My Lickety Split Bag

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A bit earlier I sent off Mads and Ronja to the cinema. It’s Ronja’s very first trip to the cinema, and they’re going to see the new Curious George movie – Ronja loves Curious George, and she was so excited! Frida has just been tucked in for her nap, and I wanted to show you something.

Part of my prize in the Spring Top Week was a beautiful bag designed by Rae herself, and she was kind enough as to send me the pattern as well – what I believe to be an early version of it. I love the bag, so I thought I’d give the pattern a go as well, and after making the Birdie Sling, I wanted a bag that was not quite as big, and with a different fabric combo, since I wasn’t so happy with what I did with that one. So this is my result.

The Lickety Split Bag

For the exterior of the bag I chose Amy Butler’s Happy Dots design, and decided to go with Sandi Henderson’s Petal Party for pockets and lining – both purchased from Fabric.com, but you would be able to get them in many well-assorted fabric shops online, I believe. I wanted to add a little bit of body to this bag, and I decided to add some sew-in interfacing (Vilene Heavy Sew-In in this case). You add sew-in interfacing by cutting matching pieces, and then pretending that the interfacing is the back side of the exterior fabric (or the lining fabric) at all times. It does give you a little extra work, because you need to match up three layers when sewing everything together instead of too, but it’s really not bad, and it gives a nice slightly padded effect when you’re done. I learned working with it when I made the oilcloth backpack a while ago, and I really like the way it behaves.

The Lickety Split Bag - side view

I made the bag with exterior pockets going by my own measurements, as I didn’t have the measurements that Rae has used for hers. I’m not sure I will be using them all that much, because they are kind of open to anyone, but I still like them as part of the design – I think they add a nice detail to the bag. My pockets – exterior and interior – are interfaced as well. For interior pockets I chose to make a rather large one at one side of the bag (below), and a pocket for my mobile phone at the other side. Note to self: Add pockets before you close the bottom of the bag – I didn’t, and I believe Mads overheard me swearing a few times… I considered adding magnetic closure to this bag as well, but decided not to.

The Lickety Split Bag - inner pocket

Conclusively, I’m so fond of my Lickety Split, and it has a perfect size for a handbag. The pattern is easy, instructions great, and the final result still looks nice and fresh. If there are any beginner sewers out there, who thought the Birdie Sling looked a bit too much (and too big perhaps), I would say they should go ahead and make this – it really is fun and easy to make with a wonderful result that you will certainly find use for. You can buy the pattern ($6) for immediate download here.

Finally, this is me with my new bag – it came shopping with me yesterday, and it did a great job!

My Lickety Split Bag - action pic

<a href=”http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3344451-10283474?cm_mmc=CJ-_-2613997-_-3344451-_-Fabric.com”>Fabric.com</a><img src=”http://www.tqlkg.com/image-3344451-10283474″ border=”0″ alt=”" width=”1″ height=”1″ />

The oilcloth project

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I have been wanting to try a tutorial from the U-handblog for quite some time now – just had to work up the nerve… She has lots of great tutorials there, but the one I had my mind set on was the oilcloth backpack. I have been preparing for it for a while (you guessed it, this is the project for Ronja I have been mentioning) - purchasing stuff, drawing the simple patterns, and cutting the oilcloth and lining. I ordered the sew-in interfacing from the U-handbag shop, because I couldn’t find it in the local shops here – I didn’t want to risk replacing it with something that wasn’t good enough. It arrived in the mail Monday, and yesterday evening I started sewing – so this is the final product.

Flowers and stripes backpack - mosaic 

Actually, I still need to do one thing. The backpack is for Ronja, and she doesn’t yet know how to tie a bow. Therefore, I want to add a cord stopper, so that she will be able to open and close the bag herself.

The bag did present a few challenges. First of all because sewing oilcloth just isn’t terribly easy. The tutorial recommends that you use a non-stick foot for your sewing machine, but I didn’t have one, and I decided to go ahead and give it a try without it. After making the bag, I would say that it isn’t necessary, but I do see why it would be nice to have. And I didn’t even use the really shiny kind of oilcloth – that would probably make it even more useful.

Flowers and stripes backpack - open flap 

One of the difficult things about sewing with oilcloth is that you are very limited when it comes to pinning, so you really have to keep an overview while sewing, because the fabric doesn’t always move the way you want it to. It worked out fine, though. The backpack isn’t easy peasy, but it’s not terribly difficult either – it just takes a bit of preparation, and a bit of patience, when doing the tricky parts. To tell you the truth, I was surprised at how quickly it all went, once I started sewing - the tutorial is awesome and very well illustrated.

I didn’t really alter anything – except that I chose to make the pocket 4 cm narrower, and I chose to use purchased cord instead of making a tie - naturally because it has to work with a cord stopper.

Ronja loves her new backpack – and that’s enough to make me happy. As a bonus, I’m really satisfied with the result myself – and I highly recommend this tutorial!

**UPDATE**

Sorry, I left out an important detail. The oilcloth I used for the bag is from Stof og Stil, a Danish fabric store, and for the lining and the straps I used Farmers Market from Sandi Henderson.

My own design

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 Bibs - mosaic

I know it’s not much, but it’s the first thing I have made completely on my own – without using a pattern or looking to other people’s creations. I’m not quite sure which kind of bib I prefer – i.e. oil cloth bibs, pocket bibs, or ordinary bibs like these (they are not pocket bibs even if they may look like it) - but I am happy with them, and anyway, you should probably use different bibs for different types of meals. E.g. for soup, an oilcloth bib probably wouldn’t be of much use. It would be great if these were just a little more absorbant, but I’m hoping they will be once they have been washed a few times.

Now we’re going to try these out for a while – and see if adjustments are necessary before I make some more.

Water Lily Kimono and a cup of tea

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For a while now, I have been wanting to try this kimono-pattern made by Amy from Habitual. Yesterday I got started with the pattern, and today I cut the fabric and sewed it up. Ronja chose the fabric for the binding – and it’s a nice coordinate for the orange in the water lilies.

Water Lily Kimono 

Thumbs up to the pattern – it is quick and easy (and this is me saying that – I never think something is quick and easy), the instructions are really good, and they are followed by very clear pictures. I was planning on using my new bias tape maker for the binding, but mine is a 3/4″ (18 mm), whereas you need a 1″ (25 mm) binding maker. I did wonder if mine would do, but I decided that especially the ties would be to thin. I believe this was the right decision.

Water Lily Kimono - detail 

The binding will be much easier to make if you have the right bias tape maker, but it’s not a big problem without one either. Just takes a bit more time…

Water Lily Kimono - detail 

This is a great kimono-pattern. I made another kimono some months ago, when I had just started sewing, but this design is more simple, and I like the clean lines a lot. I have yet to try it on Ronja, but that’ll have to be for another post.

My model is sleeping on the couch at the moment. She wasn’t on top when I went to get her from kindergarten, so I’m letting her rest a bit for now. She has been coughing quite a bit, I sure hope she’s not coming down with a cold. Frida is sleeping too – when I was done with the kimono earlier this afternoon, she and I went to have a cup of tea and play a bit with Rikke and Nelle (from the mothers group), and I think the extra excitement in playing with Nelle made her wonderfully tired. Have to go more often – it’s really nice having a cosy chat with Rikke as well!  :)

I wanted to show you…

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…something I made for me. I haven’t been sewing much for myself – I’m kind of hesitant because of the fitting-issue. Whatever you make for an adult needs to be fitted to some degree, and also the sizing just isn’t as simple as it is for kids.

However, I made something simple.

Ginger blossom top 

Or at least, it should have been. It has been in the category of unfinished stuff for quite some time – basically it didn’t turn out the way it should have. First I didn’t like the neckline from the original pattern, so I redrew the neckline while wearing the top and looking in a mirror. Then I wanted to finish the neckline and the sleeves with bias tape, but it just didn’t work out – I think I may need some practice in that department. The neckline kind of stood up in a funny way, so I undid the seam, and didn’t get any further.

A while ago, when my mother was visiting, she gave me the idea to make a facing instead. For a while I still didn’t get around to it, but this weekend, I did. I drew the pattern for the facing with the top as my template. Cut the facing in a different fabric to add a bit of contrast. And for something that initially didn’t turn out the way I wanted it, I’m pretty happy with it. This is me wearing my Ginger Blossom top. The pattern is an Onion pattern – 5005, however heavily modified.

And this is Frida – she knows where I keep my sewing machine…  :) Also, she models the “Vilkas” pants - already a favourite.

So this is where Mom keeps her sewing machine...

Frida below the apple tree

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At the last part of my running route, I always see two horses – well, there are quite a few horses on the trip, but these two are different. They are standing close to the road, having their grassy dinner, and looking very peaceful. There are not many people around in that area, so I always go “Hi horses” when I run by. And they turn their heads and nod kindly (well maybe that last bit is my imagination, but you get the point), and they’re probably thinking “There’s that crazy lady again – whatever is she trying to catch?”. Anyway, I like our little rendezvous. My run yesterday evening was tough, so the friendly nod from the two horses was very welcome!

Got a few shots of Frida in the shade of the apple tree, wearing her apples yesterday.

Frida wearing her apples

I was amused that Jeannine in my comments on the last post tried to guess what Frida would be wearing with the blouse for the modeled pic. Could’ve been both red pants and blue jeans, Jeannine – however with the heat we’re having, I went with the more natural look.  ;)

Looking up through the leaves

As always, I was considering several combinations of fabric for this blouse, and I’m so glad I chose to leave the fabric alone.

By the way – Frida is soooo crawling now! Not just experimenting – really crawling!

And then one final thing: We just ordered our vacation, so we’re leaving tomorrow for a week in Greece! :)