Hello Dear Reader,
As promised, I told you that as soon as I’d finished, that I would start thinking about Christmas. I’m planning on making a few bags to sell so people can give them away at Christmas and I made my first attempt at a new pattern as a practise. I used old curtain material and it is brighter than it looks in the photos where it appears to be totally washed out. I have a mass of curtain and upholstery fabric which I shall use to make lots of these bags. I have the fabric so they won’t actually cost me anything to make. I shall use this bag for taking books to and from work as it big and roomy and every seam is stitched and then top stitched so it’s very strong.
It’s a great bag for crafters and quilters to take to workshops with their fabric and notions inside and their tools, scissors and threads in the pockets. It certainly wasn’t easy to make and has taken me the best part of a day to make my first one. I will get quicker as I make more. I would advise anyone to use jumble sale fabric to make your first dress or bag so it doesn’t matter if the seams are lumpy or the pockets don’t sit as you would like them to. I paid 20p for this off cut of fabric at one of the local jumble sales so it really hasn’t cost me much to make it.
The pattern very cleverly guides you to sew the lining into the outer layer and then turn it inside out. I’m really impressed with this pattern and I’m looking forward to making a whole load of these bags with the fabric I have.
P.S I will have a ‘Christmas Bazaar’ page up and running by the end of October so my ‘Scrappy Bags’ will be onsale by then.
Over to you, who else is sewing for Christmas, or getting ready for the Christmas Bazaars and Fayres? It’s a great way to earn some ‘pin money’. Who is sewing or knitting for Christmas gifts?
I’m off now to pin out and cut out the next bag as I’m setting myself the target of three a week…… I love a deadline!
Yoosta-Bee? I make bags from fabric and they used to be something else.
Until tomorrow,
Love Froogs xxxxxxxxxxx
One for me please xxx
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Love it!
I knit for Christmas-fingerless gloves are my specialty.
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Lovely bag - I like the pockets.
Do you stiffen the base in any way?
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I didn't but I can , I like to wash cloth bags
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That looks very good, a lovely idea for Christmas.
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you inspire me so much , I have turned up the neighbours curtains by hand and I have got the sewing bug again but my machine has broke I am trying to trouble shoot it , it might be my inexperience , well I am hoping it is I am reading the Manuel to find out why , I have cut some squares out to make my first patchwork item a cushion cover and plan on making some patchwork curtains for my living room with big squares , I have seen these on vintage vixens blog and I love them but I wont be sewing for presents although I will be making food gifts for Christmas and am planning that at the moment, Eileen x
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I've started my Christmas knitting with a scarf for a friend
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I have two blankets on my crochet hook. One is queen size and almost done. I have my paper crafting supplies on hand. It is a slow but steady start.
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Do you have simple pattern? I can knit socks. So do you think I could manage the gloves? I have a dear friend who suffers from the cold and fingerless gloves would be a treat for her.
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It's lovely, looks nice and sturdy!
This year I'm sewing some patchwork Christmas stockings for my little roost, and will most likely hand make / sew / cook most, if not all gifts this year. I think it makes for a more personal season, aswell as it being frugal 🙂 xx
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I am definitely going to try to make one of these, new to sewing and crafting but looks great. Thanks.
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Hoping to knit an advent calender for my daughter and make a few Christmas gifts too. I love using donated or charity shop/jumble sale upholstery fabric or curtains for bags as it's so strong.
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Seeing your work has made me think of sewing again, love those bags.
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Looks lovely, I love the inside lining! I hope they sell well for you!
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I make all my Christmas cards and have crocheted gifts for some family members this year - a set of coasters. I like to make a start when I'm on holiday as I have more time then. So they are just waiting to be wrapped. I plan to make boxes to put them in too!
I really fancy sewing now too!
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Hi Froog! I usually begin my Christmas gifts in june or july, but this year I'm very late! I've planned to dye and spin some fibers for my knitting friends, make some lace shawls for them too. I made a shawl for my mother; and I'll sew some knitting needle cases and knitting bags too. So many projects… so little time!
I really love your bag, I think I'll find the pattern in France too -or on the web.
thank you for sharing and inspiring day after day!
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Will these be available to international people? I live in Australia and would really live to buy one. I am more than happy to pay what it would cost to get it here.
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Have you seen the fab bags you can make from old Jeans. Check out Pinterest site for details
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hi fg
im knitting the kids xmas jumpers this year also minion hats and hello kitty hats and any other things i can fit in
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Froogs, I am about 98% done with any purchases for this upcoming Christmas and will spend the bulk of Nov and into Dec doing my holiday sewing: fleece as well as flannel sleep pants for the kids, and some of the bags you show in this post. I recently purchased this exact pattern,and hope to make 2 of them as Christmas gifts this year, using whatever fabric I already own.
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