This is a gift for my sister who celebrates her birthday in October. I just managed to get it completed together with a co-ordinating purse for inside and is now ready for packing and posting to North Wales. Catherine originally requested jewel colours and although this may not fit exactly her idea of jewel colours I feel sure that with the Navy background and bold, bright print of flowers this will be acceptable. The lining is a deep Cerise Pink which I recycled from a skirt that I no longer wear. The hardware is nickel and I used my favourite twist lock closure.

Infact, I am so pleased with the bag that I shall be buying another metre of the fabric to make a bag for myself which will co-ordinate with my Cerise Pink car coat.

Today I spent a most enjoyable time at New Threads, Weyhill Fairground Craft Centre. I set up my sewing machine in one of their units and using prepared fabric pieces was able to complete two bags. I used the same fabric combination for both bags, a charming print of school buses, bus stops, “little people” and trees in two colourways that I had bought on “sale” from Franklins in Salisbury. The same print is on either a Cream background or Blue background.

The first bag that I made was the Muti-purpose tech bag which is also ideal for use as a straightforward cross body bag but does not have quite so many pockets as the standard Cross Body Bag. I used a “silver” gromit and strap hardware of 2 nickel rectangles and a strap adjuster, plus a self-covered button fastening on the closure strap. Because of the print feel that this bag will appeal to the “younger” generation.

The second bag was that TNT Cross Body Bag. Again using the combination of printed cotton I included all the usual features. A two-tone strap with adjuster, Tabs with D rings, swivel hooks for the long strap and a twist lock. The lining is in the Cream background colourway to give a totally co-ordinated finish.

Both bags are on demonstration at New Threads in anticipation of the two workshops planned for October and November. 

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I had originally intended to make a chicken-themed bag for my sister, born in the year of the Rooster and anything related to Roosters and Chickens seemed appropriate. However, I was asked to make a bag in jewel colours eg. Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald – chickens would not cut it.

I had already prepared the pieces of fabric which was bought from Fabricland, Salisbury  and applied both fusible interfacing and fusible wadding where required. I then set the bag to one side to use as part demonstration for the CBB workshop held at Franklins.

With one thing and another I did not quite get the bag finished in the classroom but this afternoon with an hour to spare managed to get the final details completed. Here is the finished bag – all dressed up and nowhere to go! I will probably use it myself when wearing similar autumnal colours and it will also come in handy as yet another demonstration bag. Cluck, cluck – now to make the jewel-coloured bag!!

It has been a very exciting day as I hosted my first  ever Cross Body Bag sewing workshop at Franklins, Salisbury. There were 6 ladies attending and by close of business we had six completed (or very nearly completed) new bags. I thoroughly enjoyed the day although I now have a sore throat and appear to have almost lost my voice but it was worth it!

This bag design works well with a variety of fabrics, those made today were in 100% quilting cotton or linen blend. The  bags that the ladies made were diverse and each one totally covetable as you can see from the photographs above and below.

You may be thinking that this fabric is never-ending but I promise that I am now down to the last few scraps which I will use to make a scissor case and pin cushion.

For this bag I used a magnetic snap fastener which does not “interfere” with the stripes of the printed cotton. I now have three sample bags which demonstrate different methods of closure:- tuck lock, twist lock and this magnetic snap. The remaining “hardware” on the bag  has a brass finish, two D rings, two swivel clip hooks and a strap adjuster.  I used a bright Tangerine zip fastener on the reverse pocket and inside the linings are made from Cream curtain lining from my stash. The zip inside is a neutral beige.

The colours and print of the outside of the bag are very BOLD so it won’t be easy to hide in a crowd or get mislaid!

Next project on the list is to cut and part-make three bags as “Blue Peter” demonstration examples for the workshop…….