Commentary about works in progress, design & creativity
TO MY PARENTS: STOP READING NOW. Everyone else, scroll down.
Back to regular programming.
I did all the prep for some new Hackneys after working on the Bristol pouch and the La Pass Border last weekend. These will be gifts for my parents. It just happened that I am working on them at the same time. It is kind of strange since they have been divorced for so many years. Don’t worry, I don’t have illusions of them getting back together.
I am going to sew with a friend tomorrow and we are working on Enigma Bags. Mine will be a Christmas gift, so you’ll see the finished product in a few months. I am happy that I got everything ready to go.
I am using some zipper tape that I bought, but didn’t try until last weekend. The zipper heads I bought to go with it didn’t fit, but I have plenty of zipper heads. I found one for a new Hackney I am making and will use the same kind of head on this one.
As usual, I had some leftovers of the fish fabric I used for the Trout pillowcases. It is really good fabric so I cut up the leftovers to make a Hackney for my Dad for Christmas.
The difference with this one is that I used the same fabric for the lining as for the exterior. I am not sure how that is going to work, but I’ll make a stab. This one will also have a mesh pocket.
I finally finished the Enlarged I Spy (AKA Blazing Star I Spy). It is too big for the Blazing Star templates, but I can always use it for a different set of templates or for something else. It won’t go to waste.
I am pleased with how I matched the coneflowers on the top around the zipper. The process, in general, however, wasn’t as smooth as I would have guessed. I suppose I was distracted a bit. From what, I don’t know.
One thing I am determined to remember to do is to cut off the ends of the zippers and use zipper tabs. I really don’t know how I missed that bit of metal with my sewing machine needle. Sheer good luck.
You can also see, in this picture, that I used glitter vinyl. I love it!
Another Hackney is in the books. The Coneflower Hackney #2 is finished and the recipient should have received it by now.
Remember how I talked about DecorBond in my last post about this bag? You can see how great the top looks in the photo – flat and smooth. I love it! I am so pleased that it looks that good.
It really surprises me how different a bag can look with different interfacing.
In this version, I sewed the top stitching, to close the turning gap on the inside, from the top. I wanted the top stitching to look good from the outside as well as close the gap. This is something I have trouble with repeatedly, so I did it slowly and with care. I think it looks good this time. Still not perfect, but I am getting there.
I think I have finally gotten the handle placement down. I think these bags are just way more useful with a handle. I wonder what inspired Sara to make this bag without a handle? I suppose it could be used in the bottom of a suitcase to corral all of those random items one needs on trips that aren’t clothes. Maybe the Minikins Season 3 video says something about that. I don’t really remember.
I have seen Gerre carrying hers by the handle to Sew Day, so I know the handle isn’t superfluous.
I had a little trouble with the back panel on this one, but the inside still looks good. I really like that bright white fabric.
I also remembered to put labels into the lining front panel this time.
I have made a number of these Hackneys and haven’t gotten one perfect yet. I really worry that I will never be able to make a perfect bag the first time through.
I am not finished with this pattern yet. I just cut one out for my Dad using the leftovers from his birthday pillowcases.
Happy Birthday, Angela! 😉
The Coneflower #2 Hackney is going very well. I think this one is coming out the best of all of them. I think the DecorBond** I added really helped a lot.
I only just added the DecorBond after making so many Hackneys, because I was confused by the directions. I read them as Decovil 526** OR DecorBond. I tend not to watch the entire videos that come with the Sew Sweetness patterns, but I probably should! They are super helpful and would probably answer the Decovil 526** OR DecorBond question.
Then I thought maybe the DecorBond would be a good addition, so I tried it. Fortunately, I had a small amount in my bag of interfacing. It was a great addition that made the top really flat and not wobbly. It wasnt’ bad to sew through either. It didn’t add a lot of bulk to the seam allowances.
As you can see from the photo, I have a bit of finishing to do before I can send this bag off to its new owner.
**N. B. : 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 have mentioned Gerre using the bags I make her in one or two posts. I always find it nice when people are actually able to use the bags I make. Sew Day was an ‘in the wild’ bonanza!
Julie and Gerre , as you have read,were both there and are both regular recipients of some of the bags I make. Gerre had three bags there screaming with Sugar Skulls.
They look really nice all together and the stripes and dots are good compliments tot he Sugar Skulls
Gerre and Julie both said they love the ByAnnie project bag, which you know I was a little annoyed with,but only because of the size. The large didn’t seem very large to me.
I actually found my project bag** useful for the Metro Twist pieces and patterns. There is something good about it. Both Gerre and Julie said that they could use many others. They thought a row of them hanging up in their workrooms would look really nice. Maybe I will make them each another for a gift. We’ll see. I do want to try making the larger size (extra large) as well.
**N. B. : 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 finally attempting to enlarge an I Spy pouch. I decided that last week, one evening after work, was the day to do it.
Sara’s directions work well regardless of the size. Sizes are always the challenge. I used the widths, but extended the lengths to accommodate the Blazing Star bag acrylic templates.
I learned a lot. One thing is to cut the back and lining back after you have put the front together. Normally, having everything cut and fused is a good thing, but in this case, I made so many cutting mistakes that I ran out of lining fabric.
On my next enlarged I Spy, I will put the sides and the vinyl together, then cut the top and bottom, install the zipper, then cut the back and lining back. I don’t know enough about enlarging bags to do anything different.
I started another Hackney last weekend (??) Not sure. I didn’t take a photo, so this one is the only one I have of the piece in process.
As you can see, I am back to the mesh pocket. In the photo, the zipper looks a little wonky. Let’s hope it is the photo. Taking Sue G’s comment about the usefulness of the pocket into account, I decided to add one again. It went in fine, except that I cut it a bit short, so added some fabric to the side. I am glad I know enough to make adjustments as needed.
I can’t tell you who will receive this Hackney as a gift, because the person is a reader of this blog. Check your mailboxes soon. 😉
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!
Amanda was kind enough to text me yesterday just to say that she was thinking of me. We had a text exchange and in it she mentioned the Hackney I made for her birthday. She was kind enough to send me a photo of it in use.
I am constantly amazed at how much these hold. I am glad to see that she though the pen/tool holder in the top / lid was useful.
Maybe I should make one of these for myself?
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.