Project in Progress – Burgundy and Gray Tote Bag

Here’s my crochet project in progress. It’s going to be a bit bigger than my other 2 totes. I’m using 2 strands of yarn. I got bored with the 2 strands of gray color yarn. I changed the second strand to burgundy instead of continue using the second strand of gray.
Not sure how it will look when it’s finished, but I’m liking the colors together. So, we shall see.

Wishing you all a terrific Thursday
and a great rest of the week.


 

Another finish – Bright Tote Bag Lining

2013-brighttote
I’ve finished another project from my sewing project bag. I made a new liner for a tote bag that I made back in 2013. This Bright Tote Bag was the first big loom knit project I made. I used a Martha Stewart knitting loom. I single-crochet-chained every inch of yarn I used. It took a long while, but it was really enjoyable and worth the effort. Making this tote bag project helped me better my loom knitting skills.
The stitch pattern is what I call a ‘basket-weave’. I’ve heard it called a tile stitch and a cobblestone stitch. Doesn’t matter what it’s called, it was a fun stitch to do. I think it looks pretty good for my no-pattern first attempt at a loom knit project.
I’ve always liked the look and colors of this tote. I’m happy with the beads and oblong toggle button, both of which I sculpted out of polymer clay.
However, I never liked my open-pocket lining (lower left side of the collage-photo). Since I’ve figured out the method for setting zippers in the pockets in linings, I decided it was time to replace the lining in my old Bright Tote Bag.
It has a zipper-pocket on each side inside.
One side zipper-pocket is big enough for my 8-inch kindle fire and the other side pocket is big enough for a mobile phone and some other small stuff.
I’m ever so much happier with my old Bright Tote Bag now.

Wishing everyone a happy week of sunshine and smiles.

Finished Friday – C2C Crochet Beige Tote

I’ve finished another project from my sewing project bag. The sewing part of this project was a learning experience. I figured out techniques that I can use in future projects.beigetote-kI crocheted a tote bag, although I suppose it could be considered a handbag.
I crocheted the c2c (corner-to-corner) stitch pattern using 2 strands of 4 weight yarn, to make it sturdier to hopefully give it a long life.
My plans for this bag changed, as I went along. For the straps, I originally was going to use loom knitted icords.
By the time I finished the body of it, I changed my mind and chose to crochet wide straps using c2c. I made one long strap and looped it around the body front to back and hand stitched it together. It was half finished in the above picture.
I decided to set zippers in the pockets. It was risky for me, since I’m not very skilled at zipper setting. However, I figured out a way to set the zipper that turned out pretty decent.
The bag lining has two pockets; one pocket is deep enough for my 8 inch kindle fire and the other pocket is a good size for a mobile phone with room for other things like a comb and stuff.
I’m surprised the lining turned out as well as it did.
I used the blanket stitch to hand-sew the lining in the tote. It’s not perfect, but it’s quite okay for me.
All along, I played with the idea of either a simple flap closure or a zipper on the top. Well, I figured I’m this far into it, might as well go for it. It took me a few days to figure out how to set the zipper in the top that required only my limited skilled.
I crocheted 2 strips and hand-sewed one on each side of the zipper and then I crocheted it to my tote.
Tah-Dah! The zipper looks okay and works great.

Here’s wishing you all a weekend
full of fun and happiness.

I finished my wallet

0-clutchSurprize! I finished my wallet that I posted about 7-14-2016. It only took me a month to get back to working on it, that’s not too bad a length of time for me.

The wallet turned out okay. It’s not perfect, but it’ll be just fine for me.

I messed up by using the foam fusable lining on the main part and it made the oraganizer a bit too bulky.

Two things I didn’t care for about the pattern was:
1) Having to use the method of putting on binding where you have to hand sew the second side.
2) I didn’t like that the bottom part of the dividers wasn’t attached to the wallet base. They free float.
I remedied the free floating problem by running a line of hot glue in the bottom of each divider bottom and glued it to the wallet base. It was an easy fix.

I’m happy I bought and made the pattern. Organizer wallets come in handy.

Happy Creating!

McCall’s Fashion Accessories Pattern
M6768 Design G without the strapP1030975bc