Market Tote

My husband cleaned the garage and I was unable to find my market totes from Meijer. So, I decided to replace them with something a little more fun and I love sewing, so here is what it ended up looking like...

It is a bit bigger than a Meijer bags but the loop still fits and it holds a little more.  The straps are reinforced so it can take the weight.  I got the fabric and pattern from JoAnn Fabrics.  The pattern called for a fleece fill, but I didn't use it.  I used a heavy duty interfacing and an extra heavy duty interfacing for the bottom so it would maintain the weight and shape.

Green Tote

I made this bag for my mom.  She is going to put her laptop in it when she travels.  I liked the bag a lot!  I would like to make a version of it only smaller to carry as a purse (for my sister).  I got the fabric at Field's Fabrics.  The pattern doesn't give the measurements if you want to add the contrast, but the lady at the store cut out the pattern pieces, laid them out and gave me the amount I needed.  I didn't write it down...should have.  I added the big button for a fun accent.  The lining of the bag is gray and green!  I am really happy with how it turned out!

Orange

Here is the latest sewing project!  Can't wait to carry it! 

I purchased the fabric & pattern from Field's Fabrics.  I struggled the most with the curve at the top of the bag.  It took a few times, but the third time was the charm!  I had a lot of fabric left over, so I plan to make one for my mom (to use for her trip to New Mexico)!

Hot Pink Purse/Bag

Love the hot pink!

This is the most recent purse/bag I sewed.  I have really got the bag pattern down pat.  I think I could do it without looking at the directions.  I added the flowers and the buttons in the center of the flowers.  I think if I make another one, it will be slightly smaller with shorter straps.

Sewing Projects

Well, I have been having so much sewing.  Who would have thought?!  It is a good thing that I have my mom to teach me and encourage me.  This pillowcase dress was my first sewing project. 

It turned out so cute!  My Natalie can’t wait to be able to wear it!

The next project was this skirt.  I liked the fabric and thought it would be cute with a white shirt and some black sparkle flip flops or strappy sandals.

I have to admit that when I made it, it was way too big.  My mom had to cut it down.  The one good way to look at my mistake was It gave me more practice putting in a zipper.

The next project was this dress...

It is for my Sophia.  I had more help from my mom.  The pattern had it lined.  I didn’t think it needed to be, so this is where mom came in...She lined only the bodice of the dress.  We kept the layers of the skirt unlined (plan to have my little one wear a diaper cover).  I used a 7/8” ribbon to tie.  I am thinking about having her wear this at Easter.

Purse

Pink Purse...

For my birthday last year, my mom took my sister and I to The Homestead in Glen Lake, Michigan.  It was a beautiful place.  While we were shopping in the quaint shop called The Cottonseed, I found the cutest hot pink/fuchsia purse.  I got a lot of complements on the purse.  Sadly, it started to fall apart in the first few months. The Cottonseed gave me a full refund and paid for the shipping too! 

So, for this project, I decided to find that pink color and make the bag out of it.  I took the free pattern from Field’s Fabrics and just scaled it down.  I think I made it a bit too small to make it functional for me. I may try a size in between the ruffle bag and this one.

Ruffle Bag

   

 My Mom asked about my blog tonight when I was over there for dinner. It made me realize it has been a bit since I posted anything. So here goes...

I got a sewing machine for Christmas and I love it. It is a Husqvarna H-Class 100Q. It is funny to think that when I was growing up my Mom wanted to teach me to sew and I wasn’t interested. It is funny how much you change as you get older. I find myself excited to try new things and sometimes impatient to learn the right steps. I call my mom all the time for sewing lessons, but it can be difficult for me to understand and difficult for her to explain the next step on the phone. Lucky for me she does come over and give me lessons whenever she can.

This is the bag that I made using the free pattern from Field’s Fabrics. I got the ruffle idea from a pin on Pinterest which leads you to Ucreate blog. This tutorial has you buying a premade bag and adding the ruffles and rosettes.

My first attempt at the bag was not good. I ended up ripping it apart and starting over...thank goodness for the trusty seam ripper. When giving it another try, I thought through the steps before putting the bag together.

I cut out the pieces to the bag and before sewing the two sides together, I added the ruffles, so the edges are nice and neat. I attached my rosettes with a glue gun. I added the rosettes after watching this rosette video tutorial .