That's what I did too!  I made a pencil pouch for my husband to try out zippers for the first time.  I also made him a tool pouch for his bike so by the time I got to this purse I had it down HAHA

Thanks everyone!  Yes, it definitely needs to be bigger than the original pattern for my needs.  I wish I had taken some pictures of this bag with the first (smaller) one to show the difference in sizes.  Maybe I can steal it back from my cousin HAHA!

Hi all!! So I tackled the Buttercup Bag (tutorial/pattern available at http://www.made-by-rae.com/2009/02/free-buttercup-bag-sewing-pattern.html).  My first attempt ended up being more of a makeup bag then a purse and was a little floppy and wonky along the top.  I altered the pattern and made the bag about 3" longer.  I also used a medium weight interfacing on the body of the bag and heavy weight along the top piece to make it stiffer.  The only thing I still would change is the length of the strap, which was twice as long as the pattern called for but was still too short for me. 

Anyway, hope you enjoy!  If you have taken a crack at this pattern and have any other suggestions, please let me know!

I had to order the magnets from online to get ones strong enough to hold the bottles.  If I were to do this again, I would definitely try to find bottles that were plastic rather than glass, or something else that is lighter.  The glass bottles I used are cute but really heavy and needed 6 ultra strong magnets for each bottle.  The magnets I used were neodymium magnets.  I was also thinking that if I had used a stronger metal underneath the fabric for the magnet boards themselves, weaker magnets may have stuck better.  As it was, I went through a couple rounds of experimentation before I was able to get it to work.   

I made a version of this bag also over the past weekend, meaning to give it as a gift to my cousin.  I followed the pattern and also found that it was too small. I didn't end up even attaching the straps yet because I was disappointed with how small it turned out (and the top edge came out wonky  ) .  I also used just plain ole cotton and think that might be why.  I am thinking about doing it again, bigger this time, and maybe interfacing the top portion?? 

Yours definitely turned out better than mine did!  Glad to see it is not just me who has too much stuff for such a bitsy bag!

HAHAH Thanks!  That last shot is supposed to be Chicken taking the classic self photo pose...my husband was being funny!  It was a blast making him!

I made this guy for my mom's birthday using the tutorial http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=777.  He was fun to make and I like him so much, I took a bunch of crazy pictures with him before turning him over 

Hope you like him too!!

Hi all!!  I am a beginning sewer and just love coming on here and looking at everyone's projects.  I find myself loving to finish my projects even more so I can come on here and share too!!

Anyway, I used the tutorial at http://www.vanillajoy.com/hobo-bag-tutorial.html.  I made it for my step-sister's birthday, which is Friday.  I hope she likes it as much as I do!  And I hope you do too!




The lining with interior pocket.  The tutorial mentioned that in retrospect she would make the pocket fabric longer and I totally agree

And the action shot:


Thanks! 

Thanks all!!  I appreciate all of the feedback!!   

I'm totally getting there....

Also, just love the St Patricks Day smilies!!!