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Pleated Clutch

I'm going back to work on this style of clutch some more.  Over the weekend I made this one from a pretty pink fabric (sorry, I don't know the print name--it is unmarked).

It turned out really nice, even though I had some trouble in a couple spots. The lining has cotton batting on the wrong side, which made pleats on those pieces challenging to sew to the zipper.

The pleats now extend all the way to the bottom and are set on the diagonal.  Extending them to the bottom solved the caving in of the middle of the top band. 

The bottom corners are like the ones on the Strap Clutch.  I just love making them, and the triangles of fabric at the bottom corners are a nice reflection of the diagonal pleats. 

Now I'm going to work on making this easier to sew, try a few more sizes, and work on making the zipper the perfect length.  It could have been longer on this one.

Flowers Allover in Black by Lakehouse Dry Goods

Flowers Allover in Black by Lakehouse Dry Goods

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This print called Flowers Allover is part of the Fun Flowers collection from Lakehouse Dry Goods. I used to make these small zip pocket pouches:

I can't find the white background version of this fabric for sale anywhere.  Post a link in the comments if you know where to find this print with the white background.

 

Hoodie L'Amour De La Vie Fabric - Eiffel Tower White

This Eiffel Tower print from Hoodie's L'Amour De La View collection for Timeless Treasures was featured on True Up the other day.  The tower imagery is so iconic, but the addition of some folk art touches make it look fresh and new. 

 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/84322822/hoodie-lamour-de-la-vie-fabric-eiffel

Fabric Covered Buttons

 

While I was working on the Zip Pocket Pouches pattern these self-cover button parts arrived it the mail.  I originally mentioned them here, and after receiving and using them I definitely recommend this style of self-cover button.  

I already had the cover button tool for putting them together, so I immediately whipped up a few to try them out.  For the 7/8" ones above I used a scrap of fabric that was interfaced.  For the smaller ones below (5/8") the interfaced fabric didn't work so well.  They are just too small to deal with the extra layer.  Using non-interfaced fabric was easier, but overall the smaller ones were slightly harder to make.

The wide shank is wonderful--much better than the skinny wire shank self-cover buttons.  I still like those too, since being able to remove the wire shank to make them into magnets or tacks is also fun.  But these wide shank ones are just really, really nice for making buttons.  They are very stable and sit slightly lower than the other type. 

Mini Grocery Bag

 

Over the weekend Portland's ordinance banning single-use plastic bags went into effect, so it seemed like a great time to make another grocery bag.

The three I have been using regularly for more than a year now are holding up really nicely.  So rather than making another regular size one, I thought it would be fun to sew a mini version. 

This smaller version will be good for those things the clerk sometimes puts in a separate smaller bag--soaps, shampoos, packaged meat, etc.  It will also make an adorable trick-or-treat bag or lunch bag.  It will have a million other uses too.  Yesterday I used mine to carry a few some small packages to the PO.  4/10/12 Update - The mini version + a new medium size bag are now included in the Grocery Bag pattern.

 

That's it!  So easy. 

If you are wondering about the fabric I used this print for the exterior body, this print for the handles, and this print for the lining.

Across the Pond Aster Sky Organic Fabric

Across the Pond Aster Sky

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This Cloud 9 organic cotton print is on sale at Harts Fabric.  All printed quilting cottons are 10% off through the 24th.