The Sewing Annexe

miffy257

prudent_princess wrote: »

This is brilliant: http://frugalandthriving.com.au/2011/45-plus-some-awesome-bag-tutorials-revisited/

That site is gorgeous don't think I'll ever buy another handbag. I was very naughty last night and looked at fabric '!!!!!!' on the internet. Ended up buying a jelly roll to make a quilt, haven't finished the first one yet and don't really have the time to do any more sewing than I'm doing. Awww well it will keep until I retire, fabric doesn't go off:rotfl:

prudent_princess

miffy257 wrote: »

That site is gorgeous don't think I'll ever buy another handbag. I was very naughty last night and looked at fabric '!!!!!!' on the internet. Ended up buying a jelly roll to make a quilt, haven't finished the first one yet and don't really have the time to do any more sewing than I'm doing. Awww well it will keep until I retire, fabric doesn't go off:rotfl:

I got an excited feeling in my tummy when I saw that site! Makes me feel like making bags, bags and more bags!

I do that! Buy some fabric for a new project before I have finished other projects!! But as you say, fabric doesn't go off!
Mind you, it does go out of fashion!!

Diflower

Greenbuzby wrote: »

I have been making lots of bags as they make great presents and don't take too long to make. I found buying material quite expensive though, so have resorted to buying skirts in charity shops and cutting them up! Have had really great results and it's so much cheaper. A while ago I wanted some purple cord and it was £15 metre in the sewing shop, so I just went along to the charity shop and bought myself a cord skirt for £2 and made a bag out of that instead.

Also check the racks with duvet covers & curtains in charity shops, they're big bits of material and nice and thick for bags. I've made 7 or 8 bags from one huge heavy linen door curtain (unused) that cost a fiver, some lined with pretty flowered curtain material.
Often there will be actual pieces of material too, upholstery but also dress material - I'm deciding what to do with 2 metres of beautiful printed silk (£2!) and a skirt length of lovely tweed. One of our local CS's currently has quite a lot of bits of velvet, I'm just a bit hesitant as it can't be washed - and I'm not really sure what I'd do with it!

prudent_princess

Question for every-body:
So what's the first thing you ever made on your sewing machine?

I made a drawstring bag to put all my rags in.
Made from an old skirt of mine...

Greenbuzby

Thanks for the link prudent princess - lots of nice looking bags there! And thanks Diflower for the tips. :T On the subject of what I first made I think it was an apron back at school a long time ago.

Florenceem

prudent_princess wrote: »

Question for every-body:
So what's the first thing you ever made on your sewing machine?

I made a drawstring bag to put all my rags in.
Made from an old skirt of mine...

I can't remember - it was 50 years ago!

prudent_princess

Florenceem wrote: »

I can't remember - it was 50 years ago!

LOL! Obviously you're not a trainee sewer like me then!

miffy257

The first thing I ever made on a machine (my mum's old Singer) was a black and white check shift dress and matching headscarf. I was about 12 at the time , so that makes it about 46 years ago:eek:Then made a lot of clothes when I first married, then simple curtains and clothes when I had my children. I tended to sew in fits and starts but am now really keen to do a lot more. I just need to win the lottery so I can give up work and concentrate on sewing:rotfl:
Happy sewing all.:)

hakeber

the first thing i made was when my friend showed me how to use my machine 7 years ago i made my son a tanktop out of an old stripey velour T-shirt ( never looked back today i had to make a second pair of semaphore flags as my boys are learning to signal to each other) I had used my only its of red and yellow felt on the first pair but my lovely mum went to the shop to buy 2 more sheets.
I use large chopsticks from the chinese supermarket (40p for several pairs) and fabric glue the felt to the stick.
bek

mikedeaders

Hi all, I have decided to buy a sewing machine I'd like to make bags, gifts and sock animals (I got the book for Christmas) What machine should I be looking for the one I have been looking at is the Toyota JFS21 or JSA21 think it’s the same machine it's about £100, unless you know where it is cheaper.I like this one because it can sew denim and leather. Should I go for new or second hand. What makes/model should I be looking for, please help I don't know what I'm doing. Thanks Mike