Patchwork bag present

You most likely won't remember but, at the start of the Summer, we were one bag down on where we wanted to be with teacher present making (back here and here). And now, happily, it's finally finished! And giving it at this time of year made it an extra surprising, surprise for the teacher!

Our inspiration for this bag came from one here. But we gave up on looking for a pattern/tutorial we liked and did our usual make it up as we went along. To start with, Venetia sewed lots of strips together to get us to this point:

The fabric is already on top of an old wool blanket remnant here, ready for the next step.

Then I took over, I think Venetia could actually have done quite a bit more of it, especially if we'd started it in the holidays, but we'd left it so long we felt the need to get it finished quickly. And Venetia had got to do the most fun part already anyway!

So I backed the fabric with some old wool and did some simple quilting lines down the edges of each strip. Enough to give it some strength and sturdiness without making it stiff in any way. And then I trimmed it up neatly and sewed a few gathers along top and bottom.

It's a mix of mainly repurposed fabric (shirts, dress, sheets, curtains, jeans) with a few strips of new fabric /scraps in there too.

Here it is inside out (and upside down!), folded over and about to now be sewn along both sides.

I also cut out a lining piece, same size, folded that over and sewed that (right sides together) up the sides too.

Then I made a quick band for a closure...

Sew the loop of elastic inside like this and then when you turn it right way out again the loop will be sticking out just as required.

But make sure you sew the short loop side down very thoroughly, I'd recommend using a tight zigzag several times.

I also made a longer strap from the same fabric at this point.

Then the lining slotted into the bag, just as the bag will appear when completely finished, with the closure slotted in position between these 2 layers and the handle also slotted into its position either end of the bag.

I sewed all the way around the top now, so the bag is kind of finished except that the top is very scruffy. To remedy that I cut a strip of binding and pinned it all the way along the inside of the bag, like this, right sides together, overlapping slightly when you get back to your starting point...

At that starting point, where the ends of the binding join back together, make sure you fold the short edge under so you avoid raw edges - but because, once it's sewn down, you're about to lift this binding up and over, it's actually the underneath short edge that you need to make sure is folded in neatly.

Sew this down along the top edge of the bag (maybe half an inch down depending on your preference and the width of your binding). When I got to the handles and closure I sewed them down as well, on the outside of the bag, so they're basically being forced in the wrong direction on the outside of the bag.

Then fold the binding back up and over the outer bag, iron a narrow hem along the raw edge of the binding and pin it in place along the outside of your bag. When you get to the handles and closure strap this time, fold the binding over the top of them, so they're still being forced downwards in the wrong direction. But then fold the straps back up again and over the binding, pinning it in place as below.

Now when you sew the binding down, you'll be sewing the strap/handles back up into their final, correct position (go carefully because there'll be several layers, and I went over these patches a few times as well to give them extra strength). And that's it, your bag just needs a large button for your elastic loop and you're finished.

Ours turned out slightly on the large side (somehow, bags we make always seem to!) - but teachers always need large bags after all. And great for the beach or groceries too! Venetia was very happy with it and I love the general style of using the vertical strips and the bright mix of colours.

I think we might make another similar one as a Chistmas present, especially as we have quite a few perfect strips already cut, and initially I made 2 handles, before we decided one was enough.

And here's the back of the bag.

Plus the fact that I do love using patchwork in non-quilt makes, and usually they have the advantage of being much quicker to make than a great big quilt too!

Sally.

Take 5

1) You might remember that way back at the beginning of August, I talked a little bit about 'Land Art' (here). Well, we've had plenty of the usual beachy Land Art that happens very naturally on a regular basis, but a few little experiments in slightly different situations too.

Possibly my favourite was a creation of Theo's in the river. Not purely because of the end result, but also because there had just been a bit of a spat between the children on whose turn it was to be in our little dinghy, and Theo had basically stomped off in a slight sulk. After a few minutes brooding and muttering about the unfairness of being one of four children, he started moving stones around and arranging them. Very quickly he became engrossed in what he was doing.

And by the time he'd finished, he'd forgotten about how unfair life was.

As well as Theo's creation, the girls and I have played around with leaves a few times. These 'spotty' leaves caught our eye on one outing.

And another time there were some beautiful fallen leaves, with gorgeous colours already. We strung these together very simply with some nearby large gorse thorns, and then hung them from a tree.

I say 'simply' but it didn't feel all that easy at the time, gorse thorns aren't the easiest things to work with, but then it didn't help that I'd just been swimming in a contender for chilliest river I've ever been in, and my hands were shaking with the cold!

But it was quite addictive taking photos of it as the sunlight caught it.

And I'd like to think that, with all our Land Art efforts, maybe other people passed that way and spotted them and enjoyed the sight.

2) We're enjoying quite a few windfall cooking apples at the moment. If you're the same and are looking for alternatives to apple pie or apple crumble, this pudding is very popular round here.

Baked Apple and Almond Pudding
1lb cooking apples, peeled and sliced
2oz brown sugar
4oz ground almonds
4oz butter
4oz caster sugar
2 large eggs

Place the apples in a saucepan with the brown sugar and 1 tbsp water, simmer gently until soft, and then arrange them in the bottom of a prepared pie dish.
Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy and then beat in the eggs a little at a time with the almonds. Then spread this mix over the apples and bake for approx 1 hour at 180 degrees/Gas Mark 4/ 350F.

Very good with custard!

3) The garden is a lovely place to be right now. 

Our beans are still flourishing and providing lots of munching opportunities.

Spot the tiny carrot too!

We're still waiting for our first sweetcorn, but they're getting so, so close! Perhaps this weekend.

On the other side of the beans and sweetcorn we have quite a lot of very promising pumpkins, of varying sizes.

A few green ones, both large and small.

And lots of yellow ones:

These all get inspected on a daily basis to see how much they've grown!

Cucumbers are carrying on producing nicely but my tomatoes are still a worry. I have lots and lots of green ones, and they've been green for weeks. I think they've desperately needed more sunshine. I've been incredibly brutal in stripping off any shoots with no fruit at the start of this week, and we're actually having the sunniest week for a long time this week so I'm still hopeful. I like my tomatoes red not green!

And this week I've also been busy clearing out the potato/broad bean/onion part of the veggie patch.

Bit more work to be done but there's another raised bed well under way.

4) So many photos from the last couple of weeks that I could include here. But here was a very special day. The boys were off elsewhere so it was just the girls, my Dad and I. After an afternoon's swim and play at the beach, we headed off for fish and chips and some crabbing as the tide came in high.

A feisty crab!

Lots of fun was had crabbing, but then as we set off home, the sun was getting very low and it was obvious that there was going to be a spectacular sunset. So we turned around, stopped off quickly for marshmallows, and instead headed back to the beach to watch the sun go down with a quick beach camp fire.

The light was really magical.

It was just beautiful.

And my photos don't really do it justice.

Very much an evening to remember.

5) More fish sewing is going on again.

Including some scrappy patchwork fish. I had quite a few, thin strips of fabric, mostly from Maria's quilt, too thin to use in standard patchwork. 

I just sewed these down on to a thin scrap of cotton, overlapping them slightly, raw edges exposed.

And then cut out my fish shapes from this fabric.

But if you have long, thin scraps like this (or maybe discarded selvage strips), then they'd work in this way for lots of things, not just fish. I've cut simple tree shapes, birds and hearts in this way before, either to then sew down on to something else, or to use as they are, perhaps in a garland. (If you want to do this then use a thicker backing fabric, rather than thin cotton, or possibly a layer of wadding too, and then just sew around the cut out shape a few times to secure it.) It's something quick and easy and yet strangely satisfying too.

As well as the fish, a giant squid has also appeared...

Sally.

Repurposed Wool Pixie Hat

I think I may have a new sewing obsession - Pixie Hats!

This is from a pattern by Big Little. Aimee from Small Steps Big Noises first introduced me to these gorgeous woodland inspired sewing patterns a while back, she has made quite a few beautiful pieces from Big Little, like this Wild Things Hooded Scarf for instance, I have definite plans to make one of those too.

This pattern was incredibly simple and quick to make. You really don't need amazing sewing skills or any experience following patterns to make this.

The cat decided he wanted to be part of our photo shoot!

And one of the things I obviously love about Big Little creations is that they are perfect for repurposed wools. This hat started life as a jumper.

View from the back.

Quite a few of the patterns, this one included, feel like they would be perfect for Christmas present making. This one is going to be tucked away as a present for Maria, so Venetia is sworn to secrecy. Although I think the style really suits Venetia too, so I can see a different one being made for Venetia for Christmas!

The jumper I used was a bit on the small side, especially as I obviously wanted to try and match up stripes, so I went with the age 3-5 sizing to make it fit, and I think it's still OK for Venetia never mind Maria.

So this month I'm finally getting back to linking up with 'Ho, ho, ho and on we sew' again (only 16 weeks till Christmas!), which for August is over at Sunshine Through the Rain.

I think there may be a good few more Christmas present Pixie Hats over the next 16 weeks, they are very cute (as well as warm and comfy) and I do have a plentiful wool stash which could do with being reduced somewhat!

Perhaps pet Pixie Hats could work too!

Now that we're about to hit September, have you got Christmas crafting plans in mind?

Sally.

Golden Anniversary Quilt

A finished quilt today! You last saw this way back here in July when I was working on the centre. It was made from one beautiful (but slightly stained in places), embroidered table cloth, and 2 plain vintage sheets.

This quilt was a special quilt because it was a present for very special people on a very special occasion. Harry's Aunt and Uncle's 50th wedding anniversary - a Golden Anniversary, hence the golden yellow colours in there. They are such lovely people, and it's wonderful to have them as family. Making a quilt under those circumstances is just a pure pleasure.

One of my favourite photos from a recent visit with us, the children all adore them.

Photographing it was not such a pleasure, it's a bit on the large size to hold easily, and unfortunately most of my photos were fairly rubbish!

Folded up was easiest!

Aside from the very familiar use of repurposed fabric, this one feels quite a different kind of quilt to my usual makes. I'm so much more used to working with a wide colour range. In fact, only a month or so ago I remember making a comment that I couldn't ever imagine making a 2 colour quilt, and yet that's pretty much what that is here. What have you made or done recently that you thought you'd never do?

Linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Crazy Mom Quilts and TGIFF which today is over at My Quilt Infatuation.

Have a great weekend,

Sally.