I really enjoyed sewing this bag – beautiful fabric (Amy Butler, from the Nigella line), both in pattern and quality, and a terrific pattern (also Amy Butler – the Frenchy Bag).

Once again, it has many of my construction alterations, although the pattern is very comprehensive.  I used thin fusible wadding throughout, but didn’t add interfacing, since the fabric weight was heavy enough.  I added a key fob, and divided the interior pockets into two (thanks to handy tips from those who’d already made it and added their review to the Pattern Review website).  The pattern included the use of a magnetic catch.

This is the shoulder bag size – the pattern also includes a smaller handbag.  Another tip I gained from the Pattern Review website was that it is difficult to effectively topstitch around the top of the bag to join the lining to the outer – after trying briefly on the machine, I ended up handstitching the two layers together.  It gave a much nicer result.

And I made a matching cosmetic purse and tissue cosy.

Donna says that when not using it she is going to hang it up in her house as an ornament!  What a great way to think about bags (especially when you have a few) – they are not only useful, but can be ornaments!

Christmas is over for another year – lots of food eaten, drinks consumed, laughter, conversation, and gifts.  It’s lovely to be able to share time with relatives!  We had a beautiful two days with my parents, brother & sister-in-law, aunts, uncles, cousins, and cousins’ children.  There were 34 of us, including four babies under a year old.  The children interacted beautifully, and the farm is always such a refreshing environment.  Thanks again to my aunt and uncle!

Now I can blog some of the other Christmas gifts that I made!  Firstly, a bag for my mother.

I’ve used this pattern a few times now – it’s Vogue 7812.

The fabrics are the same one’s I used for Koula’s bag; the Manzanita line by Joel Dewberry.  I’ve done all the usual things I do when making bags; it’s fully interfaced, both with a light-weight fusible interfacing and with fusible wadding; magnetic snap closure; there is a inside patch pocket, inside zip pocket, and key fob; and the base contains fast-to-fuse to maintain it’s shape, as well as bag feet.

Mum really likes it!

Nikki gave me this lovely little kit & pattern for make-up purses (although I’ve made plenty of bags, I hadn’t made any purses like this with zippered tops before).  Here is the result!

I really like the boxed corners – it means that these little purses hold much more than those made from two square rectangles.  Both are lined with contrasting fabric (should have photographed the inside too, I suppose.  Too late now!)  I’ll be whipping up LOADS of these in the months ahead to add to the “little gift” stash.  The tissue cozies have come into their own as teacher gifts etc already, and I think that these would fit the bill perfectly as well.

You can find the pattern here: (just scroll down a little).  By the way – Happy Birthday Nikki!

The Seagull bag (another Christmas gift, let’s hope that the recipient doesn’t read the blog) which is made from the wasp bag pattern by machenmachen.

Fabric from Ikea, with the outer bag interfaced with light wadding.  This bag was constructed a little differently to usual, but has worked out nicely.  The handle detail is cute!

On the inside I’ve inserted a zip pocket, patch pocket and key fob.  And yes, there is a magnetic catch. 

It’s quite large and squishy and would definitely hold a day’s worth of “stuff”.  I’ll use this pattern again some time!