It’s been a while since I updated you on my most recent Adult Learning class where I immersed myself in making bags - in the loosest sense for me, as my aim was always to make pouches rather than bags. I missed the final week of the course for our trip to the Gargano Peninsular, but left with really clear guidance on how to finish my piece.
Of course life happened, and what with one thing and another, and one of those being that in my mind it was way more complicated than I’d imagined, my unfinished pouch kept get putting to one side (spoiler: it wasn’t as hard as I thought, who knew?!)
But the unfinished pouch has been nagging me, and so I finally made time to finish it off.
And didn’t it turn out well?
I’m so pleased with how it turned out, but also at how ‘put together’ the materials and notions look. They all came from my stash, but what impressed me was that I’d pulled material from it randomly, and so was pleased to discover that these two pieces complemented each other, and I think the contrasting zip is a genius touch - even if I do say so myself!
I’m not sure what I’ll use it for yet, but I’m pretty sure it’ll come in handy before I know it - and I bet it won’t be long before I make more!
But there was more. I did make a bag, the rest of the class chose to make more of a handbag, but instead I opted for a bucket bag - and I used some old curtains for it. They came from my house before our previous house (if you follow) - a house I bought back in the early 90s which needed a lot of work, and more than a lick of paint - oh if I’d have been blogging then!
But I loved these curtains, and there was a lot of them. There was a large square bay window in this old Edwardian house, which meant a lot of curtains, lovingly made by mum (though I’m not sure she has the same memory of them!).
Clearly I’d kept the curtains for many years, I think I’d used them in our previous house as a stop-gap solution in our bedroom when we first moved in in 2002, but they’d been safely stored since then, making the move with us last summer. They probably could be classed as vintage, or close to anyway.
Though now part of them is a bag!
It looks like it’ll be a useful sized bag too, ably held up here by MOH. Taking a picture and holding this one just wasn’t going to happen. I also particularly like the leopard print webbing I bought for the handles, they’re a nod to my inner Bet Lynch but also to some of the large sofa cushions I had in the same room (and which I also still have and use!)
One of the things I was keen to get more practice and know-how for was zips, which I’d successfully avoided for many years. But no more, I’ve learnt they are way easier to insert with a zipper foot (yeah, obvious hey?!) and not as scary as you’d imagine.
At the course I practiced making some pockets for inside bags - or pouches - that’s why the surround material (and future lining) is large, they’re ready for when I need them. Whenever that might be.
This blue criss cross pocket (remember that from my sunglasses case?) was my first attempt, but without realising it I’d put in the zip facing the wrong way - doh!
The blue criss cross material was supposed to be the lining for the pocket, but after a bit of head scratching (in the intervening week, not at the class) I realised that if I added some lining to be the pocket back, I’d have a very pretty pocket indeed.
Pocket solved!
Not wanting to be beaten though I decided to have another go - giving myself homework!
Out came the Christmas pincushion fabric again, this time for a bigger starring role - and an inserted blue criss cross pocket.
I did need to make another tweak though as I was running short of the blue criss cross fabric, so added a strip of the Christmas fabric for an added touch of resourcefulness - and a two toned pocket.
New skills most definitely unlocked!
