Extremely Useful Smiley Bag: The tutorial

Hello, hello!

It has only taken almost a month, but I have made and photographed another Extremely Useful Smiley Bag. I am therefore fully equipped to have a go at my first sewing pattern/tutorial...

Lets have some fun!

what you are aiming for...

Before we even begin to talk about fabric and cutting out or any thing else, I want to give you some Useful Tips When Sewing. If you are anything like me you will ignore them completely and rush onto the making part but I am going to do it anyway.

Tip 1: Take your time.

Tip 2: Read all the instructions right through before you begin.

Tip 3: Don't sew after you are too tired to concentrate.

Tip 4: NEVER cut out after you are too tired to concentrate.

Tip 5: Iron a lot. Not boring laundry stuff, iron your sewing between every step. I cannot stress this enough. It is easier to cut, easier to sew, looks better and is less likely to all go horribly wrong if you IRON EVERYTHING!

What you need:

For the outside: a strong woven fabric such as an upholstery offcut.
For the inside: something woven and pretty that makes you smile when you see it.
To join it together: cotton thread.
If you want to, but totally optional: a magnetic fastener and two small offcuts of felt or similar.

Make sure all the fabrics are washable, test a bit if you are not sure.

pieces to be cut out of the outside fabric

 

IRON all the fabric you intend to use.

 

Cut out the shapes shown here. All measurements are in cm.

 

From the outside fabric:

 

Bag outer 46 x 76

Back facing 52 x 8

Front facing 40 x 8

Outside pocket 17 x 19

Straps 70 x 8 (cut two)

 

If the pattern on your material has a right way up and you want it to be the right way up on the front and on the back of your bag, cut two pieces 46 x 39 and sew them together right sides and bottoms together with an 1cm hem and iron flat to make a 46 x 76 rectangle for the bag outer.

pieces to be cut out of the inside fabric

For the inside:

Back inner 42 x 62
Front inner 36 x 56
Inside pocket 17 x 19

ooo pretty

I cut the inside pocket from different material because I wanted to. It's your bag, do it how you like.


Iron the two small pocket pieces then turn over and iron 1cm to the wrong side all round and another 2cm at the top edge.



Sew across the rolled hem close to the edge.

look no pins - shhh

need to work on my tension

Position the pockets onto the front of the bag and onto the back inner in the centre left to right and 8cm down from the top edge. Pin in place then sew round three sides.

 

Iron each of the outer and the two inners then fold in half, right sides together. Iron and pin, then sew down both sides of each.

Remove the pins and iron each seam to one side. Create a box shape by opening out each piece and flattening the corners. Line each side seam up with the bottom fold then measure across the corner. Pin and mark where you need to sew.

The measurement across the corner of the outer should be 14cm.

The measurement across the corner of the back inner should be 10cm.

The measurement across the corner of the front inner should be 4cm.

Sew across the corners.

Fold down 1cm at the top of each of the three pieces, iron and pin but don't sew yet.

Right, here comes the bit that is much harder to describe than it is to do, so bear with me...

Forget the outer for a bit. We are going to join the two inners together and put the facing around the top of them.

Pin the two inners together along the top edge so that the centre points are lined up. Sew together, close to the top edge for 15cm either side of the centre point.

top view of inners

Next, find the front and back facings, pin and sew them together at the ends with a 1cm seam.

Position around the top of the inners so that the seams in the facing line up with the places where the two inners are joined.

Pin carefully either side of that point, and then round the rest of the top edge of the inner and the bottom edge of the facing.



You will need to sew in two goes, one round the remaining top edge of each inner.

Iron and turn down a 1cm hem at the top edge of the facing. You should have a sort of double bag like this:

Ok, hard bit over. Moving on to the fastening. Remember, this bit is completely optional. It will still be a lovely bag without, but, if you want to add a magnetic fastener, then now is the moment.

The fastener is made up for four parts, the shiny bits that you will see on the inside of the bag, which have wings on the back that will poke through the fabric, and two disks that will be hidden between the facing and the outside of the bag.

You will also need two pieces of something to give the fabric more thickness. I have used felt but canvas, denim or wadding would be fine.

Find the middle of the facing side to side and top to bottom. Position one of the fasteners and mark where you need to make slits in the fabric.

Mark the felt in the same way.

Using a seam ripper or small sharp scissors cut tiny slits in the felt and the facing to accommodate the wings on the back of the fastener.

Carefully push the wings through the slits in the facing,

and then through the felt

Add the disk then fold over the wings as tightly as you can. You might need to use pliers but be carefull to cushion the shiny side of the fastener so you don't scratch it.

Do the same with the other part of the fastener.

Next, return to the outside of the bag. Turn the outer the right way out and iron into shape. Put the inners inside and pin round the top edge. Start getting quite excited about how bonnie it is.

Not too excited though, you still need to make the handles...

Iron a 1cm hem along both long edges of each handle.

Fold the handles in half lengthways and iron.

Pin and sew along both sides of each handle. This will give a much neater result than only sewing along the open side.

try to sew straighter than me

Insert each end of the straps down in between the outside of the bag and the facing by 6cm. The end of the strap should line up with the bottom of the facing.

Check that they are centred on the front pocket and the same distance apart, about 18cm.

Pin each end twice so it stays straight as you sew.

Check the straps are the same length.

Sew right round the top edge of the bag, joining the facing to the outer and catching the straps in place.

Sew again about 5cm down from the top edge. Check that you are far enough down for the foot of the machine to pass the lump made by the magnetic fastener.

I find it helpful to draw a mark onto the machine to line the fabric up with.

Another iron and... Ta Da!

Look who's got a new handbag!

What will you do with all those Extremely Useful pockets?

Fill them with goodies and you are ready for smiley fun and frolics!

Make a few to suit your mood, or the seasons, or to give to very lucky friends.

xx



Wordless Wednesday

xx

Granny bunting for Yarndale

As you may have noticed, I am getting just the teensiest bit excited about our trip back to the UK in September. One element of our exciting plans, that is extra-specially exciting, is a wee trip we have booked for just J and me. We are not going far, but we are going on our own, which will be a lovely treat. We were umming and ahhing about where to go and eventually decided on Harrogate.

 

It is somewhere I have fancied for a while and it is just down the road from Skipton which just happens to be hosting Yarndale while we are there. Yarndale is a coming together of all things yarny and crafty and wooly and I couldn't believe it when I found out that we might actually be able to go.

 

Now, I found out about Yarndale through the lovely Lucy at Attic 24. I can't believe there are any crafty or bloggy types that don't know her, but if you never have, pop over and take a peek - you won't be disappointed. 

 

As part of the yarny celebrations Lucy is organising a mammoth amount of crocheted bunting to decorate the venue - Skipton Auction Mart.

Here is my small contribution, I wanted something distinctive so I can try and find them when I get there.

If you want to join in the bunting fun there is still time. You can find the pattern and instructions here and the address to send them to here.

I am completely excited and will be putting these on the next ship and hoping they make it in time.

 

I think she is also planning a globe to show where all the triangles have come from so it would be lovely to have St Helena on the map.

Maybe I'll bump into a few bloggy friends in Skipton, I do hope so, although quite how we'll know each other I have no idea!

xx

An English Country Garden...

 ...except it is in a town.

 

I have written before about missing my beloved patch, but this week it really came back with a bang.

 

My friend and gardener who is looking after it while we are away sent through some snaps to show us how it is doing...

It is lush and full and verdant and floriferous and wonderful,

and I miss it  - terribly.

Not that I am complaining because I am loving having an adventure instead.

But look how desperate those raised beds are for rows of lettuces and wigwams of mange touts.

I have to say, under Richard's care the grass is looking more lawn-like than it ever did for me. I have heard rumours of a strimmer...

I am hoping hoping hoping for an Indian Summer in Englandshire this year so I can have a little summer-garden fix when we go back for our holibobs.

In the words of the wonderful Alan Titchmarch: Whatever you do this weekend, enjoy your garden!

xx

I made this and thought of Ada Bea

Do you know Ada Bea? She has a pretty and most lovely blog which you can find over here, and my post today is inspired by her. (Oh, and she is doing a fabby and fun giveaway right now so definitely worth a visit before Sunday.)

 

Just before we left for our sub-tropical adventure, a new and wondrous charity shop opened in our town (please please please let it still be there). On my first and only poke about, I came up with a fabulous haul which I never managed to blog about because we left within a day or two and other things rather got in the way.

 

The haul included a large rag doll which Tall Girl named Bluebell (all her dolls have flower names except the one that once was called Baby Jesus but then became Eleanor - have I ever mentioned that my Smalls are crazy?). There was a lovely towelling over-the-head swimming costume covering thingy, a monsoon dress which is still too tight, some mugs which I left in the UK and these.

 

I had not long discovered Ada Bea and her lovely blog, and I pounced on them from a great distance. Two pillow cases and two king sized flat sheets. I was full of much glee, I can tell you. I stuffed Bluebell, the towel thingy, the dress and the sheets into the already overcrowded suitcases and prayed we wouldn't be over the weight limit. You see, I couldn't possibly go on a sub-tropical adventure without them. I was not yet sure why I needed them with me, but need them I did.

Then a few weeks ago a sad thing happened. In the realms of sad things it was at the minor end, but it made me sad. One of the pillow cases that we use all the time on our bed, and we received as a wedding present ten years ago, tore. Right across the middle of the top side. It was unmendable. The fabric had worn so thin it was practically non-existent, and I was sad. I poked about on the interweb thinking we could order some new pillow cases and a new duvet cover to go with them. Then I discovered the price of cotton bedding and the revoltingness of most of the designs. I was more sad. Then I remembered my lovely vintage sheets hiding in the fabric-stash trunk, waiting...

Waiting for me to sew them round three sides. Waiting for me to leave a large gap in the middle of the fourth. Waiting for me to turn my new duvet cover the right way out and put on my bed.

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

I can't wait to go to bed tonight!

xx

Apple scones

Nicky asked for my apple scone recipe, so here it is:

2tbsp sugar (any kind, I usually go with brown)
2tbsp butter/marg
2 eating apples
12oz self raising flour (OR 6oz self raising flour, 6oz brown flour, 1tsp baking powder)
1 egg
60ml milk

Sorry about the terrible mixture of metric and imperial but I'm a mixed up kind of baker.

Preheat the oven to 180C.
Cream the butter and sugar.
Grate the apples (with or without the skin depending on the fussiness of your audience)
Mix the apples into the sugar and marg.
Add the flour and egg and enough milk to form a soft but not sticky dough.
Flour the surface and press out the dough gentle to about 4cm thick. Cut circles with a small/medium cutter.
Bake for 10-15 minutes.

Gobble.

The fairies and pirate have been showing Grandma their footprints at the millennium forest.

xx

Slow Living June 2013

As usual I am linking up with these good people...

Nourish

I am continuing with my mission to get the Smalls to eat grown up food most of the time, and getting them to help make it definitely helps. Tall Girl is a bit of an expert at guacamole and also wants to be able to help with the fajitas.

 

I have done lots of baking recently. Pumpkin scones have been a favourite for a while but I tried apple scones this week which went down a treat.

Prepare

Preparations round here are not of the jammy or bottling kind, but are for September. Were are going back to the UK for a few weeks to see friends and family, to restock our wardrobes (the Smalls will keep growing) and to glory in the wonder that is Sainsbury's fruit isle. We have had car hire to organise and trips to schedule and we are having lots of fun planning lots of fun...

Grow

After metaphorically stamping my feet and throwing my teddy out of the pram about veg growing I have pulled myself together and I am ready for another go. I spent a happy hour footling with seeds and I am at the stage where I am forever checking for signs of life. I shall have to be extremely nice to the neighbours to get them to water them for eight weeks while we are away... We also have catalogued a pineapple related success. Tall girl has a science book that said if you cut the top off a pineapple and plant it, it should grow. Well after sulking for a couple of months it looks like it may have worked!

Reduce

I have decided that brown paper is no longer the thing, and I am now wrapping parcels in newspaper before taking them to post. Actually, I ran out and had to improvise since missing the post means a three week wait!

And of course there were experiments in tarn which I am definitely not done with yet!

Create

After the success of my latest handbag I am making another one with the intention of writing up the pattern. Watch this space...

Discover

A few weeks ago I met a girl at a party who had a flax handbag made using a different technique to what I have learned. She very graciously allowed me to empty her bag, examine it, photograph it, turn it inside out and generally mistreat it. I have spent many hours replicating it and I am in the process of taking pictures and writing up a tutorial for my fellow flax weavers.

Enhance

Still crafting on a Thursday and most excitingly have been teaching my friend to crochet. She is very keen and has been practising, practising, practising. She is making a cushion cover with granny squares on the front and stripes on the back and I think we are going to try some edging and some flowers. A real sampler of techniques.

I have also been asked to do some major surgery on this poor kangaroo. Crocheted by a Granny for her grandson then mauled by an overenthusiastic dog he is missing his  ear (presumably eaten), has a large hole in one side and almost no stuffing left. I have acquired some yarn that is not a bad match and I need a quiet moment to see what I can do.

Enjoy

This month we celebrated Tiny Boy's birthday which was a two part affair: presents and cake on his birthday and party (more cake) a week later. He wanted to wait and have his party when Grandma had arrived. My Mum is the latest visitor. The Smalls are very much competing for her attention and are pretty hard work. They had half term last week which was a bit full on but term has resumed and with it, sanity.