Tuesday 22 July 2014

The best laid plans ....

The theme at Top Tip Tuesday this fortnight is 'Material Girl' so I thought I'd make a baggie and stamp it with an image of a girl. (OK she's actually a fairy, but hopefully that counts!).

So I rummaged in my fabric scrap box and found some lovely ivory linen and some pink patterned fabric, just large enough to make a small tote.

I'll let you into a little secret; I'm a teensy bit impatient when it comes to measuring.  But it does help that I seem to have quite a good eye for sizing.  So never mind the ruler.  I folded both pieces of fabric in half and cut out a rectangle roughly the size I wanted the bag (allowing a smidgeon more for seam allowances).

I stitched the sides of each piece together, and then thought I'd be clever and make the bottom flat, so I sewed across the corners to make a base on both pieces.

So far, so good!

I then made two handles from strips of the leftover pink I'd used for the lining, and it was ready to assemble.

Past experience tells me that the assembly is where I usually get things wrong, so I thought I'd be extra careful and assemble the pieces the right way round, pin them, then turn them inside out to sew them all together on the wrong side.

Clever girl, good thinking!   ;0)

In went the pins to hold the lining in place, turned it inside out, popped in the handles and stitched around the top leaving a small gap to turn it inside out.

I admit that I was feeling rather smug as I turned it the right way out to admire it.  What could go wrong?

I'm absolutely delighted to confirm that I'd managed to get the lining inserted the right way, with all the messy seams hidden away on the inside.

Unfortunately, this is the point when I also discover that the handles are likewise hidden away on the inside.

Literally tucked inside the space between the lining and the outer fabric.

And to make it worse, I'd triple stitched the handles in place so they were attached nice and strongly.

D'oh!

So, when I'd finished unpicking 3 rows of stitching and restitching the handles on the right way, I stitched all around the top to seal the gap that I'd used to turn it, which also made the top seam lie flat.  I had originally intended to decorate it a bit more, but when I'd finished, I actually liked it as it was.

In theory the bag is reversible, but that would put my girlie on the inside, and she'd be hidden away.

So here's my baggie.  Not bad for a few leftover fabric scraps and a bit of trial and error (ok, more error than trial).

And because I flattened the base, it does stand up by itself, so it was quite easy to photograph.  :0)

I've not decided what I'm going to use it for yet, but rest assured, when I need it, I'll have mislaid it!




The image is lightly coloured with Derwent Coloursoft pencils as they don't run like inks do on the linen.






And finally here's a close up of the inside. 




Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
  • Charisma Cardz - Anything Goes
  • Fairytale Stamper - Summer
  • Simon's Monday Challenge - Summer (summer flowers and being in the garden!)
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



17 comments:

Sarah said...

This is WONDERFUL Annette!! Your pencil work is fabulous on that darling stamp. I know what you mean about measuring. Added to that the fabric doesn't stay still like paper either so it's often best to use the "fold, cut and hope" technique!!

Christine L said...

LOL that's SO the kind of thing I'd do!! I always make a big boo boo when sewing!! But..... this creation is fabulous in the end!! You're so good at making these wonderful other-than-a-card items!

Hugs
Christine x

Chrissy said...

Well done Annette..I love your cute bag and the gorgeous colouring on your Fairy..I would put my pencils cases in that to take with me when I go colour visiting[baby sitting]...fabulous size.

luv CHRISSYxx

Elise said...

Wowwww Annette! What a truly GORGEOUS make! You are so clever! I absolutely LOVE it!

Big Hugs,
Elise

Squirrel x said...

Now you know why I don't have a sewing machine. Although now I wish I did, because this is gorrrrrrrgeous hunny, and so clever. Hugs xx

Carole Pollard said...

Really great post today I've loved reading it. It's nice to know others make mistakes as well !! The finished bag is so lovely just gorgeous love and Happy Crafting Hugs Carole x

Jackie Scott said...

Love your bag, great colouring of the image on fabric! They say we learn by our mistakes, but that is when patience really has to take over. Beautiful creation!

3treescreations@gmail.com said...

I waiting for all the seams to be on the wrong side so when you said it was just the handles I figured you were doing okay LOL. Though stitch ripping is time consuming and boring. Gorgeous bag, love that it is double sided - genius!!

Deanne :)

Jacee said...

Beautiful work Annette, a really amazing project, I love it!
Hugs Jacee
Simply Paper Card Design

Andrea Ockey Parr said...

What an absolutely sweet bag! The image of the girl is charming and you colored her so perfectly! I agree that her simplicity is just right-- nothing else is needed. It was also a hoot to read through your post! I'm glad I'm not the only one who has sewing traumas! Way to persevere and end up with something so pretty. Thanks for sharing this with us here at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog!

suzanne2 said...

oh wow Annette, this is gorgeous, I love it! I have this stamp too but no sewing machine and wouldn't know where to start but I wish I did. you are so clever.

Anonymous said...

Brilliant bag Annette and reversible too! well done I could not do it so I admire you! you will have to do a tutorial next time then I could have a go! Its gorgeous and all your efforts were worth it! xxx

Kat W said...

The only kind of sewing I can do is the stuff I do on my cards, anything else just turns into a disaster. So, this bag fills me with awe and it's so neatly done too!
I adore the pink flowery inside and your cute fairy, it's really beautiful :-)

Big hugs, Kat xx

Carol S. said...

Oh my gosh, I nearly missed this one. I couldn't stop laughing when you had sewn the handles inside. Dare I say, it is quite easy to do! Love the image and your colouring on this sweet bag, is lovely. Sorry for laughing!!Hugs, Carol S.xx

Mojca said...

oh my god this is sooooooooo pretty, I would have this kind of bag in a minit! Hugs! Mojca

Manu said...

Wow
your bag is beautiful.
great
Thank you for your participation in the Fairytale Stampers
hugs
manu

Lola said...

Oh my gosh, this is really a bag every girl wants to have <3
You did the coloring of the sweet image so well on the fabric, I expect, it's not easy to color?
But, can you tell me, how do the colors stay on the linen?
Is it washable?

Thank you so much for sharing this with us at our challenge at Fairytale Stampers!!

xx Karola xx