How-To: PolkaDot Shoulder Bag

Posted on July 13, 2008
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Polka Dot Shoulder Bag

I really do enjoy making my own handbags, but I don’t tackle a handbag project nearly as often as I’d like. That’s mainly because I tend to become paralyzed by indecision. What fabric should I use? What style do I want this time? Oh, I’ll make this one… but, no, I think I’d rather have that one! It’s a vicious cycle. And sometimes I don’t make bags because, honestly, they can be a bit tedious. But every now and then, I come across a pattern or tutorial on the internet that is both irresistibly easy and stylish.

I’ve had this tutorial over at Tiny Happy bookmarked for a long time, and I’ve seen so many great examples of the finished bag on Flickr and elsewhere, that I finally had to make one myself. And I’m so glad I did! The instructions are very clear, the photos illustrate the steps well, the bag was so easy to make, and I’m really pleased with the finished product. One great thing about this bag is that there’s only one pattern piece, so you’re not making a strap and attaching it separately. You can also customize it quite easily. For example, I made the bag about 3 inches taller because I carry my calendar with me everywhere and needed a little extra height. You could even shorten or lengthen the straps if necessary.

How-To: Bleach Discharged Velvet Bag, Part 2

Posted on July 2, 2008
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Velvet Bag with Frame Closure

For a while now, I’ve wanted to make a little bag out of bleach discharged velvet. I’ve had the handbag frame for over a year, and I’ve had the velvet from yesterday’s post even longer than that. But I just never came across a pattern I wanted to use, and couldn’t motivate myself to draw my own (lazy, I know!). Last night I finally realized that this bag would never happen if I didn’t take a little initiative, so I quickly sketched out a shape onto my lining fabric and took it from there. The directions that follow are not precise, but will give you some idea of what’s involved in the process. If I make another bag with a sew-in frame, I will probably make it a lot larger so I can gather it into the frame. This will not only make it easier to get things in and out of the bag, but will reduce the need for precision in fitting the fabric to the frame. I think I’ll also add some fringe or rhinestones for embellishment. The frame I used has loops for a chain, so now I’m on the lookout for something I like.

How-To: Bleach Discharged Velvet Bag, Part 1

Posted on July 1, 2008
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Bleach Discharged Velvet

For an easy and effective do-it-yourself vintage technique, there’s nothing quite like bleach-discharged velvet. In addition to removing dye and giving your fabric a lovely, time-worn look, the bleach also changes the texture of the fabric, and it will feel soft and well-loved. Although you can bleach-discharge any color of velvet, I find that I like the results best when I use black velvet with a high rayon content. Your finished piece will vary depending on the combination of dyes used by the manufacturer to make it black. In the example above, the bleach left behind a beautiful golden color, but it’s possible that your fabric may have a slightly more red or green cast when it is finished.

Before bleach-discharging your velvet, you will need to decide whether or not you want your finished piece to be patterned. For example, you might want to tightly fold the piece to achieve a linear effect with the bleach, or you may decide to loosely scrunch it, as I did, for a softer, mottled look. I suggest experimenting with a few smaller pieces to see what you like. In any case, you shouldn’t expect your pattern to be sharply defined unless you are using a resist to prevent the bleach solution from spreading across the fabric.

For excellent instructions on various ways to bleach-discharge your fabric, go to this article by Lois Ericson, from the pages of Threads magazine. Lois also tells you where to purchase bleach-neutralizing chemicals, which are an essential ingredient, along with bleach and water. I highly recommend following Lois’ suggestion to wear gloves. It’s also best to do this outdoors, if at all possible.

Tomorrow, I’ll post a photo of my finished bag, along with some basic construction information and lessons learned the hard way.

Heirloom Clutch Bag

Posted on June 18, 2008
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Heirloom Clutch Bag

Detail of heirloom bag

I used to do some heirloom sewing, although I rarely reached the point where I actually constructed something out of all those bits of pintucks, ruffling, and lace. A few years ago I made a bag similar to the one pictured above, and I lost it, so I thought I’d practice some heirloom techniques and make another bag. For this clutch, I’ve used a 7″ tubular frame from Ghee’s, as well as her Mini Eloquence #961 pattern. You can get them both from the Ghee’s website, and you can probably also find them at Joggles.

I am certainly not qualified to provide you with a tutorial for heirloom sewing techniques, so I’ll try to find something online for you in the next few days. I learned all my techniques in a class I took several years ago with Mary Lou Nall, who is a wonderful teacher and a delightful person! Unfortunately, she doesn’t appear to have a website any longer.

This weekend I’ll be working on a bleach-discharged velvet handbag, and hope to have photos of that up for you soon.

Easy Zip Pouch

Posted on June 4, 2008
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Striped Zip Pouch

A zip pouch is one of the easiest bags to make. If you’re intimidated by zippers, don’t be! They’re actually pretty easy to insert. This simple tutorial on Crafster will walk you through the process step-by-step, and will work on any size zip pouch. Just choose the zipper length you want, and go from there. One of her photos is missing, but there are plenty more to illustrate her instructions. Just choose the zipper length you want, and go from there.

I’ve finally managed to get unpacked and settled after my move to the Little Rock area, and started my new job this week. The toughest part of this relocation was waiting 2 weeks for internet access. Now that I’m back online, I’ll be able to get back into a regular posting schedule here on my blog. Thanks for sticking with me!

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