Going green-ish

Well, not exactly. I mean I'm not an environmentalist per se. But my plastic bag collection was getting out of control and I haven't been impressed with how plastic knits up. So, several fabrics popped up in the remnant stash at Fabric Depot and with this handy blog, voila! shopping bags are addicting. The nice thing about using a plastic bag as a pattern is that the bags fit on the metal frame at the grocery store!

Plan on at least 5/8 of a yard for the fabric and the same for the lining. I only had 1/2 yard of the chickens so that's why the bag style is different.

Lining the Humbug bag

Ok, here are some purse accessories to go with Naomi's purse. From left to right: A pyramid or "humbug" bag, cellphone case, makeup bag, and klenex tissue cover.

I wanted to line everything with pre-quilted fabric, including the Humbug bag. (I call it this because there is a pattern called that. Google it, you'll probably find a pattern for sale). Also Nancy Zieman's book "Sewing Express" has a similar one called a toteable (in 3 sizes).



Now you would think this would work, for putting in a lining. but it was wrong, wrong, wrong. I had to rip out 3 times before I finally figured it out.








Here's the layout for the top seam. The prequilted fabric is on the inside and the cherry fabric will be on the outside with the opening for turning near the zipper.

Make sure your tag or ribbon is between the outside layers (in my case, the cherry fabric).

Here's the layout for the bottom seam. Bring the outside fabric around on top and layer it with the openings on top of the zipper portion. (Yes, you're doing this mobius twisty thing).


It works! All I have to do is hand sew the seams on the zipper. As you can see, mine is really tight, but I think I can stretch it while sewing.

Here it is complete with the quilted fabric on the inside. A ribbon can be threaded through the zipper pull to make it easier to grab.

Black n white

Noms and I went shopping and she would slip her wallet into my purse and then sneek it out when paying. How can one not have a purse??? So I made her this today out of scraps from a dress. Used a vintage pattern that I had kept all these years: Simplicity 7018.