Sewing

Patterns, Techniques, Articles, Blogs, and other resources to learn how to sew

Free pattern: City Tote handbag

by 7 Comments

Martina from Confessions of a Sewing Addict is searching for the perfect handmade bag, and is creating a series of blog posts detailing her attempts at making different styles.  The City Tote is the second handbag style in the series.  I love the little scarf tied around one of the handles!  Get the scoop about this bag and download a free pattern.

She’s also giving away the bag she made to a lucky reader.  Deadline is Thursday, February 25, 2010.  See her blog for entry details.

[photo from Confessions of a Sewing Addict]

[tags]sewing, tutorial, pattern, handbag, bag, purse, tote, pocketbook[/tags]

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Comments

  3. Would love to make this purse. Very cute, but can’t read whatever language it’s written in. Is is in English anywhere?!!!!!

    Reply

  5. What are the bag dimensions? I printed the pattern, but I don’t know how much I need to enlarge the pattern pieces?

    Reply

    • I don’t know what the actual dimensions of the finished bag are, but unless the directions tell you to enlarge the pattern I would assume you would just print at 100% size. There are some pieces that are bigger than a standard ppiece of paper and you’ll need to tape them together, but those places are noted in the pattern.

      Reply

Have you read?

Learn All About Sewing Velvet Fabric

 

I’m always tempted by the pretty velvets at the fabric store.  So much texture!  And the way the fibers catch the light!  But sewing on velvet is trickier than you’d think.  That nap that lends beautiful texture also likes to slip and crawl.  That nap can also spell disaster if you cut a piece the wrong direction.  That isn’t to say you shouldn’t use buy that velvet and sew it into something gorgeous, you just need to go into your velvet sewing project prepared.  And Melissa at Melly Sews has a post that takes you step by step through sewing on velvet. 

Velvet is such a luscious fabric, especially for winter sewing projects.  Of course there are velvet Christmas sewing projects – stockings, tree skirts, santa hats – but velvet is beautiful for all winter.  Think of all the gorgeous velvet dresses, evening bags, hair accessories, even pillows and other home décor that you see all winter long. 

Melly Sews’ post gives you the tips and tricks you need to know in order for your velvet sewing project to end up a success.  There are types of projects better suited for velvets, and kinds of projects to avoid.  She describes the different types of velvet available.  And she also tells the best way to lay out and cut your pattern pieces from velvet fabric.  Her tutorial also covers marking, pressing, and of course sewing that beautiful fabric.  There’s also a video included in case that’s your preferred method for learning.

Head over to Melly Sews to learn how to sew on velvet fabric. 

And if you want to learn more about that lovely blue velvet dress shown, she has a post that tells more about it including 2 ways to style it depending on if you want to be more dressy or more casual.

[photo credit: Melly Sews]

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