Author: craftyguider

How could I resist polka dots?   OK, how could I resist another Popular Crafts swap!   Well anyway….

I was partnered with @artesania62, another tweep who I follow already.   Reading her bio, knitting and learning to crochet are her things, as well as bright colours, going out and things that are useful.

On one of my not so rare trawls through Hobbycraft, I found a bright fat quarter bundle with a matching polka dot fat quarter bundle.   I’ve been wanting to try a knitting needle roll for ages so thought that fulfilled all her wants.   After a research trip through some online tutorials, I came up with this.

I was so pleased how it came out, and amazed that I had coordinating bias binding in my stash!   I will definitely be making my own version for the website.

The crochet needles are her treat, although looking at her gorgeous crocheted creations recently, she’s not a beginner any more!

Wrapped up, the roll looks like this.

I posted it first class on Wednesday and was the first person at the post office as it opened.   However her meany postman didn’t deliver it on Thursday so I’ve had to wait longer to see if she likes it.

I’m already signed up for the Strawberry Swap so can’t wait to see who my swap partner is this time.

After my start with sewing all 12 bags from Lisa Lam’s new book ‘A Bag For All Reasons‘, I chose the Pleated Purse-Frame Purse as my next make.

A long time ago, I bought a purse frame, some glue and the U-Handbag Easy Peasy Purse pattern.   They have sat in my stash, mainly because of tales of people’s disasters with the glue which put me off.   However, knowing I was going to be attempting the Pleated Purse-Frame Purse, I thought I’d attempt the Easy Peasy Purse.   It’s Easy Peasy – what could go wrong?

As it turns out – nothing!

I was so pleased with how this turned out.   The instructions were simple to follow, the glue didn’t get everywhere, and my purse looks great.   My chief weapon was an old metal nail file which was perfect for stuffing the fabric into the frame.

With this success behind me, and having read the lovely comments from some of my twitter followers, I got straight into cutting out the fabric for my Pleated Purse-Frame Purse.

This was as easy as the the Easy Peasy Purse.   The only problem I had was stuffing the frame with the cord around the pleats.   A bit of brute force with the nail file and it was done.

I think I prefer the shape of the Easy Peasy Purse and will definitely have a play around with more purse frames, especially as there are so many varieties to try!

Not sure what bag 3 will be as Guide camp is just round the corner.   It’ll be something great I’m sure!

In a previous blog post, I mentioned my personal bag making challenge based on Lisa Lam’s new book, ‘A bag for all reasons’.   After a bit of a gap, I have made my first bag: the Compact Groceries Tote.

Here is my bag.   It’s a bit creased as it was used on the supermarket run this morning.

It rolls up really small, has a handy trigger hook for clipping it onto wherever you need, and is also reversible, should you need to match it to your outfit for the day.

I used burgundy and cream floral fabrics which I picked up from my local haberdashery because I thought they might come in handy one day (as you do – you do, don’t you?).   The handles, trigger loop and wraparound strap have come from a small remnant from the same shop that I’ve had for ages.

The pattern in the book is really clear.   There is a description of the bag with emphasis on it’s key features, suggestions on fabrics, a list of all the bits you’ll need, and the sizes of fabric you need.   There are also tips for varying the method or pattern to “make it mine” as Lisa puts it.   I only varied from the instructions by using a sew in popper rather than a popper snap as I had some already.

This bag has one pattern piece for the handle which is traceable from the patterns in the back of the book.   The other pieces are simple rectangles.   The instructions have helpful photos and are clear to follow.   I cut the fabric out on Monday night and sewed it on Tuesday.

My major problems were:

1. Choosing the fabrics and getting the scissors out to commit to cutting it.

2. Finding the time to do it.

3. Retrieving a pin I’d sewn into the lining and forgotten about!

In other words, I thought it was great and can’t wait to start my next project.   I’m going to practice on my Easy Peasy Purse pattern which I bought from Lisa’s website, www.u-handbag.com yonks ago, and then progress to the Pleated Purse-Frame Purse.   Wish me luck!

A little while ago I saw @sewrayme post a picture of some hand knitted socks she’d received in the Skulls and Ponies Make Something swap.   This varies slightly from the Popular Crafts swap in that, rather than surprising your swap partner with a swap, you email each other, discuss talents, and choose what you would like to receive.

I was partnered with the fantastic Katie @teaandcaketime who blogs as Hook, Line and Sink Her.   One of her many talents is cross stitch.   I found it very difficult to ask for something.   Perhaps it’s because I love the surprise of getting something I know nothing about, or more likely, I feel greedy asking someone to put themselves out for me (I am getting treatment!).

After being ill, being busy, and exchanging a few emails, we decided that Katie would make me a sewing themed cross stitch, and I would make her oven mitts.

I was gobsmacked when I got my parcel. (apologies for the terrible photos)

Beautifully wrapped up and actually framed so I could use it straight away.

Isn’t it gorgeous!   I do love sewing.   It’s such an imaginative design and I absolutely love it.   It’s going in my craft room for inspiration.   Katie has better pics on her blog post here.

I collected and prepared all the bits for my swap, but life, the universe, and everything got in the way of making (as usual!).   Eventually I got sewing.   I made a version of the ones on the website – slightly bigger and quilted.

Katie said she liked Cath Kidston fabric and I have that in (far too) great quantities.   It was a close call making Batman themed gloves instead, but pretty prevailed!

Katie’s blog is here.   I’m really flattered by her comments.

Thanks so much to Fran @skullsandponies for organising the swap.

I am a very bad blogger and swapper.   I received my Popular Crafts Union Jack Swap ages ago and I’m only just blogging about it. I also haven’t sent my swap off yet either. Slapped wrists all round!

I was partnered with Maxine Owen who produced this amazing little bag.

Look at the work that has gone into it. Lovely!

My treats are lovely too.

I love green and she got me a lovely polka dot butterfly.   I’m also a Tatty Teddy fan and a card maker and I’ve now got this lovely pack to play with.

I really recommend people to join in with swaps.   It encourages you to try something new, you ‘meet’ lovely people, and you don’t need to be a professional crafter.   Next stop, polka dots!

This week I bought Lisa Lam’s new book – A bag for all reasons.   I have her first book too, The bag making bible, but have just flicked through it and not actually made any of the bags.   This is what happens with most of my craft and recipe books.   I hear about them, buy them, flick through them, plan to make loads of new projects, and then put them on the shelf.

Recently, I’ve started the weekly bake off which has introduced me to actually making things that I wouldn’t necessarily have tried before.   I blogged about that a few days ago.   This week’s cherry cake was a failure of epic proportions; tasty but not pretty!

During my last, particularly slow, craft fair, I thought of transferring the idea over to a craft book.   I’ve decided that A bag for all reasons will be my challenge.   Last night during the Eurovision scoring I ordered loads of fastenings and clips etc. so I can start my journey.   I’ve not set myself a time limit as life still goes on around me and it’s meant to be fun!

I had a quick practice with a Lisa Lam pattern I’d bought and downloaded from her website for a Sugar Loaf Pouch.   Once again I’d loved it, bought it, and not made it.   I still don’t have a use for it but I made it just the same!

I also made my daughter a hair clip tidy that I’d put off for no reason whatsoever.   It’ll make getting her ready for school a bit quicker every morning.   Procrastination is dead!

Looking through the new book, a lot of the techniques are lifted from the first one.   However, the patterns are new.

1. Geek Chic iPad Case
2. Compact Groceries Tote
3. Access All-Areas Pouch
4. Toddler-Friendly Backpack
5. Too Cool for School Satchel
6. Pleated Purse-Frame Purse
7. All-Sorted Laundry Bag
8. Fashionista Baby Bag, Changing Mat and Shoulder Strap Pad
9.  Bicycle Double-Pannier Bag
10. 3-1 Convertible Backpack
11. Terrific Tri-Fold Wallet
12. Train-Style Vanity Case

I’ll be starting on the Compact Groceries Tote as I’ve got all the bits I need to start that already.   Look out for my #bagchallenge on twitter, and feel free to join in!