PURSES AND PRIMAL SCREAMS

In the three weeks since my last post I have dealt with a kitchen leak the size of Niagra Falls which necessitated all new plumbing underneath the cabinet...which led to a new sink....which led to a new counter top which led to a microwave which led to a new oven...

And then there was the fight with mustard algae in the pool

And I had double ear infections....

And my daughter is back for the summer which means laundry just got ugly.....

Sooo...in all of that free, uninterrupted time, I decided to make a purse. 

I started sewing a year ago and thought it would be a good way to hone my skills....little did I know!


I started with a vintage piece I had picked up...an old clothes pin bag.....

I read many blogs to try and understand how to proceed...these bloggers were particularly helpful:

http://www.noodle-head.com/

ww.psiquilt.com/2009/08/friendship-bag-tutorial.html


I used this pattern from Sew Mama Sew
http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/2011/01/free-pdf-pattern-from-the-bag-making-bible-bag-give

but did not try to make it reversible...

Also, the book  Stitch by Stitch (by Deborah Moebes) was invaluable.....
http://www.amazon.com/Stitch-Learning-Sew-Project-Time/dp/1440211612


I started with strip piecing Swell fabric (jelly rolls) together....then I cut out those pieced strips out using the pattern  from Sew Mama Sew...

I sewed the remaining pieces to my vintage piece and then cut it out using the pattern from Sew Mama Sew....

I used yardage from the Sweet line to make the lining...

Things were going good...The outside pieces went together beautifully...I then put batting on each and free motioned quilted each side...now to do my box pleats....

I measured two inches from the side....drew my line and cut....Did I say cut before I sewed the line.....NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Me after initial realization.....

I JUST CUT A HOLE IN MY "soon to be" PURSE!!! Did I scream?  Look at the clips below to get an idea of my despair!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nvGM4E5uGc


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpZChF7p1Sk


So, how do I fix it?  Since I had already quilted these pieces, I just recut and quilted some pieces and added them as you would on the "quilt as you go" method.  I added the pieces on with my zig-zag stitch.

I made the handles with two different Swell fabric designs.  I sewed one piece on interfacing and then the two together...

This website was invaluable on an easy method on turning the pieces inside out and on sewing the lining to the outer fabric....

http://kellyrachel.com/blog/2010/06/08/make-a-bag-part-two/

So...here it is...my first bag:

The vintage clothespin holder...cut and pieced

Back view with Swell Fabric (Moda/Urban Chicks)

I took it with me this past weekend and I love it...the handles are perfect as is the size of the bag....so get out of your comfort zone....it is well worth it!

THE VIRGIN QUILTER

My "piecing" of the table topper was done....now to quilt.  I am new to quilting as in I HAVE NEVER QUILTED ANYTHING BEFORE.  Time to jump in...but I should quilt something small first.  There are so many blogs out there to help new quilters... I especially liked Tall Grass Prairie Studio (what a wonderful quilter and provides such encouragement and inspiration!);  Oh Fransson; Anyone Can Quilt; Stop Staring and Start Sewing; Posie Gets Cozy; Fresh Squeezed Fabrics; Sew Mama Sew and many others. 

I better quilt something before I try to tackle the topper.  I whipped up a mug rug (I love this Martinque fabric)

O.K.  I know how to put on the walking foot...that's good.  I have a free motion foot... that's good.  But....how am I going to quilt my table topper?  The idea that kept coming to me was a spider web....I searched for images of spider webs and began to play around with the idea in my head.

The next morning....I took the topper and drew (with my blue disappearing marker) the spider web (on husb's big poker table but don't tell him)

Now to cut my backing fabric........oops.....too short.....time to recut my backing fabric......


Time to cut my batting (Warm and Natural)....wow...that is a little messy.

Time to make the quilt sandwich.....oops....
Time to make the quilt sandwich......oops...
Time to make the quilt sandwich......oops....I feel like I am making a quilt thanksgiving meal rather than a sandwich.  I  DO NOT like this part.
DONE!

OK...put on my walking foot and here with go....oops broken needle number one
O.K....here we go.....oops broken needle number two....time to use the right size needle
And we are OFF....hey  I'M QUILTING!!! I'M QUILTING!!!!

It reminds me of What About Bob and sailing....'I'm Sailing, I'm Sailing!!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HROJflp4-EY

 This is actually going pretty well...I am 1/2 way through....break time.....

Back to it....almost through.  I decide to check the back side...MOTHER OF PEARL....what the heck??
It looks like all the quilting I've done since the break doesn't look as good as the first part.  Oh wait...when I turned the machine back on it didn't go to the settings I had for tension and stitch length...grrrrrrrrrrrrrr



Time to RIP OUT ALL OF THOSE STITCHES....grrrrrrrrr!!!!!!

Time to start again!

I never expected to enjoy the quilting aspect so much....the feel of the fabric with the batting.....positively yummy.  And there is certainly a quilting zone you enter.....

Everything is quilted.  Now time for the binding!!!  Probably the one thing I disliked throughout the whole process.  Since I don't know how to sew, I don't know how to hand sew binding on the back.  I ended up  using a blanket hand stitch which was fine for this project...not so much for the next.  Plus, I am pretty sure my binding should also show on the front and mine didn't....oh well...here is the finished project.

Hub's quilting effort shown above

Positive:  I love the way it looks on the front...almost exactly like I envisioned

Negative: The back (since it is on a neutral fabric) shows ALL quilting mishaps.  It looks like my spider took a hit of acid before she started spinning....or she is Charlotte's crack whore sister, Charlene.
But hey, I was able to quilt it and that feels great!

Do you think Gwen would approve?  or Jacquie (Miss Tall Grass Prairie)?