Little Purple Handbag

I love to make bags and this is the second time this summer I was asked to make one on commission for someone.

A few years ago I made this one for a little girl and now, apparently, her friend needs one as well.  I am more than happy to oblige.

I used the same pattern, and it came together just as easily.  I tried the two-strap version this time just for fun.

Hand embroidered name tag, which was then machine stitched onto the bag

What little girl wouldn't want to play with a purse this cute?!

P.S.  I really must do a better job of pressing/getting rumples out before taking pictures... this one looks like its just been run over by something... its not that bad in real life, I promise.  

Blue Star Handbag

A while ago, I made this bag for myself.  I love it and it has garnered many compliments.  One of those compliments recently came from a relative who then asked me to make her one just like it.  My answer: "Sure, I'd love to!"  She requested a few specific things such as more interior pockets and a shorter strap.  I worked on it for a few days and then sent the bag off in the mail.  As this is my second time making this particular 'pattern' (my own design) it went together pretty smoothly and I am very happy with the way the bag turned out.

This bag is the same overall shape as my personal one, just a few tweaks here and there.  I did a color-blocked band at the top, for starters, which moved the pleat down a bit.   This tweak had the added bonus of giving the bag a bit more structure at the top.   I think I like the color-blocking better, so if and when I make another bag I hope I remember that!

I think this little pleat might be my favorite part of the whole bag!  

I always love piping on strap edges and I like how the strap connection turned out this time.  I find sewing around hardware to be challenging - it never seems to turn out as crisp and neat as I'd like it to.  On this bag, I left out the metal hardware altogether on the straps and attached the piped strap with the rounded blue fabric piece.  It stiffens the area a bit to give the strap some sturdiness and I was able to get all those seems nice and crisp and polished looking. 

Three interior pockets on one side and an elasticized pocket on the other.  

The closure is a magnetic snap - I really like those.

Here it is being modeled by a six year old in her jammies.  

(The bag is for an 80-something year old who won't wear it with jammies!)  

Quick Knit Skirt

This skirt was a one-day whip-up.

Earlier this spring, I found a few knit skirts at GoodWill and I have been enjoying wearing them.   I had this rather strange waffle-like textured knit in my stash so I thought I'd try a comfy skirt.  If it worked, great.  If it didn't work, it wouldn't be a big loss because the fabric was a bit odd to begin with.

It is self drafted - those skills come in so handy now.  I made the skirt and then, after trying it on realized that one layer of the knit fabric was practically see-through so I went back and added a second layer to the skirt.  After reattaching the waistband it was much more appropriate, but still pretty lightweight and not too bulky.

I've worn it a bunch and it wears (and washes) well - a nice comfy, everyday running errands and playing with the kids kind of skirt.  I should make more.  :)

Teal Crochet Bag

This is a recent crochet project.  It was supposed to be a pencil case, like this one, and then it just kept growing until it became this over-the-shoulder bag.

It's all single crochet.  The main part of the bag goes vertically, seamed up the sides with a single crochet seam.  Around the top I picked up stitches and did a few rows around horizontally.  I thought it might give the top of the bag more structure and look nice.  

I debated on how to do the strap, but in the end I made a separate strap and stitched it onto the bag.  I think it turned out okay, but not great. 

Here it is being worn.  

Things I like about the bag... 

1.  Color.  I love the look of the variagated colors. 

2.  Yarn.  I have decided I like smaller, smoother yarn rather than bulky hairy yarn.  The original pencil case was being made for the sole purpose of trying out thinner, smoother yarn.  

3.  The band at the top in the opposing direction - I like that it changes things up just a bit but the project still looks cohesive.  

Things I don't like about the bag...

1.  Its only useful for carrying light things.  I've found I can't even really use it as a run-around, daily-use purse because my regular stuff weighs it down too much.  In order to make it sturdier I'd have to either line it, or make a sturdier strap or something - not sure.  Maybe thats the nature of crochet bags?    

2.  The strap.  I tried to make it wide and sturdy but it still digs into my shoulder (almost painfully so) when there is anything mildly weighty in the bag.  I would also rather the strap was integrated into the bag rather than stitched on, but as I was flying by the seat of my pants I thought I'd do it this way in case I wanted to remove it later and try something else.    

Something tells me this bag will eventually get a makeover somehow, but it was fun to make.  

Crochet is a fun diversion for me right now - great for keeping busy while watching TV.  I am okay with experimenting on my own and learning from library books.  This project was all straight lines, no shaping.   The next thing I'd like to try will be practicing reading patterns and a bit of shaping - circles still trip me up sometimes.