Finish-a-long 2019 – Q1, finish 4

The fourth and final finish from my from my Finish-a-long list are some reusable “plastic” bags. I decided to make these as similar to plastic bags as possible so they won’t attract too much attention at the checkout. Looking at the various types of bags in the kitchen drawer, I went for a tie handle design as this will make it easier to keep items in the bag.
 

I used an existing bag as a starting point but adapted the size slightly to fit the fabric. French seams were used so that raw edges were enclosed and pleats/folds added as on the original plastic bag.

 
I hope to make a few more of these and will try to take photos of each stage so I can share it as tutorial.


(For 2019, I am trialling a version of this website on WordPress to see if it is more mobile-friendly for commenting and posting. The WordPress version of this post is available here.)

Finish-a-long 2019 – Q1, finish 3

In a change from quilts, the third finish from my Finish-a-long list is something for me to wear. I got a remnant of jersey houndstooth fabric in a destash at the Leeds MQG meeting and wanted to make a simple skirt with it.

 
I could try to sound impressive and call it a self-drafted pattern, but really it was just a matter of making tube of fabric to my hip measurement, adding darts at the front and back to give some shaping at the waist and using elastic to hold it in place. The trickiest part was trying to determine how to pattern match on the back seam and keep the hip measurement vaguely correct.

Skirt Back

Spot the seam!

I kept putting off this project as it would involve getting out the overlocker but once I had it set up alongside my sewing machine, it didn’t take long to stitch the seam and darts on the machine and then use the overlocker to neaten the seam allowances, the hem edge and to attach the elastic. I stitched the hem by hand as the stitches could be hidden amongst the overlocking.

The skirt was made on Sunday afternoon and worn into work on Monday morning.

(For 2019, I am trialling a version of this website on WordPress to see if it is more mobile-friendly for commenting and posting. The WordPress version of this post is available here.)

Finish-a-long 2019 – Q1, finish 2

There has been quite a bit of sewing, but not a lot of blogging, for my Finish-a-long list. Following on from the quick finish of an ironing mat (which is proving very useful), here is my next finish – the animal quilt for my great nephew.

This is simple two layer quilt – a pieced top and a fleece backing – as it makes it easier to wash and dry. Any shrinkage of the top on washing results in a slightly puffed effect on the back which I think is a bonus.

The binding is fully machine stitched so that it will withstand some wear, but hopefully not, tear.
 

I was spurred on to get this quilt finished not only for Finish-a-long, but also because it has to be sent to Ireland and I didn’t want it caught in any post and customs confusion caused by Brexit, but it looks as though I needn’t have rushed for that reason.

(For 2019, I am trialling a version of this website on WordPress to see if it is more mobile-friendly for commenting and posting. The WordPress version of this post is available here.)