The Katydid Bag

This is my bag review for the AWESOME Purse Palooza event going on over at Sew Sweetness!  I was supposed to have this completed October 1st...did not happen.  Did not even come close to happening.  I was planing on making the Lilium Laptop Bag but in my mind I had envisioned that the compass I made was going to fit on the flap and I was WRONG!  I looked through all the other bags and then called Sara.  This happens every time I make a bag  since I am not a bag maker and she knows everything there is to know about bags.  I knew she would walk me through finding the "right" bag for my block and not make me feel like a complete idiot.

Unfortunately for me there was no other pattern that would work...sigh...so Sara said "I have an idea..." and The Katydid Bag was what came out of my inability to conform and my having the best friend in the world!

Now, if you know Sara, you know that she has been CRAZY busy with not only her business but other stuff too.  I sent her a message telling her NOT TO design a new bag and that I would make something else and this one can wait.  I woke up to an email saying " I know you told me not too but I love you too much".  GAH!  And she named it after her mini me Katy that LIVES with me so I could not be totally pissed.

Sara sent me the pattern with all the directions I needed.  There were limited photos which made me consider biting my nails again.  I am so very visual and need lots of actual photos, with Sara's instructions, I did not need the usual picture for every step.

The only adjustments I made to the original pattern were the handle holders were bias folded and I changed it to make holders that were flat on either side. I also needed to sew with a 1/4 in seam instead of the 1/2in suggested.  I wanted for my compass points to show.

I made the front panel using the pattern on Quilting on the Square .  I want to make them all. Really great patterns.  I made the block scrappy using many different designers including Kate Spain, Heather Ross and Joel Dewberry. The lining fabric is Alexander Henry Mirabelle, one of my all time favorite prints. I would do a happy dance if they would send me 20 yds of that print!  The background fabric is from Joann's.  It is not 100 percent cotton and is more like a microfiber.  Stretched a bit more than I would have liked but the fact that it is a perfect black made up for the slight difficulty in handling. For the interfacing I used the recommended Pellon sf-101 and Annie's Soft and Stable. The thread used was my trusty Aurifil.  I used 50wt for the topstitching and quilting and the 40wt for the bag assembly.


The features of this bag are what make me want to make another.   The recessed zipper is easy and creates a finished look.

SO MUCH ROOM!!!! If you have even been with me anywhere, you know I carry a ton of crap.  Still not sure what it all is but it is ALL in my bag.  This one will meet my needs for sure!

The pattern called for two zippered pockets.  I chose to do one.  I only had this one fab vintage pink zipper from Lindsay  to use and well, it is just perfection.  Do not be afraid to do zippers.  It is easy and the method Sara uses is one of the most simple.  If you are doing it for the first time, try it out on  a scrap first.  Get comfortable with it and you will be a pro in no tome!

Inside is a fun bit of Katie Jump Rope by Denyse Schmidt.  It looks so great with the Alexander Henry Mirabelle

I am not even sure when Sara plans to release this pattern but when she does...GET IT!!!  It is easy and AMAZING!!!! If you are going to Quilt Market please look for this bag, it will be there with me :)

Linked up to 

Finish It Up Friday

So this is Planet Houston...Market Part One

I have been so busy doing I am not even sure what but I know there are kids involved and where there are children there is something to pick up or drive to and from or feed or something...anyway I am going to try in one post to share at least some of my fun at Market.


The first thing I have to say is...YES!!!!!!!  I think ALL fabric and fabric designers are brilliant, FABULOUS, FANTASTIC and WONDERFUL!!!!! They all have been driven to design for whatever reason, to put their personal ideas and reputations out there for others to love or criticize. I am not sure I could ever put myself in the position of that kind of public scrutiny. These are brave people! The other thing is they ARE people with families and husbands, wives, children, moms and dads. It is always so nice to meet the people behind the designs, to see their real personalties and place them with the fabrics...I do LOVE them all!!!!


The first booth that I made a B-line for is Laura Gunn! She designs for Michael Miller and her newest line Cosmos is Super bright and as vibrant as Laura herself!

Funny thing was, Laura was never there when I went to visit so it took about four times and I FINALLY caught up with her!!!!! She is TOO ADORABLE! And she is the MOST FABULOUS shopper EVER!!!!!!

At Market, I missed out on meeting Joel Dewberry, he was across from Denyse Schmidt and I just somehow never times it right, I am improving on my stalking skills and was able to catch him this go round! I am SO HAPPY I did! I seriously thought he had reached the nirvana of fabric when Heirloom came out but NNNNnnnnnnnnope! Notting Hill is really something else!

Did mention Joel is REALLY tall and super nice, he held up the samples for me to get a photo, although I may have been a bet bossy and said "Here...hold these!" Joel, I apologize if I was bossy, it was right before lunch!

I have more and thought I could get it all in one post but that is not going to happen...so this is Part One,LOL!

My trial with paper piecing

I have been afraid to try paper piecing for a very long time. I don't know why I thought I would fail so miserably that I could not recover my standing ( in my brain) as a sewer if I could not master, or at least submit to, this skill. 

Friday was a lovely day and Saturday we started having some winter weather that kept me inside

and the kids went out to sled or at least slide across the thin layer of ice covered by a smattering of snow so I had some time

I came across a tutorial that I had printed up about a year ago on Free Spirit Fabric and decided I need to take the plunge and give it a go!

I am so happy I did, it was an easy and fun tutorial and I just had to figure out how to make it square instead of round ( LOTS of pins!!!!!!!).

I did a super simple nothing of a quilting to just give it something :o)

Joel Dewberry Heirloom goodness was my inspiration and I think it is STUNNING! I need to make a matching pillow so this one is not alone.

** I must apologize for the photos they weather is still gray and gloomy**

Linked to Manic Monday Linky Party

and Sew Modern Monday

A new friend and some other stuff

I love vintage sewing machines! They are functional works of art and I continue to be amazed by them. I was at my local Goodwill looking for something completely unrelated and a young guy walked through and said "Where do I put this sewing machine?"...UMMMMMMM....WHAT...

It was in a case and I just about jumped the poor kid to ask if I could see. He put it down and this was what was inside :o)

It was $15.99 and I had a 20% coupon...HAPPY DANCE!!!!! She works perfectly but needs a good cleaning and a few new bits. 

The second thing I came across was some much needed storage for my sewing room, I have stuff EVERYWHERE and this china cabinet is perfect for the space and again who does not LOVE a good deal with a 20% off coupon!!! Some white paint and new pulls...it is just what I needed!

My sweet girl is now looking like a young lady with her first hairstyle! SO...NOT...READY!!!!!!

And finally, someone super sweet sent me some FABULOUS fabrics for Christmas {thank you Sara } and I am hoping to have a project finished up tomorrow to share.  Michael is leaving in the morning so I am trying to spend all the time I can with my sweet guy!!!! It has been so nice to have my sweet son home!!!

Hope you are having a GREAT week :o)

Kim

Necessary and fun sewing

First off and most important... Joel Dewberry, I adore your fabrics!!!!!! I know there is Amy Butler Moon Dots in there too but that is because they go with flippin EVERYTHING!!!!!! It is almost a mortal sin to sew a quilt without some color of Moon Dots :o)

I know we all have those necessary sewing projects that we must do. Not that they are not fun or we would not do them at all. I needed to make some little travel bags for my trip this week to see my grandsons ( meeting Blake for the first time) but decided to make diapers instead. I finally got around to sewing ONE bag.  ONE!!!!!!!!

This is how it turned out

Inside

Pretty sad considering I need three more and shoe bags to boot :o(

But instead of doing my bags I decided to start on another quilt! Mind you I am leaving in three days but  I could not resist these beautiful Joel Dewberry fabrics just asking to be sewn into something. Funny when the mood strikes it can be like a lightening bolt!

So I decided on the cute zig zag pattern using half square triangles on a quilt is nice.  

So I drew my lines. Do not look at the bottom I was listening to DMB Crush and well I was all distracted, what can I say ;o)

sewed 1/4 inch on either side of the corrected drawn line

Cut the drawn line with my handy dandy rotary cutter 

And then started putting the zig zags together which I think is way fun!!!!

So that is as far as I have gotten with the quilt this week. I am happy with my progress and I am looking forward to finishing it in the next few weeks.  Until then , I have some bags, some bibs and a hooter hider to sew...I'd better get crackin!!!!!

Kim :o)