Completed - The Panel Bag

I've been doing a spot of pattern testing, and...

Ta-Daaaa!

 When it comes to bags I am a complete beginner. In fact, when it comes to sewing, I'm still a novice.  I have never made a bag before and would never have attempted one with a lining and a base! I have only ever sewn pleats once (and I'm not sure little ones on a pocket really count), I have never inserted a zip pocket or compartment pockets in a bag lining before, I have never used O-rings. And, I have never used one of Nikki's patterns before. I was more than a little apprehensive.

But look:

 Pleats!

O-Rings!

Zipped pocket!

Compartment pocket!

I made the bag completely from my stash, using a pretty bird fabric from Ikea, some black embroidered suede left over from my first attempt at a skirt (what was I thinking?), and some pretty paisley polycotton  I don't even remember buying!

I can't say enough great things about Nikki's pattern and instructions. The level of detail in the pattern made it possible for me to do some scary things I've never done before, simply by following Nikki's well written instructions.

Of course, no matter how fabulously well put together a pattern is, we all still love a good sewing mishap now, don't we? 

Can you spot what's wrong with this picture?

No? Can't see the problem? 

Does this help? 

Yes, it's always a good tip to have the O-Ring inside the tab before stitching the tab closed. Doh!

I can't wait to try another of Nikki's patterns, and if you haven't tried one, give it a go, I bet you'll love it!

Drawstring bag from a skirt

Today I whipped up a little thrifted drawstring bag for my daughter's tap shoes.
I found this gorgeous skirt at my local op shop recently for 50c and I thought the fabric was so pretty it would be just right for a little dance shoes bag.

Loosely inspired by this tutorial I simply cut a rectangle of fabric from the middle of the skirt making sure to include the pretty ruffles (4 pieces of fabric including the lining). I turned and sewed a simple casing along the top edge, turned it all right sides together and stitched around it! I then used a scrap of ribbon from my stash for the drawstring. So simple and pretty!

Did you miss me?

Hello lovely Bloggy friends, I'm back! I have been lost at sea for the last couple of weeks, drowning in an ocean of ballet classes, family birthdays, working bees, immunisation schedules, a family member's health crisis, daily readers, renovation plans, a new baby cousin, meal plans, kinder orientation, earth moving contractors, tennis lessons and all the other madness that makes up my daily life!

Recent creativity at Chateau Craft Gypsy: not much! (unless you count my creativity in cramming scheduling at least 8 days worth of activities for 3 children into each week). I still haven't started finished the safety vests for kinder, my granny square is still in a bag awaiting some attention, but I did manage to throw together this last minute library bag for a dear little girl's 4th birthday last week. 

And I am working on another fun little project with a bloggy friend which we will be announcing very soon, stay tuned for that!

Library Bag - Blogtober day 15

Well, after playing 20 (million) questions for most of yesterday, I finally managed to find an hour to throw together another lined drawstring bag, this one is a library bag for my daughter to use at school.
She chose the fabrics herself - pretty funky hey?

You can still be tough and carry your stuff - Blogtoberfest Day 6

Finished another drawstring bag tonight, this one is for my 4 year old son. 

The little man chose the fabric himself and proudly showed it to his dad last week after our outing to Spotlight. The bloke who lives at my place (who was hoping, I think, for something less...well...polka-dot-ish) rose to the occasion, nodded sagely and said "Good idea having a bag like that Son. So you can still be tough, and carry your stuff."  Much to my amusement, the little man has been repeating the phrase ever since.

Just scraped in for day 6 of Blogtoberfest...I almost needed a late pass!

Blogtoberfest day 3 - Drawstring bag

Today I made this great little lined drawstring bag, following this tutorial. It was easy-peasy, and turned out really well! It will make a great library bag, toy bag, or pyjama bag.

I'm making one for each of the kids, they picked out their fabrics last week. This was my practice one (having never made a bag before) so I used this great fabric from a doona cover I thrifted at my local op shop for $1! The cover was reversible, so I had two coordinating fabrics to use, stripes for the outer, and floral for the lining.

Also, you should pop over to Punky & Me and check out Victoria's Best of the Fest giveaway. It's a great way to find out what you should check out  in Blogtober, since there are waaaaay too many fab finds going on at the moment, it's crazy!

And my find for today is this fabulous idea by Kirsty at Kootoyoo - check it out!