I have been very busy over the last couple of weeks drafting a pattern for a tote bag, and have made a few samples using the same basic pattern. This version was started yesterday, when I spent the day with my friend Helen (unfortunately I didn't actually get much sewing done - must have been too busy yakking!!). Anyway, I had an idea to make a "thrifty" bag, so decided to upcycle an old pair of jeans..... .....I used some fabric that I had bought from Fabric8 a few weeks ago, when I went shopping with my friend Val. I've quilted it very simply with a 3" cross-hatch design, and used a navy blue Mettler quilting thread. I used the bottom half of one leg of the jeans for the back of the bag (which was quilted completely) and the top half of the leg of the jeans for the front. I quilted the lining and added the front afterwards, and just quilted around the pockets to stop the layers from shifting, as I didn't want to quilt across the pockets!..... .....this picture shows the inside - I love this fabric - I added a useful key holder and of course one of my labels just HAD to added - this one has been sewn onto the outside of the bag as a design feature..... .....and here is the completed tote bag, complete with a pair of very smart brown leather handles. I'm really pleased with how this has turned out - Mr F had better look out as I might cut up his old jeans and shirts!! I'll share a tutorial later showing more details of how to make the basic bag. I've still got the other leg of the jeans left over, so watch out for another bag soon!
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After much umming and ahhing, I decided that I really didn't like the long black handles I had sewn to my recent tote bag - "Jordbærdrøm" - they were not very good quality, and twisted and felt awkward, and the edges on the back of the handles had started to fray before I'd even used the bag, and generally spoilt the overall look of it. I knew that if I wasn't completely happy with the handles, then I would never use the bag, so they just HAD to go - so I very carefully unpicked all those stitches (yes, the same stitches that I had sewn very neatly by hand only the night before!!), took off the black handles and replaced them with a very smart set of short red handles (I would have preferred black short handles, but suddenly realized the "black" short handles I'd bought from the Festival of Quilts were actually "very very dark brown short handles!!) - anyway, here it is, complete with red handles and very neat red stitches. I really really love this bag so much more now - these handles are smart and sassy (a bit like me really!!) and they don't twist or feel awkward - they just feel perfect! Right, now I'm ready to make another tote bag, this time with very very dark BROWN short handles! Now, where did I put those fabrics ;) Here is another great tote bag and yes it is by my favourite Norwegian designer AnnAKa, and this bag is called "Jordbærdrøm" which means "Strawberry Dream". With these strawberries appliqued to the front, it is the perfect tote bag to use in the summer. This kit was from a Swedish online shop, Lapp-Elisa, and I love the fabrics that Elisabeth chose for this kit. Various techniques are used to make this bag, including applique and machine quilting.... .....I used a fusible method of applique for this project and used steam-a-seam-lite, then I stitched around the leaves and strawberries and stalks using a button-hole stitch (by machine) to secure them, and used a black King Tut quilting thread. The back of the bag was quilted in a cross-hatch design, and the front was quilted "stitch-in-the-ditch" around the centre panel .... .....and the top and bottom panel were quilted in straight rows, using a matching shade of quilting thread. I used a fusible pellon for the wadding. The bottom seam was stitched first, to give a flat bottom to the bag, then the side seams were neatened with a single-fold binding, as were the corners, and did I add a label?? Oh yes - so everyone knows where this bag came from!! The famous "Nicola Foreman" hehe!..... .....and the black leather-look handles really finish it off!! I used a black DMC embroidery thread to attach them - and yes I did wear my thimble when I sewed the handles on this time!! I'm really pleased with this bag - it will be perfect to take along on picnics - if we have any more sunny days this year!! A few months ago I ordered this AnnAKa pattern - it is called "God Reise" - translated into English it means "safe travel". It can be used to keep your passport, travel documents, tickets, money, cards and everything you need while travelling. I haven't really had time to make this pattern yet, as I've been busy making projects for other people..... .....so you can imagine how pleased I was when my friend Eva gave me this as a gift when she came over to England last week! This travel folder has been beautifully made, and Eva's work is always so neat. It closes with two small brass briefcase clips.... .....and inside there are slots and pockets for your passport and tickets and travel itinerary. I love the lace zipper that has been used! This will be really useful when Mr F and me go off on our travels again later in the year. Thank you so much Eva - it is perfect! In a previous post I showed you a very patriotic bag that I had made ready for my trip to London last weekend. Well, I had a small piece of the screen-printed canvas left over. What better way to use it up than to make another bag!! I teamed the canvas with a piece of denim and made a tote bag (my own design - whoop whoop!!) and this is the result. This was very simple to make as I decided to quilt the bag and lining all-in-one so just had to neaten the seams with binding rather than make a separate lining. Easy peasy!! Oh and yes I have sewn one of my labels in the bag too - if I get any admiring comments when I'm out and about with this bag I'll be able to say "ohhhh - it's a Nicola Foreman Quilts original"!! And I just love these red leather handles (note to self: next time I decide to sew a pair of leather handles in place, wear a thimble!!) - I've now got a VERY sore finger from attaching these, but I am SOOO pleased with the result. This bag will be going with me to the Festival of Quilts later this week in Birmingham. I think I NEED to buy some more of these handles in other colours. Maybe in navy blue. And lime green. And red - I definitely more red handles!! Update: I've had several emails asking about the canvas I used (and thanks for your comment too Sheila! - anyway, I bought this fabric a few weeks ago from a local fabric shop called Fabric8 in Felixstowe. I had gone for coffee with my friend Val, and when we saw this in the window of the fabric shop we couldn't resist it! Unfortunately there isn't much info on the selvedge - just Made in Spain by Vilber. It was extra wide so we bought a metre then cut it half - as you can see, I've made two bags with mine, so it was great value for money! Well Mr F and me are off to London on Sunday to meet up with some friends, who we first met when we went on a cruise to Norway back in April. It seems such a long time ago now - so it's going to be absolutely great to catch up with them all again - (Vanda and Gill - can't wait for a good girlie gossip!!). We've got the day all planned out - travelling up to London on the train, then meeting our friends in a pub for a quick drink, taking the clipper boat along the Thames, a historical walk around Greenwich and then it'll be time for food - and drinks - and a bit of a natter - before we head home in the evening. I'm sure London will be buzzing with excitement as it's the last day of the Olympics..... .....anyway, I just needed a new bag to take to London with me - and what better than a really BIG bag to keep all the stuff that I'll need for a grand day out. I decided to use this fabulous canvas - how patriotic is that!! I based this bag on the pattern "Håndbagasje" by AnnAKa but did not use the applique or Suffolk puffs. I marked out a simple 3" cross-hatch pattern using a Clover Hera Marker, and quilted this bag using a King Tut quilting thread in black.... .....what do you think? Inside I have used a red crowns print keeping with the patriotic theme - there is a hanger for my keys - just perfect!! Oh and a label? Mais oui!! This bag is HUGE and so there's plenty of room for the surprises that I'm taking with me for Vanda and Gill (you didn't think I'd come along empty handed did you girls?!) Anyway, I'm going to have a fabulous time - and even Mr F is just a little bit excited about our trip too!! What a lovely day I've had today in sunny Essex! My friend Shula had asked me if I could teach a group of her friends how to make a tote bag - I hope they knew what they'd let themselves in for!! Anyway, I set off bright and early, and had an absolutely lovely time. Here is Shula getting stuck into quilting her bag - she'd appliquéd her daughters name on the front, and it looked sooooo pretty..... .....we all had a great time chatting and drinking tea and eating - we were well looked after on the catering front - as we had the most delicious lunch..... .....and tea and yummy cakes mid-morning and tea and yummy cakes AGAIN mid-afternoon..... .....all freshly prepared and provided by Shula's friend Lara and Lara's mum - thanks ladies it was DELICIOUS! I won't need any supper tonight!..... .....and here are the ladies with their finished bags - (unfortunately Joni and Michael had already left before I had a chance to take a piccie). Everyone worked really hard, and they made some stunning bags - I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did! UPDATE: Just had to add these piccies- when Shula got home she's sewn some buttons to the front of her bag, and she's also added these buttons around the large heart appliqué on the back of the bag - hope you actually sewed those on Shula and didn't use your bloomin' glue gun!!
I was extremely excited when Lynette Anderson emailed me and asked if I could make a bag for her to use, and when this beautiful collection of fabric arrived from her I really was in fabric heaven - I'm using an AnnAKa pattern for this bag, Mathilde's Sommerveske..... .....I spent absolutely ages on Saturday morning deciding which fabrics should go where, and which one should be a pocket and which one should be a flap. Anyway, here is the final arrangement - I do hope Lynette is pleased with it..... .....I decided on a blue-grey thread for the top-stitching and quilting as it's not too overpowering (I always use Mettler quilting thread if I need a plain colour, and this is shade 0684) and blends nicely with these muted tones..... .....as you can I see I've managed to get the pockets on and cut the corners out to make a nice neat bottom..... .....more pockets inside - this lining fabric is really pretty, and a cute clip to attach your keys on so you don't lose them in your bag. This fabric sews beautifully and I've really enjoying making this bag, although to tell you the truth, I was a bit nervous about sewing it for Lynette as her work is just so neat.... .....anyway, a frill around the top, scrappy handles and this bag is very nearly finished. A yo-yo (Suffolk Puff) flower completes Mathilde's Sommerveske. What do you think Lynette? I'll get this in the post to you on Monday :) UPDATE: Lynette has now received this bag and has blogged about it over here A couple of weeks ago I had an email from Lynette Anderson, asking me if I would like a bundle of her new fabrics, Secret Garden, to have a play with - honestly, I was just giddy with excitement - and today the fabric arrived - a wonderful bundle of fat eighths to drool over. Lynette designs fabric for Lecien, and this fabric is just darling - it is so fine and soft, and the colours are muted and oh my goodness I just love it.... .....and as if this wasn't wonderful enough, Lynette said she had long been admiring the bags that I make and asked me if I could make a Norwegian bag for her to use as a handbag when she goes to Japan in January. She sent me some extra yardage to make Matildes Sommerveske (pattern by AnnAKa) - to send back to Australia for her. Guess what I'll be doing on Saturday - that's right, slicing up this gorgeous fabric, which I'm currently stroking and drooling over. Hmmm - I'm in fabric heaven :) .....I met Lynette last year when she was in the UK promoting her book Quilting Cats and Dogs. My friend Eva was staying with me at the same time, so we were both lucky enough to go on 2 of her workshops at Quilters Haven (yes, yes, I know, going to them both was a little bit greedy!) but we had a great time - Lynette was very patient, and an excellent teacher - I just hope my bag lives up to her expectations!! I often get comments and emails form people wanting to know a bit more about the Norwegian patterns that I use. I was recently asked where I got the pattern from for this bag "Ut på kurs" (yes it's another AnnAKa pattern!) for keeping all my equipement in when I go on a class. When my friend Hanne came to stay with me last year she bought me this pattern and the kit as a present (she has the most WONDERFUL quilt shop, Lappedilla, in Norway.... .....the pouch that attaches to the front is made with plastic pockets so you can see all your equipement. The instructions in AnnAKa patterns are in Norwegian, but it has very good diagrams, so I was able to follow those.... .....and this is my version - photographed in the summer!! It was a bit tricky to make, but the diagrams are very good, and I was really pleased with it. If I get really stuck, then I use google translate which is quite helpful. My large cutting board - 24" x 18" fits in easily, along with all my rulers..... .....and the clip-on pouch holds all the bits-and-bobs like rotary cutters and pens and smaller rulers. It really is very useful. I altered mine a little bit, and instead of using to ties to close the pouch I used magnetic fasteners. If you want to buy any AnnAKa patterns, you can contact Hanne at her shop - her website is in Norwegian, but if you send her an email she will be able to help you - happy sewing! |
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July 2023
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