Finished project M4118

I finished the handbag I started to sew on December 7. I made View C with some modifications. This is not a project that I recommend for beginners. This project can be finish in less than three days but in my case it took me more than two weeks because of my busy schedule. Assembly the bag was not difficult. Because I used a quilted fabric, I had some technical problems with my Singer Confidence machine and had to use my backup Brother machine. I had to finish the terminations by hand. It was a long task with a satisfactory ending.

I gave this handbag to my mom as a one of her Christmas presents.

This is how the inside looks.

This how the inside looks without the cardboard that goes inside.

Here is the piece of cardboard that goes inside the bag.

Here is a "side" view of the handbag.

An opened view of the handbag.

Pockets. (To see how many pockets this hanbag has look at my older post.)

Here is another view.

This is the final result!



I submitted this project to the Holiday Contest at Pattern Review!

Look what I got!

I got this mini dress form on my latest visit to Pier 1. It can be use to to hang earrings and necklaces. This would make a lovely present for anyone who likes to sew or loves fashion. By the way, all the earrings in the picture are from my own creation.

A snowy weekend

We got a snow storm this past Saturday here in Northern Virginia. I was happy about it because I was expecting to finish all my sewing projects that I have been accumulating. First I spent sometime cooking and after dinner I went to the basement to do my sewing. So I started by giving the final touches to the quilted fabric bag I am making for my mother. Around 9 pm my almost new Singer Confidence 7463 started giving me problems. The fabric was too thick for the needle I was using so the needle broke.

I had a good stash of needles. Different kinds, but I was not sure which one was the one I needed to sew thick stuff (not denim), so I read the manual and change the needle to another one that end up bending. I changed needles about 6 times since my machine was literally not sewing. So I started to "investigate" and opened the bobbin case because I noticed the bobbin was not turning. I cleaned it and put some oil. In fact too much oil! More than a drop. My machine still not sewing and I am so sad thinking that maybe I broke it. I never have never deal with an electronic machine before. I am waiting for the oil to dry and see if it can make stitches now.

In the picture above: My street yesterday.

A White Christmas

There is a rumor saying that we might have a white Christmas this year. I am kind of excited because it will be my babies first Christmas. We are expecting snow at midnight until tomorrow night. Hopefully, since I will have to stay at home I will finish my Christmas projects.

McCall's Fashion Accesories 4418

I have been working on this project since December 6. We celebrate Mother's day in Panama on December 8 and I tought it would be nice to give my mom my own version of a Vera Bradley bag. Well, it was not ready on time. So now it is part of my Christmas sewing. I am going to give it to her for Christmas. She deserves it for all the help she has been giving me with the babies.

This is the front of the bag. I am using a quilted fabric that I purchased at Joann.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays too... :P

More baby pj's

Here is another baby pijama that I made this past weekend. This is for my baby girl. I used size 1/2 toddler. I did not modify the pattern this time.

I recommend this pattern, but let me tell you it is not that "easy"! Sewing "miniature" clothes can be more difficult than sewing adult clothes.

Designers want us to wear big shoulders pads again

Even though I have not seen a new pattern from any pattern company suggesting that big 80's shoulder pads are coming back, there is a rumor that they are coming back strongly.

I saw some models wearing big shoulder pads jackets on my last Allure issue and also on the Vogue November issue. This is an 80's trend I won't be wearing again. I own a few vintage 80's patterns to make all these upcoming fashion trends but every time I look at the pictures on the envelopes all I think is how come I was so brave to wear those ugly suits and shirts back then? We will see if I will dare to wear them again. I still have some vintage coats, jackets and sweaters with those enormous shoulder pads on a trunk were I keep some old clothes... in case they would ever come back on style.

A good thing about Etsy

I really wish I could crochet but I have no patience, so I prefer to buy crochet at Etsy.com

My baby has received lot of compliment on this hat I got from LilyKnitting at Etsy.