Santa Delivered!!!

I got a new sewing machine from my sweet hubs!

The Janome Magnolia 7318, I think it's the perfect machine for me to learn on and to grow with me too.

We do gift exchange on Christmas Eve in my family, so we also went out to mom & dad's- I gave my mom the tree skirt and... let's just say she was pretty touched. :) It made me so happy to finally get to give it to her. I'll get pics of the finished project soon! :)

ACK I can't wait to start sewing on this little beauty, it is so beautiful!!

Buttercup Bag, improvements I've made & some how-to's!

*First, I was using quilting weight fabric for the bags I had made and I just felt like they were pretty floppy & flimsy. So this time, I used lightweight fusible webbing and some lightweight muslin to line the BAG LINING, and the OUTER TOP portion of the bag. I left the OUTER BOTTOM free of interfacing so it could still be slouchy and puffed. I'm going to get some fusible interfacing instead of making my own, but if you don't have fusible interfacing, then this little trick works just as well. You could also just cut a lining, sew that onto the lining fabric back, and THEN piece the bag together. If that makes sense... haha

Fabric & fusible webbing are cut same size - when I do this next,
I'm going to cut the webbing 1/4 inch smaller on all sides just like I did with the muslin

Ironed on

Peeling off the backing

With the (really poorly cut, but it doesn't matter) muslin lining. This is why next time I'll cut the webbing smaller, because as I ironed on the muslin the stickiness of the webbing got on my iron from the edges... boo.

Did it to the top outers too

All lined, perfect weight now!

What it will look like put together with the bottom outer attached.

*Now, how to apply the magnetic snaps. This is the easy way to do it, so your snaps line up from the get-go! (My first time using them I had to redo the placement and it was a pain in the rear!)

Using same iron-on fusible webbing, and a scrap of canvas, apply the reinforcement per the patterns directions.
Do this to both pieces of lining.

Line them up right sides facing.
Feel through the top layer to make sure they are lined up exactly centered with each other.

Take the snap and press the "legs" into the canvas to make a little indentation
This is where you'll cut for the snaps to go through.
Cut through all layers with an X-Acto knife or sharp scissors. Keep it small cuts, just big enough for the snap legs.

Legs through

Disc on

Legs folded over
Do this to both sides

Voila!

*Another tip- notch the curves so the bag lays nicely. Do this to the lining AND to the bag outer. Thank you Make it & Love it for that tip!

Notch carefully, don't cut into the seam!

The (almost) finished product!! My 3rd Buttercup Bag, and I'm most happy with this one so far. The interfacing was perfect, I am so happy I didn't line the bottom outer portion, it is perfect how it is! :) I realized after I finished this bag that I never added a pocket, but I think for a clutch it's just fine not having a pocket. A coin purse would be a perfect addition.

The fabric is from Bliss by Bonnie & Camille for Moda

I left this bag plain, with no strap.
But... don't you think it needs a little something... MORE?!

SO, I learned to make some fabric rosettes (tutorial HERE). I used muslin, and I burned the tar out of my fingers with the hot glue gun BUT I think it was worth it, don't you? :) 

PS Rach says she loves it! :) Now, I need one for myself!! :) Again, the Buttercup Bag pattern is Made by Rae, found HERE for FREE!

Panic button

Got the tree skirt back today- the quilting is GORGEOUS... now binding... insert panic mode. No idea what I'm doing and if ever I needed mom's help it is RIGHT NOW!

There are a few different methods and I'm going to have to just take a shot in the dark I think!! SCARY!

Clover brand magnetic bag closures

I found these babies at a quilt shop here in town. I hadn't thought to look there before, since she focuses mainly on quilting, but then I remembered seeing some handmade bags hanging last time I was in, so maybe-just-maybe she'd have the snaps I needed for those Buttercup bags! AND... she did! I had done my research online and found many people saying Clover brand snaps were the best. I found them on Amazon.com for over $7 a piece... crazy since at the quilt shop I got them for $3.25 each. Awesome. They were super easy to install. Love 'em. :) (Edited to add: I tore apart Heather's purse and added a snap to it last night. I also made a new strap for it, using mom's sewing machine- what a dream!! I seriously hope Santa got the memo: BRING CARLY A NEW MACHINE! {A Janome? Husqvarna? Something classy, please!})




Upcoming projects... Crayon roll for a friends baby (who's turning 2), the binding for the tree skirt, and a few more purses! I'm mixing up the Buttercup pattern a little bit. It gets easier each time... I made one for my mom the other day, but I forgot to get pics of it. It's so cute! :)

Self-binding Baby Blanket

I recently learned to make self-binding baby blankets. I've made several now, and have recognized some mistakes I'd made initially that I've corrected now- minor things. Anyway, this is the first one I made a couple months ago for my friend's baby #2. :)

I used fabric I'd had on hand for awhile, saving it for a sweet boy to whip up a blankie for. It is from Walmart, and was $2/yard. I used THIS tutorial, which was pretty easy to follow but after I started a second blankie the same way I found a few other tutorials that helped solve a few "issues" I was having with the first one. Just google self-binding baby blanket tutorial (I didn't save the links, unfortunately.)

This was definitely an under $10 project, and took much less than a day to make (more like, 2 hours). :)

My first Buttercup Bag!

I used City Girl by Kitty Yoshida for Benartex, which I had left over from
a project I'd made for Stella when she was born. Such cute fabric!
I think it's discontinued now, otherwise I'd buy a bunch more!

I haven't actually sewn on the strap yet, it's held on with pins, haha
I love the little pocket inside.

It went together SUPER fast, and I'm really happy with it. Plus, it was SO fun to make! I'll definitely be making more of these babies. There were a few difficult parts, just things I had never done before, but it was fun to have a challenge and to figure it out. I'm loving these little projects that are pushing me and challenging me, it's just so fun to be doing something like this. Anyway, the craft store in town that usually carries the magnetic snaps was totally out and I couldn't find a good substitute, so I just made this one without any kind of closure. I can see how the closure would be super handy, so I'm looking online for good prices and free shipping. :)

It's a free pattern, you can download the .pdf here

Attempting the Buttercup Bag...

Free pattern, and image source, HERE 

Yep, I'm crazy. I am making this handbag for my sister in law for Christmas. Have seen it on several blogs saying how easy and quickly it went together- hope I have the same experience. I've never constructed a bag before... Wish me luck! :)