Market Bag for Mum

It was my Mum's birthday last Sunday.  I'm really into giving things that are practical so I made her this market bag over a week ago and sent it to her (she' currently on an extended holiday in the Med).  Life is quite different there, she doesn't have a car so does her grocery shopping on a more daily basis.  I got the idea from Traci's versions of the Jane Market bag but worked out the basic pattern myself with the help of the free Poochie Bag pattern.  The finished bag is much larger at 14"x14.5".

Click for a larger image

I wish I had taken a photo of the back (no pocket) and the lining (the duck egg blue dot) but I was in a hurry to get to the post office.  The floral is a Lecien I have had in my stash for a couple of years, it's quite a heavy fabric I'm not sure if it's duckcloth.  I only used interfacing (Vilene H640 iron-on fleece) on the straps to give them some padding and I like the dimension it gives with the topstitching.  I also had a play around with no-cord piping in the construction of the pocket out of the same fabric I used on the straps.  It was a complete experiment since I've never worked with any kind of piping before.  The bottom of the pocket where I turned it right-side out is not perfect but a least it's hidden.

I think the bag has got a Cath Kidston & retro vibe but it is quite appropriate for an elderly lady.

There are a few more photos on my Flickr.

My Creative Space

The next project on my To Do List is a scarf for my mother-in-law's birthday which is coming up next week.  I bought 0.5 yard and this Little Folks voile which is one of the most beautiful fabrics I have ever felt.  I understand what buttery soft means now, it literally feels like butter in your hands!  I also bought 0.5 yard of this Robert Kaufman flannel which is very soft too.

I'm kind of stuck with where I'm going to go with this scarf now.  Originally, the flannel was to be a lining to make the scarf warm since MIL lives in Melbourne.  I also love the idea of an infinity scarf, originally seen on Traci's blog.  I'm just not sure whether the flannel would look too 'basic' as it will be seen more.  AMH does her Figuring the 8 scarf as a voile/velveteen combo which sounds divine, wish I had bought velveteen instead!  Anyway, I still have a few days to mull over it as we are heading away to Mollymook for the weekend tomorrow.  If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.

This is the secret project from last week's CS.  I took these photos today as the ones I had from earlier in week were not that clear.  Details on the bag are in this post.

 For more creative spaces you know where to go....

Show and Tell - Nikki Tote Bag

I made this Nikki Tote Bag as a gift for my niece who had her 30th birthday on the weekend.  Unfortuntely, I started mid last week but the whole process took so much longer than I expected so I didn't get it finished until this afternoon.  I hope she likes it! 

 

Nitty Gritty:

3hrs to trace & cut fabric
2hrs to trace & cut interfacing
2-3hrs to iron on interfacing
8hrs to sew

Amy Butler, Love, Cypress Paisley in Mint  (1.125 yards)
Eleanor Grolsch, Zoo Menagerie, Blossom in Purple (1 yard)
Fusible Woven Interfacing for exterior & interior fabric
Vilene Fusible Fleece H640 for handles

I used much less fabric than the pattern suggested but it was a squeeze and I had cut each inner handle as 3 pieces and piece together which you can see if you click on the picture (I didn't want to do it as 2 pieces and have the join sitting on the shoulder where it might get annoying).



Buttons 40mm (1.5") from All Buttons Great and Small but you can get them for a fraction of the price on Etsy if you've got the time to wait.  Also 2" would've worked better. 

Next time I would like to put some contrast piping between the band and body to break up the exterior fabric OR just use a solid/third fabric for the band and handles.  Also, I might think about using a contrast colour for the topstitching.

My Creative Space

Can you guess the fabrics?  Tip: There's only 2.

Ssshhhhh!  There's some sewing going on this week.  It's a present so I can show you what I'm making until after the birthday girl receives it (provided it all works out OK).  Check back on Monday to see what it is.

Forgot to say check out other CS's at Kootoyoo.