VIDEO: Making an Adjustable Handle

 

Watch the Video

Hello,

Today I shared a short video for making an adjustable strap with a buckle for the mobile sling bag. This may look easy but for those who just started their journey in bag making, this can be a bit confusing.

In the video, I am making 3/4" wide strap with patchwork. The length of the strap can be varied, between 50" to 55" inches. If you're making it for kids, 50" should be long enough. 

Here's what you need to make the long strap: 

 * 2.75" W X 50" - 55" inches long fabric 

 * if making patchwork strap: 2.75" W x Wof (44") plus 2 - 2.75" W x 7" Long accent fabrics 

 * All-purpose interfacing: cut 1 - 2.75” W x 49” or 54” 

* If using interfacing roll: cut 2 – 1.25” W x 49” or 54” 

*  2 x 0.75" swivel hooks 

* 1 x 0.75" Buckle

First, if making a patchwork strap, sew the accent fabrics on each end of the main fabric. Then fuse the interfacing on the wrong side of the strap piece.

Let's watch the video:

This mobile sling bag is my fave project to go. I am using one regularly too when I go out also use it to store my hard disc and power bank. It's super versatile. Today I made one using this pretty bird print fabric that I have in my stash. 

Mobile Sling Bag

Mini Sling Bag

On the home front, not much sewing happened last week, except finishing a few wallet orders. Instead, I was busy trying out a few recipes I found on Youtube. I've been craving lemon tart after I watched one Cdrama. We used to have a few shops selling in my town before the pandemic but I am not sure now. I decided to look up the recipes on Youtube and the result is yummy! Well, I am not much of a baker, when this turned out good (my boys approved), I feel good. 

Resource: Tart Shell | Lemon Curd

I hope you enjoy the video and thank you so much for stopping by. 

The weather is changing, so stay safe & healthy!

Happy Sewing,

Elvira

*****

Linking up this these wonderful blogs

Hello April!!

April is here. 

March was quite productive month for me, tho I didn't really blog it but yes I had quite few finishes. Mostly I share in Instagram or my Facebook Page. it is more practical but I find blog is better. Because in blog I can tell the stories and I can always come back here to read it and having a good laugh over it. Well, at least I do. 

Yesterday, I finished another Super Tote for a friend. I promised her the bag few months ago after I finished making this Tote. She wanted bag where she can tote around her laptop. And this one is just perfect

I made with one big pocket with elastic. 

I made with fully interfaced on both exterior and interior and added a thicker needle punched felt kind of material. Some kind of dense fleece to make it sturdy. 

I still using grey jute as my previous Bag but this one is a bit smaller and sturdier.

  

don't you love that ikat print? I so wanna make more with the other colors. But that have to wait,I still have few pending Passport Wallets to make

ChezVies

This bag will go all the way to Indonesia to meet its new owner. 

*********************

And as I was roaming around in the garden to take the bag photos, my younger one  happily posed for me. His t-shirt matched the bag!! Green and blue :D

and a pic of my MIL's hanging pots. 

I so love my Canon 50mm f1.8 STM. The bokeh is perfect, esp for novice like me, this lens seems like my saviour. 

Until then,

Happy Sewing

Ella Bucket Bag

 I have this unique African print for few months. The print is huge. I put up for sale in my facebook page Chezvies Fabrics for a long time and there's no taker :(

I believe that all my fabrics will come of use someday {I think all the hoarders have the same believe ^_* ) and it's true. I was browsing Etsy for Totebag and found SOTAK handmade's pattern, The Ella Bucket Bag, and I know that it's perfect for my fabric.

Svetlana's pattern is very thorough and easy to follow. With step by step pictures which is a huge thing for me. I am one of those who cannot follow written instructions. So having step by step photo tutorial is really a big help.

I made few improvisation here, because of the print I decided to put the zipper pocket inside and I skipped the inner pocket.

And for the magnetic snap, instead of attach the snap onto the bag, I made a little button flaps and attach it to the bag. Since the fabric I use is Indian mulmul fabric which is quite lightweight, attaching the snap this way is safer.

The interface I used is fusible interfacing. I used in both exterior and lining. I added foam in the exterior fabric.

I definitely will make more of this bag. It's super easy. 

Bag will be available for custom order in 

www.chezvies.etsy.com

www.facebook.com/chezvies

Fabrics used are Indian cotton by Chezvies Fabrics

Until then,

Happy Sewing

And all these little things

Your hand fits in mine like it's made just for me

But bear this in mind, it was meant to be

And I'm joining up the dots with the freckles on your cheeks

And it all makes sense to me...

I know you've never loved the crinkles by your eyes when you smile
You've never loved your stomach or your thighs, the dimples in your back at the bottom of your spine
But I'll love them endlessly

I won't let these little things,

Slip out of my mouth

But if I do...It's you....Oh it's you...They add up to

I'm in love with you...

And all these little things

song by One Direction 

Little Things

Pouches available for sale at ChezVies

Fabrics available for sale at Chezvies Fabrics

until then,

Happy Quilting

Let the music play

Few weeks back, the boys' piano teacher said that she loved the pencil pouch I made for the boys. 

She didn't believe that I made that my self *ahem* 

So I said I will make one for her

I guess fabric is like destiny. I admit that I collected fabric faster than I sew [any body with me?] >_< 

but then you never know when ideas strike or when you're going to need certain print, right?

Just like this time

I decided to make with the black and white one and gave a red lining to match with the zipper

well, black and white and red never goes wrong ^_^

oh and she loved it! 

What can be a better reward than someone who received your handmade with pure delight in their eyes? I'm blessed _/\_

As usual, I made few more but of different type

Boxy long pouch, which is perfect as amenity or toiletry bag 

and another one is the triangle pouch.

The triangle pouch is good for keeping sewing or quilting tools, isn't it?

I didn't use any interfacing or stabilizer here

Instead I used flannel as batting and quilted it using decorative stitches.

oh I love using decorative stitches for quilting. it gives personality to the whole look of the quilt.

Flannel batting is my favorite, since it's easily available here. It's perfect for tote bags and runners.

It's light but give enough structure to the bag/quilt.

I tried using thin foam but I was not satisfied with the result plus it's rather difficult to sew. At least for me.

The pouches are available for purchase at my Etsy Shop

Fabric : Toko Chan

Until then,

Happy Quilting

Everyone needs Family Passport Wallet

Oh yes, I know how it feels carrying 4 passports, residential permit, marriage certificate, exit permit plus my PIO card while travelling. Not to mentions the tickets - several of them since we always have to have several stop overs >_<.  The options I have are store bought leather passport wallet or the one from the travel agents, which barely survived one trip.

So, why not make one? Yes..so, benchmarking from the store bought wallet, here's my straight and simple {and cute} Family Passport Wallet. 

This wallet can hold up to 6 passport and spacious long pocket on the sides to keep your travel documents and small change. 

It has a small swivel hook for your luggage keys (yay)

I used Indian cotton fabric and heavy interface. It's sturdy and  a wide velcro closure will keep everything in place. 

Another one I made was using this cute hot air balloon over the Eiffel Tower fabric. Bought them from this shop during my trip back home last July. 

when folded

I love that little hexagon there ^_^

This wallet will make a perfect holiday gift. 

Both the wallets are listed in my ETSY SHOP

Visit the shop or my Facebook Page if you want custom order

Until then

Happy Sewing

Handmade Friends

Let the beauty of what you love be what you do

What's more satisfying than receiving handmade stuff made by your friends around the world? I'm the happiest person when I receive  a handmade gift, whether its a birthday present or a swap. And recently I received two of them.

Agnes from Smurfing Time has given these beautiful handmade stuffs on my birthday. Well, she really didn't tell me what she's been up to, regarding we chat or talk over the phone almost everyday. It came as a happy surprise to me..:). The tote bag came with a lil coin pouch which is too cute!!. I love the way she did the patchwork and hand quilting the bag. 

She used handwoven cotton for the black an white one. I remember we bought the fabric together in a madness of beautiful handwoven cotton fabric shop, Nalli, in Mumbai's Oberoi Mall..well, I certainly happy cos I didn't buy  this particular fabric (which I should have, actually -_-)

 and she made me this pretty wall hanging, which now beautifully gracing my wall :)

And the second one, I received this pretty Zipper Tote Bag  made by Enno from Hayano Handmade as our Friendly Swap . I simply love it. It such a pretty colour and the tote has pleats on it!!. The fabric is cute and it's soft. I love the polkadots lining too..it makes the tote more cheerful. and the zipper will surely make my stuff safely tucked inside :)

don't you just love the ms. foxy fabric??

The dotty inside

New favorite tote

Now I have 2 favourite totes to carry around and no more paying plastic carry bag when I visited the mall.

Thanks a lot girls...

Until then

A bit busy

A charming woman is a busy woman.
Loretta Young

March had been a busy months. I was busy with few custom orders, try to get my shop back to track again, preparing for my April's exhibition with a friend, the kids are having final exam, etsc, hence not much time to update the blog. However, all my sewing activities are (almost) regularly in my Facebook Page.  

Here are few things I've completed last month

Puzzle Twister Coasters

This patchwork coaster is my entry for IMQG March Challenge. The rule was to use 2 FQ with one solid and one printed. 2 FQ will make 4 coaster (4"x 4"). and I WON the challenge...yay!!...

I made 2 of these table top. One I sent as a gift to my DH cousin. 

This drawstring bag I made based on tutorial my Ayumi of Pink Penguin. I made this as a gift for my son's teacher. 

This one also I made this table runner as a gift for my younger son's teacher. I used a matte golden fabric as border and love how it lit up the whole thing. 

There are few more things I've made during the month of March but I don't want to bore you with long post, instead please go and take a look at my Google + Album .

Thank you for dropping by

Happy Crafting 

Bag Swap

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one" ~  C.S Lewis

That's how it was started on twitter few months back.  Andriani Retno of Hayano Handmade tweeted me and then we sort of talking about our common hobby, sewing. Then one day, I tweeted, we must do swapping sometimes. She agreed. And finally, after long overdue, I made this reversible granny bag for her.

I did owl embroidery and put a detachable flower brooch there ;). It's already on it's way to Indonesia and I do hope she likes it :)

Until then....happy sewing

Yeehaw - it's patchwork bag

The last few months me and my friends, we're having such fun playing Farmville in facebook. At one time, we were like competing in hatching eggs...and it was lots of fun. Since for her birthday I decided to make this patchwork bag...yup..it's chicken...yay...The patchwork template I got from Australia's Country Patchwork and craft.