Day: 12 May 2007

bags, sewing

Freya’s bag

It is finally completed – Freya’s bag!

I really started making bags because of this one.  My dear cousin Freya bought a beautiful vintage barkcloth curtain – after quite a wait, it has become this bag!  It’s taken me lots of experimentation to find the right shape, work out what type of interfacing to use, how to do magnetic snaps, and so on.  I didn’t want to ruin the fabric, so most of the previous efforts I’ve blogged have been to work out how to do this one.  I used the same pattern as the pale-pink-and-lime-green bag that I blogged about earlier (which was McCalls 2163).

Freya wanted a soft, relaxed bag.  I’ve interfaced the main pieces with a soft fusible woven, which seems to have given enough structure, and on the inside of the bottom lining I’ve used a stiffer non-woven fusible and some iron-on wadding.  It seems to have worked together nicely.  It has the usual magnetic snap closure, both a large and small (mobile phone sized) inside pocket, and the yo-yo flower is safety-pinned on.

 

Miss Clare likes it!  So do I – do I have to give it to you Freya?

by thornberry
miscellaneous, sewing, sewing room

My sewing cabinet is here!

I am very excited today – my sewing cabinet is here!  Not only is it here, it is in place in the lovely new sewing room.  Getting it up the stairs was a bit of a struggle (our thanks again to the friend we roped in to help):

but they did really well with only minor scratches (to the men, not the walls/cupboard)!

Here it is with machine and overlocker in place, just waiting for me to do some sewing:

And another view:

but of course, Miss Clare’s favourite part of the new sewing cabinet is this:

the new cubby house (presently being used to play shops with Daddy).

The room rearrangement is great – the table is now clear for craft and for cutting out (my machine and overlocker were on it while waiting for the cabinet to arrive) although I think it is likely to become a repository for the ironing pile.  The little TV is set up so that I can watch while sewing, ironing or using the table, and the couch is below the window (it was beside the stairwell before, which was very unsafe) so I can chat to visitors while sewing.

It’s fantastic!  Can you tell how excited I am!  Now to make a lovely big pinboard/inspiration board/pocket board to go on the wall above the cabinet.

For those who are interested, the cabinet (or “Home Sewing Centre”, as they call it) is  the Horn Sovereign, which is Horn’s top of the line cabinet.  I have been coveting it for ages.  It also has a huge flap that can be opened  up at the back, which is great if sewing anything large (such as curtains or quilts).  My aim was to get a cabinet that would last me until death!  I managed to buy it on Mother’s Day sale for $100 off, but it was still expensive.

But isn’t it marvellous!

by thornberry