A TRYING TIME TODAY

I've had a 'trying' time today as you can see by this photo.

The little rag bag reached some awkward sewing moments and the inevitable happened whilst I was sewing the base to the sides. Always makes me jump out of my skin when I break a needle. 

The whole thing has now become quite stiff due to each block having been quilted prior to assembly, so manoeuvring it was a challenge. I got there as I always do.

The edge around the top had to be turned over and sewn to form a casing to accommodate some 1/4" cotton cord. I suppose it's not only to neaten the edge but to give it some body. Anyway I don't have any nor can I find my Bodkin so there's another shopping list in the making.

I've just started the tedious task of clipping all the seams after which and once the cord is in place, the bag has to be washed in order to 'rag' it.

The clipping bit will take me ages so I may not be around for a while!!!!!!

NO SEWING TODAY

I had a little shopping list on the go and today decided to go looking for a few items on it.

My box of threads contains a mixture of specialised, quilting, cotton and polyester. Yesterday I had trouble finding some machine quilting thread amongst the mayhem, so decided to try and split it into a couple of boxes which meant finding one more to match the ones I already have. It turned out I already had one in my dry goods cupboard in the kitchen, so I 'snaffled' it.

Job #1 done.

Next little problem was storing spools holding different threads. I had one little spool box storing the overflow from the now full storage in my sewing machine, so I bought another one today. Just need to sort them all out now.

My specialist machine feet had no home so I bought another white box to help sort that problem.

My craft shelves are still tidy despite the change around, I just can't work in a mess.

So the rag bag had no progress made to it today apart from me clipping all the pieces together ready for sewing.

There's always tomorrow!!! 

A LITTLE RAG BAG

I prepped this bag last year along with several other projects, ready for these next few weeks sewing through the cold weather. 

I hope it works because I've used a bundle of fat quarters I bought from Hobbycraft and it means because the fabric is not full width, the straps will turn out half the size stated on the pattern I'm following. Having said that, I really think that 44" is far too long. So we'll see what happens.

These are the prepped pieces.

Each 5" square needed to be spray glued to a 4" piece of wadding making a sandwich. There are 16 of these plus a longer piece for the base.

Took a while but it was easy.

Once they were just about dry they needed to be quilted - free motion. I disassembled my walking foot from my machine and attached an open toe foot.

I've only had a go with this foot once before and it isn't an easy thing to get right. However, the sewing on this bag doesn't call for precision so I just went for it.

Phew! Glad that bit is done. I've packed in for today as the light is getting bad and I need to set my machine up differently once more ready for the next stage. Also, I must sort my quilting threads from the ordinary ones. I have a little shopping list going too for such things as a Really Useful box for my awkward shape/size sewing feet etc. so may be out tomorrow. BFN

MY CANVAS SHOPPING BAG

Yippee! The bag is finished

Had to make a quick trip to buy some thick iron on Vilene this morning - couldn't find my stash!!! - because I'd hoped the bag would stand up on its own but it wouldn't. Trying to incorporate the stiffening into a half sewn bag was a challenge to say the least and really had I known I needed it, I would have ironed it on before I even contemplated sewing. It sort of worked but to ensure it stayed in place, I sewed some of the flowers.

Also, my idea was to line the bag by pulling the bag through the lining once sewn round the top. With the extra thickness and the stiff base I doubted that would work, so I decided to place the lining inside the bag and sew it alltogether then add a binding to the top edge.

 My quilting clips were perfect for holding everything together.

I used some left over material from a quilt I made as a Christmas present and it matched like a dream.

It was all a bit of a challenge but the end result is a success.

There you have it. A waterproof lined shopping bag made without a pattern. One tick for me then.

SHOPPING BAG

After a morning of doing the 'H' word, I'm having a play with my sewing machine again. This time I am trying to make a shopping bag. 

I say 'trying' because I'm making it up as I go along so it could turn into something completely different!!!

I bought an off cut of patterned canvas, some strapping and water proof lining.

I decided to make a firm base to go between the in and outside pieces so I've covered a piece of mount board in some black material. The idea is to sew this in place along one of the short side panels of the bag at the base.

See, all this is in my head with a lovely strong shopping bag at the end of my endeavours. However, when I started to write the instructions down, I could see problems and the construction wouldn't have worked. I've now just decided to go for it and see what happens. I do have my quick unpick at the ready though!!!! LOL.