Anyway, this was for Ms. Peyton!  Her momma reeeeally LOVED the Alexander Henry (“lola”)  print that I used in the drag along blakie I made for Corinn’s baby shower.  So getting started was easy, no analysis paralysis this time!

I used the same measurements I posted for Haislea’s bag a couple years ago, it really does seem to be the perfect size.  Maybe I should just name this The Haislea Bag!  Whatdaya thing? Also, for the first time on a tote bag, I used pellon interfacing on the entire outer part of the bag just like I did with the buttercup bags since I LOVED the way they turned out!  This will definitely be what I do from now on if I am using linen!  I love linen, but OH HOW I HATE how quickly is wrinkles!

And here is the inside complete with a sweet white magnetic clasp I found someplace.  I really do need to start labeling my stuff better.  Any suggestions for labels out there!?

I used the same dimensions for this one as I did for Ms. Haislea a year ago. This time when I cut the patterned fabric I cut salvage to salvage 5 1/2” wide, the same as before, and used the extra to make a pocket inside, so there was no waste. Score.

I know the pics aren’t all that great, I wasn’t able to give the linen the attention that it needed, but it is a miracle I was even able to get pictures!! I finished this one up in just the nick of time, thanks to my rock star sister taking care of fussy Mr. A.

The idea is that a perfect little pleated purse can be made out of one fat quarter with the pattern, not including the lining & pocket.  I didn’t exactly take advantage of that fact since using linen for everything is still not out of my system, but when I find something worthy enough of a whole purse that fact will be great!

I used stabilizer on the linen for the first time hoping that it would make it less wrinkly after a few uses, I think it worked, but linen is linen and that means wrinkly to some degree.  I also used magnet clasps on these and I am HOOKED!  LOVE THEM!  Easy, inexpensive, and ubber functional.  I learned how to use them over at u-handbag, which by the way is a fantastic little corner of the internet you should check out.  Oh, and I finally got around to making some quick little sew in tags too.

The first one…

…I think I made for myself, although I am not sure which one I am keeping now because I am smitten with this one that has been hanging in my hallway for a couple days…

… there is something about the 70′s inspired red, orange and turquoise that draws me.  I do know however, that I made the strap a bit wide for my liking the first time around and perfect on the following three so practice does make sorta perfect.  This weekend the other two went to a couple very generous ladies from church who hosted a perfect brunch/baby shower for me this past Saturday.  Thank you Betsy and Laurie for a wonderful afternoon of fantastic food, conversation, and love.

With this bag, and the last (that I failed to take pictures of!) I have decided on a favorite size, make, and model. In this case we will call coordinating fabric A, and linen B. I did not use any facing in this bag as I usually do because I feel with the linen and type of use they will get that they are just fine with out it. I like the hand of it much better anyway. Final measurements of the bag are 12.5”14.5” -ish with a 2” boxed bottom.

A x2 5.5”x16”
B x2 10”x16”
A x2 1.5”x22” straps
B x2 1.5”x22” straps
lining fabric x2 15”x16”

I think the fabric I used is part of the Urban Chic or perhaps Chick collection, my memory is failing me. If you know, please help me clear the fog. THANKS!

I recommend this book as a great first book for beginner sewers, but I can not speak for the advanced lot of you as I am far from that; however, please check out the Bend-the-Rules Sewing errant page before starting a project! Trust me, it is frustrating to be 100% sure that you are doing something correctly and still have it not come out right at 1am, only to find out after much cursing, fist pounding, and loads of disappointment that you are NOT crazy and there truly was something wrong with the pattern or given measurements, honest!

NOTE: Sometimes the bottom photo feed breaks from flickr, I’m working on it, but in the mean time check them out here.

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