Tuesday 30 June 2015

The Ingenious Tote

Hi Everyone

Over the weekend I released my new pattern the Ingenious Tote.




The Ingenious tote pattern has a number of great features:

- The Ingenious Tote can be made in 2 sizes: LARGE (measures approximately 22” tall (including handles) x 19” wide x 8” deep); and SMALL (measures approximately 20½” tall (including handles) x 15½” wide x 5½” deep). This picture (below) gives you an idea of the difference between the sizes 

- The Ingenious Tote is made up of 10 smaller pockets, plus the main bag area - so there is a place to store everything! 

- The pockets include 2 large zip pockets, 4 small zip pockets and 4 gusset pockets with magnetic closures.



- This Ingenious tote bag pattern has instructions so that you have the added choice to make it REVERSIBLE, so if you choose to make it this way you are really getting 2 bags in 1!


- The Ingenious tote is made with really comfortable shoulder straps; in fact there are 2 styles of shoulder straps to choose from when making your bag!


- The Ingenious tote includes instructions for installing bag feet, so the base of your bag is less likely to get wet/dirty from being placed on the ground.


- Adjustable strap instructions are also included in the pattern so you can carry the bag hands free.



The Large Ingenious Tote makes a great nappy bag, beach bag, travel bag or large everyday bag. The Small Ingenious Tote makes a fabulous everyday bag with a place for everything!

Now let's have a look at my wonderful testers bags!


This is Susie's Large and reversible version.
You can follow her on FB or IG

Susie used canvas for main sides, homespun for the pocket linings & Liberty for the binding.

Susie had this to say about her tote, "LOVE IT!! The size of this one is one that I have actually been looking for, for ages! It’s the perfect bag to take to my mums as she lives far away, take on a long day drives, or long days of shopping, or to the Zoo."



This is Melisa's Small non-reversible version.
You can follow her on FB or IG

Melisa used Cath Kidston canvas for the external fabric on her bag. 


This is Danielle's Large non-reversible version.
You can follow her on FB or IG

Danielle made this one as a surprise for her friend who is a Teacher...
I'm sure she will love it - I used to be a teacher and a bag like this would have been great to carry around all my teaching stuff!


This is Kristina's Large non-reversible version.
You can follow her on FB or IG

Kristina didn't think she was keen on the binding but now she has finished the bag she loves it. She also said, "I love the size of this big bag and I think it would be great as a nappy bag and I absolutely love the side pockets".
Kristina made this bag for her sister-in-law, and is currently choosing fabric to make herself one!



This is Anna's Small reversible version.



Anna had this to say about the pattern, "I consider myself to be a confident beginner and found it satisfying to finish this bag. The pattern instructions for installing the bag bottom & bag feet were great. This is my first time installing the bag feet".  
Anna also packed her things inside her bag and couldn't believe how big the small size was, see the top right photo...looks like you can still fit more in there Anna ;)
I'm glad you got to learn something new Anna, and you have done a fabulous job!



This is Kathleen's Small reversible version.
You can find Kathleen on IG.

Kathleen said "I absolutely love the tote its a fabulous size and stands up on its own...lovely."



This is Barbara's Large non-reversible version.

On Barbara's exterior, she has added a pocket to break up the bright pink denim and on the other side she has added a plaid rectangle to highlight "Handcrafted" hardware she has used. 
Since the interior fabric was not strong enough to use as the exterior she decided not to make the bag reversible and also chose not to add the pocket flaps to her interior gusset pockets for easy access to the items inside when in use. 
Barbara also added a key fob between the small interior zip pockets.

Barbra is looking forward to making the small version in the near future.


This is Mary's Small non-reversible version.


This is Janet's Large reversible version.

This is what Janet had to say about her bag, "I love how this bag turned out! A great bag for travel with all those pockets!" I'm really glad you like it Janet!


This is Margareth's Small non-reversible version.
You can find Margareth on IG.

Don't they look great?!

If you what to make your own Ingenious Tote, you can purchase the pattern from my shop, Etsy or Craftsy.

I hope I see you creating some Ingenious Totes very soon! 
Happy Sewing...
Emma
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Friday 26 June 2015

Free Pattern Friday - 4

Hi everyone

Welcome to...


This week's great free pattern is...



This one is next on my quilt making list...
I just have to finish the other 4 I have already 1/2 started ;P

So if your into freebies, remember to check back here or on FB next Friday :D

If you'd like to submit a free pattern for me to share one Free Pattern Friday, then please email me at emma@formylittlemonster.com :)

Happy sewing!
Emma

Friday 19 June 2015

Free Pattern Friday - 3

Hi everyone

Welcome to...


This week's great free pattern is...


The Good-to-go messenger bag by two pretty poppets!
I think this one will be loved by young and old once made :)

So if your into freebies, remember to check back here or on FB next Friday :D

If you'd like to submit a free pattern for me to share one Free Pattern Friday, then please email me at emma@formylittlemonster.com :)

Happy sewing!
Emma

Tuesday 16 June 2015

Birthday swap

Hi everyone

Last year my "hexie" girls and I decided we should do a birthday swap, coz our christmas swap was just sooooo good :)

I was lucky enough to get Danielle as my partner, so I set about making something I hoped she would love...

A paper pieced sewing machine cover 
(the sewing machine paper piecing pattern was this one from Quiet play)

I designed the cover myself, using the measurements of her sewing machine - yes finding out what machine she had took a lot of stalking!

I also made sure to incorporate a pocket on the side, as I think I would find one helpful for storing little bits and pieces.  I used some fusible fleece (H630) on all the panels, and quilted the front panel in some small straight-ish lines.  I used Auriful thread in cream to sew this beauty together too. 

Danielle had some specific likes, she liked fabrics by Jennifer PaganelliJoel Dewberry.  she preferred reds, pinks, blues and greens and she liked small geometric or dusk mask designs. 

Hubby travels to the US a few times a year (for work), so I purchased the red and pink Jenny Eliza fabric (designed by Jennifer Paganelli for Joann's) thinking she wouldn't have it and would love to receive something special made from fabric she couldn't get...except her hubby also traveled to the US recently and bought her some of the SAME fabric - oh well I hope she likes what I've made her anyway.

I paired the gift with some smaller items I made just for her,  an open wide zipper pouch (my new favourite pouch to make!), made with Joel Dewberry and melly and me fabric; and a hoop organiser - and yes I used dusk mask fabric for that :) (I actually think I may have purchased the fabric from her in a destash she had a while back, but I'm not 100% sure about that ;D).


I also included a needle dome, some pretty tape, some vintage doilies (she collects them), a ric rac scarf pattern and some YUMMY chocolate ;) 

I love what I have created for her, and I now have 2 more of these machine covers on my to-do list as I really wanted to keep the one I made her ;P  So will have to make myself one or two in the near future...
Emma
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Friday 12 June 2015

Free Pattern Friday - 2

Hi everyone

Welcome to...


This week's great free pattern is...


The Trail Tote by Noodlehead :)

So if your into freebies, remember to check back here or on FB next Friday :D

If you'd like to submit a free pattern for me to share one Free Pattern Friday, then please email me at emma@formylittlemonster.com :)

Happy sewing!
Emma

Tuesday 9 June 2015

Finishing off some blocks for a swap...

Hi everyone :)

I haven't posted pictures of my finished blocks for a my hexie block swap partners in AGES...so here are some I have finished both recently and not so recently ;P

For Jacquie

For Danielle

For Kristy

For Sherrilee

I still have 3 to finish...and they are WAY overdue...so I had better get off the computer and get stitching ;)
Emma
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Friday 5 June 2015

Free Pattern Friday - 1

Hi everyone

I'm going to be sharing (over on FB) some great free patterns I have stumbled across...so why not share it here on the blog too?!

So welcome to the very 1st...


This week's great free pattern is...

(Which I have made - check it out!)

So if your into freebies, remember to check back here or on FB next Friday :D

If you'd like to submit a free pattern for me to share one Free Pattern Friday, then please email me at emma@formylittlemonster.com :)

Happy sewing!
Emma
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Tuesday 2 June 2015

Superhero obsessed...

Hi everyone

T is at that age where he is superhero obsessed!  It must be a 3yr old thing ;P

Anyway, we were out shopping one day and we saw a superhero t-shirt in the ladies department at Kmart.  T said I just HAD to get it, we didn't have time to try it on, so I purchased it thinking I would bring it back if it looked bad.  We got home and I tried it on, and it just wasn't for me...but before I packed it back up to take back, I had a brain wave...chop it up and make T some t-shirts that he will LOVE!

And that is just what I did :)


Now if your observant you will notice that I have managed to make T an extra t-shirt...yep that is a batman one you spy!  I made it from scraps from the batman hat I made him last summer.

He was ecstatic and wore his new Dare Devil one the very day I finished them, that made one mama very happy :)
Emma