Chequered Skirt 112 Burda 5 2019

Just a few modeled photos of the chequered skirt #112 Burda 5 / 2019, which I blogged here, the denim backpack - notice that I added a small leather "Handmade" label and changed the string with denim string, blogged here, the gradient necklace, blogged here and the earrings, blogged here:

Isn't it the perfect spring outfit! If only we weren't under quarantine :(

Denim Backpack

My latest make and I am very, very happy with it - a denim backpack. For this make I used parts out of five different pairs of old jeans and a very clear and easy to follow youtube tutorial.

The backpack is about 30 cm high and 25 cm wide, with three pockets on the outside (each having a smaller pocket on top) and an internal zippered pocket on the inside.

Two denim straps with D-rings and 3-glides and a denim handle:

My daughter asked for some color and I added a flower from the facing cotton fabric. I secured the ends of the flower with transparent nail polish and glued it to the pocket. No idea how it will fare in the laundry.

One thing I intend to change is the red string. I intended to buy another string, but I've reached the conclusion that these plastic strings cheapen the look of the backpack, so I intend to make a denim string these days.

I am especially proud of my rivets - don't they look professional!

My first zippered pocket! It turned out not so difficult to make it and I am glad I made it the difficult way - my previous backpacks and bags had simple pockets. To make the backpack more sturdy, the bottom of the lining is also out of denim with fusible.

I'm looking forward to the end of the quarantine, so that we'll be able to go out again and use our new makes :)

Blouse 101 Burda 3 2020

A few modeled pictures of my linen gauze blouse. This is the second version of this pattern I did this spring. The first was a not very much loved cotton one for my daughter, which was sort of a toile for my own linen version. I love very much the two distinguishing details of the pattern - the bishop sleeves and the butterfly at the back.

The blouse is designed for thin knits, but I believe a thin woven like my linen gauze works just fine. I would still like to try it in a knit fabric one day.

As my fabric is very thin and loosely woven, I made all of my seams French seams, even the seams, attaching the sleeves to the body, and for the double layer butterfly element of the back I applied the methods used for yoked shirts, enclosing all fabric ends inside the double layers.

And a sneak peak to my latest make - a new denim backpack for Gaby. It needs a yellow string, but the red one I had available at home will do for now.

London Bucket Bag

Soon after I finished Gaby's backpack with roses I came upon a London themed canvas fabric and I grabbed 0.5 m to make another bag. After her two months' stay at Cambridge, with a two days' visit to London, Gaby came home in love with the UK and I knew she would appreciate the colorful fabric.

My initial idea was to use the same pattern I had used for the roses backpack, but I waited for the inspiration to sew and for some feedback from the first backpack. And then I came upon this convertible backpack - crossbody - shoulder bag pattern and I was on fire. I ran downtown, found the necessary hardware  (d-rings, tri-glide and swivel hooks) and some webbing for the strap and I got sewing.

My bag is a bit smaller than the one in the video, as I had only 0.5 m fabric and I designed it so that I used every millimeter of it. I made the outer pockets lined and the inner bucket is more sturdier as  for the bottom and the inner pockets I used wadding, sandwiched between two layers of lining.

The bag has three d-rings - two at the top and one at the bottom of the back side, which allow it to be converted from a backpack to a shoulder bag

or a crossover bag.

Very easy and roomy bucket bag pattern, I highly recommend it!

Backpack Full Of Roses

My latest sewing project - a light city backpack for Gaby. I made it following this excellent youtube tutorial, which I highly recommend:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqztCGuv8wg&t=20s&list=WL&index=18

For my backpack I used heavy cotton textile for the outer layer and ranforce cotton for the lining. I also reinforced the outer parts of the bag with fusible.

The model is simple, no bells and whistles, just a bag with lining, big enough for a few notebooks,   books and a purse:

 There's one big pocket for keys or a wallet, or maybe a phone:

It closes with a string and a magnetic clasp

And it also has a big enough handle to be carried around by hand, if needed:

Autumn is here, the school year began on September 15th for Alex and this week on October 1st was the start for the new academic year for Gaby. I'm not sure if this mostly white backpack will be suitable for her university routine, but it looks like a perfect bag for summer city walks. And I'm planning another backpack, using some old black jeans, I love recycling old jeans!