KCWC Days 1 - 3 (and a couple of bags)

I imagine I had very typical "first time participant" expectations for this Kids Clothing Week Challenge.  An "eyes bigger than stomach" kind of deal.  

Although I still think my list was fairly realistic (we're talking an hour a day, so seven hours of work here!).

I wanted to finish lengthening a pair of too short jeans (by adding ruffles per this tutorial), make a cowl neck dress and start an Oliver + S pattern (maybe the school days jacket) and then maybe some simple leggings--but only if there was time.

Monday I got a half hour of sewing in. In two 15 minute increments. Yikes. Not what I was expecting. And they were frustrating 15 min. increments because something just wasn't quite right with the ruffle hem jeans. Maybe it's just not my thing? I'm not in love with them. I can't even bring myself to take a picture.

Tuesday I knew I'd have more time because the Bug would be at dance class with her BFF.  But instead of hitting up my list, I worked on some alterations for a friend.  I did manage to get the cowl neck dress cut out but the sewing would have to wait.

So last night. . . finally I got to start sewing the cowl neck dress. It's such a simple sew I'd really planned to be done with it by now. But I'm not.

So here's my 11 pm, thank God it's almost done, Instagram photo of the thing (and my awful, disorganized fabric storage as well).  My dress turned out looking more turtle neck than cowl neck but we'll see how it looks on.  I still need to hem it. Bottom hem and sleeve hems.  It's knit so I could get away with not hemming but that's not really the look I'm going for.  I also am trying to think of something to do with those ties. They are too thick for my liking. I think I may have her tie them in back, not front. Maybe that will help.  I do love the fabric. It's this amazing color (that just doesn't come through on a cell phone photo in the dark of night, imagine that!), a grey-ish purple heather knit. I love it. And I had JUST enough to cut this dress out. There are no scraps left.

Hooray for the Vogue remnant section!

So that's been my Kids Clothing Week thus far. Highs and lows.

I did finally get a chance to take photos of a bag I made for a friend! It's been done for  week (maybe two?) and just waiting to be photographed.  What is my problem?

Anyway, it's the same pattern as my own purse--you know, the Granny Bag?--with just a few changes.

But first, lets all take a moment to appreciate this gorgeous fabric. 

AMH, you are a genius.

The bag is from a pattern in the book, Carry Me.  It's the cover pattern actually.

This time, I made it with a bit stiffer interfacing and way more pockets inside.

She's planning to use this to carry her crochet projects so I made skinny little pockets all down both side for her hooks.

And there is a big zipper pocket too.

I think the bag will be great for carrying some yarn, some hooks and whatever she's working on at the moment.

I also made her a smaller project bag that she can either carry on it's own or put in the big bag as further help organizing everything.  This pattern as well is in the Carry Me book although it's simple enough I think I could have made it without a pattern. 

I did make the bag a bit bigger than the pattern at my friend's request.

Added bonus, this one is reversible.

Cool.

Totally unintentional. It was a fun little discovery.

(Love that Amy Butler fabric too! Thank you FQS 50% off sale!)

So there you have it. More KCWC info to come I hope! (I hope, I hope, I hope!) 

It can only go up from here, right?

~Lindsay

The Granny Bag

Several weeks ago, some friends of mine got together for a girls weekend in NYC.

I was bummed that I couldn't join them but things on the home front and at work were just too crazy to get away.

About a week later I got a surprise package in the mail. (well, it was sort of a surprise. . . someone sort of let the cat out of the bag early, Ahem. . .)

In the package was this note, and two yards of Denyse Schmidt fabric from Purl Soho.

I love that they specified that I need to make something for myself.

They even took a group picture.

How cute are they?

The fabric was awesome and fun and so appreciated, but seeing their smiling faces? That was the best.

They even sent me the little card. Oh yes I did save it.

Who me? a pack rat?

Perhaps a little.

So what to make? I thought about it for a while.  A bag made the most sense since I DON'T sew clothing for myself as a rule. 

My friend, Z (she's the one hiding in the photo above) had requested that I make her a bag for her crochet projects and we settled on the granny bag on the cover of this book, Carry Me.

I LOVE the bag and decided I should take the pattern for a test run before cutting into the AMH fabric she selected.

Totally selfless of me.

Ha!

 This is a BIG bag.

My husband delights in calling it my granny bag.

I don't care. I love it.

I think I keep less in it than I did my old purse, so go figure.

The instructions in the book were a bit complicated to figure out at first. It's a series of diagrams, and written instructions that are kind of minimal.

Not at all like the photo heavy tutorials I've been spoiled by.

But if you've sewn a bag or two before, it's not too hard to figure out.

And while I don't think this type of bag would be too hard for a beginner to sew with more complete instructions, I definitely wouldn't recommend this book to beginners.

My only complaint is the pocket situation.

I don't like the way they tell you to put in the zipper pocket. When I make it again, I'll do it my way.

And I'll put in considerably more pockets. 

Z will need a place for crochet hooks and other tools after all.

I thought at first that the lack of any closure on top would be an issue, but the bag is so big that all of my stuff sits WAY down in the bottom and doesn't ever come close to falling out.

I like that it's split a bit at the side seams so you can turn it down. I think that will be a great feature for a crochet bag.

As for the book, there are a lot more cute bag patterns to try!

So who's going to send me the next batch of fabric to play with?

(Kidding!!)

~Lindsay