While the cat's away...

...the mice will play.

Except in this instance, it was a rat.

Thoughts on bags

Aside from quilts, I like making bags.

They are the quick win of the sewing world - an instant shot of gratification.

I always seem to make this one.

But if truth be told, it kind of looks like a quick win bag.

And I felt the time had come to expand my bag-making repertoire.

Too many squashed bananas and leaky pens mean I always try to line bags with laminate fabric

So this time around, I decided to make the Perfect Quilted Tote by Oh Fransson.

It was, on the whole, a well-written pattern with some nice touches included that I had not come across before in my limited bag-making experience - like securing the lining and outer bag at the base as well as obviously round the top.

When it came to the lining I knew I wanted it laminated but I also knew I didn't have any laminates that would match so I decided to make my own.

You need Vilene Lamifix Fusible. I bought mine here. However, in my enthusiasm to buy it, I didn't see the all important word 'matt' when really I should have bought 'clear.'

Here you can see the difference it makes.

By this stage though I just decided to soldier on and remember for next time.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday

I made just a few minor tweaks to the original pattern: I lengthened the straps by about four inches and I used jute rather than fabric handles because I just prefer the look.

I think it produces a nice, sturdy, professional looking bag which is good enough to give as a gift.

Which I am.

(P.S. I meant to thank everyone who voted for my quilts in the recent Bloggers Quilt Festival. I was very touched. Thank you.)

A Little Bit Of Liberty

This quilt top is now all quilted up and finished.

I went to town and some on the quilting...I think.

A combination of getting bored doing the same pattern and wanting to extend myself beyond the fail-safe meandering quilting.

To begin with, I thought I'd leave the Liberty prints void of quilting.

But there was too much poofy puffiness going on so I rectified that with some hand-quilting.

I love the backside.

It may well be my rear of the year.

I used up all the little triangle off cuts and completely randomly pieced them into a scrappy, neutral back. It was an excellent way to use up lots of little pieces.

Although my sewing room floor may beg to differ.

Linking up to Finish It Up Friday

The light was fading...

...so I popped outside to get a couple of snaps of Sarah's cushion cover, the making of which she won, as part of my Sew Mama Sew giveaway day.

She asked for a Camelot inspired cushion cover. I had actually given the Camelot quilt pattern away (how are you getting along with it Carla?!) so this is actually a Camelot(esque) block which I drafted from the book Patchwork 163.

It finished 17" square and I'm afraid for photo styling purposes I didn't have an inner small enough so, looking like it's had one pork pie too many, it's propped up uncomfortably stuffed with a 20" form inside it.

But you get the picture.

Do you like the way I said 'you get the picture' and then I showed you the reverse with pictures on? Slick huh ;-)

It's zippered on the top edge.

Hope you like it.

I'll pop it in the post to you on Monday.

Le Weekend