craftgrrl | ... 2 new projects ...

So I started and finished (??!!!?!) two more projects! :) And, um, here they are:

Kittie Tote Bag

Ah, the project that finally got me to say "I *WILL* make up patterns for things BEFORE I cut them!" The reason I say this is because the lines don't really line up correctly. But it looks good on the outside, and as it's still one of my "early" sewing projects, it's not too bad.

The yellow fabric I got at WalMart for $1/yd, and the cat fabric I got at a discount fabric store - I think it was $1.25/yd and I had to get the 5 yards that was cut? Pretty sure. They're both lightweight cotton - not so good for a sturdy totebag. :/

The yellow fabric was also a bit transparent. Grr. So I got some of that iron on interfacing stuff, in a suit fabric weight (meaning it's pretty thick - check the label on the bolts, 'cause I don't think the regular light-to-medium weight stuff would work for this, as the suit weight stuff wasn't even that great) and ironed it on - I left the cat print alone. Then I starched all the pieces to death (okay, I used spray starch on each piece 4 times, twice on each side).

I stitched up all the panels together the wrong way, turned them right-side out and then did that fold over the raw edges inside and stitch thing (a french hem, maybe?) to the exposed side. I made the handles by cutting out long lengths of the fabric and folding them in half, then folding the outsides into the middle, then stitched it up.

*IF* I had made all the panels perfect rectangles, it would look really nice inside, with no raw edges. As it is now, there aren't any raw edges, but there are some lumps. *LOL*

With the interfacing and all the dang starching, it's pretty stiff - not as stiff as if I'd used, say, canvas, but definately sturdy and useable. I'm giving it to my mother-in-law - I had her in mind when I saw the fabric. :)

hold your mouse over the images before you click to get a bit of info">

just a close up so you can see the lining a bit

trying to show that the bottom has a rectangle bottom, that I didn't just stitch 2 squares together - I wanted the bag to hold a good amount of stuff

Duct Tape Wallet Deluxe

Not much to tell here - I'm calling it "deluxe" because I added a change purse thingy. ;) I have this little beat-on-with-a-hammer snap kit that I got at WalMart really cheap, and that's what I used to close the change purse and the side strap thing (which I included in case it got a little stuffed from the change and all my stripping ones, hahahaha).

More pics, I think this is all pretty self-explanatory, yes? Oh, I did the change pocket by making little accordion pleats on the sides, so it lays flat if it's empty and has room to open without stretching if I put some coins in there.