Bag of the Week 20

Seascape Bag

Last week I posted about a handwoven bag I made using one of Deborah Brunner’s patterns.  This week I am highlighting another of Deborah’s patterns, Handwoven Seascape Bags.  Like the previous bag, this one was created by weaving torn strips of fabric through a base made of Pearle cotton thread.  Several colors of silk dupioni were used as well as some hand painted China silk and even a piece of metallic ribbon.  To create the feel of underwater grass I added several different eyelash yarns.  Instead of weaving the rows horizontally across I created wavy lines to simulate the underwater environment.  Deborah’s patterns include instructions for embellishing the bag with silk ribbon embroidery which I did on the first bag I made (not shown).  I created a second bag as a sample for a class I was teaching and on this one I used machine instead of hand embroidery.  The plants were stitched from Cactus Punch’s Scenery Ingredients CD and the fish and starfish were freebies I downloaded from the internet.  I also added glass beads to simulate bubbles, and the strap was made from more strung glass beads.

The back of the bag was adorned as well.  The pattern includes a seaweed quilting pattern which can be stitched on the back panel of the bag.  I took a different approach and stitched the design with bobbin work using variegated silk ribbon in my bobbin. 

The edges of the purse are bound with fabric strips during the construction and the bag is lined, as well.

This is a very cute pouch-style purse (the pattern includes two views, the simple pouch style and a one with an ultrasuede flap) and the embellishment opportunity is vast.  I think this would be great done in a desert design with warm colors and embroidered with desert plant life.  Or maybe a hills and valley scene with wild flowers.  Use your imagination and create a one-of-a-kind work of art.

Bag of the Week 17

Deluxe Diaper Bag

This bag was a gift for friends’ first baby (who is now probably 6!)  I used coordinating home décor fabrics for the outside and a fun plaid for the lining.  The embroidery designs on the outside all come from Evy Hawkins’ Baby Applique designs and I chose the colors for the appliqué from the striped outer fabric.  I also added a pleated ruffle around the top.

This bag was my own design and I added several features I thought would be useful.  First, on the outside I created two little pleated pockets with tab closures to hold a cell phone and other have-at-hand items. 

The zippered pocket on the inside was lined with vinyl to hold wet items.

A trio of pleated pockets and two bottle sleeves are also located on the inside of the bag.

I distinctly remember embroidering these designs.  I was nearly finished with the second panel when my machine “hiccupped” and the hoop popped off!  I nearly had a heart attack.  Miraculously, I was able to re-hoop the fabric and adjust the design to finish the stitching but I held my breath until the piece was finished!

Bag of the Week 16

Floral Evening Bag

Here is another bag I created several years ago and donated to a silent auction.  The pattern is Vogue 7221, View B (this pattern is out of print but readily available on Ebay).  The fabric is black silk dupioni and the embroidery design is from Pfaff’s online store.  

The finished size of the bag is 8” wide by 7” high.   The design is clever as it includes a drawstring pouch sewn into the top of the bag to contain the purse contents.  ½”-wide belting is used to interface the strap giving it a nice shape.  The bag is lined.  I added piping in the seam between the upper and lower portions of the bag (because I think piping makes everything better!)

This bag is a very cute little evening bag and one that you can embroider or embellish in many ways.  Give it a try.

Bag of the Week 15

Cutwork Bag

I must start with an apology for such a lousy picture.  I created this cutwork bag several years ago and donated it to a silent auction so I no longer have the bag and can’t take a better picture.  But I hope you can get the idea.  This lovely design was created by Hatched in Africa – you can see much better pictures of the product here.  The panels for the bag are created in the hoop and the lining is added during the embroidery process.  After stitching, the bag is assembled with ribbon threaded through the stitched eyelets.  I stitched my bag on silver/gray silk dupioni and used black satin ribbon, black lining and a black tassel to complete the bag.  In addition to the cutwork design pictured, the embroidery design includes two additional side panels.  Instructions are included with the design files and are excellent.  Hope you enjoy this bag of the week.

My Spring Sweater

This spring has been so beautiful.  I don’t know if it is because of the winter we endured or the warm weather so early on but the flowering trees, shrubs and flowers seem more spectacular this year.  This sweater, which I have dubbed my spring sweater because I typically wear it only in the springtime and often as a sort of declaration that spring has arrived, began its life as a store-bought cotton sweater.  I used Evy Hawkins’ Applied Flowers to create the flower blossoms and leaves out of silk organza.  I then used additional elements from her designs to stitch the stems and attach the flowers and leaves to the sweater.  The “grass” is constructed from Lion Brand Fun Fur which I wrapped around a U-shaped piece of wire and stitched down the middle, creating a fringe that I then sewed onto the sweater. 

I will admit this sweater took a very long time to create.  It consists of twenty flowers.  Four are made up of three layers of petals; the other sixteen are two layers for a total of forty-four individual flowers that had to be stitched out.  There are also twenty-four leaves.  I made this sweater to wear one year at Martha Pullen’s School of Art Fashion.  People stopped me in the halls on the day I wore it.  It has continued to be a real attention grabber (too much so at times!)  It does make me happy, though, and I always feel like winter is over when I pull this one from my closet.  I think I’ll wear it tomorrow.