A yummy bag

There are lots of beautiful rucksacks or bags to buy here in Germany, but the problem is that there isn’t much choice, what I mean is that the same bags are in all the shops. And again, everything, well almost everything is made in China. So I had a piece of red polka dot printed canvas which came with the UK edition of Home-style Sewing, some time last year. It was meant to become a bag but I decided to keep it, although I had no idea what to do with it. So a trip to the high street last week prompted me into digging it out and looking at it for a very long time - wondering what to make. My daughter had a little rucksack for the Kindergarten but it was rather old so there was the opportunity, and it was a real challenge, a proper sewing project, as I have never made a bag before. I mean a proper bag, with straps and front pocket. So there it is…a little red polka dot bag for my little one to take with her every morning.

As you know I love cupcakes and also free hand embroidery so there was no question what to make on the front pocket. The first time that I saw this kind of outlining the appliquéd object with free hand embroidery stitch, I immediately fell in love with the style and have used it many times since.
And it has proper shoulder straps too…

So off to tend to my sick husband and to dream about my next project - a fabric baby book, or something similar...
Love,
Irina xx

A little make up bag

I have barely been able to find time for crafting as we are moving house soon and it is really busy. But I found the time to make a little make up bag for my friend Dora’s birthday. The first bag I made turned out to be a bit of a coin purse, so I made a new bigger version. I really would like to provide a tutorial, and hope to make another bag soon.
The bag is made from 100% cotton Moda fabrics – great quality and lovely patterns.
The bag took a few hours to make and because of the three layers proved a bit of a nightmare. The thread broke about a million times and it was rather frustrating. Now that I think of it I probably didn’t use the right size needle (oops) and also there was no point in using cotton thread – polyester would have been much better.
Despite all that, my friend loved the bag and I would definitely be making more.