High Fiving Myself!

I did it!
well at least I think I did it -
created a printable download of the Comfort Bag.

It took days - think I might've been asking too much of Google Docs, 

expecting all the info I was tossing at it to stick immediately -

that's the trouble when winging the whole computer thing,

my knowledge base comes from spending alot of time, making alot of mistakes.

Still time to join in the extended version of this weeks JaM.

JaM - Easy-Peasy Comfort Bag Challenge

As hinted to, this weeks JaM is stepping up a notch 

& I'm sticking my neck out with a challenge [of sorts] in 2 parts.


Challenge #1 - for those who don't sew or have limited time.

Show us your favourite Bag
as in Tote style bag not crotchity old person style bag.

Challenge #2 - for the die hard sewing thrill seekers who always have time for another project
your challenge is to make the

 Easy-Peasy Comfort Bag

created with jeans & a mens tie. 

 You can follow my instructions or use your own 

with only the requirements listed 

linking in below so we can all be inspired by each others genius!

Turns out I'm not all that smart  -

I can't for the life of me work out a simple way

to produce this as a Pdf Doc for you to download & print....yet.

Comfort Bag

Requirements:

• Pair of Jeans (med. weight) or 90cm Fabric (med.-heavy weight) - depends on what your machine is capable of. 
• Machine Needle - Size 90 or Denim Needle.
• Mens Tie - preferably one with one of those tab things that the skinny end slides into when the bloke's wearing it.
• Optional - applique bits & pieces.

Note - all 1-1.5cm seam allowances

 I love a bit of denim & lace so I chose a faded pair of womens Size 10 jeans because I knew they'd be easy to add some 'old world girly charm' to, by way of doilies. The Tie is vintage polyester and does say 'Dry Clean Only' - if need be I'll wash by hand. 

• Fold the Jeans in half lengthwise, aligning the hem edges so that they are level. 
• Measure up 40cm and cut a straight line from side seam to inside leg.

•  Cut up the side seams and trim away the bulky seams & corners.
• If possible retain the stitched hem edge because this makes up the top of the bag & means you don't have to finish that edge yourself - it's done already!
• If you're using fabric you will need to create a finished top edge.

• Cut away one of the back pockets and stitch to the inside of one of the leg pieces - handy for essential girly stuff like phone, lippy & keys.

• Stitch both leg pieces together, down one side, matching hem edge to hem edge creating a long rectangle piece of fabric.
• Overlock or Serge or Zig Zag the seamed edge.
• This is the time to applique if you're going to - lay up your applique pieces, pin or vylisafix (whichever is appropriate) to the 'right-side' of the fabric & stitch in place.

• Fold the rectangle in half (right sides together) and stitch down the other side seam & along the bottom, finishing at the bottom of the first seam you stitched.
• Overlock, Serge or Zig Zag these raw seamed edges.

• To create the flat bottom on the Bag you'll need the side seam facing up toward you, fold the bottom corner down & pin to hold. Once stitched across it will look like a triangle. The deeper you make the 'triangle' the wider the base of the bag - I was dictated to by the positioning of the applique. Do this on both sides.

• Unpick the tab thingy from the underside of the Tie.
• Measure 124cm from the tip of the wider end of the Tie and cut off the skinny end.
• Overlock, Serge or Zig Zag the raw edges.

• To help reinforce the Tie stitch a 'zig zag' from top to bottom - this doesn't alter the characteristic Bias nature of the Tie - it helps to stop it coming apart on the underside & it looks good.

• Centre the ends of the Tie either side of the bag on the outside of the side seams. Pin in place and try for size - at this point you can alter the strap length & check you haven't twisted it.
• Centre & pin the skinny end of the Tie to the back side of the Bag (with the pocket) & stitch in place.
• This is where the tab thingy you unpicked earlier comes into play - on the front side of the bag measure down from the centre 4cm & stitch the tab (cut in half with ends folded in) in place so the skinny end of the tie can slide through thus keeping the bag secure - of course you can add a button or press stud if you desire - my button is purely for decoration.

 

 Observations:
~ My Tie didn't come with a tab thingy, I happened to have a red one from previous Comfort Bag constructions lying around, you could use a strip of anything or fasten with a button/buttonhole, press stud, ribbon tie etc.
~ The piece of gingham underneath is to assist in securing the vents I ended up with in the centre of my bag, originally they were side vents on the jeans.


As with all REinventions, they are their own entity & grow with you, taking on aspects of your personality during the creative process. I'm a firm believer there's no point in creating anything unless you're going to use it or at least be proud for someone else to use it. Up until the red tab went on, I was worried - then I started seeing the bag in a different light, becoming more comfortable with where it was heading and I continued to add splashes of red via my favourite sewing medium - free machine embroidery - it's free use it!
I've made a little video tute on how I do it if you're interested.

I'll shut up -
Here's the rules for joining in JaM

• I'll post a theme, do a post on the theme and invite you to do the same. Please offer suggestions for themes - think this is where I fell down with the Eco Quilt [much guilt].
• You then. if you so choose, do your own post on the theme, with a link back to the MeMe so others that are interested can join in.
• Leave a comment if you so wish.
• Most importantly leave a link at the bottom of the MeMe so that we can come visit you.

now it's your turn
Link up below! 

Lap Zip Tutorial.....& another skirt!

I made another one, only this time not for me - this one will be worn at the Perth Craft & Quilt Fair by the lovely Julie, while she helps Denise out on the Hot Possum shop/stall selling gorgeous fabrics, quilt packs and 

my Change of Heart Skirt patterns!

 

 While stitching the Zip into the skirt I did a tutorial on how I insert a Lap Zip, being that this is how I ask for a zip to be inserted into most Sew Outside the Lines™ projects.

and Again!

I've decided that when I experiment with stuff I'll do it more than once - so it sinks in!
I have a habit of creating things and because it's 'done' I don't think I'll do it again until I go to do it again and then I invariably can't remember how I did it!

Having successfully tea dyed the lace for my Skirt REinvention I decided to give it another go, this time sharing the process.

I had a white crochet cardy which has sat in my 'crochet cardy drawer' for years, purely because it was white. Crochet cardys I love but white's not a colour I'm comfortable wearing.

The whole tea-dying process is so easy and a lot less messy than run-of-the-mill dying with commercial dyes. Before I start I will apologise for the lack of photos, I did think too many photos would over-complicate things, that and my kitchen isn't very photogenic!

 

I used these:

• 8 litres water
• 15 tea bags - normal breakfast style tea
• half cup of table salt

and then did this:

• put water on to boil
• chop labels off tea bags because I didn't want them interfering with the dye
• put the tea bags & salt into the water
• I used salt because I use it when dying with commercial dyes and figured any dying requires a mordant - salt being mine
• continually move the tea bags around in the water to encourage the colour out of the bags and to dissolve the salt
• once the water had reached boiling without boiling turn the water right down
• leave teabags in the water for another 15mins until the water is a rich deep brown
• remove the tea bags
• submerge the clean fabric/garment in the water, stirring continuously
• the longer you leave the item in the tea-water the more colour it will absorb
• remove from water and rinse thoroughly
• dry and wear often!

 

I'm very pleased with the subtle outcome.