Sunshine Crossbody Pouch

A friend mentioned the Sunshine Crossbody Pouch pattern from Bagstock Designs and I decided to give it a go. This is a free pattern with detailed instructions with color photos. You can also find a handful of step-by-step video tutorials on YouTube if you search for "sunshine crossbody pouch". I looked through my collection of vinyl, fat quarters from Spoonflower, and zips to come up with the perfect combination. This fabric Cephalopods world is still available on Spoonflower. 

On Friday I cut out all the pieces. Fabric, interfacing, vinyl, all ready to go. I buy my zippers from Zipit Zippers on Etsy. Great prices and excellent service. I may need to order some more.

I only had a fat quarter of the cephalopod print so I was very careful with my cutting to get just the right images in my center panels. 

Assembly on Saturday was pretty quick since I did all the cutting on Friday. I deviated from the pattern a little with the strap but that's just because I make my cross body bags this way and it works for me. The pattern is perfectly fine the way it is written.

Sewing with vinyl means I get to use my craft clips more than usual. I like them better for keeping some things lined up because they don't distort the fabric like pins can. 

This is a view of that interior zipper pocket and the fact that I failed to leave that zipper open while constructing the bag. There was some sailor language but it was unnecessary as it was really easy to grab that zipper pull and open the zipper from the lining side of the bag. It was super easy to turn the bag through that interior pocket. Maybe I should change my view on this kind of zippered pocket. 

Don't forget to label your work! Seriously, if you spend hours of your time making something put your mark on it. I mean it. 

And my finished bag! This was a fun little bag. I don't know that it would be my everyday bag (not that I carry a bag at all any more) just because it doesn't really have a convenient place for my phone. That outer pocket is big enough to hold your phone (I have the Samsung) but it isn't getting it into or out of that pocket. My ideal handbag includes a slip pocket inside that is big enough for my phone.

My favorite zipper supplier is ZipIt Zippers on Etsy
Free pattern Sunshine Crossbody Pouch from Bagstock
I buy my bag hardware from Strapworks.com

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Creative Grids 6.5" Square Ruler
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q
Pellon Flex Foam
Craft Clips
Heat'n Bond Non-Woven Feather Weight Fusible 20"x 25 Yards-White
SF101 Shape-Flex® (I was unable to find this for a reasonable price on Amazon. I recommend checking your local big box craft/sewing store.)
Pattern storage: Plastic Envelopes, Clear Reusable Poly Envelope Waterproof File Folder with Snap Button, US Letter/A4 Size

Applique Snap Tabs

I shared this fun fabric earlier in the week. Those round motifs begged to be put onto a snap tab. I sat down with my embroidery software and got to work. I already had the round snap tab design from my previous project with the D20 so I all I had to do was sort out the applique portion of the design. 

First I measured the outline of the motif and tried to add the applique portion. It turned out too small so I tried a couple more times. 

I did manage to get it to this point, which is pretty good. 

Here is the progression of the project. Machine embroidery isn't something that magically works the right time the first time. I wish it did but like so many other crafts it is something that takes practice to learn and get good at.

I picked the best of the bunch and finished them as snap tabs. I'm sure I'll use this design again with other fabrics. If you are interested in something like this please contact me through my Etsy shop and I'll set up a listing for you.

The snaps I purchased from Amazon: Kam Snaps Starter Kit (affiliate link)
The swivel trigger snap hooks (affiliate link) were also purchased on Amazon

I bought both the vinyl and the fabric at a big box fabric store.

Bravo Zulu, Coast Guard!

I've been continuing to work through the tutorials for my embroidery design software. It's slow going and I'm sure I'm only using part of what the software is capable of. I am learning, though.

I've had this design on my mind for a while now. If you aren't a sailor, or you don't know one, this might not make any sense. The two flags are Bravo and Zulu.

Bravo Zulu indicates a job well done. I wanted to tell a fellow sailor I thought they had done a good job on a recent project and this was my way of saying 'well done!' The final design isn't perfect, but it says what it needs to say and put a smile on at least one sailor's face, which was good enough for me.

For those of you that might not know, tomorrow the U.S. Coast Guard will celebrate its 228th birthday. Don't forget to wish a Coast Guardsman a happy birthday and give them a hearty Bravo Zulu!

Monday Blog Oops!

It seems I wrote a bunch of blog posts on Sunday and didn't bother to post a single one for today. Here is my oops post with some random stuff so you know I am still madly making.

I went a little crazy making things with vinyl. Hand sanitizer holders were a big part of my week.

I'm nearing the end of this crochet project made with Red Heart It's a Wrap.

I'm still working on my upgraded thread rack. I don't expect this one to be a quick finish.

I cleaned off my cutting table and it will likely be clean just long enough for me to decide what mess to make next.

More Little Embroidery

When I saw this design from Designs by Little Bee I was pretty sure it would come home with me. Noting says classy like a poop holder for your hand sanitizer. The design comes in two sizes which is great!

I stitched up a couple and I think they came out pretty great!

Then, I had an idea! I thought stitching a silly monster face onto the holder would be great. I still think the idea is great even if the execution isn't so great. This one is my first try. I decided it needed some modification to the stitches before it would be ready for prime time. 

Here (on the left) is my edited design. As you can see, it isn't better than the one on the right. It isn't a loss, though,. I learned quite a bit about stitch density and what kinds of stitch fills I should and should not use on marine vinyl. Standby for my next try.

Embroidery Design - D20

I've had my embroidery machine and design software (5D Embroidery). I have played with it off and on over the years but it has frustrated me because it doesn't operate like other drawing software (such as Inkscape or GIMP). I decided I wanted to design something badly enough to struggle with the software until I got it do what I wanted.

First I went to find some appropriate art. This is one of the many images available on Game Icons.net. If you're looking for some simple vector graphics to use in game design you should really check them out. Their work is offered for free under Creative Commons.

This was my first stitch out of the design. It was too big for my purpose, but I wanted to see what it would look like.

I made some tweaks and stitched it out again. I didn't see much difference between the two, but a friend pointed out that the lower numbers we're really where they should be. I admit, I put them there as a way to make them fit. In the end I made a design decision to remove the numbers from most of the faces.

The design is a little simpler, but we all know what it supposed to be, no matter how many faces have numbers.

In the end, I think less is more. A nice project, even if it did take me almost all weekend to finish. I think after some tweaks, I might make this available on Etsy for other machine embroiderers to purchase for download. I can't be the only person that wants to make these key fobs.

This design would also work great on a custom dice bag. Check out my Etsy shop to see the bags I have available or request a custom order.

More Glitter Vinyl Projects

I was so happy when my My PunkBroidery order showed up. This is the glitter pack. It includes 24 different colors of super fun glitter vinyl. I'm ready to stitch out all sorts of glittery fun projects!

To celebrate, I stitched out the same project I've been stitching all week. another pair of sugar skulls using this great design from Designs by Little Bee embroidery. 

I promise I'm moving on to a new project in the near future. I'll be sure to share something new on Friday. 

If you see anything here that you are willing to spend your hard earned money on, drop me a line. I've added a contact widget to the scroll on the right-hand side of the page. I'll reply and we can work on creating your new favorite thing. Afterwards, I can set up an Etsy sale just for you. 

Stitching Up In The Hoop

I can't stop stitching up these great snap tab designs from Designs by Little Bee embroidery. This is the Mini Sugar Skull on a dark blue marine vinyl. 

I love these bigger Sugar Skull Snap Tabs, too. These were stitched on glitter vinyl, my favorite. I've ordered more glitter vinyl because it is just so awesome!

The Vintage Camper and that Maneki Neko are awesome, too. 

I picked up some new vinyl colors from the local fabric store. These are going to be fun, too. When the My PunkBroidery order shows up I'm going to be stitching out even more fun. 

I borrowed a friend's KAMsnap tool to finish these up. Definitely a tool I plan on adding to my tool box. I might need to pick up some swivel clasps (affiliate links) to make them more versatile!

Keep an eye on my Etsy shop for some of these to show up. If you want something I've stitched out, by all means drop me a note and I'll set up a sale for you on Etsy. 

Beauty and the Beast

I've been working on a bag pattern off and on for years.

It uses minimal hardware. The cutting is straightforward. (This means there are no pattern pieces, all the cutting is done with a rotary cutter and ruler.)

Construction is not complicated and easily accomplished in an orderly fashion. The bottom is covered in vinyl to protect those bottom corners. 

It has a zippered pocket on the back of the bag to hold you wallet for quick access. 

It has a top zipper that opens all the way. Inside it has three pockets to help you stay organized. Each of those pockets can hold my mobile phone. 

The strap is adjustable so it can be worn like a should bag or a cross-body bag. In short, it has all the features I like in an everyday bag. It is also a great way to showcase fun prints. You can see another in this post from earlier this month.

How close to a finished pattern is it? Well... right now it is a list of materials and cutting instructions. So, not very close. I will admit that I haven't made any changes to the construction or design in a couple iterations, so I guess the design phase is done.

Geeky Bag

While writing this post, I realized I made my last handbag in July 2016. It was time for a new one.

I've had this computer/electronics themed fabric hanging around for a while. I had intended on making a couple geeky knitting project bags, but decided a new purse would be way better. I grabbed my (somewhat questionable) notes on the last bag I made and got busy.

This is my own pattern, designed around the features I like in a bag and more than a few tricks I've learn along the way. I prefer a cross-body bag, with a zippered top and a zippered back pocket. It also has three interior pockets perfectly sized to hold my cellphone, a pack of tissues, and the coffee cozy I carry because the cardboard ones just aren't that great. The adjustable strap is new in this version.

This one isn't as deep as my last one, which I think is an improvement. The strap is slightly wider, as well. The vinyl bottom really makes a difference in the wear the bag can handle.

This bag is on my list to write a pattern for, but pattern writing is so much more work than bag making. Until I can make it without scribbling a dozen more notes, it isn't ready for prime-time anyway. Maybe I just need to make a few more times.

Charlotte City Tote

Swoon Patterns had a sale a few months ago and I couldn't resist. I snapped up a couple patterns including the Charlotte City Tote.

I still had some glitter vinyl from Punkbroidery left over from another bag project so I decided I would test the pattern and my vinyl sewing skills. Swoon has a great tutorial for making your own piping but I had a single package of pre-made piping that worked for this project. I did pick up enough cord to make piping for my next piped project.

The pattern is clearly written and easy to follow. If you decide to try working with vinyl, I highly recommend you get the non-stick foot for your sewing machine. Having some freezer paper on-hand to keep the vinyl from sticking to the machine bed might be a good idea, too. Lengthen the stitch-length and take it slow is the best advice.

I'm pleased with the finished bag. I have learned (yet again) that I am overly picky when it comes to my preferred handbag. I like the bag. It just isn't one I would carry in my day-to-day life.

The nitty gritty details...
Pattern: Charlotte City Tote from Swoon Patterns
Fabric: Classic Sailor Tattoo Fabric (printed on Eco Canvas) by bella-modiste available on Spoonflower
Glitter Vinyl: Gray Silver glitter vinyl roll (12" by 54") from Punkbroidery
Bag hardware: Stainless Steel hardware (square rings, D-ring and swivel snap) from Strapworks.com
All other materials are easily found at the big-box sewing/craft stores.

In the Mail Monday: Sparkle Vinyl

A couple times I'd seen some sparkle vinyl used on bags made by makers on Instagram. I finally saw a supplier for sparkle vinyl and had to buy some. Punkbroidery has quick service and I was very pleased with the time from order to shipment and the great communications. I haven't shopped around for sparkle vinyl, but the prices are well within what I'm willing to pay for sparkles.

I ordered a scrap pack, glitter swatch samples and two rolls of vinyl, one glitter and one flat. I've got a couple ideas for how to use those. I'm really glad I decided to get the swatch samples. I can easily match up colors if I want to order again. Considering the awesome (that does not come through in these photos) I see myself ordering from Punkbroidery again.