Tag: Gifts

I finished Lil Sissy’s birthday gift over the weekend and was able to get it off in the mail in time for her birthday, which was yesterday.

She writes a daily journal entry on a manual typewriter. While I plan to go back to Paris fabric for her soon, I saw this typewriter fabric and thought it might tickle her.

This Hackney is another large version and went together pretty well. I do better if I don’t have to break the process at the end, but needs must.

I am pleased with how well this looks. I struggled a bit with the top stitching on the top, but eventually got it right.

I used one of the Marcia Derse fabrics for the inside. I thought it was entertaining and would appeal to Lil Sissy.

The inside, again, has some elastic to keep pens and tools in place. I saw another one I made and was reminder that I put three or four strips of elastic on earlier versions to improve stability. I may have to do that again. Or go back to the top mesh pocket as per the pattern.

I machine sewed the opening closed and I hope my sister won’t notice. I think it will be fine once she puts some stuff in it.

Hooray! Another finished project.

Maybe I should make myself one of these? 😉

Right after finishing the Brown Stitch Hackney, I started this Typewriter Hackney. I am pretty pleased with this gusset. I fussy cut it to highlight the typewriters and it is coming out pretty well.

I also added a handle, which is lined up almost perfectly through no effort on my part. The handle motifs line up with gusset if it is flattened against the gusset. I am probably making too much out of it!

I was able to finish the Brown Stitch Hackney relatively quickly.

I think it looks the best of all of the Hackneys I have made so far in terms of construction. The brown is not attractive despite the lovely stitch pattern.

Using ByAnnie doublefold elastic**, I made the pencil holders again in the top lid. I measured where I wanted the elastic by measuring out from the center in both directions. The bands might be a hair too far apart, but they will will work. I tested them after the bag was made and found they could be a little closer together. Still, I think it works in general. I usually put a pen or some sort of tool in the gift so as to demonstrate how they work.

I am particularly proud of the handle. I finally figured out the perfect measurements to get it in the right location.

I don’t know if I will be able to replicate this success in other Hackneys, but I am reveling in the success this time.

I was able to place it so it is exactly in the center of the end.

I did forget to put in a label, but can easily whipstitch one on later if I want.

Now, on to the Knitting Needles bag!

 

 

 

 

**Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.

I am making really good progress on this bag. The gusset is much easier to assemble after making so many.

In this case, I didn’t have a brown or beige double zip handbag zipper**. That is definitely a problem. I like matching my zippers to my fabrics, but I don’t want a bunch of beige and brown zippers hanging around that I can’t use, but have to look at. I think the grey looks ok. We’ll see when I get the top on.

I am fond of the leaf fabric I used for the interior even if it is beige. I don’t remember when I bought it, but it has a very nice metallic leaf on the fabric. The motif is delicate and not garish at all.

 

 

 

 

**Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.

I can’t seem to help myself. I really like this bag and seem to need to keep making more. I definitely need to start making some more of the Minikins Season 4 patterns.

But, for the moment, I am stuck on Hackneys. I decided to make this bag and one of the Zaudal Creates Knitting Needles bags for my friends in Austria. I stayed with them and they drove to and from the airport and were generally super nice hosts. Honestly I enjoy making bags and can’t use them all so making gifts works well for me. Continuing to sew keeps me out of trouble as well. 😉

As you can see this is a lot of brown fabric. 🙁 Fortunately, it isn’t an awful brown fabric. I didn’t know that I had bought so much of it until I unearthed my brown bin and saw 2 yards of a completely uncut piece. 🙁 I have that fabric in several other colors and love it, but really had no memory of buying the brown. I’ll have to think of some other projects to make for my friend.