Make a Tote Bag

It's been a while! I haven't been doing much sewing recently, other things have got in the way. I'm hoping in the coming weeks I will have a catch up with projects and get ahead of myself!😀

Today I am sharing my latest make, just finished yesterday. This is the Cactus Stone Tote Bag from Art Gallery Fabrics.

I used the Twist in Smoke from Dashwood Studios, which is a lovely pale grey colour, for the main body of the bag, and for the cactus I chose Kaleidoscope from the Belle Epoque collection also by Dashwood. I had already ironed interfacing on the back of the main piece before stitching the cactus in place. 

I found the pattern a bit lacking in instructions but it is very straight forward to make if you have made bags before. I used Flecks Soul from Art Gallery Fabrics for the accent colour on the back and front, and for the handles.

As well as the interfacing I ironed fusible fleece on the reverse of the body pieces to give it some body. I also decided to put a recessed zipper in my tote bag to keep contents secure inside as I'm going to use mine as a project bag. I cut the zipper casings 14" x 31/2" and the zipper was approx 17" long, I generally use zipping by the metre, but you could use a slightly shorter zip if that's all you have. If you would like to add a recessed zipper to your bag you will find numerous tutorials and videos online.

If you would like to have a go at making this Tote Bag you'll find it on page 36 in Art Gallery Fabric's Lookbook, click on the picture below.

Happy sewing!

Quilt as you go cushion

There comes a time in a child's life when they don't really want anything which is handmade, which I think is quite sad. But luckily or unfortunately, depending on which side you are on, my nieces still occasionally get a present from me which I have made! As I have all these wonderfully bright fabrics in my shop I thought my eldest niece, who is now 13, wouldn't mind a cushion made by her Aunty! Her Mum said 'think tropical' so this is what I found amongst my stock. It needed to have pink and yellow, which I have and I thought the aqua Bumbleberries would be good in the mix too. I know Peacocks are not very tropical but the colours were there, artistic licence?!

I used 2.5" strips to make this quilt as you go cushion cover, using inspiration from the cushion made by Melissa on her blog Polkadot Chair. I love this method, it is really quick as you stitch n' flip and quilt each piece as you go. I chose to stitch straight lines through each piece as Melissa did with her cushion, but I used a dark thread so the stitching was obvious.

My niece won't receive this until I see her at Easter, I hope she likes it!

AGF Earthen Lookbook

The fabrics from the Earthen range by Art Gallery Fabrics are now listed on the website as cut pieces and fabric bundles. Click on the Look Book below to see all the amazing projects you can make. These fabrics were featured in this month's Fabulous sewing subscription boxes and I used the Foxnest Haze to make myself a new handbag, you can read my post here.

Check out the unboxing of February's Little Box of Fabulous. Click below.

Happy sewing and don't forget to share your makes on our Facebook page!

Review of Decovil 1 Light

I love a handmade bag! I've been making bags for myself, family and friends over the past 3-4 years and have also sold them on Etsy. Since I started Sew Fabulous Fabrics there hasn't been much bag making going on! With this month's fabrics for the Fabulous sewing boxes I was totally inspired by the Foxnest Haze from the Earthen range by Art Gallery Fabrics and thought it was time to make myself a new bag!

This is the Luisa Crossbody Bag from Sotak Patterns. I've made this pattern before and it's presently the bag I use every day. The lining is also from the Earthen range, Allium Specks Rose.

I interfaced all the pieces first with a medium weight fusible then ironed Decovil 1 Light on the reverse of all the exterior bag pieces.

My review of Decovil 1 Light:

Decovil 1 Light is made by Vlieseline and is an iron-on interfacing with a leather like feel. I have used many different interfacings and interlinings in my bag making and wanted to try something new which I could possibly keep in stock in the shop. I looked at various different products and watched videos and this came out as the one I needed to try! I followed the instructions of using a damp cloth and pressing each area for about 6 seconds, it adhered to the fabric straight away. Brilliant! If you want a structured bag rather than a floppy bag then the Decovil will be ideal, also I would definitely use it to make purses such as the Necessary Clutch Wallet. So it's decided, it will be available in the shop very soon!

 I love an inside pocket!