Perhaps you have seen these photos on my Instagram account? It seems I can’t crochet in peace – Simon will steal my ball of yarn away and Sophie will play with the length of yarn. This calls for a simple, but necessary project!
Perhaps you have seen this advertisement on Facebook or Instagram? This is an excellent idea, unfortunately I couldn’t get past the upside down trees on the zipper side of the bag.
So I decided to make my own.
I drew out my pattern piece and cut out my outer fabric and lining from cotton remnants and cut out my interfacings from fusible Shape-flex and fusible Thermolam.
My fusible Thermolam didn’t want to fuse, so I basted it on to my fabric. My iron isn’t the greatest though.
I sewed in my corners on all my pieces.
Sewed on my label – Whoo Hooo! 🙂
Sewed my inner pocket together and turned the corners out perfectly with my new toy, my Point Turner.
Inner pocket sewed on.
Outer bag pieces sewn together.
“Amber” my Singer 421G plowed through the many layers I put in front of her!
Pressing the seams open.
Outer bag done, and inner lining bag done the same way.
I placed one bag inside the other and sewed the curved openings together, leaving the handles open at the top.
I turned the bag through the opening at the handles.
Then I sewed the handles together.
Ready for topstitching and a few grommets to run my yarn through – unfortunately I have to wait until I buy some grommets!
All done! My craft bag can hold 3 5 oz balls of yarn – or all my crochet hooks, yarn, pattern and reference book. All safe from Sophie and Simon!
What are my #reSEWlutions?
I’m saying them out loud to help me keep them! Some of these are second nature for me now, some are new and will need some encouragement!
ONE: I have been on my own RTW fast since I did a year of Goodbye Valentino’s RTW fast in January of 2015. After 2015 was over I didn’t see any reason to go back to RTW. I learned I had the courage to try new projects and I discovered shopping didn’t have any appeal for me anymore. The only purpose in shopping now is to get ideas and copy them. So in 2018 I will continue my RTW Fast – with the possible exception of undergarments and socks, shoes and the like.
TWO: Make a bag – tote or handbag or wallet or whatever – possibly once a month. I haven’t bought myself a bag for 3 years now. I have purchased luggage since January of 2015, but not one handbag! I never used to be able to walk past a Bag Store without buying. Friends used to walk between me and the Store so I didn’t waver! I’ve broken that habit but now my supply is getting worn out and I’m starting to get the itch again and although this is something I have done a few times before here, here, and here, I think it is a reSEWlution that can teach me a lot of new techniques and make me very, very happy along the way!
THREE: Designin’ December 2018 – it will be the fourth year! I have to find my Designer Original. I’m happy to share my Designer research on Facebook, the Designin’ December group, and on my Pinterest, my Designin’ December and Designer Fashion boards. Join in with me if you would like to share ideas. We can follow each other! I will soon be updating my DESIGNIN’ DECEMBER widget in my menu, click on it and you will get all the details about Designin’ December 2018.
FOUR: Participate in some Facebook and Instagram Groups and Challenges like:
Dressmaking blogging network: I love reading what others are making.
Stashbusting sewalong: I have tallied up my fabric stash earlier this month and it is approximately 145 meters, give or take a few scraps only. I plan on keeping a counter at the end of each project post and I want to be at least 10% lighter by the end of the year, hopefully more!
#magamsewalong on Instagram: Sarah Liz always inspires me to sew for myself!
FIVE: Finish sewing some garments I have already cut out – a black & white print knit cardigan, a purple knit skirt, white print woven dress, navy woven pants and a blue knit skirt.
SIX: Possible sewing projects? I would also like to make some casual pants (linen), some casual knit tops, a red or blue print dress, and a cardigan or jacket. All these items will have to be sewn from my fabric stash.
SEVEN: Eat less sugar and exercise more! Bahahaha now that’s just plain silly!
How do you think I will do with NUMBERS ONE THOUGH SEVEN – any bets?
STASHBUSTING WITH THIS PROJECT? None, sewn with scraps, so still 145 meters remaining. Better luck next time!
Happy Sewing!
I have no doubt you’ll meet your goals (the fabric stash 10% lighter would get me—I am part crow & if I see something shiny —read a fabric that calls my name—my willpower wanes). I’ll be following. There are some great new bag patterns and new fabrics/mediums to make them out of. Good luck & happy New Year.
Thank you Mary! The fabric thing is difficult. I go in for lace and come out with a bagful of fabric too. My fabric store membership has to be renewed this year and I’m afraid to go in! I also like cutting things out ahead of time and sewing later, so there’s a lot of that to go through! I’ve found quite a few free bag patterns so I’ll be mentioning my sources as I go along! I’m quite fascinated by cork fabric! Good luck to you too with your sewing and Happy New Year!
What a great idea, especially if you’ve only used scraps. I could think of a few people this would make a great gift for. Lovely resolutions too and achievable…though I don’t think I would ever be restrained enough to do a RTW fast for that long!
Thanks Natalie! I found when I was counting my fabric stash that I have a lot of less than one meter pieces to use up. I didn’t even count those – too difficult! I just can’t throw them out! I have some small quilting ideas that can use those up too, and some colour blocked tops would take care of them. The first year of my RTW fast I sewed only what was needed. I still had some RTW, I just made a point of not buying anything new. I still buy undergarments and tights and socks too. It actually got to be a habit NOT to buy. And the time that was spent shopping is now spent doing other things, like sewing! 😂
Well I this it’s amazing that you’re so restrained! I think I could take a few lessons from you😂😂. When I started to sew more at home, I went on a 1 yard shopping spree and then later realized that there aren’t actually many garments I could make using yard cuts so I’m always on the lookout for ideas. It might be easier for me to use some now I can sew baby items though.
Oh yes, clothes for little people would definitely use up those one yard pieces!
I don’t know about you, but looking at your aims in my terms [well, why not?]: The RTW fast is pretty easy, I’ve been doing it for years now without even intending to! I’m not a bag addict, so the few I have made last me quite literally until full of holes before I want more. I have a couple that are going strong, so all is well [I’ve probably got more bags I only use for steampunk than for real life!] I intended to do last year’s Designin’ December, maybe I’ll get to it for this year? Meanwhile, I’m doing SWAP 2018, which will keep me going, and I take part in several online groups.
5 & 6 are normal- I have several things sitting staring at me, ready to sew, and need to crack on. My main aims, carried forward from last year [oh dear] are working with leather, and making trousers for the missus.
Less sugar and more exercise? You’re having a laugh mate!
It’s nice to know I haven’t bit off more than I can chew! Good on you for the RTW fast! 😁👍I tried makenine last year and got two done, I think. Failed miserably! Planning ahead is terrible for me. My head spins from one pretty project to the next. I have so many things cut out it’s starting to bother me! Your SWAP Challenge and leatherwork is quite admirable! I’ll be watching and learning from for that!
Haha! Number 7 made me laugh as I’ve just stuffed my face with a Pain aux raisin as a treat for having done a huge double grocery shop for myself and my mum…the thought of that reward was the only thing that got me through!
Joking aside, I love your Resewloutions. Like you, I’ve joined a few FB groups and have already really enjoyed them. I’m going to have fun researching Designin’ December too. Plus MAGAM is a goodie to do throughout the year. Love your bag making plans and that brings me to your crochet bag. What a great idea to keep those pesky little kitties out of mischief. It looks fabulous Linda.
Food shopping with a reward in mind is the only way to do it! I’ve seen you only a few of the groups. It’s lovely to connect with everyone! I’m sure the cats won’t be too bothered with my new crochet bag, if they can’t get into it they will just find something else! 😡😂
Good luck with your plans! I was due to go back to my exercise class today, having missed it for the last few weeks, but have copped out as it’s snowing. I must go on Friday!! I actually enjoy the class.
I enjoyed Designin’ December and am glad you’re continuing with it. I hope to participate again if I find something I like that fits in with my overall plans. And yes to MAGAM. I’m doing the RTW Fast 2018 and will need to sew to fill gaps (AKA I need to make trousers which fit well and develop a TNT – major target). With those in mind I’m doing the Instagram 2018makenine challenge.
Look forward to reading about your projects
Classes are a good motivation. We don’t have any close by so I have to force myself to start on the treadmill every day! Good plan – filling in the gaps is how I started the RTW fast, it got easier after that! I failed miserably with make nine – two things done then I was off in another direction like a dog chasing a squirrel! I’ll be watching your progress!
Linda! I love your blogs!! You inspire me to check out the things you’re doing and try my hand at them!! I’d love to join the design December contest. Just gotta find a design I want to recreate.
Ali!! 😊😊
Thank you for the kind comments! Remember your Designer Original can be a simple top or an elaborate suit. Find something inspiring but useful!
Great bag, and resewlutions (I see what you did there😉).
That all looks very achievable, and I would probably do well to join you but I’m afraid I seem to be unable to make plans and follow through at the moment. A really good move would be more determination not to be led astray by the Demented Fairy when we meet up to shop 😀.
Thanks! I can’t take credit for “reSEWlutions” though. It was going around social media before I came along. Cute though! I am terrible at planning what I am going to make next – I failed at “makenine”, only got two of the nine completed the whole year! I can be determined when cleaning up the fabric mess I am in though – but then the Demented Fairy is on another continent than me so I am safe from her evil ways!
Save me!!!!!
Cute cat! I have somewhere a carved wooden ball that used to be used for the purpose of holding yarn. It unscrews like those plastic easter eggs, has a hole in one side for yarn to come out, and a thin leather strap to put over one’s arm. It’s a great idea and genuinely holds the yarn in, no chance of it spontaneously being snatched by cats–
This one is also inventive and I hope it does the job for you!
Thank you! The wooden ball is an excellent idea! I should put my husband to work on that – he’s the wood working member of the family!
The one I have is certainly 100+ years old and belonged to a grandmother or her family. I am sorry I don’t have a photo but it is structurally lovely, very sleek and well-done. I have also seen rubbishy versions made of a cut-in-half large soda pop bottle that is then somehow fitted over itself and the yarn goes out the top–might be some room for creativity there too–
Interesting! Perhaps if I google vintage wooden yarn holder it will pop up! The soda pop bottle one doesn’t sound very nice.
The soda bottle was eh–practical maybe to keep yarn safe from cats or travel, but not attractive to me. Good luck finding some nice photos–I am sure they exist!
Thanks!
Some of these really resonate with me. I had a RTW fast on clothes and shoes in 2016 and had expected to go mad when the ban was lifted in 2017 but no, I only bought some running leggings and bras, I’m just not interested any more. I love the freedom of walking down a high street and going straight past the clothes shops and it saves SO much time on shopping trips. Unfortunately there are insufficient fabric shops to take up the slack 🙁 So I too will be continuing with a RTW fast in 2018. I’m doing SWAP18 (blame thedementedfairy), followed by #makenine finishing up with #DesigninDecember again if I can. I’ll also start running again if my knee will let me. Less sugar, possibly. I look forward to seeing how yours go.
Once you are out of the habit, clothes shopping really isn’t that fun – besides the fact that the fit of RTW is not always good on me! I do find it difficult to make bras. I think that the expense of the bra making supplies might be too much too? I’ve got a legging pattern now, somewhere, that I would like to try! When it comes to fabric shopping, we only have a basic shop 45 minutes away, a really good one on the mainland where I visit once a year in the summer (I will be buying some kind of fabric then) and I have a couple of on-line shops that I like and trust now. Still NO MORE FABRIC until I make a dent in my stash! The SWAP sounds intriguing but difficult and I already failed miserably at makenine (LOL). Good for you taking on such fabulous sewing challenges! I’ll be watching for your makes!
I’d have felt the same about upside down trees. Love your version.
Glad you’re doing Designin December again. I collected a decent Pinterest board for it last year but life circumstances took over and I did nothing. 2018 is the year!
Glad you’re joining in! I’ll be watching for your Designer me-made Copy! I think getting an early start helps. I find the planning and photo collecting to be fun! I should look for you on Pinterest and follow you there – if I’m not already!
The knitting bag is GREAT! Yours is way nicer than the upside down tree one! Love your goals… I am part of the RTW Fast and look forward to making more things for myself. I tend to always be sewing for someone else! … I did not make my 2018 Sewing plans yet- but there is still some time!
Thanks! Have fun with the RTW fast. It sure changed my way of thinking. There’s lots of time to plan for this year. I thought I was late but now I see others are still planning and plotting! 😁
I’m doing the RTW fast but as I haven’t bought clothes for years it’s not much of a challenge so am going to make some leather bags and wallets. Also underwear, but can’t face shoes! I love your knitting bag!
I’ll be watching to see how you do the leather work. I love learning about different materials, etc. Underwear, well I just don’t trust that I can make it right, and how expensive are bra supplies? I just have too many questions. Shoes… well I don’t think that is ever going to be a choice for me! I do know of a lady or two on here, somewhere, who makes her own boots and shoes, etc! So fascinating!
Let me know how to do the “Eat less sugar and exercise more!” says the girl who gained 5 pounds over the Christmas holidays and is having a difficult time getting back on the wagon.
The bag is lovely, but I am going to bet that Simon and Sophie find a way back into that bag the second it is within their field of vision.
Well you know the sugar thing isn’t true, although my daughter says I can do it. I have a restaurant meal planned for this Saturday, so I can’t possibly start it before then! And yes of course as soon as the cats find out what’s inside they will be into the bag! 😂
Hi Linda, hope you’re doing very well! I’m happy to announce I nominated you for the Liebster Award!
Here’s the link if you would like to see!
https://prettyconfections.wordpress.com/2018/01/23/the-liebster-award/
Thank you, Diana! I’ll go take a look!