Finished another Japanese Shima (Stripe) Bag.

As promised earlier this is the finished bag, back and front views which show the different fabrics used for the stripes.  I love the way this bag makes up as it has two different looks depending on how the fabrics are placed.  In this one I tried to keep the lilac/pink fabrics on the front and the orange/creams on the back and I’m really pleased with the result.

I made this bag slightly shorter than the previous one,  just for a change to make them a bit different.  As a recap, for comparison, these are the two bags together.  I really love these Japanese fabrics!  A reminder of the stockists Euro Japan Links if you want any!

A couple of skirts

More catching up.

Also a year ago I said I would make a cord skirt from a Prima pattern I had.  Well I did make a winter skirt from this pattern but did it in a different colour, a lovely warm rust coulour cord.

Then I made the plum cord up in an a-line pattern from a few years ago (view C).  The pattern is out of print but can still be found online from some vintage and out of print pattern suppliers.

Happy with both skirts and both in use.

Dyed Denim Jacket

As I said before I’m trying to finish things I started – well, almost a year ago I dyed a blue denim Jacket brown.  I had bought it on ebay thinking it was brown because of a really bad photo and needed to remedy the situation.  As I never got round to posting the finished item I thought I would upload it now – for completeness.

I had to take this in daylight or the colour would have looked wrong so the image isn’t particularly good but the colour is clear which is what I wanted to show – I am really pleased with the result considering how different it is from the original, have a look.

New years resolution (a bit late but whatever…)

I don’t know about other crafters but I have a real problem with starting projects… then getting distracted… then making something else… or even lots of something elses… then getting distracted… starting something new again… etc…etc…etc.  End result some finished projects and sadly lots of work in progress.

So my resolution is to re-visit all my unfinished items and actually get them done.  This has led me to do some knitting for a change which has been rather pleasant as something to do in front of the TV during all the dreadful weather we have had over the last couple of months.  My first project in progress was a large cardigan (again good for the time of year) for which I’d done the back and one front then put down over a year ago.

If I remember correctly my Mum bought me the pattern and the wool ages ago

I don’t think either are available now which shows how long I store things before starting … or finishing them!  However, with a new determination to finish what I’ve started and quite a few nights in front of the telly I now have a new cardigan to snuggle up in.

Japanese style bag

I bought a lovely book at the Northern Needlecraft Exhibition in Harrogate last year, Easy Japanese Quilt Style which one of the authors, Anne, was kind enough to sign for me.

Needless to say I also bought some fabric to make one of the bags in the book and also met a lady at the show who had already made the one which I had chosen to make, which she was using that day.  Well, seeing two versions of the finished bag (one on the stand and one in use) was more than enough to inspire me.  This is the image in the book, the bag is a really good size but I was advised to put some form of stiffener into the base, which is quite a large square, to prevent it from sagging when full of stuff (which my bag usually is!)

Some people use cardboard as a stiffener for bag bottoms but I prefer to use something which will wash so I opted for plastic canvas.  This is my finished bag and I’m absolutely delighted with it.

The design of the outer is made in a really cleaver way with patched triangles sewn in a ‘pinwheel’ then joined up diagonally (the lining is cut from one piece of fabric to match the shape).  I can’t describe it adequately here so have a look at the book, buy it and of course make one for yourself.  I only made a couple of changes, adding a pocket inside and putting the ties at the top so that the bag can be loosely fastened.  I would certainly recommend this pattern and can’t wait to make some of the others in the book now! 

Not happy with Simplicity 4180

I did as I said I would and replaced the faux vest in the pattern with a sewn in ‘V’ but whilst this bit worked fine I am not happy with the fit overall, I think the cotton fabric I used is too stiff.

So item scrapped and I cheered myself up with buying a shirt dress from Tesco which is shown (below) in the online Tesco magazine

Needless to say (as a 48 year old size 18) I will be wearing it with jeans or leggings but it still looks good (even on me!)  When it is worn out I will take it apart to get a pattern from it as the style is very flattering.

Simplicity 4277

Having tried out Simplicity 4277 view c in some inexpensive leafy cotton fabric I wasn’t very happy with the fit of the sleeves  (they weren’t full enough so ended up quite tight round my arms at the bottom) so on that basis I scrapped that attempt and decided to make up view d (without sleeves).

This time in a checked seersucker fabric with two shades of ric rac trimming.

This is the finished top, it needs to be washed and ironed to stop the hem from sticking out   (and apologies for the poor quality image – tried out a new camera not very successfully).  Anyway, altogether I am quite pleased with this I just hope we have some sunshine now or I’ll be wearing it with a cardigan!

Twisted Roses Bag – Progress to Completion

Not quite a day or so but over the weekend I did make progress with and managed to complete the Twisted Roses Bag!

First of all the addition of strips of fabric across and down to cover and bind the raw edges of the individual rose squares (above).  I decided to machine stitch these because the numerous layers of fabric were so thick that I would have had to use a thimble for every stitch and I don’t really like having to use one – especially for that amount of work.  I decided to go with the uneven finish as I don’t think it detracts from this particular design.

Then turned inside out binding the side seams and bottom corners (above and below) using strips of lining fabric.

Almost there, this is the bag before the top has been bound and handles added.

The pattern called for plaited handles using a combination of the fabrics from the outside of the bag.  These were  machine sewn into place on to the outside of the bag and to hide the raw edges  of the handles each one was covered with two appliqué leaves which were stuffed with the same wadding as the bag (Hobbs) and stitched with stem and vein lines (pinned on to the bag above) then hand stitched in place.

ET VOILA!  The finished result – perfect for a summer wedding – I am so very happy

Japanese Shima (Stripe) Bag

long time no post again I’m afraid!!

For one reason and another I have been preoccupied with other concerns during the past few weeks,  I’ve still been trying to fit my creative ventures in between work and family priorities but haven’t achieved much until the last week or two.

Since bags are my favourite endeavour at the moment I had to get back into creative mode by starting on this lovely kit which my mum bought me as a Christmas present from one of the craft shows last year.

This bag kit was very inexpensive (only £8) and included the pattern and fabrics – I just had to add my own wadding (Hobbs fusible) and trimmings to fasten the bag.  I decided to keep the design simple and use a cord and toggle fastener

I think these fabrics are lovely and the pattern so simple that I had to go out shopping, to use my bag as soon as possible!

This is the finished bag, I’ve taken pictures of both sides as the fabrics differ giving each side a slightly different character:

Front of bag:

Back of bag:

Reminder of the stockists link

Funky Retro Fabric

It’s been a busy week for me due to family matters and I thought I wouldn’t find any time at all either to relax or to make something.

However, I finally got some free time today and opted to start  by making  something simple which, if I was lucky enough not to have any  distractions, I might possibly start and finish in one day.  The pattern I chose was a very simple one, made in two pieces, back and front with the neck and sleeves hemmed along with the bottom of the skirt.

I had already bought 4 metres of a funky retro jersey fabric from  a stall in Leeds market (a serious bargain at only £1 a metre).  I bought 4 metres knowing that there would probably be a flaw somewhere in the fabric (the obvious reason for it being so cheap) and on inspection there were a couple of quarter inch holes near the selvedge where the fabric had obviously been caught  up and ripped.   Because I had allowed for this and bought far more than I needed I have still ended up with enough to make two items.   I dug this old Vogue Elements pattern out and planned on making two dresses, one short and one long really to establish which I like best.  I have only used this pattern once before and didn’t like the outcome because I found the plain black jersey which I used on that occasion attracted lots of bits (not a good thing with two dogs around!) hopefully a patterned fabric would ensure better results.

And do you think I was right?

I am really happy with the result  – this is not the sort of fabric or style I would normally wear but as it fits (and suits) me I have decided that I should think about being a bit more adventurous with what I will wear in future.  The dress fits really well and the way it hangs without clinging makes me think it will be lovely and comfortable for  summer evenings (if we actually have a summer this year!) Another success!

I’ve looked online for the pattern which is probably 7 or 8 years old and the only reference I can find is a pattern review written in 2002 on www.sewing.patternreview.com . You have to be a member to read the reviews but it is easy to sign up and there is a free membership option.

I still have to make the short version of the dress so I will add a photo when I do, hopefully in the next few days since it is cut our ready to make up.