Fiber Fool

As is usual for me, I had ispiration for a handmade gift for SIL3’s birthday last Friday. Inspiration struck around 1pm or so I think and I had other things that needed wrapping up and then we ended up meeting for martini’s much sooner than I had expected so I wasn’t quite done (I was very, very close) when we left to meet her at Elliot’s so I told a white lie that I had forgotten her gift and didn’t remember until we were in the parking garage, LOL!

I was inspired by the Tiny Happy Shoulder Bag that Scout had made (Amanda made one recently too), but once again I needed to use stash, so I downsized it drastically and adjusted the shape a bit so that I could use coordinating fat quarters for the outer fabric. I think it turned out quite well. I’m actually proud of my sewing on this one, including the hand sewn finishing. This particular combination of fabrics produces a bit of a “Shabby Chic” feeling to me, which isn’t necessarily SIL3, but pink is very SIL3 and I think she’ll like it.

Since I was using fat quarters for the outer fabric I chose to iron on some interfacing (from the stash of course). It was a bit stiffer interfacing than I would recommend, but I do recommend using some if you aren’t using a heavier body fabric for the outside. It gives it some nice shape and body.

Since SIL3 hasn’t been over to pick up her gift yet I’ve started a little snap on cell phone case to match, though it has such a small circumference that it requires hand sewing so it isn’t done yet. Anyone have tips on hand sewing in a straight line around something round? My two ends of my sewing around the top didn’t meet so I’ve set it aside in frustration for the moment. Oh, and yes, I know you can remove part of the sewing machine, but this is a tiny circumference because she has a Razr so my machine just doesn’t get small enough for that.

I’m going to check with Tiny Happy to see if she minds my posting a PDF with directions for this (and the cell phone case) as long as I give her credit for the inspiration. So, hopefully next week sometime I’ll be able to post that here. Otherwise I’ll post a schematic and a link to her instructions on sewing it.

You’ll need two fat quarters for the outside and a full 1/4 yard of muslin or two more fat quarters for the lining to make both the purse and the cell phone case. Some medium weight interfacing (I recommend the iron on variety, but that may just be me), two buttons (~1.5 in and ~3/4″ for purse and cell phone case respectively) and a sew on snap (for cell phone case) as well.

We’ll have a guest at the house this weekend so I don’t know what, if anything will get accomplished, but I do have some things I would like to do this weekend… Have a great one everyone!