Recycling fleeces

Along with the wonderful donations of jeans (seized by Trading Standards as designer imitations), Lance Haggith recently passed on a number of hoodies and other fleece lined items, also seized as "designer rip-offs".

The idea with this was to use them to line bibs, using the inside of the garments.  Some of the seized jeans were used for the front of the bibs, with various embroidery designs used.  I will put these up as individual items in later posts.  The hoodies etc were cut up for the linings.

The batch of items pictured produced about 20 bib linings.
The linings were then sewn, with the logos hidden inside the bibs and the fleecy lining used as the bib backing.

Lots of learning points from this:
There are only a few parts of the hoodies suitable for cutting up - the sleeves are great, as is the back, but the pouch on the front makes part of it unusable. 
Trousers produced very little usable fleece.The images on the front of the bibs are often very hard to sew over - they seem to stick to the presser foot and stop the fabric from moving.
The fleece is of much better quality than the cheap blankets I was using - and it comes to me free!

Thanks Lance!

Zipped pocket bag (with mini tutorial)

With these bags I seem to have found a relatively easy way of attaching a zip - something I am frequently asked for.

The solution came to me - as is often the case - in the middle of the night.  Unusually I remembered it the next morning!

How to imitate this:
Make a pocket bag as per my earlier tutorial, but only make the front and back panels for the bag.

Add a 3" strip of denim to the top of each panel, fastening the bag straps between the panel and the strip.  I usually place them half way along each pocket square, and stitch over the strap end three times.

Now cut the lining to match the panels.

Using a zipper foot, sew one panel to the zip.
Put the lining so right sides of the lining and bag panel face each other, and the zip is sandwiched between the two fabrics.  Stitch again, to fasten the zip securely.
Turn the fabric the right way and then top stitch the zip.  Stitch as close as possible to the edge of the fabric.

Repeat with the other bag panel.

Now open the zip and then open out the bag and lining so that the bag panels are right sides together, and so are the linings.  It should make one large rectangle. Sew all the way round the rectangle, leaving the bottom edge of the lining open.

Turn the bag the right way in, and sew the bottom of the llining up.  You can hand sew this for a neat finish, but I usually turn the edges in and top stitch with the machine!

Push the lining inside your bag and it is finished!

Shared at

Appreciation and encouragement.

These postcards carry a variety of messages - I have had more fun with the slogans!

"Do what you love, love what you do."
"The simplest things in life are often the things most precious."
"Always follow your heart".
"Relax".
"You rock".
"Good morning sunshine."
"Laugh".

Pocket purses

These are a good seller, and fun to make.  I enjoyed selecting some interesting pockets and turning them into these little bags.

It also made a lovely change to do these rather than animals!

Harry Potter phone cases

More larger size cases, this time with the Hogwarts school emblem. Harry Potter doesn't seem to go out of fashion, I'm glad to say.

Positive postcards

These postcards are multi purpose, with the main hope being that they will raise a smile both for the sender and the recipient.

Which one catches your eye?

Pocket coin purses

I am getting better at these, and definitely faster - I think I can now create one in about 10 minutes.  These are lined, with zips.  And yes, the zips are top stitched as well!

As is often the case when using pockets, the attractiveness of the pocket is key.  Fortunately I have received some fairly "blinged up" jeans recently!

Saddle bags

Not sure where this style of bag got the name I associate with them, but that is how I term these.  This is my own design (though influenced by many bags I have encoutered).  It is relatively easy to make, and I think the pocket on the front adds a unique touch.

I have used a variety of strap lengths here.  However, I am certain that someone will want a length I have not yet created - it is always the way!

Keep calm..

A selection of "keep calm" slogans on postcards.

I enjoy watching people's faces as they browse my postcards.  Often I can work out which one they are looking at!

Pocket purses

This has proved another very popular line - so much so that I have virtually sold out.  So, before my imminent run of sales, it was time to restock this line as well.

I was given a loarge reel of grosgrain ribbon, which I have used for the "string" on some of these pouches.  I will be interested to see the response.
As ever, interesting (and fairly small) pockets are the key - these are a good way of using the pockets on children's jeans.  I have found it much quicker to make these witha zip top rather than with a flap fastened with a button.  This is a clear sign of my growth in confidence - I still remember (and am frequently reminded) saying to a friend that I "don't do zips".  Fortunately I have conquered that fear!

Pocket phone cases

These were an early creation, and have remained popular.  Interestingly I have had to adjust the size.  When I first made these, the most popular and best selling size was the one which fitted an iphone 3 (or 4!).  Now phones have got larger, and I needed to reflect this in my latest batch of cases.

This is a great way of using front pockets, and I think the pocket is really useful in a phone case - a space to hold your headphones!

Birthday cards

The previous line of embroidered postcards having sold out really quickly, it was time to make more.  This line is a variety of birthday cards.

I probably should have made more... these may not last for very long!  I have at least speeded up production by avoiding the tedious oversewing of the edges.

Birthday postcards

This latest batch of cards has proved extremely popular, and particularly the birthday cards.  The next batch will have to include more of these.
It's good fun choosing the designs and the colours.  Those pictured here are from a range of sellers.

Giraffe gathering

Another large scale restock, this time of giraffes.  This is the second most popular line of animals, and possibly my favourite.  They are also the most tricky to make of the animals.

Made from a  Funky Friends Factory pattern.

Postcards

I would love to be able to photograph the reaction to the arrival of one of these.  On the rare occasions that I do get to find out a reaction, it is always positive.  My hope is always that these unusual postacrds bring surprise and pleasure.

The "Keep calm and..." theme continues to be popular...

Little bags for little girls - strap variation

These bags are both, like the previous original version, without any fastening, but made with longer straps.  For a little girl, these could be cross body; for a bigger girl they would just make a shoulder bag.

Crocodile hunting!

Here are two more of my newest design.  These have all sold, so more need to be cut and sewn - but the list of cutting and sewing seems to be growing faster than my ability to complete it!  Hopefully the summer holidays will provide me with time and space to make progress and rebuild my stock.  It is great to see how quickly these African animals are selling.

Made from a  Funky Friends Factory pattern.

Snakes alive!

Another new toy - this time a snake.

I'm interested to see how well these sell.  They are much easier and faster to make than the other Funky Friends Factory designs I have made, and will be priced accordingly. 
Made from a Funky Friend Factory pattern: http://www.funkyfriendsfactory.com/ 

Little bags for little girls

These bags are quick and fun to make, and I have been exploring new closures and strap variations for them recently.  However, these two are the original style:

Postcards

My fabric postcards always attract a lot of interest, and are great fun to make, particularly with the range of slogans I have acquired. Here is a new batch, with some new slogans.