May 08. Step into Spring Shoulder bag - in oilcloth
Spring is on it's way. I love this time of year - saying hello to all of the flowers that I've missed over the cold months on sunny walks with some charming French tunes on my ipod. Here's a selection of those tunes for you whilst you have a read. If you like them let me know. Two lazy jazz numbers by Madeleine Peyroux here and another here, and a fun number by Pink Martini.
I've finished the May 08 bag for Sewing Word Magazine (you see can some of the planning for this bag here - thanks for your votes). The magazine theme for May is 'blue in all shades'. So in keeping with the theme I designed this crescent shaped Hand/shoulder bag with darts and a tab closure. I decided to make two of these bags one in velvet and the other in a cotton drill, but I royally messed up the one in cotton drill. Sometimes designing a tute for a easy-ish bag is fraught with much hardship and many choice swearwords. After flipping my lid from messing up the first bag I was amazed at how easy it was to write the tutorial and make another bag??!!
May 08 magazine cover.
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So I made this bag in the blue velvet and also in Oilcloth (sorry about posting loads of pics; it's for when I sell the bag at a later stage):
Mmmm fresh looking Chrysanthemums. I have used this smart bamboo handle - the handle is wide and tall enough to slip over your shoulder, and I also used these silver rings 1".
Close-up of darts. Darts are a good way to add a volume to your bags and they are faster than making gussets.
Close up of the shiny stuff.
Lining is duck egg blue cotton.
I'll post pics of the Baby blue velvet version tomorrow (it's almost finished).
Oh I love that oilcloth fabric. It's starting to feel a lot like Spring.
Posted by: Anna | February 12, 2008 at 01:45 PM
Wow! I love that bag! Is oilcloth difficult to sew with?
Posted by: Sarah | February 12, 2008 at 02:08 PM
aaaiii i love it, love it, love it :) And get's more and more annoyed that it's so hard to find great handles here in Denmark :)
Posted by: Tina Poulsen | February 12, 2008 at 02:27 PM
Where on earth do you get such pretty oilcloth? I love the bag!
Posted by: Anina | February 12, 2008 at 03:04 PM
this is adorable! i must know... what do you use to sew the oilcloth with (to get it to run smoothly through the machine)? i just ordered a teflon presser foot and hope that works. any help is greatly appreciated! thanks!
Posted by: lori | February 12, 2008 at 03:26 PM
Okay! That bag is great! Very springy and cute!
Posted by: k | February 12, 2008 at 03:37 PM
Oilcloth! What a brilliant idea. It'll survive those April showers. Love the bag.
Posted by: Simone | February 12, 2008 at 03:40 PM
Nice to see you've been back at the machine and making lovely things again :) Love the oilcloth too. It really is feeling more and more springlike isn't it?
Posted by: Joanne | February 12, 2008 at 03:40 PM
Fabulicious! I really like this idea of bringing oilcloth back (or maybe it was around all the time). Anyway...this is definitely your grandma’s oilcloth! This purse is the sweetest thing!
Posted by: Anary | February 12, 2008 at 03:47 PM
that is so cool. I must shop around for some funky oilcloth asap.
Posted by: ia | February 12, 2008 at 05:09 PM
That is a luscious oilcloth! Nicely shaped bag, too. Another winner!
Posted by: Kathi D | February 12, 2008 at 05:29 PM
Love! Love! Love! the oilcloth. Nice choice! Is it hard to work with?
Posted by: Beth | February 12, 2008 at 05:32 PM
It looks wonderful and I'm completely in awe of you sewing with such sturdy-looking oilcloth...as I am of the end result, which looks so perfect. Love the darts too. x
Posted by: Florence | February 12, 2008 at 06:44 PM
LOVE it! The fabric and shape are just awesome.
Posted by: Mary | February 12, 2008 at 08:04 PM
That oilcloth is super cute!!!
Posted by: Colleen | February 12, 2008 at 08:49 PM
OOOOH, I love it in oilcloth!
Posted by: stacysews | February 12, 2008 at 10:00 PM
oh yummy. is it difficult to sew oil cloth? can i use my ordinary machine when sewing it?
Posted by: Myam | February 13, 2008 at 07:18 AM
So pretty, Lisa! You always know how to inspire. Like others, I'm curious about any tips on working with oilcloth. Especially working with the small bits like the tab (is it hard to turn?) Would you be so kind to consider a tute on working with oilcloth? :)
Posted by: tina | February 13, 2008 at 02:20 PM
Love it love it love. Pop over to my blog you have been given an Award!!!!!
Posted by: joanna | February 13, 2008 at 07:24 PM
A quick Qumana question: Do you HAVE to use ads from their site to use their product? I have one blog and need to start another with a different theme.I doubt that either one will ever have very many readers and I really don't want to have to use ads!BUT, I'm not always going to have access to wi fi and would love to be able to prepare drafts!!!!Help!
Posted by: laura | February 13, 2008 at 09:06 PM
I've been lurking in your blog for a little while now but this bag has brought me out of lurkdom! WOW, what a cute CUTE bag, I LOVE it (and love the Gucci-esque handles)!!! Can't wait to see the tute so I can hopefully attempt my own.
Posted by: J | February 14, 2008 at 03:03 PM
Anina, (or anyone else) I just got this result when I (shhhh!) Googled "oilcloth"
http://store.txtlart.com/oilcloth.html
uh...this stuff is pretty pricey, but that's cause it's Merrimeko (sp?) - which also means it is FABULOUS!!!! You can buy samples, though, which count as credit if you later decide to buy yardage.
I'm thinking, I'm thinking......
Posted by: jennifer | February 14, 2008 at 09:56 PM
Beautiful bag. Are you planning to stock this oilcloth in you shop? (hint, hint)
Posted by: Lindsay | February 19, 2008 at 12:08 PM