Chickadee purse

I usually just name my purses after the person they were made for. But, this one is a surprise and just in case, I decided I better come up with another name. Chickadees are kind of black and white like this purse so...

Well actually, this exact purse is not for someone else, it is for me. Every time I come up with a new design I have to try it out first to make sure it comes out how I am envisioning it. The second time is always better because I figure out what I should do to make it better. So, I will be beta testing this one.

This time I used rings to connect the handle.

It is lined with satin, has a magnetic snap closure and a decorative silver button.

Laura bag baseball style

This was a special request for a co-worker who needed a bag to take to her son's baseball games that would hold the score book.

I followed the same basic pattern that I made up for the Laura bag with a few adjustments. This is the inside of the bag. The magnetic snap is a change as well as the cell phone pocket (patch pocket).

Another change is the addition of a zipper pocket on the other side of the inside. It is a little lower than I meant to make it, but I guess it still works.

Although a button was not really necessary, I couldn't resist these buttons. The baseball and bat are actually two separate buttons, but I just sewed them on right next to each other.

Here is one final picture so you can see the scale.

Dishcloth 4 of 26

The plan continues with

4) Lace and Fans:

The plan is working! I was able to do this with very little pattern assistance after I did the pattern once. Then, I got to the 2nd to last row and realized that I had forgotten to yarn over two rows before and was therefore short one stitch. I was completely amazed when I not only was able to figure out where the mistake was, but also drop stitches down two rows and rework them into the correct pearls/knits AND add in a yarn over. I was momentarily convinced that I was a knitting genius!

Dishcloths 1-3 of 26

The first three of my dishcloths in my plan to improve my knitting are complete.

1) Moss Stitch

2) Divided Boxes

3) Stockinette Stitch

Pincushions

I decided I needed a new pincushion so I made this one out of scraps. It is so much better than my old one!

I had so much fun that I decided to make two more and post them in my Etsy shop.

Blue patchwork pincushion

Grey and yellow bird pincushion

Handles

As I was putting away the left over fabric from the Jen bag, I noticed this piece of wool I picked up at the local wool mill. It seemed like a good size to make into a bag, so I bought it for about $3 and put it in my stash to do some time. I didn't really have a plan of what to line it with or how it would end up, but when I was putting away this lining fabric, I realized that it matched really well and the scrap is about the same size as the wool piece! So, I think I will use it. But, I have no idea what to do for a strap/handles. I just can't picture it. Any one have any suggestions???? I need help!

Jen Bag complete!

Here is my first custom order purse sold!

The outside is corduroy, and the top is probably a cotton blend although I didn't look at the makeup of the fabric when I bought it. Is is a nice heavy weight to balance the corduroy, but almost has a sheen to it.

The inside is lined with silky nylon lining and has patch pockets on one side...

...and a zipper pocket on the other. It closes with a magnetic snap. The lining was a little difficult to work with, but I think it turned out nicely!