August 3, 2017
Sew Along Announcement – The Castell Day Bag
It’s been a while since I’ve had a sew along here, so I figured it’s time for another one. Janelle at Emmaline Bags tells me she thinks a sew along for the Castell Day Bag would encourage some of you to give this pattern a try. It may look a little overwhelming, but I’m hoping by breaking up the pattern into several days and steps, it’ll be easy for everyone to get through, and you’ll have a gorgeous, unique, functional bag when you’re done!
What’s a Sew Along you ask? I’ll be sewing up the Castell and taking pictures and adding my own tips along the way, and explaining some of the steps that can seem tricky. Your job is to sew along with me! Not really, you’ll be at home of course, and I’ll be over here, in your computer. Once the sew along starts, I’ll post a schedule of the all the blog posts so you’ll know what step we’re at and when. If you miss a day or get a little behind the sew along schedule, that’s totally fine, you can always access the blog posts and see which steps I went through that day. You don’t need to sign up for anything to join in, just come back to my blog (right here) and follow along at your own pace.
Even if you don’t really need a different perspective on the pattern (which actually provides awesome instruction on its own), sew alongs are great motivators because it’s so fun to see how everyone else is doing. Feel free to share your progress on Instagram or Facebook so others can see. On Instagram, use #CastellSewAlong and to share on Facebook, join the Emmaline Sewing Patterns Group.
Surprise!
Emmaline Bags is offering a discount for the pattern, and prizes for participants…yay!! Discounts and prizes make me happy! Use code castellsew20 to save 20% on the Castell Day Bag pattern (both PDF and paper patterns are eligible for the discount). There will be 3 prizes of Emmaline store credit ($20, $15, and $10) drawn randomly, and I’ll give more details on how to enter once the sew along starts. The code is valid until August 31, 2017, so don’t wait too long to grab a copy.
Go get ready!
We are going to get started on August 18, so you’ll need to gather all your supplies before then. If you don’t have the pattern yet, you’ll need one of course. Choose either the PDF pattern or the paper pattern. You’ll need to get style C frames for this bag too. Check the pattern listings for the materials list. You can have lots of fun with the optional hardware and look through the tester photos to see how they’ve been used. My version will use the metal edge trim on the pockets, but feel free to use the snappy edge clasp on yours, or skip the optional hardware altogether. I’ll also be using strap ends, purse feet and rivets, so I’ll go over installing all of those.
Picking the fabric will probably take you the longest. You could decide to have a fairly uniform exterior, or choose to make your pockets a main focus. Stuck on fabric sources? Check out my Canadian Sewing Links tab, or the Sales tab for some of my favourite shops and any deals I’ve found.
See you back here on August 18th!
Update: the Sew Along is completed now, so you can skip to any part you need in the schedule below
Day 1: Getting started – cutting and fusing pieces
Day 2: Starting Exterior of bag
Day 3: Finish Exterior of bag
Day 4: Make the Lining
Day 5: Finish the bag!
Day 1: Getting started – cutting and fusing pieces
Day 2: Starting Exterior of bag
Day 3: Finish Exterior of bag
Day 4: Make the Lining
Day 5: Finish the bag!
July 19, 2017
Free Sewing Apps
I use my phone for so many things! My phone changes the way I shop, navigate, discover information, and yes, even how I sew. So today, I thought I’d share some of the apps I use for sewing, and a few I don’t! These apps are all available for iPhones, and I believe many of them are available for Androids as well. All of them are free, but some of them have In-App purchases, so just be sure to check.
Learning Apps
Craftsy
I don’t have a computer in my sewing room, so when I watch my Craftsy classes, it’s often on my phone, or sometimes on my iPad (Craftsy app is available for iPad as well). The app isn’t identical to the website, in that it’s very mobile friendly, and you can even download lessons to watch. I love that feature the most, especially if I’m travelling and know I’ll have long waits somewhere, possibly without reception or wifi. You can also just stream the classes as you like.
Screenshot of Elizabeth Hartman’s Craftsy class, Patchwork Piecing: Woodland Animals.
Craftsy’s mobile app
Creativebug
In case you’re not familiar with Creativebug, you can check it out with a free trial. One monthly fee offers unlimited access to their classes on a huge variety of subjects. Creativebug is where I learned to paper piece, watching Carolyn Friedlander’s class. You can also learn to decorate cookies, make jewellery, crochet, knit, and so much more! From the mobile app, you can access the entire class library, bookmark your favourite classes, and download lessons.
Quilt Tutorials
This app is put out by Missouri Star Quilt Co. and is loaded with free quilting tutorials. From this app, you can watch videos going over many techniques and learn new blocks. There’s also a search function, so if you’re looking for a particular skill, just enter it in.
Tools
Quiltler
You can have a lot of fun with this app! It allows you to easily design your own quilt or quilt block, with squares or triangles and more. You can add multiple colours and create a random assortment and change it any way you like. It’s quite powerful, especially considering it’s free.
QuiltingCalc
This app, offered by Robert Kaufman Fabrics and Quilter’s Paradise is the only calculator you’ll need when making a quilt: never be too short again! Whether you’re trying to find out how much fabric you need for your quilt backing, or how much for your binding, this app does the calculations for you. As an inexperienced quilter, I really appreciate that there’s something I can use to reduce the chance of measuring wrong.
Camera 360
Ok, so this one isn’t really a sewing app, but I use it for many of my sewing pictures. There are a lot of photo editing apps out there, and I’ll admit I haven’t tried too many, but I find this one quite simple to use, and it’s free so I’ve stuck with it. Once you’ve sewn up a project, you want to share it in the best light and sometimes that needs a bit of editing. I almost always use the crop feature, and adding text is really easy. There are several features included in the free version and apparently more with the paid version, although I’ve never found the need to upgrade.
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Sheets
This one is also not technically a sewing app, but I use it for the swaps and blog tours I sign up for and can use it to keep me organized. Sheets is an app from Google and it’s a spreadsheet that works with Excel; use it to create and edit spreadsheets and collaborate with others. Maybe you want to keep track of your fabric purchases, or what pattern requirements are: now you can access all your data right from your phone.
Simplicity
I downloaded this app so I could keep track of my fabric. There’s a feature that’s meant to keep track of your fabric, but I found it time consuming and cumbersome, so I’m going back to my old method of just shoving it randomly in my closet and then doing a mad search when I’m looking for something. The app does have basic sewing tips, which might be helpful, and lists all the patterns which you can search for by feature, but honestly, I don’t really find this to be useful for me.
Fabric Stash
This one is another app to help keep track of your fabrics. The premise is that you take a picture of the fabric, then add which colour schemes, designer, or themes are in the fabric and how much of it you have and the type of fabric. Once you’ve added that to your “stash” then you can search the stash by those features and keep a running inventory. In theory this sounds awesome, but I’m just not good at that sort of upkeep, so it doesn’t really work for me.
iBooks
iBooks is the app I use to view my PDF patterns on my phone or iPad. I love that I can create collections to sort by. I have mine set up under pattern designer, but I also have separate collections for clothing and quilting. If storage on the device is a concern, you can always delete each pattern and reload as you need them (as long as you have them stored somewhere else). I also love that when I’m out fabric shopping, I can just pull up the pattern instantly to check for fabric requirements.
Inspiration
Pinterest is really what got me into sewing. So much inspiration, and tons of ideas and tutorials.
I confess I spend more time than I should scrolling Instagram, but it’s because the makers out there are just so incredible, and I’m constantly inspired to do more and more! I love discovering new fabric lines, patterns and trends on Instagram.
Do you use your phone for sewing too? What are your favourite sewing apps?
July 10, 2017
July 2017 Sales
Disclosure: Some links in this post are my affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission on purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. All opinions expressed here are my own. Thanks for your support.
Flare Fabrics has a new deal every week! DEAL OF THE WEEK: Save $10 on Carkai 10 in. Squares by Carolyn Friedlander
Click here to shop.
Click here to shop.
Sign up for their newsletter to make sure you don’t miss any deals.
You can also earn reward points on purchases.
Also at Flare Fabrics this week:
Now through Friday, July 21 Notion Sale!
Spend just $25 and SAVE 20%
Pins, needles, markers, rulers, quilting gloves, tape, machine gloves, D rings, snaps, swivel hooks, glue, Wonder Clips, Aurifil threads, seam rippers, …All sewing notions and bag supplies* are up for grabs.
USE COUPON CODE: NOTION20
**Applies to new orders only. Excludes interfacing and fleece**
Get 50% off select Craftsy classes. Limit one per customer. Cannot be combined with any other coupons. Expires August 13, 2017. Eligible classes include: Startup Library: Knitting, Startup Library: Quilting.
July 7, 2017
Blue Calla Dandelion Double Zip Handbag – Modified
This bag I’m sharing today has a story that goes back a couple years! I made this Swoon Glenda Convertible Clutch in Tula Pink’s Deer Me fabric, and a friend really loved it and the fabric. She wanted me to make her a bag but was still thinking about what features she was looking for.
She eventually narrowed down her choice to a small handbag, approximately rectangle shaped, with double zippers. So far it was sounding a lot like the Blue Calla Dandelion, except she wanted a zippered divider pocket as well, which led me to do some thinking. My friend wanted the Deer Me fabric, so I wanted a way to eliminate the horizontal stripe that acts as an anchor for the handles on the Dandelion. I figured I would just use the “Edgewena” strap anchors from Emmaline, but since the top of the bag is zippered, I added front pockets to put the anchors on.
To add the divider pocket, I basically just made a zipper pouch the same width as the bag, but shorter so it would sit under the magnetic snap. Then I made the side panels of the bag lining 1″ wider and pinched it around the sides of my zippered pouch. To accommodate for the top the side panel being wider, I tapered my seam allowance to be bigger in the space between the top of the divider pocket (zippered pouch) and the top of the bag.
I used vinyl from Paccana for the handles and bottom of the bag.
The Dandelion ended up being the perfect starting point, and my friend was thrilled with the use of all the cheerful coordinates. If you’d like to try this pattern, don’t forget to use code OKAPI10 to save 10% on Blue Calla patterns.
June 8, 2017
Canada 150 – Speaking (and Sewing) Canadian
Hi! By now you’ve probably had a chance to learn about this tour I’m participating in, but if not, feel free to follow along with the schedule at the bottom of this post, including the intro post to find out more. Make sure to check out all the makes so far, I love that all the bags are unapologetically Canadian (is that an oxymoron?) Oh! Don’t forget to enter the giveaway too. I also have a separate giveaway, so keep reading to find out the details.
I wanted to combine my love of language and love of Canada in this post and was so happy to find this article (don’t click on it just yet!), highlighting the updates to the Dictionary of Canadianisms on Historical Principles. This is an actual book, which now I simply must obtain! Anyway, I thought it would be fun to pepper some of these terms and other Canadianisms throughout my post, and see if you can pick them out as I talk about the projects I did for the Canada 150 – it’s in the Bag Tour. So grab some Timmies and snuggle up in your housecoat, and let’s go!
For my projects, I wanted to try out a new pattern designer, because I always think it’s great to keep learning and trying new things. I chose Carla of Carla’s Creations. When I first started sewing, I followed Carla for all her amazing fabric combos and sewing inspiration. She’s always come across as very organized and her projects turn out beautifully. The pattern I’m sharing today is the Mini Slimline Wallet, by Carla’s Creations; you could win a copy too, just keep reading to find out how.
I chose Libs Elliott’s fabric because Libs is Canadian too, but also because her fabric is completely amazing, I want to fill a whole cube van with it and take it home. In fact, I need to take a little detour here and tell you how skookum Libs is. She not only designs fabric (her 3rd collection is due later this year), but she designs quilt patterns using a unique process. I have to share this video showing the collaboration between Libs and Absolut Vodka to celebrate Canada’s 150th.
Is that not the prettiest twenty-sixer you’ve ever seen?
Back to the pattern: I made 3, but I messed up on one, it was a bit hooped, but it still looks nice when it’s closed. The Mini-Slimline has 3 card slots and a small zippered coin section, plus pockets behind. It folds in half and then the flap closes over with a slim magnetic snap. They were pretty quick to sew up, and even though I tend to avoid “production line” sewing, I did with these ones, and they were still quicker than a single larger project, like a bag.
The pattern reads like a tutorial and lists measurements to cut, rather than pattern pieces. My curved flaps were made by using a rounded edge I traced out. I like that the squared flap is a bit more masculine, so it works for a boy too!
Each of my magnets were different finishes: copper, antique brass, and nickel, and were all from Emmaline Bags.
Since the name of this tour includes “In The Bag” I figured I’d better put the wallets in something so I made a bag to match. The Castell Day Bag is the latest pattern from Emmaline Bags and uses the C-frames, also from Emmaline Bags. Look how wide it opens!
I think of mine as the alldressed version, with its mixed coordinates and tons of bling.
I used my very basic backup machine to sew this large, structured bag, while my main machine was getting repaired because it had completely had the biscuit.
The inside pockets are really cool and I’d never done anything like these before, with their gathered bottoms and zippered tops, tons of room!
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I have one more bag to share with you. I originally had this one planned for closer to Canada Day, but after seeing all the amazing bags so far on this tour, I felt like a keener and decided to just give’r!
I used the free Emmaline Bags pattern, Miss Maggie’s Handbag as my backdrop for a single red maple leaf.
The Edgewena strap anchors allowed the front of the bag to stay blank other than the leaf. I just love this bold red on white. Of course I added a “Made in Canada” label; I chose the back for this sleek addition.
So how did you do? Did you learn some new words? To enter to win a copy of the Mini-Slimline pattern from Carla’s Creations, leave a comment telling me a favourite Canadianism, or Canadian food. I’ll draw a random winner after June 10, 2017, so make sure to enter your email when you comment, otherwise I won’t be able to contact you. Make sure to also enter our big giveaway through rafflecopter at the bottom of the post. Good luck to everyone, and thanks for stopping by, eh?
Each blog has an exclusive giveaway, so be sure to visit them all.
Tour Discounts
- 10% off! Tangled Blossoms Design is offering 10% off anything in stock for the duration of the tour. Offer expires June 10, 2017. Use discount code HAPPYBIRTHDAYCANADA
- 15% off! Bringberry Handbag Hardware and Design is offering 15% off anything in stock for the duration of the tour. Offer expires June 10, 2017. Use discount code LOVECANADA150
Tour Stops
(These links will be active on and after the day they are scheduled.)
June 4
June 5
Tangled Blossoms Design ◊ With Love in Every Stitch ◊ Happy Okapi
June 6
Michelle’s Creations ◊ Barabooboo ◊ Soca Sewing
June 7
Glitter in my Coffee ◊ Michelle’s Creations ◊ Seam of my Pants
June 8
Seam of my Pants ◊ Creative Roots Sewing ◊ Happy Okapi
June 9
June 10
Giveaway ends at midnight EDT (North America)
July 1
CANADA DAY 150
Giveaway Prizes
- Grand Prize: 2 PDF patterns from Blue Calla Patterns, $50 voucher from Bringberry Handbag Hardware and Design, $40 voucher from Fabric Please
- Second Prize: 2 PDF patterns from Blue Calla Patterns, $35 voucher from Emmaline Bags, $25 voucher from MM Cork Supply
- Third Prize: $50 voucher from Blackbird Fabrics
- $30 voucher to spend on any in stock fabrics from Tangled Blossoms Design, 1 Pattern from Thread Riding Hood
- $25 voucher from Fabric Please, 1 Pattern, plus hardware kit from Emmaline Bags
- $25 voucher from Fabric Please, 1 PDF Pattern from Thread Riding Hood
- $25 voucher from Fabric Please, 1 PDF Pattern from FABulous Home Sewn
- $25 voucher from Fabric Please, 1 PDF Pattern from FABulous Home Sewn
- $30 voucher from Sitka Fabrics
- $25 voucher from MM Cork Supply
- Ooh La La Jewellery* bag pattern & hardware kit from Among Brenda’s Quilts (Includes shipping within Canada & USA.)
- A selection of items for bag making from Flare Fabrics (Includes shipping within Canada.)
- $25 voucher from Stay Home Fabrics
- $25 voucher from Funky Monkey Fabrics
- Store credit for 1 yard of custom knit from Crookshanks Custom Textiles
- Store credit equal to one meter of custom knit plus one meter of solid from Midnight Mountain Fabrics
Canada 150 — In The Bag Giveaway
Please join us in thanking our tour sponsors by visiting their websites.
* Jewellery is the Canadian spelling.
June 5, 2017
Canada 150 – In The Bag Sponsors
Our tour to celebrate Canada’s 150th has just begun and there’s so much to share with you over the next few days, you’re going to be dreaming in red and white! Don’t worry, you don’t need to be Canadian to enjoy the tour; we’re all friendly and have enough maple syrup to go around, eh? Check the tour schedule at the bottom of this post to make sure you don’t miss anything. Read more about the tour on the Emmaline Blog. There are so many prizes to give away throughout the tour, so make to follow along each day. Us bloggers wanted to thank the sponsors for their generosity, and we wanted to make sure you all know who they are, so today I’m going to introduce you to a few of them.
BringBerry Handbag Hardware and Designs
BringBerry Handbag Hardware and Designs offers luxurious, unique, and most importantly, shiny hardware for our bags. They’re offering up a voucher as a part of our Grand Prize (enter below). I remember when Karen first started out, and she would source out unique items she couldn’t find readily available. There were group orders to meet minimums, and eventually she started a facebook group just to handle all the orders. Now there’s a dedicated website with online ordering and continuing to source out quality hardware. Take advantage of the discount now until June 10th. Details in the schedule at the bottom of the post.
Fabric Please!
Fabric Please! is offering several vouchers for our giveaway, to use on anything in the shop! I wrote about Fabric Please! previously and you can read more about it here. Fabric Please! has several monthly subscriptions, there’s sure to be one that suits you. Not only can you find a wide range of designer fabric lines, you can get all your thread, batting and notions as well. Rita, the shop owner, takes great care with each package, and the wrapping delights me! She even includes a small extra with each order, as her way to make your package even more special.
Flare Fabrics
Flare Fabrics is offering up a selection of bag making items for our giveaway. Flare Fabrics has a whole category on the website for bag making supplies, ranging from all the interfacing we need to magnetic snaps, zippers, and more! Flare Fabrics offers so many printed textured cotton solids (my favourite!) including Quilter’s Linen, Painter’s Canvas, and Exotic Garden Weave, plus so many staples of bag making, like Essex Linen, and different canvas and heavier wovens. Of course, if you’re looking for Batiks, you’ve found the mother lode! They also offer free Canadian shipping on orders over $150.
Funky Monkey Fabrics
Melissa at Funky Monkey Fabrics is a trailblazer in Canadian fabric shops, offering a one stop shop for all your sewing needs, including all types of fabric, notions, and interfacing. They’re offering up a voucher for our giveaway, and it won’t be hard to find something to spend it on! Sign up for their newsletter and/or follow them on Facebook to find out about their weekly sales. If you’re ever in Varna, Ontario, consider yourself lucky, because you can stop in at the store front and see all the goodies in person!
Tangled Blossoms
Fiona at Tangled Blossoms Design is a new (but proud) Canadian and she makes bags, so she knows the needs of Canadian bagineers very well. She carries a wide range of Free Spirit Fabrics, and that gorgeous Tula Pink Hardware – I know you’ve had your eye on those shears! Not only is a voucher to Tangled Blossoms Design being offered for the giveaway, but you can also take advantage of the discount available during the tour (see details below).
Thank you so much to all our sponsors, and I really hope you check them out and discover a new favourite!
Each blog has an exclusive giveaway, so be sure to visit them all.
Tour Discounts
- 10% off! Tangled Blossoms Design is offering 10% off anything in stock for the duration of the tour. Offer expires June 10, 2017. Use discount code HAPPYBIRTHDAYCANADA
- 15% off! Bringberry Handbag Hardware and Design is offering 15% off anything in stock for the duration of the tour. Offer expires June 10, 2017. Use discount code LOVECANADA150
Tour Stops
(These links will be active on and after the day they are scheduled.)
June 4
June 5
Tangled Blossoms Design ◊ With Love in Every Stitch ◊ Happy Okapi
June 6
Michelle’s Creations ◊ Barabooboo ◊ Soca Sewing
June 7
Glitter in my Coffee ◊ Michelle’s Creations ◊ Seam of my Pants
June 8
Seam of my Pants ◊ Creative Roots Sewing ◊ Happy Okapi
June 9
June 10
Giveaway ends at midnight EDT (North America)
July 1
CANADA DAY 150
Giveaway Prizes
- Grand Prize: 2 PDF patterns from Blue Calla Patterns, $50 voucher from Bringberry Handbag Hardware and Design, $40 voucher from Fabric Please
- Second Prize: 2 PDF patterns from Blue Calla Patterns, $35 voucher from Emmaline Bags, $25 voucher from MM Cork Supply
- Third Prize: $50 voucher from Blackbird Fabrics
- $30 voucher to spend on any in stock fabrics from Tangled Blossoms Design, 1 Pattern from Thread Riding Hood
- $25 voucher from Fabric Please, 1 Pattern, plus hardware kit from Emmaline Bags
- $25 voucher from Fabric Please, 1 PDF Pattern from Thread Riding Hood
- $25 voucher from Fabric Please, 1 PDF Pattern from FABulous Home Sewn
- $25 voucher from Fabric Please, 1 PDF Pattern from FABulous Home Sewn
- $30 voucher from Sitka Fabrics
- $25 voucher from MM Cork Supply
- Ooh La La Jewellery* bag pattern & hardware kit from Among Brenda’s Quilts (Includes shipping within Canada & USA.)
- A selection of items for bag making from Flare Fabrics (Includes shipping within Canada.)
- $25 voucher from Stay Home Fabrics
- $25 voucher from Funky Monkey Fabrics
- Store credit for 1 yard of custom knit from Crookshanks Custom Textiles
- Store credit equal to one meter of custom knit plus one meter of solid from Midnight Mountain Fabrics
Canada 150 — In The Bag Giveaway
Please join us in thanking our tour sponsors by visiting their websites.
* Jewellery is the Canadian spelling.
June 4, 2017
June 2017 Sales
Disclosure: Some links in this post are my affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission on purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. All opinions expressed here are my own. Thanks for your support.
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The new Speedwell Sling Bag is available now and on sale until Friday afternoon. You can save an extra 10% on all Blue Calla Sewing Patterns with code OKAPI10, even the ones on sale!
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This week take 10% off all in stock minky with the code minky10! They have a HUGE selection of minky dot, smooth, rose, embossed, llama, luxe, and a few kits. They also now have stock in extra wide minky dimple and smooth! These are 90″ wide and when you choose fat half you will get a piece that is approximately 36×45 – the same demensions as a yard of cotton 🙂
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