The Sewing Room

shannor

Hart44 - I have that bag pattern and have some fabric ready to cut out. But not sure which interfacing to buy, can you tell me which you use?

Sheila

Kaz2904

I got out all of my cottons earlier on to start sorting ready for my quilt top. I'm not that happy with the mix though. Where do you all get your online fabrics from? I'm after a pale colour white or cream would be best but I'm quite happy for it to have a pale pattern in it. I have some lovely fabrics but my local fabric shop is so expensive and he doesn't have a remnants bin or I would raid that all the time.
I did have a look on ebay ut can't seem to find any yardage which isn't really expensive .
I'm off to have a look at abakan to see what their prices are like but would welcome any tips . TIA.

Ailsb

jennyjelly wrote: »

Ailsb, can't help with the mag but I bought this book which I would really recommend, and when you look at the price of mags it doesn't cost much more!

Looks interesting and you are right the price isn't much more than a mag. Will have a good look later - hubby moaning about me being on pc

hmo

hi everyone hope you are all ok, ive just had to try and catch up as ive been busy all day so not been able to get on and read and post.

hart hope you are feeling ok, you will soon be up and ruuning again.

jennynoo with regards to the needle threader its up to you, i know i couldnt be without this feature on my machine.

when i started sewing last year i bought a brother LS2125 (i think it was from tj hughes) it was a good machine but striaght away i knew i couldnt see properly to thread the needle, i also didnt like the 4 step button hole i couldnt get the sides to line up, maybe if i had practised more i would have got it in the end i dont know.

anyway after only having the machine about 2 weeks i sold it and bought myself the Brother MS6NTelectronic its more advanced and has loads of stitches ive not used and may never but i love it.

i dont use a presser foot with it infact ive never unwrapped it, it has a start and stop button, i also like that you can choose wether to have the needle in the up or down position when you stop sewing.

it has the needle threader which is a godsend as my eyes are getting worse for closeup stuff with age.

i love how all i have to do for a button hole is put a button into the special foot and hit go and it makes my buttonhole the exact size everytime for any size button.

it has a simple switch to drop the feed dogs, this is great when sewing on buttons and if you want to do free hand quilting.

these are just the things i wanted everyone is different, i would make a list of things you want as standard and things that you would like and then go for a machine thats within your budget.

as i said the one on the craft chanel looks a good basic machine that would handle many types of fabric and for the small extra cost i would get it with the needle threader, also you can sporead the cost if you like you dont have to. and its free p&p at the moment until saturday i think

hmo

Ailsb wrote: »

Hart44 - do you use a purchased pattern for your bags, make them up yourself or follow an online pattern/blog. I love this last bag, would be great for my neice who is a teacher and has to carry books back and forth to school for marking.

Saw a magazine yesterday at Hobbycraft - Popular Patchword Handbag Special. Unfortunately it was sealed so I couldn't look inside it. Has any one got a copy? If so is it worth buying for the different bags or are the patterns very similar and all just tote bags?

Any help is much appreciated.

do you have a shop called the works near you i bought a book in there a month or so ago called sew many bags sew little time for 2.99 its still available on the net alot more and its has all sorts of bags and instructions

http://www.dunelm-mill.com/shop/sew-many-bags-sew-little-time-book-85205

hmo

Kaz2904 wrote: »

I got out all of my cottons earlier on to start sorting ready for my quilt top. I'm not that happy with the mix though. Where do you all get your online fabrics from? I'm after a pale colour white or cream would be best but I'm quite happy for it to have a pale pattern in it. I have some lovely fabrics but my local fabric shop is so expensive and he doesn't have a remnants bin or I would raid that all the time.
I did have a look on ebay ut can't seem to find any yardage which isn't really expensive .
I'm off to have a look at abakan to see what their prices are like but would welcome any tips . TIA.

for plain fabric what about buying sheets and cut them up.

i made a duvet into two roman blinds for my dd room and used balckout lining on them to hold there shape.

bedding can be bought very reasonably now a days you could even used pattern bedding

hart44

Ailsb wrote: »

Hart44 - do you use a purchased pattern for your bags, make them up yourself or follow an online pattern/blog. I love this last bag, would be great for my neice who is a teacher and has to carry books back and forth to school for marking.

Saw a magazine yesterday at Hobbycraft - Popular Patchword Handbag Special. Unfortunately it was sealed so I couldn't look inside it. Has any one got a copy? If so is it worth buying for the different bags or are the patterns very similar and all just tote bags?

Any help is much appreciated.

Good morning Ailsb and fellow sewers
I brought that bag pattern from this blogger http://www.romanianquiltstudio.com/index.htm

You can buy this bag on it's own or if you buy both bags she has you also get the pattern for the mini version the instructions are very clear and easy to follow . She also sends you a free quilting pattern ever moth if you sign up to her emails
I works out about £11 for all the bags.

I have cut out the Belle bag ready to put together when my hand is better for my Aunt, she wants a bag for work but wants a long handle to go over her body, the Belle bag can be made with handles like that or in the middle like a shopper and it still has the front pockets which she needs

I use heavy iron on interfacing for this bag but with the denim ones I used medium as the fabric was heavy enough to get away with it

I have the Patchwork bag mag as I have just subscribed to the Patchwork mag and they sent me the special before it was avilable in the shops, it is very good and I can't wait to make the bags in it

hmo I too buy white, cream and black sheets for lining my bags or if I need a plain fabric I try to get them from CS's or when they are on sale

jenny love the look of the bag book :j

PootleFlump_3

Ailsb I would highly recommend Lisas book The Bag Making Bible if you looking for loads of different bags to make. She has a fab blog too.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bag-Making-Bible-Complete-Customizing/dp/071533624X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1305182039&sr=1-1

Mooloo, good luck with your venture. Sounds great!

irishgirl62

Good morning, been busy, no sewing for a couple of days :-( got my new car on Tuesday, which was a relief as my other one was on its last legs! My ex hubby friend mother was selling the car and its only got 5000 miles on it and not been used for 3 years! :j so it cleaned me out I had to sell my embroidery sewing machine to partly fund it:(

I managed to buy embroidery anglaise fabric and a gingham check fabric with daisies to make two summer dresses, I bought a pattern online and it had 200 pages to print out!! :eek: first time I ever bought downloadable pattern!!

Hart... hope you are feeling better and resting that hand!

I would love to give making handbags a go some day.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

PootleFlump wrote: »

Ailsb I would highly recommend Lisas book The Bag Making Bible if you looking for loads of different bags to make. She has a fab blog too.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bag-Making-Bible-Complete-Customizing/dp/071533624X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1305182039&sr=1-1

Mooloo, good luck with your venture. Sounds great!

thanks, I like that book, think i might treat myself:D

Mooloo, good luck, if you need any help with your business plan, or any general info, i am only a PM away.....