5th Day of Christmas - Zip and Go

This is a fabulous cross-body (or shoulder) bag that is pretty quick and easy to make.  It is called the Zip and Go by Dog Under My Desk.  It s quite small - only 9.5" tall and 7.5" wide, but it is perfect for when you just need your keys, purse and glasses.  The main fabric only takes 1/3 yd - probably even just 1/4 yd, but fat quarters are no good due to to needing some length for the straps.  My straps are close to 60" long.

This lovely checked version was for my SIL for Christmas.  The fabric is a lovely soft wool, and the straps are adjustable as I'm not sure what length she would prefer.

The two zips mean that there is a good amount of space in the from of the bag.  I attached a couple of charms that were on lobster clips to each zip pull rather than make my own as I felt the old metal look went really well with the look of the bag.

Cute interior fabric - it looks like little clothes hanging on a washing line, with some red flowers dotted about.

The back is plain, but that works well as it is against your body.

And of course, a special label for a special lady.

The only other comment of note is that I used fusible fleece on the two outer layers and that made it quite thick and bulky.  Fortunately my sewing machine was an absolute trooper, and coped admirably!

Next up (I actually made this one first, but whatever, is one from Laurel Burch fabric.  Her colours are very rich and although they haven't photographed well here, it still looks pretty good!  The zips are a deep purple, just to give you an idea!

I just need to add/make some zipper pulls, and this is done.  For this one I just used Pellon SF101 as the stabiliser on all pieces, so it is pretty sturdy.  This will be perfect to jazz up a plain summer outfit.
Roll on summer!!

Haute Handbags

Gosh, was that Summer over and done?  It certainly was a lovely Summer, but I'm thinking that we have now seen the best of it.  The nights are drawing in, and we have even had to switch the heating on a couple of times.  While I deliberate over what my Autumn sewing will look like (I do have a couple of other Summer Lagelook items to photograph and show you), I saw this magazine on the racks . . . . and I was inspired to play:

And inside I saw this bag (and yes - those are tabs marking a few other bags that I may have a go at making!):

Here it is a bit closer:

There are a few patterns in the magazine - unfortunately this was not one of them, so I made my own, using dimensions from a pretty bag I bought back from Australia a couple of years ago.  I used a couple of bundles of fat squatters that were for sale in my local craft shop.  The fabric was a canvas/denim weight and comprised of white, denim blue and stripe.

Here is my version:

It is probably about 12" square and I lined it with some striped shirt fabric left over from another project.  You can just about make out the internal pockets - there are three or four on each side to keep my odds and ends in so hopefully I won't need to rummage around for things too much!  the outer layer has some fusble fleecy facing attached (the type that I use when I make small bags and pouches).  The hessian and white band  are on the front only and the hessian came on a roll - it is about 6" wide.  I retro-fitted  the magnetic closing.  I wasn't going to have one but the bag gaped open and a closure was required.  Fortunately I turned the bag through the lining at the bottom, so it was easy enough to unpick that seam, add the closure, and then sew it back up again.  I have not trailed the bag yet - I will take it for a spin, and if the dimensions work out, I'll make another in more 'un-summery' colours!

Next week I am off on another bra making class with Bra Makers Supply in Hamilton Ontario, where I will be learning how to make alterations to 'fit every body'  Can't wait!  The ladies at the shop are lovely, so I made a few pouches for them out of some bra patterned fabric . . . .

I have made six in total - I hope they like them!

How is your sewing coming along?  Have you moved into Autumnal sewing yet?