U-handblog

Ann the winner of the Amy Butler Sew-it Kit is....

.....Sweet home Alabama, Where the skies are so blue....doo be doo, is playing loudly on my Itunes and I'm whistling manically to it (benefit # 134 of working for yourself).

Thanks for all your lovely compliments about my new haircut :)

Sorreeee to be late announcing the winner (yet again!).

Thank you so much for telling me who your Crafting Heroes are.  I now have this loooong Fabulous List of your Crafting Heroes (and it was very nice of some of you to include me a Crafting Hero - WOOT! I'm super chuffed about that!).  I have started contacting some of them already and almost all who have been contacted so far have agreed to be interviewed in the near future Yaaaaaay!  So, I'm incredibly excited about that.  Thank you so much; this wouldn't have worked without your input XOXOX!!

OK so there were 145 of your comments 4 of which were duplicates that I have deleted, leaving me with 141 comments.  The Random Number Picker fancied the number 24.

So will Lisa H who wrote:

"I'd love to read an interview with Liesl of Disdressed http://disdressed.blogspot.com/.  Terrific designer & writer of tutorials.  thanks for asking!"

Please step forward and tell me what your postal address is?

Sorry to all of you who didn't get lucky this time, but you just might see your Craft Hero interview which hopefully will make up for it :)

I'll be sure to hold another draw soon.

Fringe Benefits

Hey! Hey! Hey! Yesterday I got my first haircut in 4 months!  As you can imagine my hair looked very pants, and every morning I'd put my hair up BEFORE looking in the mirror.  I was just too busy and (too slack) to cut it before now.   

I'm so chuffed with my new cut that I wanted to show it off.  I know it's a very girly (and indulgent) thing to do,  but I'm a girl and a majority you are girls too (and I don't get out very much)...

Wooo!  I can see to sew!  If you think I'm going to show you the 'Before' pic you got another thing coming (and it's not the 'before' pic either! Heh!).

I'll be announcing the winner of the Amy Butler Sew-It Kit later today.

Autumn / Fall Sale in my U-Handbag shop!

I'm making some room in the stockroom for some new goodies, so I'm having a sale of some yummy bag making bits and the remaining yardage of some lovely fabrics (which are 20 - 50% off!).  Grab it while you can :)  Here's the link to the sale.

Step this way for bargain bag making bits...

 

Sweet sewing song

I'm glad that you are digging the PFDs everyone.  As a collection they have been downloaded over 700 times in under 24 hours - Woo Blimey!!!

Just a short one today.  I just wanted to tell you about the loveliest, sweetest song that I heard on the radio yesterday.  Last night I was driving to Greenwich to meet some pals for noodles (which in the end, were bleurrghhh...!) and this happy song came on the radio.  It had me smiling from ear to ear like an idiot, (even at the traffic lights) for the whole song.  I think you might need to be on Myspace to listen to it (I have a profile, but I don't use it).  The band is called Grantura, and the song is called Waves. It's definitely getting added to my 'Sweet Sewing Songs' folder in Itunes :)  And no, I'm not their agent or anything, I just like it when noncommercial bands finally get a break :)

My Bag Tutorials now available in PDF format!

So please help yourself, they're free, and there for the taking!  Just click on any of the tutorials and you'll see on the top of each one there is a link to a folder which contains all of my bag tutorials.

I've received lots of emails from you asking me whether it is OK to use my tutorials to make bags to sell.  Well, (thanks for asking folks) I'm happy for you to use these tutorials for commercial purposes, the more the merrier (I'm flattered)!  All I ask is that you credit me as the designer (if asked), and/or if you post a pic of a bag made from one of my tutorials on your blog/site I would appreciate a link back to my tutorial blog post/or at least a link back to this blog.  I know lots of you have already done this and it's very kind of you - thanks very much :0)

I hope that's cleared that up. Back to the PDFs...lots of you wanted the bag tutorials in PDF format so I got my computer geek cap on and researched how to turn a file into a PDF file, and then I had to figure out a way for you to get your hands on the PDF file.  So after the best part of a choccy bar (darn it!  I hate how that happens, you promise yourself you'll only eat x amount of pieces and...) and a couple of hours googling I figured it out.  I'm pretty chuffed have learned something new.  The PDFs aren't very swish looking (that's beyond my remit, I'm afraid), but they do include everything you'll need to make the bag. 

For those of you who are new to PDF files, they are a type of file that everyone can access (regardless of whether you use a PC or Mac etc.) provided they have a PDF reader program (which is free) on their computer.  This means that files are easier to store, read, and print.  Also you won't need to go the the hassle of cutting and pasting my tutorials into Word (for example) just so you can print them off.

Click on this button to get the latest PDF reader for FREE!

Thanks go to Meg because I pinched her idea to use BOX for the file sharing :)



GASP!!!!!! Look at what's just been delivered to me...

Oh, that's really made my day!  I love you Al XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hex Open Bag Frame tutorial (aka) Knitting & Craft Tote bag Tutorial

**UPDATE** IF YOU'D LIKE THIS TUTORIAL (and any of my others) IN PDF FORMAT CLICK HERE.

Note: to view the PDF tutorial, you will need the latest Adobe Viewer program.  Get the latest version of the viewer absolutely free by clicking on the button below:

Anyone who is familiar with my crafting preferences will know that that I’m a sewist at heart. This thing is though I also love to watch movies as well (we saw a haunting love story last night, it was incredibly touching and the music score just sublime…). It’s a bit tricky trying to watch a movie whilst cranking up the sewing machine on your knees, and Al doesn’t seem to like the noise:)  So I’ve taken up knitting; this way I can craft and watch TV at the same time.  I’ve been to my local Stitch & Bitch too, and I took my knitting in this bag, which just won’t do, will it?

The bag is nice, but the knitting sticking out doesn’t look great (not my knitting per se, but the way it’s sticking out!)

This calls for a dedicated knitting/craft tote bag; something a bit on the slightly daft, but funky, and useful side…

This knitting/craft tote is plenty long enough for your knitting needles, it easily stores a knitting/craft project and it’s slim line so you can zip around town too. Of course, if you are not a knitter you may well know someone who is (this bag would make a cool pressie).

This bag uses a 14” Hex Open frame. These frames are so handy to use, they pop open to a hex shape, and they stay open whilst you’re rummaging around for your purse, scissors, yarn etc. (perfect for 2 handed search missions into your bag) and then they spring shut when you bring the edges together.

The bag is called 'Domestic Bliss’ because the exterior fabric has pictures of ‘homey things’, and the lining fabric has pics of the products that you’d need to clean them. Very Kitsch! There’s plenty of room inside for your knitting, stitching, crochet, etc. and a zippered pocket for your purse keys and/or notions.

Side (and open) view. You might fancy making yourself a knitting needle case as well. See these cool tuts: case by Alexandra, case by Craftbits, and a case by Splityarn.

In this project you will pick up/apply these bag making skills

• Use an internal Hex Open bag frame – very practical and secure
• Sew a zip in the bag lining – adds value and security
• Sew with poly. Boning – which helps provide structure
• Sew a flat bottom into a bag - so stuff doesn’t roll around in the bags
• Sew a fabric strap - with D-rings and spring lever clips

**UPDATE** IF YOU'D LIKE THIS TUTORIAL (and any of my others) IN PDF FORMAT CLICK HERE.

 Here’s How I put it all together

Shopping list (as if you were shopping and not using your own stash fabrics)

•  ½ yard of Sweet Home in kiwi fabric for the exterior and strap. And matching thread.
•  ½ yard of Clean Sweep in Kiwi fabric for the exterior and (optional) inner pocket.
•  1 x 14” Hex Open bag frame.
•  1 x 6 ¾” x 22 ½” Grid Bag Bottom
• 1 x 7” Zip for optional inner pocket
• 1 x 42” x 2” strip of double sided fusible fleece (112cm x 10cm) for padding the strap (this is optional; I prefer to use this for all of my fabric straps, it makes fabric straps comfy).
• ½ yard of firm iron interfacing (stabiliser)
• ½ yard of heavy sew-in interlining
• 2 x 1” bronze bolt snaps
• 2 x 0.5” bronze D-rings·            

 NB: all seam allowances are 1cm (3/8”) unless otherwise stated. Pattern includes 1cm seam allowance.

1. Make up your pattern – there is only one pattern piece for this bag. This pattern is shown halved.

Make up your pattern as shown in the photo. Double your fabric over and place the pattern on the fold before cutting out. Use chalk to mark a Hinge Marking (22cm up from the bottom edge) on the sloping side of all fabric pieces.

From the pattern piece cut: 2 pieces of exterior fabric, 2 pieces Clean Sweep fabric (lining), 2 pieces firm iron-on, and 2 pieces Heavy sew-in interlining.

2.   Cut out other fabric pieces:

• 1 x 42” x 4” strip of Sweet Home (exterior fabric) for the shoulder strap.
• 2 x 10.5” x 6” Clean Sweep (lining fabric) for optional inner pocket
• 1 x 10.5” x 6” firm iron-on interfacing for optional pocket
• 1 x 3” x 2” strip for shoulder handle loops interlining.

3. Make a comfy shoulder strap - follow these comfy bag handle instructions (see step 3) to the letter (except you do not need to divide the strap into 2 lengths). Then take one of the ends of your finished strap and thread it through the ring of one of the bronze bolt snaps to 1”. Stitch the end of the strap down in a box formation for strength.

4. Make the handle loops – make up the handles loops in the same way as for the shoulder strap, (in the previous step) except there is no need for fusible fleece, you need to divide the strap into 2 equal lengths, and do not stitch the ends of the loops. Take one of handle loops and thread it through one of the bronze D-rings. Fold handle loop in half and stitch handle loop (with ring still attached) onto the bag exterior bag (one handle loop each for bag front and bag back) as shown…

Sew 1 handle loop on the front exterior, and the other on the back exterior onto (right hand side) side edge 1 6/8” (4.5cm) down from the top edge as shown in the photo (jeez that’s a mouthful!  Hope it all makes sense).

5.   Sew exterior bag - iron the firm iron-on interfacing onto the wrong side of the exterior fabric.  Make a sandwich with the 2 exterior pieces (right sides together), and the heavy sew-in on the outside of the sandwich.  Match all edges and pin all together. Starting from one of the hinge markings sew the sides and bottom of the exterior finishing at the other hinge marking as shown by my wonky pink arrow.

Stitch sides and bottom from hinge marking to hinge marking as shown by wonky pink arrow.

6.   Sew polyester boning in side seams - for side support (this will help the bag to stand up on it's own)

This is a close up view of the side edge of the exterior. See that marking at the bottom of the pic? Make that same mark 1.5” up from the bottom edge just like I have. Now measure the distance between the hinge marking and the new marking, and minus 6/8” that measurement (or in other words 1cm short at both ends, my final measurement came came to 6”).

We need to make the boning slightly short of the 2 markings so the bag will move naturally…you’ll see what I mean later. Cut 4 pieces of polyester boning to that measurement and stitch the boning into each layer of the side seams in the same position as shown in the photo…

Here’s me stitching boning into 1 of the layers of the side seams. Not a lot of room in my 1cm seam allowance is there?  That's 'cos I like to sew right on the edge – man! Hold the boning in place with your fingers as you sew.

7. Create a flat bottom for your bag – take one of the corners of your exterior bag and match the side seam line with the bottom seam line. Flatten to form a triangle.  Measure 1.5”down from the tip of the triangle mark the line with chalk and hold with your fingers.  Stitch along the marked line and trim the excess fabric 1cm for the seam.  Repeat for the other bottom corner of the exterior.  Turn exterior bag right side out.

Measure 1.5”down from the tip of the triangle mark the line, make sure the line is a right angle to the seam line that runs down the center of the triangle.

Stitch along the line you just made and trim off excess triangle as shown. Turn bag right side out.

8. Place grid bag bottom and purse feet into exterior bag – Measure up the base of the bag for the grid bag bottom and cut to bag bottom to size. Make chalk markings on the exterior bag base for the bag feet (not too close, and not too far from bag corners). Using those markings make corresponding markings on the grid bag bottom for the purse feet. Use fine scissors to cut through those markings on the bag bottom.

Positioning it carefully, place grid bag bottom inside the base of the exterior bag (I like to stick it down with super strong double sided tape). Turn the bag upside down and using a stitch ripper carefully make tiny slits into the bag feet makings on the exterior bag.

Push each bag foot into the fabric slits, right through into the holes made in the grid bag bottom, and push the prongs down away from each other with your thumb. The bag feet are handy for keeping the bag bottom secured down.

I usually place the bag bottom onto the base of the bag and then make markings for the bag feet using a pen… This way I can mark the bag and the bag bottom at the same time.

9. Sew lining – if you want to insert an inner pocket in to the lining do so now by following these zippered pocket instructions (give it a go, it’s not very difficult!) I placed my pocket centrally in the lining, 7” up from the bottom edge. Sew the lining bag in the same way as in step 5 EXCEPT YOU HAVE TO LEAVE AN 8CM OPENING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE LINING and you don’t need poly boning in the lining either.

Here’s my zippered pocket in the my lining (I like having a loo brush in my bag heh!)

10. Slip exterior bag into lining bag – the right sides of the exterior and the lining bags should now be touching each other.

Pop the exterior bag into the lining bag.

11. Stitch the 2 flaps of the bag – you’ll see that there are 4 layers which haven’t been stitched yet (2 layers from the lining, and 2 layers from the exterior), these will become flaps. Bring the right sides of one of the lining and the exterior flaps together and pin. Sew all around the sides and top edge stopping at the stitching on the lining.   Clip off top corners off.  Repeat with other purse flap.

   
Pin the lining and the exterior flaps together and stitch. Start and stop stitching and the hinge markings (or in other words, start and stop stitching at the previous stitching made in step 5).

 

Start stitching the flap on one of the hinge markings. I like to sew the purse flaps on the lining side, because that way it’s easier to push all of the layers back and out of the way. You’ll see what I mean when you come to do it…

12. Pull the exterior bag out through the gap in the lining – yep, I love this bit. Pop the lining into the exterior bag, push the corners out, and give everything a good iron.

Hello bag! I’ve been expecting you!

13. Sew gap in lining shut - push the raw edges into the hole and top stitch a few mms to edge for a neat finish.

Shut yer gap!

14. Make casing for the Hex frame – fold one of the flaps down 1.5” (4cm) onto the lining side, press the fold, and pin. The top edge of the flap should now be almost touching the hinge marking. Double check that casing will accommodate the frame by testing, adjust if necessary. Stitch the casing a couple of mms from the edge. Repeat with the other flap.

Fold flap down 1.5” (4cm) onto lining side, press, and pin (I know I haven’t pinned but I’m lazy). Stitch a couple of mms from the edge from one end of the casing to the other. Take your time to stitch a straight line because your stitching is going to show on the exterior side of the bag. When sewing straight lines it helps if you haven’t drunken lots of wine, and you sew slowly without stopping (when you stop and start the line can become wobbly – well, mine do).

15. Secure the pin in one of the hinges – you’ll see that the frame already has the pins inserted into the hinges, but they are not secured (so you can sew with them). Take one of the hinges out, and open the frame (like a book). Get yourself some pliers and a piece of leather (or thickish fabric), ensure that the pin in the hinge in fully inserted, and using the leather wrapped pliers squeeze the tip of the pin (you’ll see that the tip of the pin is hollow). You’ll end up with a flattened pin tip and now the pin is trapped secure inside the hinge.

Squeeze the pliers to flatten the tip of the pin – think of the driver that cut you on the road the other day…grrr!

Tip of pin is flattened so pin cannot escape out of the hinge.

16. Insert the frame into the casing – the free end of the frame goes in first. Push the right frame through the casing until the free ends of the frame are sticking out the other end. Now we need to make up the hinge on the other side of the frame. Get your pliers again and squeeze the hinge halves together until you can insert the other pin. Slip the pin into the hinge and flatten the pin tip as in the previous step (make sure the head of the pin is pointing towards the top of the bag).

In the frame goes…

17. Clip the shoulder handle on the handle loops and you're done!- Rock up to your local Stitch and Bitch in style (or enjoy the envious glances on the bus) and enjoy the ‘Ohhhs and Ahhhs at your bag when you tell them that you made it yourself :)

I hope you enjoy giving this tutorial a go, if you do I'd really love to see a pic of it in the new "Bags made from my tutorials' Flickr group.  I'll be checking it regular!

Amy Butler Sew-It Kit up for grabs!!!

Hey!  I'm so glad that you liked my first Crafting Hero Interview, and thanks for your kind comments.  I'll be holding these interviews for the life of the blog...more about that in a minute.

Mmm...lately this blog has become a bit of a free-for-all freebie site.   The thing is, that these draws perform two useful functions; the first is I can ask you for your valuable opinions about stuff, and secondly I hope the lure of a freebie will mean that you good people won't abandon this me/this blog whilst I try my flipping hardest to get through all this work I have to do (I would love to have more time to sew bags, dammit!

I apologize for my being thin on the ground with replies to your comments - I really do appreciate each one, and I get a thrill from getting lots of comments (like anyone else!) but I don't have as much time as I'd like to reply back.  I am going to start replying back to comments by commenting on the blog instead.  But if you have any questions please do email me :)

Okeydoke!  I reckon your gonna LOVE the latest Amy Butler giveaway.  It's a really cool Amy Butler Sew-It Kit.  We all like kits, because they make ace presents and conveniently they include everything you need to make something nice.  Lordy knows I'd rather keep this for myself, but that's naughty so (with a slightly heavy heart) I am giving it away to one of you good folks...

Amy Butler's new Sew-It Kit - loads of easy projects to make your home pretty.

Because I'm a such a nosey git,  I had to loose the cellophane and snoop around inside the box...

 
Wooo!  Now that's what I call Tut (tutorial) booty!  Inside the box there's squillions of yummy, easy to make, and quick to please projects to pretty up your house (or someone else's house if you give this kit away as a pressie - Uh huh! Like that's gonna happen). 

Each of the projects includes it's own pattern and Amy's trademark clear instructions and dreamy photos which are all printed on handy cards.  There's also a sewing instruction booklet, and fabric, thread and full-sized pattern to make a cute tissue box cover all contained in a high quality keepsake box.  Cool eh?


I will be giving this kit away to 1 lucky winner in a draw.  If you want to be in with a chance to get your mitts on this kit simply do this:

• Please click on The Breast Cancer Site, and click on the button.  There's no forms etc. you just click on the button and in doing so you are getting the sponsors of that site to pay out for mammograms to help women in need.
• AND please comment on THIS PARTICULAR POST by telling me who are your Crafting Business Heroes (they have to be involved in Craft Business in some way i.e. designing fabric, selling craft items, or written a book patterns etc.)  so I can ask them them if they would like to be interviewed for your reading pleasure :)  FYI Amy Butler has already agreed to be interviewed at a later date - YAY!!!!

I will draw the lucky winner in a week's time (please keep an eye out for the winner announcement because I can't contact winners, just too busy - soreeeee! an easy way to do this is to subscribe to this blog).  You have until the end of 12th October.  Good luck! (and thanks for mammogram clicking).

PS: I'm sorry but I can't reply to comments in draws, but each comment is important to me and I love reading each one :)

OXO!

And the winners of the Amy Butler Sewing pattern contest (Sep 07) are...

Sorry, sorry, sorry, for being so late to announce the winners of last month's contest, been rushed off my feet!

Without more ado, the 3 winners of a Amy Butler Sewing Pattern are:

Montessori by Hand, who has made this delightful Barcelona Skirt/Overlay.  Love it, it's so chic and so charming!

Bag Lady in Cyprus, has made this yummy Frenchy Bag in zingy cheerful red fabric.  I bet it looks great out in the Cyprus sunshine.

The last winner is Seschloss (I couldn't get her picture to load) who had made a super stylish High St Messenger Bag for her mum.  Yummy pink piping, zip and fabric!

Well done Ladies!  Please get back to me with your choice of Amy Butler pattern and your postal address, and I'll send you your pattern!

Thanks to everyone else who entered, sorry you didn't get lucky this time.  You could always try your luck in next month's contest!

The winner of the Pick a Banner draw is...

Thank for voting for your fave banner folks.  Your answers have been really helpful in deciding which design to go for and what changes could be made - brilliant, if in doubt; just ask you guys!

Okeydoke so there were 154 votes (1 of which was sent by email, and 3 of which were duplicates that I've deleted), leaving me with 151 votes.

Today the Random Number Picker fancied the number '104'.  So will Lynda who said:

"I like the structure of the orange banner but feel that blue and orange would really give it more pizzazz. So take out the little woman (who does not work - too figurative) and take out the bottom orange dotty stripe and replace it with the blue baggy background and voila a super design. It might just need a small tweak once you look at it, ie. some of the lettering may need to be made bigger or re-aligned. I used to teach A level DTP so hope this helps."

Please step forward, send me your postal address, and claim your frame!


Other stuff which is just around the corner:

• I will announce the 3 winners of last months Amy Butler Pattern Contest - I clean forgot!!
• There'll be another VERY cool Amy Butler up for grabs draw (either on this blog, or my other one.  I'll let you know)
• The new bag tutorial should be sorted by Friday, at the latest.
• And for now, any fans of Lisa's (PinkLemonade Boutique) GORGEOUS bags (I'm a big fan!) should hop over to my other blog, where I have done an inspiring interview with her.  I hope you like it!

Lisa (not me - unfortunately!) make delicious bags like this one.  Check out her interview here.

Photography and photo editing tutorial (this is how I do my own product shots).

I had a nice, quiet weekend, and uneventful weekend.  Sometimes that's the best kind of weekend.

The 'photography and photo editing tutorial' is on my craft business blog.  If you sell (or are going to sell) your crafty goodness online hopefully it should be pretty useful to you :)

Thanks again for all of your really helpful votes for the new banner.  I'll do the draw first thing tomorrow morning (to give my US readers a last chance to vote) and I'll announce the draw winner in the afternoon.

The bag for the new bag tutorial is more or less finished.  I'm just doing the writing up now...

Okeydoke!  Back to writing up my bag instructions...whilst I'm doing that will get a load of these yummy bags!

This bag is crazy lovely (and yep it is handmade)!   See this bag and more yummy ones like it here.