it to cut out teeny-tiny pieces of felt.

I learned an important lesson about the rumour I'd heard about using glue sticks to hold applique in place. I'm going to stick to basting spray from now on.

The fancy-schmantzy sewing machine was set to work where my interest in teeny-tiny-hand-applique failed.

The pouch was constructed in the same way as my tutorial for the 90mm pouches. Only by this stage, I've learned that my beaky-nosed pliers are the right tool for closing over the ends of the hinge.

The search for iPhone owners was resumed in earnest for the final fitting....

But it was a little.... ummmm.... roomy.

Cute. But too big (and a little glue-stick stained).

Another re-draft, a bit of inkjet fabric action.....another search for an iPhone in the building....

And it's still too big.

But I learned a very interesting thing..... iPhone 3's don't fit in a 90mm frame....but iPhone 4's do!

So.... the 115mm frames would be great for cameras and other electronic gizmos (guitar tuners, light meters...) or for a little notebook and pen. Not an iPhone.

Tomorrow I'll be looking out for Blackberry owners....

Fuzzy Felty Flex Frame Purses

So the flex frames have been a bit of a hit... but the most commonly asked question is "How do you use them?".... This afternoon I pulled out a scrap of pattern card and did this.
The bottom shape was just drawn freehand. You could make it any shape you want - oblong, square, completely abstract... as long as the top section is 4.5 x 8.4mm (give or take a mm). Fold the card in half and cut the shape out.

Cut 2 pieces of felt from this shape.

When I made the scarlet purse (in the top picture) I used beautiful Winterwood wool felt, so I only needed these outside purse pieces. With this burgundy purse I wanted to test cheap acrylic felt squares (from Spotlight). This felt is weak and thin, so I folded down the top 2.5cm of the pattern piece and cut two lining pieces in a contrast colour.

Using basting spray, stick the lining to the outside purse pieces.

Do some simple embellishment...

As simple as you like...

And as quick as you like...

Using the top of the lining as a folding edge, turn the top of the purse over. Give it a gentle press with steam so that it sits very flat.
Stitch the turning down to create an open-ended casing at the top of each purse piece. The backtacking at each end must be very secure here.

The two pieces are then stitched together (right side out) about 4mm from the edge - again with super-secure backtacking.

You can then either trim the edges with straight scissors (so that all the layers are level) or use pinking shears. Alternatively, this could all be lovingly handstitched - or blanket-stitched by machine - and there would be no need to trim edges at all.
Thread the frame through the casings at the top of the purse.
Line up the open end pieces and push the hinge pin in....

...and fold over the ends of the hinge to hold the pin in place. Use pliers, the sides of your scissors or whatever works to fold these ends over. (I'm yet to find my ultimate hinge-closing tool!).

Admire your purse....

...and squeeze it to open and close it.

Cute huh? And really quick. Quicker than it took me to write this tutorial.

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A quick note on the frames: We've had to add a little packing surcharge on the single frames (it's those itty-bitty pins that take all the time!). The single frames are now $3.90 each (CODE: FLEX90) or a packet of 5 for $18.15 (CODE: FLEX90/5).

Flex it

After too many requests for these flex frames, I finally ordered some in... ummm... a few weeks ago and forgot to blog it.

Sorry - it was the same week I forgot the kindergarten pick-up time. Needless to say, my one and only child, light of my life etc... wasn't the only thing that was forgotten. I had a case of the too-much-on-my-plates and was coming down with a bad dose of the oops-I-forgot-to-take-a-break-after-Sydneys. (I think some people call it the beginnings of burn out...?)

Anyhoo - you can now buy these flex frames from us. $3.75 each. CODE: FLEX90.

In the meantime, I've started taking a smidge more time to relax. A pledge to swim once a week and do a few yoga stretches each morning (with a child using me as a tunnel or climbing frame...hmmm...) is a good start. (I'm blogging this so I feel compelled to stick to it!). After four years of being a complete sloth, my former strength and flexibility is nothing but a distant memory - but I'm starting to tap back into the mind-space... and it's good.

Picture Uploaded to Flickr February 3 2007 by Eric Lon

And I'm sewing - too busily to think to take blog photos!

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Oh, did someone mention a website that needs a whole lot of writing and editing...? I'm not putting any more stress-inducing deadlines on it. I'll let you know when it's done.