free – Page 2 – Ink, Yarn & Beer

A Bag for the Lady

I got a new-to-me sewing machine the other day, a Kenmore 158.19802, but that is a story for another day. However, it needed to be used, and I needed something fun to do that wouldn’t make me nuts. My sewing student likes to make stuff, like pillow cases and stuffed felt tomatoes, and me, I have never done anything with my sewing except make clothes. Because her thinking patterns aren’t mine, I decided to think outside of my box, and looked for something free, and useful. Voila! The Pleated Tote by Artsy Crafty Babe.

This is a free pattern, and it is really well-designed. It looks good, has great directions, and with sale material, didn’t cost me more than $10.00 and some time. And, I got to see how the new-to-me-machine works (very nicely!). The pattern is all in the PDF file, ready to be cut out!

What I did differently from the original pattern is to double the length of the straps – I like long ones, so I can wear the bag diagonally if necessary, or knot up the straps if I want shorter handles.

A few other things I did was to interface the material and the lining with fusible lightweight pellon, clip the corners and curves, and made sure the darts of the lining and the outside of the bag were sewn to lay in opposite directions to keep the thickness of the material as minimal as possible. Nice details, such as inside pockets, a button loop, and gentle curves, make this bag a winner.

Construction directions were clear – and if I had not read them I would not have done it right. You sew the lining and body together, right sides together, and get this.

Through an opening left in the lining, you pull the bag right side out!

The material itself is a bit heavier than calico-weight cotton, sort of a lightweight upholstery, but not a duck. It is 100% cotton, and although dry cleaning is recommended, I washed the material in hot water and dried it on hot – I like to shrink anything I know is going to go into the washing machine. (I don’t know anyone who would dry clean a purse!) I needed about 2 yards of material, and the stuff I used was 60 inches wide. The body of the purse and the lining match, as do the pockets. Because I wanted a bit of body to the overall purse, I decided on the interfacing for the lining and external part of the purse, and am glad I did – lightweight, but not shapeless.

Tommy’s New Year’s Hat

We last saw our friends Jerry and Raka over a year ago when they came in from Japan for a post-wedding reception in the U.S. Raka was about five months pregnant at the time, and in December 2009, their son, Tommy, was born. For the Christmas season, they all flew in to spend the end of the year with family and friends, many of whom only got to meet Tommy for the first time. Within a few days of arriving here stateside, Tommy got the chicken pox – kids don’t get that vaccination until they are a year old. When we saw them, Tommy was pretty much recovered, but still all spotty. Poor kid!

In Japan, red and white are colors of good fortune for the New Year. And, I happened to have some red and white Wool Ease in my stash, so it seemed to be a perfect color combination, not only for welcoming 2011, but also for the Christmas season as well. So this pattern is dedicated not just to the now-recovering Tommy, but to our friends Jerry and Raka, and to a happy, prosperous 2011 to family and friends, one and all.

Eyelet Rib Beret, Revisited

A lot of people have downloaded the eyelet rib beret, and some have experienced some problems with it being much, much too big, especially in the ribbing area of the brim. Even though this beret is designed to be huge – for those of us with “big hair” – others seem to like the idea of a less humungous hat! Given that, I thought I would re-do the pattern a bit for worsted weight wool and slightly different shaping, as well as directions for a less baggy beret. Look for it in the next few days.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies