Bags, bags and more bags.

I have been so busy trying to learn all my new skills that I nearly forgot to keep up with my old ones so this week I gave myself a break and made my favourite things: bags!

First bag I ever made.

This bag scared me because it has 2 zippers, the instructor in my class was amazingly helpful and I conquered it with ease. I am attending a sewing class here in Frankfurt taught in German, the plan being that I improve my German along with my sewing.  www.stoffwerktaunus.de

The ladies are all so friendly that language hasn't really been an issue yet although some words are very tricky; a zip is Reissverschluss! 

This was the second bag and my favourite pattern, I love the way the straps work out. so simple to do but so effective.

First cut out two straps in length desired, one 3.5 cm wide and the other 5.5 cm wide. Sew down both edges with co ordinating thread.

Take the safety pin through the middle to turn the strip in the right way.

Press the strip with a hot iron and then sew seams down both sides.

Finished product.This bag is going out as a Christmas gift, lets hope she doesn't see it! I have started early on my Christmas presents because I want to make homemade ones. If anyone has any ideas for Teenagers ....let me know!

Here is my favourite fabric made up into a cute little bag that is useful for hair brushes, spray etc. I have sent it off to a very sweet lady who will be very surprised to receive a birthday present from me but she deserves so much more. I liked the way the straps buttoned onto the bag. I am working on something else with the same fabric and have decided just to buy a boatload more. It really is a cheerful print.

So......the dog is still waiting for her quilt but she will be happy to know that my sewing class is covering quilting on 11th and 30th September so her quilt will not join my basket of U F O s. 

sewing, sewing, sewing

Loving this gap year.

The shirt quilt is coming along nicely and I have learned so much from it, very glad that I used scrap material instead of buying fabrics. the star performer of the week has been my number 1 toy:

it does all sorts of wonderful things but I am taking things slow, why rush in when I have a whole gap year to get to know it. 

First I picked the pattern and then assembled the strips of fabric, I have to get better at cutting out the shapes, I will have to look for a new toy to help with that, some of my squares are a tiny bit bigger or smaller than they should be.

I think its coming along quite quickly, sadly, it has been so hot here in Frankfurt that its not so much fun having a lot of fabric draped on my knees but its addictive so I haven't noticed so much.

All finished!

The next task will be layering the three layers: patchwork, lining and backing and then the exciting task of quilting! That really will be a new one on me. I know you can quilt by hand or with a machine, you can follow a pattern or do freehand and if you have a very special quilt you can send it away to a shop with a long arm machine. This quilt is not getting sent away anywhere! I have deliberately left some special details on such as cuffs, buttonholes and buttons, then I realised that the dog may not thank me for buttons in her blanky so I am cutting them off as I see them.

Details

Another task on my Gap Year was to complete my Debbie Abrahams Mystery Blanket. I am thoroughly enjoying it! Once a month I receive my package of wool and patterns to knit up my monthly  selection of patches and now we know the Mystery subject: A Celebration of Sport. Debbie obviously chose this to go with the Olympic Fever that swept us all up recently.

Loving all the colours. This is especially fun for me because I love flags so much, just ask anyone who plays Draw Something with me.

Hope you are all managing to stay cool in this heatwave. Till next week......

My first post!

My reward for getting to the grand old age of 50 is a Gap Year!
This is a different kind of Gap Year; I am going to stay home. I have bought some new toys: a Bernina artista 630, an iPad and I have subscribed to Debbie Abrahams Mystery Blanket Club. my plan over this year is to finish the Mystery Blanket and make a patchwork quilt. This blog was another idea to tie in with my iPad, lets see how it goes! All helpful comments, especially regarding technology will be gratefully received.

First thing was to raid closets and find some fabric to attempt the first quilt, I want to use Free Fabric until I am sure my skills are good enough to warrant spending money on beautiful fabric, and the lucky recipient will be the dog, she is not fussy.  I found 6 dress shirts that need a new life, the colours may not all go so well together but this is a practise and the dog is colour blind anyway so she won't know.

Here are the squares all ready for their appearance in my first ever quilt, I have tried making one many years ago with some gorgeous Laura Ashley fabric, it sat in my UFO box for years until my Mom took it out and finished it for me. Thanks Mom! I only used 5 of the shirts after all, the missing one really was too ugly! 

Here she is, waiting for her Blanky!