I have been neglecting my blog!!  I am so sorry!  I had promised myself that I would not and I just went and did it. 

I have been creating a slew of things - some I can share, others I can not.  I'm keeping the designs that I am working on to submit for a book hush hush for now but that will change once I do submit and get the yea or nay.  Let's hope for a yea.  I am really excited about getting a bound book published!


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Anyhoo.... Machine knitting.  On my 50 projects in 2011 on Craftster, one of my goals was to use my knitting machine again.  It has been set up and unused for so long thanks to the mountain of fabric and yarn that was sitting in front of it.   I knitted up a round baby swirl blanket - but made it grown up sized.  It was a bit over 5' across when I finished.  I made it for the Great Big Swirlie Swap on Craftster.  Man I wish I took a better picture of it.  It was a bear to knit up but so worth it.  I would make this again.
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Sewing...
My oldest son is taking guitar lessons at school.  He really needed a bag to take his music stand to and from school.  The box just wasn't cutting it.  He loves to play chess and I have a few yards of this chess material so I cut in to it and made him this nifty music stand bag.  He looooves it!  He is so sweet to still like things that are home made.  I know that there will come a day when he will refuse to be seen with something that his mommy made, but I'm loving it for now. 


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I had a little time this morning before starting the day officially... so I updated the coaster links! 

With the holiday season approaching, I know a lot of us will be looking for quick but substantial gifts to give to friends, family, teachers, coworkers - and what better way to say hey, I care then to keep them from getting water rings on their end tables!

http://yarn-or-fabric.weebly.com/placemat-runners-toppers--coaster-tutorial-links.html

So go on and get your sewing on!
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So I wanted a bag to carry my notions to and from the sewing group I organize.  After searching high and low for just the right tutorial/pattern, I came upon this tutorial (which can also be found linked here on my site along with a slew of other things....
The bag called for 3 pocket pieces, two interior and one exterior.  I chose to add a second exterior pocket length and am glad I did.  I was tempted to add pockets on the outside side sections as well but have to admit that I am glad I did not.  It would have been ridiculously bulky and more frustrating than it is worth.  The second exterior pocket length is fabulous though.  I would not have it any other way!
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I used Stiffy from Long Creek Mills instead of Peltex.  I like using Stiffy and really do need to order some more... I'll get around to that one of these days.....  Stiffy is great for art quilts too - which is what I have mainly used it for in the past.
Anyhoo....Back to my ridiculously awesome Sewing Saturday Bag...
It is 13x6 x7" tall. 
The tutorial itself was well written.  A friend of mine made it as well and she is a bit tutorial challenged sometimes and she breezed through it.  I think it is also because she is turning in to a great seamstress too - that helps a lot ;)
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I changed one other thing.  I don't do the pillowcase turn method when I make bags.  I hate the ugly hand sewing seam that you have to create on the lining.  I also hate pulling something with a stiff stabilizer through a hole... so I turn under the top edge on the lining and the outer and top stitch around the top edge instead.  I think it makes a much nicer looking bag.  You were going to top stitch around there anyway!  Kill two birds with one sewing stone!
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I whipped up 4 bags yesterday to send to someone who got flaked in a swap.  It's just sad when a crafter goes bad and just falls off the face of the cyber world.  I know that life can get in the way of our hobbies but at least woman up and say, hey!  Sorry!  I just can't do it right now... so I donned the Super Crafter cape and got to work....
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My target?  A crafter on Craftster who loves polka dots, green & brown....
My mission?  Two pairs of completely different grocery bags.  I tried a new pattern this time around just because it is so super cute!
You can get the tutorial here.  It is the Compact Grocery Bag.  I'm wishing I made the outer fabric in red because it looks like a strawberry when it is all tucked in its little handy bag.  I do believe I'll be making more of these for teachers and whatnot.

I have to add that I used stretchy shoe laces for the ties.  The pattern called for drawstring toggles and I could not find a single one in my craft abode so I thought I'd go with the tied effect.  I didn't like the long laces so I got some neoprene washers from Home Depot, ran the laces through the hole, used a wickedly cool knot my son created one day while playing with rope - then I snipped the ends... Sadly, I didn't snap a picture or two before posting it off.  It is MUCH cuter without that really long lace!  Next time I'll take pictures.  I'm sure I'll be making more of these again.
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I also whipped up two market bags for her as well.  I love this pattern and have made a slew of these bags already.  The tutorial can be found here.  I had seen this polka dotted decorator fabric at the store the other day and when this flaking situation occurred, I immediately thought of it... I ran out there, got that and the nifty batiks I used for the other super cute compact grocery bags.

I might be making up more of these in the next week or so.  I was thinking.. hmmm.. I got to carry all those supplies in to the class rooms during the teacher meet and greet on Aug 6, so I might as well start off the year by spoiling the teachers with some go green market bags... If they say they will use them, then I will be happy to leave them with them!  The less plastic that we use, the less plastic that will end up in the landfill.  I wish more states would outlaw those wretched grocery store bags.  People need to be more responsible with our earth and try to not use them whenever possible.

Okay.  I'm getting off my tree hugging soap box.  Sooo... Make a grocery or market bag for yourself and make one for a friend - or in my case this time around, for someone who got flaked on in a swap.
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Not all tutorials online are fantastic - in fact, a lot of them are just lemons - but I have to say that I love the Noodlehead Zippy Wallet tutorial. I've made three so far - okay, two that I deemed worthy... One I actually chucked since I don't know what I was thinking when I was sewing it together and decided that it would take longer to rip it apart and fix it than to just remake it from scratch.


I give the Noodlehead Zippy Wallet tutorial two thumbs up!
http://noodleheads.blogspot.com/2009/10/zippy-wallet-tutorial.html
It's quick - taking about 30-45 minutes to whip one of these bad boys out.
It's a well written & photographed tutorial.
Yeah, it's a keeper :)


The one on the left is for my friend, Karen. The machine embroidery design is courtesy of Urban Threads over at http://www.urbanthreads.com/
I made hers a wee bit bigger to give the embroidery design a bit of breathing room. I didn't want it to be all cramped and all!!

The butterfly one is for me - I just loooove that fabric!! I added that super cute button on the little card-securing flap. It just matches perfectly!
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