If you haven't heard of Lindsay and Mary from Craft buds or Lindsay's other blog, Lindsay Sews, you will be very happy with this introduction! These blogs have been at the top of my "must read" list for the last couple of years.

Craftbuds is a very, very fun and informative website that is just overflowing with tutorials (I found it by entering the Pleated Boxes Pillows Sew Along last year).  Lindsay and Mary do a wonderful job promoting giveaways too, just click over to the "Win it" page and find more great prizes to win.  Their tutorials are amazing!  I am currently making up a wedding quilt and I've found a lot of Lindsay's piecing and cutting instructions have been very, very helpful.  I'm using a HST cutting technique from this post to get my wedding gift quilt underway... watch for the results at a later date ;).

The Prizes:


Right now Craftbuds is giving away the Boyd St. Bowling Bag ePattern AND Hardware Kit, the Necessary Clutch Wallet ePattern AND 1 Turn lock, PLUS a $10.00 store credit from my Shop at www.emmalinebags.com.  ($42.00 prize value!!)  This contest runs until May2nd.  Sewing patterns can be won by international winners, but hardware can only be shipped to US and Canada (Store credit can be used on sewing patterns as well as hardware.)


Head over to Craft buds to enter the AWESOME sewing pattern and bag hardware giveaway or here is here Rafflecopter entry widget, just enter here, but I do recommend you spend some time on either of these wonderful blogs!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNER: LUISA M!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Over the last year or so, I've had one or two bag makers ask me why their pattern pieces weren't matching up properly, and it turns out they hadn't printed their pattern pieces the right size.  Also, looking at some recent (gorgeous) wallets that were made from my Necessary Clutch Wallet ePattern, I noticed that some of the zipper pockets are sticking up out of the wallet too high.  They should actually be slightly recessed.  I figured out that the only thing that could cause this was that the wallet exterior was too small, and this is because the pattern pieces weren't printed properly.   I know because I did the same thing myself ;)

On page one of all of my pattern instructions, there are printing instructions, but I don't think we all read these - because we all know how to click print right?  I think when you download a pattern, you open the PDF and you hit print, and THEN you read the instructions, skipping the printing instructions.

Source: The Graphics Fairy

Why we need to change print settings:
Many PDF patterns or downloads have pictures or words that are outside of the "printing area" or in the margins of the page.  Adobe Acrobat has default print setting that scales the page down to fit to the boundaries of the paper size, it's otherwise known as "shrink to fit".  We don't want this!! This will reduce your pattern pieces.

How to change print settings:
When you open your download sewing pattern in Adobe Acrobat, you will use your mouse to click the printer icon or go to "File" and then "Print".  A box will open so you can change your settings.  In the older version of Adobe Acrobat, you will change your print scaling to "None".  In some versions of adobe, you will change it to "no scaling".


And... in the latest version of Adobe Acrobat on a Mac, you make sure your have selected "Actual Size".

Remember, there is a 1" x 1" test square with your pattern pieces, and it is exactly the right size.  If it is even 1/8th" of an inch too small, your pattern pieces will be too small.

I've just updated all of my patterns, giving the printing instructions on the front page above the bag photo.  It will now be the first thing you see.  I'll also update my pattern details on my website and Etsy and make sure the printing instructions are there too.

I hope this helps, and happy sewing!


 

I love receiving fabric in the mail as much as the next girl, but I admit - I don't often scream with delight.  But today was a different kind of parcel day...  Holy wow I am still smiling and gushing with delight over my 36 Fat Eights Color Wheel from the fab Etsy shop:  Surly Sheep.

My color wheel from SURLY SHEEP

It's perfect, perfect, perfect and I did indeed SCREAM.  I don't know how I will pull out 4, as I only need 32.  It's going to be tough!

I did mention that I was making the NY Beauty Flying Geese wall hanging ( a GORGEOUS creation by Janice at Better Off Thread) to Brooke at Surly Sheep, and she looked it up on the internet and picked out THEE most perfect fabrics for me.  You see... I don't have a stash... :(
But I do now!!

SOURCE:  Better Off Thread

Now to save up for the background neutrals..... Where can I buy those?
Can't wait to make this wall hanging some day and fill my empty wall niche!  Updated: You can get this paper pieced pattern from Craftsy HERE, for the minimal price of $3.00

 

There are so many fun new photos of handbags and wallets in the flickr group!  You guys are amazing and I just love seeing your results.  Please hop over to the group, get some inspiration, and share your own pictures.

Eye Candy: Look at this gorgeous Boyd St. Bowling bag from Tabatha at Bending Pins.
You can read her blog post and see pictures of the inside HERE.  She did some piped handles that turned out really beautiful.

Source: Bending Pins

This is one of her Steph-in-the-City bags.  She actually started with new jean material and bleached it after!  I don't know how she does that....

Source: Bending Pins

And this is her Necessary Clutch Wallet made with Jeni Baker's Color Me Retro fabric collection.  I love this.  My husband even commented on it, which believe me, is really something!

Source: Bending Pins

Thank you so much for sharing your gorgeous photos, Tabatha.  You are making my patterns look so fun!!

I really enjoy seeing what fabrics others may use in my patterns. Picking fabric is something I really struggle with and to be honest, I'm not always happy with my choices. I am getting better at it, but you all really inspire me!  Please share in the Flickr group!!


 

Hello my friends, I have a sewing pattern giveaway to offer you today!

Some of you already know Rose Beck from RosyPosy Knitting Designs.  I recently held a giveaway to win some of her knit shawl patterns (they are so gorgeous).  Well, Rose is also a very talented seamstress.  You may remember her leather version of the Emmaline Bag, it turned out so beautiful!  Lately, she's been busy working on some amazing bag patterns of her own. I've been lucky enough to be able to pattern test one of them, AND to be able give away one of the patterns.

My Version of the Uptown Hobo Bag

Rose's Uptown Hobo Bag was such a fun bag to make. The pattern is easy to follow, the pattern pieces are well labelled, and the photos are clear (and plentiful).  This is definitely a bag that an advanced beginner could tackle and be very pleased with the result.

Rose's Uptown Hobo Bag

I made my Uptown Hobo with Anna Maria Horner's beautiful Coreopsis in Coral from her Loulouthi collection. The fabric I chose was velveteen... and it turned out so soft and cozy! I love this fabric for this bag. Yum! I interfaced it with fusible woven interfacing, such as Shape-Flex 101 from Pellon and used and Essex yarn died linen for the interior. The linen doesn't really match the fabric at all, but just seems to work for me.  I love the coral and blue together.  I also added some double-cap studs to my strap.  Need some inspiration? You can see some other gorgeous versions made up in different fabrics HERE.

Pattern instructions also include directions for an easy slip pocket and an internal zipper pocket, if you choose to add one.

A nice opportunity to try some of my stitches!

This pattern makes up very fast and I think you get a huge reward for an nice afternoons work.  I really think this pattern has great value, and I recommend it highly.  You can read the materials list HERE, and buy the pattern HERE.

I really admire Rose's work, and it's an honour to support her pattern business.  Bag ladies like to stick together!

Rose's Bag in Wool Boucle

The contest will run until midnight US/Canada Mountain Standard Time on Monday, April 8 and the contest winner will be announced on Tuesday morning.   Please enter in the Rafflecopter widget below and share this post on facebook.  Let's all support Rose!

Congratulations to Phyllis!!  Thank you all for entering the pattern giveaway!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you for reading.

NOTE:  This tutorial is now available as a PDF.  Download Here

I am so completely thrilled that my clutch wallet sewing pattern, The Necessary Clutch Wallet ePattern, has been so well received by you all! Thank you, thank you for loving this wallet as much as I do.  I can see myself making it over and over again.

Because the wallet has plenty of room for your smart phone, lipstick, and sunglasses, you don't have to lug around your handbag when you don't want to anymore.  But, in order to be an awesome clutch for busy ladies with arms full of babies and fabric, you need to have a wrist strap or a nice long shoulder strap, so I've made a little tutorial for you (because you were asking...).

I am going to show you how to make both the wrist strap and the removable shoulder strap, so you can use your Necessary Clutch Wallet all three ways:  as a wallet, as a wristlet, or as small shoulder bag.  It's actually REALLY easy, and the only hardware you will need is a few small swivel snap hooks (available here).

If you intend on doing this in conjunction with the sewing pattern, you will need to read through both this tutorial and the PDF sewing pattern first.  (I know you always read your patterns first, right? Hee, Hee)  Your first step in this tutorial will happen before you even sew one stitch in The Necessary Clutch Wallet Pattern.  Let's get started!

Pattern available HERE

I have needed a new wallet for so long, and I knew I had to make a sewing pattern that would check all the boxes the first time around.  My wallet pattern had to have closed ends so that nothing would fall out, it had to have card slot pockets, a zipper pocket for coins, and most importantly - I had to be able to fit my cell phone in this wallet. Sometimes I just want to grab my wallet and run, and sometimes I just want to throw it in a backpack when I'm going out for a walk and I need to have a place to put my phone.

It all came together one day when I was surfing the web and found a small pouch, that had end flaps that folded up to create sides. This pouch was only about 3 inches wide or so, and didn't have any of the pockets I wanted, so I got out my pen and paper and worked out all the dimensions to create a pattern that would hold my cash and two lots of card slots with 6 areas for cards in each.

The Necessary Clutch Wallet: The Inside Pockets

The end result, The Necessary Clutch Wallet ePattern, is exactly what I've been wanting! It features a twist lock closure on the flap, that can be substituted with a heavy snap. There is a border detail on the flap to create stiffness and, I think, some professional looking detail. And the best part... there not just one, but several places to put my phone! I can put it either of the cash pockets, in the two divided areas by the slot pockets or in the wide center pocket. The center pocket is 1" wide at bottom, so it could hold your phone, or even hold lipstick, a treat for later, or your fave sunglasses!

Try a snap instead of a Twist lock!

I love this wallet, and I don't know if I'll ever have to buy one again. I can see myself making this one hundred times over. These wallets will make fantastic gifts!

You can find The Necessary Clutch Wallet HERE in my shop. The twist locks are on the way and will be available to purchase in my shop early next week.

Also, watch for a tutorial coming to add a wrist strap and and thin removable shoulder strap. After a few requests, I've decided I need to make this available and I'll have it here on the blog in my tutorial section in a few days.

UPDATE:  The Wrist and Shoulder Strap Tutorial is available HERE!!



Thank you for looking!!