More Placemat Bags

These are the placemat bags I made this week. The inside of the plaid one is plain black -- couldn't get a good pic of it. I stopped by the shop to see Mary Anna this week. She's been working hard to reorganize and it's beautiful! She's got tons of handspun yarns in natural colors and dozens of handspun, handknitted hats. I'll try to get some pics next time I stop in.

Kitschy Spring Fun

How's this for a fun little summer bag? I made it from a placemat -- one of the stiff, fabric-covered ones. I added a satin lining and attached the purchased handles with some sturdy ribbon. It looks retro to me. What do you think?

Jason's Purse

Jason asked me to make a placemat bag for his mother and this is what happened. I think I've finally got the knack!

Nubuck Tote Bag

So I've been admiring my friend Robin's red leather Tommy tote. It's the perfect size to haul case files in our jobs as case managers. I happened to have some nubuck in my stash, so after much experimentation, I finally have a new tote for myself!

So then I was admiring my friend Dana's Coach wristlet. And while I was making the tote, I popped out a matching wristlet for myself -- again with some experimentation -- I've never been a fan of the zipper, but I think I have it down now!

Placemat Bag Version 2

My second attempt at a placemat bag. Mistakes were made. Gimme a break. I'm still hammering out prototypes. For one thing, I should have stitched the tabs in green thread instead of brown. Brown thread would be an interesting designe element if I could stitch straight, but I can't. The tabs actually do match a very light stripe in the pattern on the fabric, but you can't see it very well in the picture. If you click the picture and blow it up, you can see it better. Karin claimed this one! Shelby suggested I try a diaper bag, as she is having her third baby girl in a week or so. I need to give that one some thought. Lots of pockets and compartments. I don't even know what goes into a diaper bag besides diapers. I've gotta go do some research!

First Stab at Placemat Bags

I know! I know! I'm a bad blogger -- it's been months and months and months. Get over it.

This is my first attempt at making a placemat purse. I got some nice heavy, pretty placemats. I used lighter placemats for the lining. I sewed them together, added a magnetic closure and ribbon tabs for the handles. Oh, and I sewed across the corners the bottom sits flat. This bag was made especially for Dana!

Batik Patchwork Bag

Okay, so I decided I needed a new tote bag. I LOVE tote bags! Actually, I love any kind of container. If you can put something in it, I probably love it! Anyway, I got these nifty 4"x4" batik fabric squares on eBay, and this is what I did with them. I had 40 squares, so I divided them in half and sewed them together to make the sides. Each side is 4 fabric squares deep by 5 fabric squares wide. Then I cut two squares of unbleached muslin the same size as the patchwork sides. I cut two smaller pieces of muslin, pressed in 3 sides about 1/2" and sewed homemade bias taped to the top edge. These are the inside pockets. Next, I sewed a pocket to each larger piece of muslin. I sewed each lining side to a patchwork side, right sides facing, and then I turned them right side out. Next I sewed the two lined sides together, again, right sides facing, and turned them. To make the squared bottom, while the bag was still inside out, I measured in about 2" from each corner and sewed across, forming a triangle. I made more bias tape from a separate piece of fabric -- the same fabric I used for the edging on the pockets -- and stitched that to that raw edge at the top of the bag. To make the straps, I cut two lengths of cotton webbing to suit me. I sewed two tubes of the same fabric I used for the edging. I cut each piece about 3" wide and a little longer than the webbing pieces. Fold each piece in half and sew up the long side with the right sides together. When the tubes are turned right side out, use a safety pin to run the webbing through the tubes. Leave a little extra tubing material at each end. Turn those edges over once and then once again and stitch. Now, making sure the webbing is lying flat withing the tubes, topstitch down each sided to keep webbing from moving around. Next, attach the straps to the bag -- first sew a square and then sew an X in the square. Click on the pictures to enlarge for detail. This was a pretty simple project. Please don't ask for measurements -- I made it up as I went! Here are some pictures. One shows the bag with the sides folded in -- This is how I usually use my totes when I'm using them as a purse or if they don't have much in them. Next is the bag in square formation. This is how I use it when I'm carrying files, etc. And the other picture is the bag turned inside out so you can see the lining and the pockets. I'm still considering adding some sort of closure to the top and maybe small pockets for my cellphone and iPod. I think I'll sleep on that, though! It's late. I'm going to bed! :)

More About The Pen and Thread

Here's a close-up of some Misty Dell yarn -- natural colored Romney.









The bags are called tagaris -- traditional Greek bags in which workers carry their lunches and other things. These are all handwoven by Mary Anna, who is of Greek descent.









These are two of the first shawls that our team made during sheep to shawl demos.








Two view of Mary Anna's loom. From the front, you can see some of the hangings and table runners she's made, and from the back, you can see piles of carded wool waiting to be spun for a custom job she's working on.
Mary Anna & I both do custom spinning. My last job was spinning a large trash bag full of combings from a Great Pyrenees dog. His mommy loved him so much that she wanted a scarf made from his hair. I would love to make something from Jet's hair, but it's just too darned short!