Pockets, a pouch and reusing old curtains

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!

Making some hanging lavender sachets, finally

Way back in 2014 I shared a link and a tutorial to some gorgeous hanging lavender sachets I’d seen and fallen in love with, and clearly had intentions to make some for myself. Well fast forward to our house move and I rediscovered the pieces of material I’d cut in preparation and two sachets which I’d mostly sewn.

THE TWO THAT WERE MOSTLY SEWN, NOW FINISHED

Thankfully I’d left myself enough clues about my original plans, and so with my ever increasing supply of ‘magpied’ ribbons (from clothes, Christmas crackers, chocolates and no doubt many more places) I went through and laid out items to decorate each of the sachets.

They were a great way to get back to being familiar with my sewing machine, after a longer than intended break. They were small, creative enough but not overly challenging, as the majority of sewing was in straight lines. I realised though after completing the two above that adding the hanging ribbon afterwards could be time consuming, and therefore likely to not happen - so I made a change, and pinned the hanging ribbon so it could be part of the seam at the top of the sachet.

And then I motored through them, until it came to finishing them off.

I’d filled them with lavender and pinned the gaps at the bottom closed and they were ready to be hand sewn, and hung. But it was always the job I never quite got to, putting it off - you know the sort. Until I realised that I could sew the gaps closed across the bottom by machine, and then at least they’d be done and no one would be none the wiser (that is until I just told you!)

And so my mini production line was off again.

It was simple really, and I don’t think look any worse for the adjustments I’ve made. Though I’d had my fill of sewing lavender sachets (for the time being anyway) and so I packed the remaining future sachets back into the box, but I know my future self will be pleased that I’ve added yoyos, buttons and ribbons for decorating and hanging so when I’m in need of a simple sewing project, I have one that’s ready made.

I’m really pleased with how the lavender sachets turned out, and have found plenty of wardrobes and cupboards here to hang them in, in fact you may have spotted one of them hanging in the bathroom cupboard with the new shelves.

I love that how each of them are different, and how they all use remnants of material either from old clothes that I’ve cut up, or from previous projects alongside the ribbon and buttons I’ve also saved. Plus they smell lovely, and thankfully not too overpowering!

And had you spotted that there are eleven finished sachets? Well it’s totally a coincidence that I finished these in the week leading up to my blog’s eleventh birthday, I picked up this project towards the end of January and while I’d like to say I plan ahead, well that would be a total fabrication! Spooky though hey?

Repurposing my autumn wreath

17 October I went to a workshop to make my autumn wreath, and almost a month and a half later it was still looking pretty respectable, if not slightly weather worn, which given the weather we’ve had - rain, wind and snow - isn’t surprising! And with a new workshop, and wreath, booked in for the start of December its days were numbered.

And while the autumn wreath was fading, it wasn’t completely done - which was just as well as I had plans for it.

Back in 2016 I shared how I’d bleached some pine cones, and how my top tip was to start early - I think I took my own advice there as I’d not used them properly, so by my reckoning eight years is plenty early enough!!

This year was going to be their year

At least I hoped it was.

I brought in the autumn wreath as by now the weather was too chilly to do this outside, and was immediately grateful that I thought to put this on a towel and on paper. It was wet from the recent rain, which was no bad thing as keeping the moss wet helps. The towel soaked some of that up, and the white paper helped easily identify bugs crawling out of it.

I snipped off the Chinese Lanterns and some of the more faded greenery and the berries which were past their best, but left as much as I could.

To check the viability of this primping project, I placed my bleached pine cones around the wreath to check I had enough to fill the gaps. I did. So with more optimism than skill I set about wiring them into place. I had thin wire so I think this was harder to use than the thicker short lengths of florist wire which could be more easily pushed through the moss, but I go there and all the pine cones were attached successfully.

It doesn’t look too bad laying down does it?

I knew the proof of the pudding, or at least my newly acquired wreath making skills, would come when I held it vertical - and thankfully none fell off, so I could move to the next phase of the project - putting it on display.

Not taking any chances with the wind gusts, I’ve tied this on in four places - top, bottom and both sides - and it’s stayed on the gate, so far. What’s more, the pine cones have also stayed attached to the wreath, so I’m calling that a win - and a pretty and sustainable one at that.

Though this will be its last stand, with the majority of it heading to the compost bin (actually our brown bin as we haven’t sorted new compost bins yet) in the New Year. I’ll be saving the pine cones, and if I can the metal ring, but you’re not surprised by that are you?

This is likely to be my last post before Christmas, so thank you again for continuing to read and support my blog. I hope you have a great time over Christmas celebrating and/or spending time with families or loved ones, and doing what’s important to you.

We’re looking forward to spending the Christmas period with family in our new home. I hope to share a post of my Christmas wreath before the New Year, so I’ll save wishing you a Happy New Year until then.