Work In Progress Wednesday ~ Modern Hexagon Handbag

RJR Fabrics sent me the loveliest bundle of fabric - the new line from Amy Barickman "Vintage Modern Centennial Collection" 

It is a sewing inspired fabric with vintage images and some great text and geometric prints.  It is available in stores in September '15.

I thought it would be perfect in my new design ~ the Modern Hexagon Handbag.

The line comes in a turquoise/fuschia color way and a black/cream/blue gray color way.

I decided to add a thicker stabilizer - a foam stabilizer that adds a lot of body and a bit of thickness.  It is from Pellon ~ Pellon Flex foam, and I purchased it at my local Joann fabric store.  

If you prefer a bag that stands up by itself and you want to add foam stabilizer to yours, cut 2 pieces 1/4" beyond the "Fold Line" on the LINING pattern piece.  Baste the stabilizer  to the back of the interfaced front panels with a 1/4" basting stitch.  Cut 1 piece of stabilizer from the GUSSET Pattern piece.  Baste to the Outside gusset with a 1/4" basting stitch.
Continue sewing as per the instructions.

Be sure to head on over to Freshly Pieced for some inspiring Work In Progress Projects!

Happy Sewing!

xo

Charise

Kettle's On! ~ My stop on the Farm Girl Vintage Sew Along

Hello and Happy Friday.    Farm Girl Friday that is : )

I am excited to share my block from the new book by Lori Holt of a Bee in my Bonnet, "Farm Girl Vintage".

The book is fantastic and has 45 adorable quilt blocks and patterns for quilts,
potholders and table toppers.

Each block has a pattern for a 6" or 12" block.

Lori shares her farm girl past with adorable pics of her family
growing up on a farm in Utah.

Check out this fun video from the Fat Quarter Shop for a clever way to bind a potholder using backing fabric [HERE]

I made the Kettle's On! block and chose an aqua, red and pink theme.

The blocks are labeled alphabetically so I used my Alphabitties to mark all the pieces.

I love the way they coordinate with the fabrics : )

I thought My Kettles On block would make a perfect little purse and even had the red handles in my stash!

Be sure to check out the other bloggers and their blocks and projects.  

You can find the schedule [HERE]

If you Instagram, check out the hashtag #FarmGirlFridays for more inspiring creations.

Happy Sewing!

xo

Charise

The Modern Hexagon Handbag - a New Pattern!

I am so happy to announce a new handbag pattern that I designed ~ The Modern Hexagon Handbag!
You can find the pattern as a PDF download [HERE]

The design is a hexagon created with Six triangles, stitched in such a way that you will get a perfect

point in the middle!  I love the wooden handles and the fussy cut motifs.
The purse is a beginner pattern for sewists with some sewing experience.

The pattern comes in two sizes - the Small Handbag is a perfect smaller handbag  -  which fits all your essentials including an iPad mini.

The Large Handbag is a shopper size - perfect for sewing and knitting projects or shopping.
I actually like a big purse for my everyday purse : )

The Apple Fabric is from Cotton + Steel.  You can find it at PinkCastleFabrics.com [HERE]

The text print is a Kei Japanese fabric from Sew Me A Song on Etsy [HERE]

I purchased the text print in every color way.  It is such a versatile print!

This version uses a print from Melody Miller by Kokka called "Ruby Star Vinyl" which you can find at Sew Me a Song [HERE]

The handbag has a side gusset for extra roominess and a nice shape
as well as an inside pocket.

This version uses the same text print in a gorgeous mustard yellow with a Pear Print from

Cosmo Textiles in the pattern, “Scandinavian Woods”.

Have a lovely day!

xo

Charise

What is a girl to do when it is hot outside? Turn up the fan and Sew!!!

Happy 4th of July to all my U.S. North American friends.  I hope you had a good one!

It has been unseasonably hot here in the Pacific Northwest - in the 90's!   So what does a girl do when it is too warm to go outside (well, if I'm not at the beach with my rascal boys!)  Why sew, of course : )

I have always loved Pucci prints and when I received this fabric in a Girl Charlee Knit Fix assortment  I knew a dress was in order!  To clarify, Girl Charlee Fabrics sells a special assortment of 2 yard cuts of knit fabric - a surprise bag every month.  Lets just say, I need to be sewing up all that knit fabric I've ordered : )

If you want to see some vintage Pucci prints, click [HERE]

The pattern is Simplicity 1804.  I lengthened the shortest version to make more of a midi length.

A versatile pattern,  I can see wearing it to the beach as a swim suit cover up or it can be dressed up for a night out!

Happy Sewing!

xo

Charise