Bagorama!

Yes, I've been back at the bag making over the past few weeks. It started with this one (above) that I made for myself from my own pattern and some vintage upholstery fabrics. I originally made it with one handle that was sewn into one side at the front and one side at the back, but it didn't hang very well. So I went back to the more traditional 2 handles. The original handle had a wooden ring on both ends, but I decided not to add more, and have them off-set on the 2 handles.

Next came this similar bag. Same pattern, upholstery fabrics, but metal 'rings' this time in the handles. I have to say, I find putting a bag together with tabs for the rings, and adding the rest of the handle later is easier than wresting with full handle straps. And there is much more scope for variety.

What have we here? Well, I do believe it's the same pattern yet again! And again, below. It's nice to be able to get so many 'looks' out of the same pattern. All the fabrics are reclaimed upholstery weight and the buttons are vintage.

After this lot, the bag-making urge disappeared and now I'm going in a slightly different direction. Although, I'm sure there are still more bags in my future!

Oooh, I can't believe I nearly forgot this one. I just popped into my photos to see if I'd missed anything, and there it was. I'm really pleased with how this one turned out. It's 4 different denims and a bit of abstract applique.

As I said before, the bag in the top pic is mine. I've sold the second one, but can't remember whether I've listed the rest in my Folksy shop. I'd better get over there and check. (I just checked and they're all there, phew).

Bye for now
Teresa x

January Making for Me!

I made a decision towards the end of last year to spend the first month of this year working on a few makes for myself. I've had a mental list for a while of a few simple things I needed to get done, so decided to use the quietest month of the year (craft-wise) to get them out of the way (and off my mind).

A new ironing board cover was the most straightforward job, so I tackled that first. There was a big hole in my old one and it was looking decidedly worse for wear. An ironing board cover is not an essential item for everyone, but as I keep my ironing board propped up against a wall it can tend to leave marks on the paintwork. It also looks a bit nicer when I don't have a big enough cupboard to store it out of sight.

Next came a clothes-peg bag. You may have noticed that I didn't write 'new' clothes-peg bag! Previously, (I'm ashamed to say) I kept my pegs in an old, broken plastic bag: so there was nothing to replace.

I got the old, wooden coat hanger from my auntie, and my OH cut a couple of inches off each end, as it was a bit too wide. I made the opening like I do some of my bag pockets, where the lining is sewn on top, the hole cut and the lining folded through the hole. We haven't had the weather to hang out the washing recently, but when we do, it'll be ready for action.

My next project came about because my old purse broke a couple of months ago. I got a new one for Christmas but it didn't hold as many cards as my old one. My solution was to make a wallet for the cards I don't use so often.

Sorry, I couldn't find the link for the tutorial again.

I love how it turned out, and it's had lots of nice comments but if I made one again, I would bunch up the pockets a bit and try it with less of them too, to make it more compact.

I have one more thing left to make for myself then I'll be concentrating on my shop items.  My everyday bag has seen better days so I'm going to make a replacement.

As well as these personal projects, I've been doing some hand sewing of bigger, long-term projects which have been progressing well. I'll be glad to get them finished, though, and off my mind (like the things in this post).

Bye for now
Teresa x

Christmas is coming!

 Hi there! I've been keeping busy here at ATFS. Through the summer, I had stalls at a few events - some more successful than others! I'm thinking about whether it may be more profitable to pay more for a table at a bigger event. It's quite daunting to think about paying up to £100 or more for a single event; but paying £10 an event for 10 events is more like what I have been doing. It's possible there may be more people at that one, big event than all the 10 put together. It's worth mulling over a bit more!

I made the bag above as a sample to show the sort of thing I could take orders for. My current list of requests has one on order, in pink spotty fabric with the name Eloise. I'm looking forward to doing the embroidery as a change from machine sewing.

I've been knitting and crocheting facecloths to put with my daughter's handmade soaps as gift ideas. The set above was donated to a local raffle but a few sets have been sold on the soap stall, Scent Essential, too. She has some lovely new festive scents that would make perfect gifts. The facecloths are handy little projects to carry with me when out and about, and they're quick to do.

I recently acquired a piece of brown, felt fabric that, at first, I was at a loss for what to do with. Then, as Christmas began to be mentioned more often, it came to me. It was almost the perfect colour for gingerbread Christmas ornaments. I started by sketching out this gingerbread man, to see if it would work. I was pleasantly surprised at how well it came out and went on to make a few more. Then I added to the range with gingerbread houses and star biscuits. More photos of those can be found over at my facebook page  Raglan Thread Shed .

I love this pretty, little shopper I was asked to make. It was requested by someone to give as a gift to a friend who can't carry much at a time, so it's smaller than the bags I usually make. I just love how the fabrics look together.

Bags of Style!

At the end of my last post I showed the early stage of a slow, mindful project I was working on. Well, it took a while but here is the finished result. It's a lovely hand-stitched patchwork bag. It's made from a pattern in this book. Actually, it's made from two patterns - the patchwork design is from a different bag in the book. I've used it a couple of times and had lots of lovely comments.

Next, I wanted to try something much simpler, but just as useful. This slouchy boho bag is made from a single piece of heavy furnishing fabric. The strap is long enough to go across body so I want to make one like this for myself to replace my current everyday bag, which is wearing out.

Finally, I had this gorgeous Australian design, linen tea-towel in my stash (I can't remember exactly but I think I must have bought it from a charity shop as it still had the original sale label on and I've never been to Australia!) and decided it needed showing off on a bag. It seems I wasn't the only one to appreciate it, as it sold on it's first outing! Oh, and I added the brown canvas-type fabric and hand embroidery in complimentary colours.

In between sewing projects I'm still hooked on corner-to-corner crochet. After trying it plain, and then stripy, I'm now working on motifs. One more square to add, then a border and this will be done.
Sounds straightforward but, once again, I'm limited with the yarn left and will have to do some working out.

The craft group I mentioned last time, that I had just started with a friend, has met again, and all who came seem to be committed, which is nice. We've had a break for August, and will get going again at the end of September. The members are all working on various projects (cross stitch, knitting, patchwork) that they don't seem to find time to do at home. At the last meeting I was working on knitting face cloths. I made 4 in total (not all at the group, obviously), gave one away with a gift and the rest have sold in sets with my daughter's handmade soaps, so I'm working on some more of those too!

Bye for now
Teresa x

Time for a Catch Up!

 Time for a catch up, I think! It's been far too long. Grab yourself a coffee and take a seat.

Well, what have you been up to since we last met?

I joined the Twitter ranks recently, but haven't really been able to get my head around it. However, it was advantageous to me in a roundabout way. It's a long story, which resulted in me loading a photo of one of my bags onto Homemaker magazine's Twitter feed. I only did it to practice using Twitter but it wasn't long before an editor got in touch and asked me to submit a 'Star Letter' featuring one of my bags. I was originally offered a whole page feature but either I was too slow to reply or they asked too many in order to get a result, but I made sure my Facebook Thread Shed page was mentioned.

They've since asked me to give a 'reader's tip' for one of their featured project patterns but I haven't seen whether it's been used or not yet.

Probably as a result of the published letter, my Folksy shop started getting more viewings for a while, resulting in me selling the 3 items above in quite a short time.

 I showed the beginnings of this corner-to-corner crochet blanket in my last post. It took 3 goes at the border before I was happy with it. I wanted to use as much of the yarn as I could without running out, so it took a bit of juggling with the colours and numbers of stripes, and some weighing of yarn and guess work! I'm not finished with C2C yet - I've started a project with a motif in a different colour.

While I should really be running up quick projects to add to my stock, I've been drawn to work on slow, thoughtful, hand-sewn items. The little pouch above is the perfect size to hold a couple of lipsticks, and it's all hand sewn apart from the short, boxed corner seams.

This is a more longer term hand-sewing project. It's progressed quite a bit from this, but this shows the detail. I loved doing this, almost-sashiko-like, quilting. This part is the flap for a bag, for which I am trying to follow a pattern in a Japanese book, relying mainly on the diagrams and a few random numbers!!

In other news, my daughter launched a soap-making venture at a lovely open afternoon in her garden a few weeks ago. We had a few stalls there and served refreshments on the lawn. We've now booked a few events to do together later in the year.

Also, a friend and I started a new, monthly, craft group last week in our village hall. There were 5 of us at the first meeting, with another 4 or 5 (who were on hols or busy) promising to come next time.

Right, it was good to catch up. Mustn't leave it so long next time!

Bye for now
Teresa x

Corner to Corner Crochet!

Good afternoon all!!

I showed a glimpse a couple of posts back of a denim project in progress. Did you guess what it was?It was a cushion cover made from recycled jeans of all shades of denim. After adding a single line of red machine embroidery I decided to stop there and keep it simple.

As I was on the denim theme, next came a couple of zipped bags. One sold at a local event but I have this one for sale in my Folksy shop, which I'm trying to get stocked when I have the time.

I've abandoned the denim, for now, because I've discovered a new addiction in Corner to Corner crochet (as I mentioned last time). This youtube tutorial  will show you the basics (I couldn't find the tutorial I used - she was Australian, had a soothing voice and used UK terms).

This blanket was the result of  my first go at C2C. The centre panel was a poncho from M&S that I bought from a charity shop and disassembled. I wanted it to be a little bigger, so added a border in sage green.

Being someone who always has to try something new, I next ventured into stripes of C2C crochet. This one is still in progress, but I already have an urge to try one with motifs or pictures. For this one, I used a few balls of DK I got from ebay in a couple of lots that happened to go together. The tricky part is working out the biggest size I can make, without running out of any of the colours. It may mean a bit of juggling and improvising - but, still, I don't like things to be too symmetrical and even!!

Bag Bonanza!

Hi there!! This is my first post in 2 months; it's also the first post from my new laptop! I was getting more and more frustrated with the old, slow laptop, that my posting became almost non-existent. Then, when we got a new router and it was incompatible with the old laptop, we had no choice but to get a new one. So here I am....

I've yet to get my photos into better order, but in the meantime, here are a few bags that were under my machine recently.

 They are all made using the Tilly bag pattern by Debbie Shore but, as you can see, you can get very different looks just by varying the fabric. My versions are not reversible because they have inside pockets and different lining.

 All of these are made with fabrics from sample books that I bought from an ex-interior designer.
The green/beige one has a belt for a strap, the red/black one has a kind of nylon webbing for a strap, and the others have self-made straps. The vintage buttons are for decoration only because the flap fastens with Velcro.

I had my first stall of this year at an event last weekend and this red/black version was sold there.

I recently won a three month subscription on the craft selling website Crafters Boutique so I've listed a few things to give it a try. My photos look darker on there than elsewhere but maybe it's due to the fact that I was doing it all from my iPad at the time! Anyway, it would mean a great deal if you could take a look and let me know what you think (about the photos or anything).

What else have I done since we last met! Well, I've joined the Twitter ranks, listed more items in my Folksy shop, read The Mill on the Floss (what a struggle that was) and become just a little bit hooked on Corner to Corner crochet.....More to come on that soon!

Bye for now
Teresa x

Stitches!

There have been a lot more knitted stitches produced here at A Time for Stitching, recently, than sewn stitches. But they were mainly for plain beanie hats, so didn't make for interesting photos.

However, I still have pics of other sewn projects that I haven't shown you yet.

I designed a new handbag pattern a few weeks ago. It can be adapted so that each one is unique. I was pleased with how these turned out and, although they didn't sell, they had lots of positive comments, and I've had a request for one in a different colour.

I sold a baby quilt earlier this year and the lady who bought it tracked me down via a mutual friend in order to request another one. She wanted to give a quilt to a friend who had admired hers. So, I made it in double quick time and it has already gone to its new home. I am more productive when I have a deadline!

Our church is having a Christmas Tree Exhibition this December, as part of the ongoing campaign to raise money for a new roof. My craft group is having a tree at the event, and the obvious theme is handmade decorations. I made these 3 out of wooden curtain rings, which I crocheted around then added felt and wool features. My ladies group is also having a tree, with a food theme. I've been drying orange slices and making Christmas trees out of cupcake cases, and plan to make some popcorn garlands nearer the time.

This is the item that restarted my yarn production. Do you remember these? A friend wanted me make this tea cosy for her friend. I've seen many, but never made one. Nor did I know how it was made. Here, I'm trying it on one of my tea pots for size.

A lot of what I've made recently has been as a result of requests. Back in August, I was asked for some lavender bags. I made 2 for that customer, then carried on and made many more sets of 2, using cotton fabrics and vintage hankies or doilys. I only have one set left now but still have lots of lavender to make more.

On the knitting front, I've made 3 beanie hats and a scarf, and now have on the needles a waistcoat for myself. The waistcoat must go on hold (again) now, though, because I have an order for a baby jacket to knit.

It keeps me out of mischief!

Bye for now
Teresa x

Stories from my Makes

The more eagle-eyed readers will recognise these makes from previous posts. After I've sold an item I don't just forget about it when I'm working on something new. I'm always pleased to hear how it's being used in it's new home or, best of all, see it in action. So, as well as my makes having a 'past' story, based on the various places the materials came from, they also have a 'present' story. And, hopefully, a long and full future.

When I sold the pink baby quilt, the customer told me it was destined for the first baby girl to born in their family for 50 years. It was a great honour that they thought my humble quilt suitable for such a momentous occasion in their family.

The blue quilt was bought by a friend for a friend of her's baby boy. She reported back to me later how her friend loved the quilt and would lay the baby on it, noting his position on the design so she would know if he'd moved when she looked at him again. That she thought enough about it to pass on the story was quite special.

Another friend asked me to make the purple bag for her step-daughter when her previous one wore out. I see her around and about quite a lot and she, more often than not, has the bag over her shoulder. It's so lovely to see that she likes it and that it gets plenty of use.

Finally, an elderly friend bought the daffodil bag from one of my stalls. I see her quite often and she likes to tell me where she has taken it and how useful it is. Apparently, it's been to Norway on it's travels!

I hope the stories keep coming because it, somehow, makes what I do more meaningful (although I'd still do it even if I didn't hear anything back).

Bye for now
Teresa x

Recent finishes!

I was hoping not to have to go out today. The weather is horrible - cold and wet - after we had such a lovely day yesterday. But I have to go to the dentist for a check up, so I have no choice. 

Anyway, I've not been very good at updating my blog lately so I thought I'd get a post done before I go.  

Some of these makes are a couple of weeks old but I feel like I'm getting a really good momentum going with my making at the moment (I have more finished and more on the go to show soon). They are all made with recycled materials and without using copyrighted patterns.

another pic of the hexagon crocheted blanket that I promised last time to show. You cans see here that it's a good size and the hexagons are quite large. You can also just make out the scalloped edging all around.

These little bags, above and below, are child-sized little tote bags.  I'm hoping they might be good sellers at my next craft show.

Finally..........waaaaay back in Jan 2013 I had a silly idea to make a whole quilt by hand. I used a quilt in a picture from Country Living as inspiration and got to work. I wrote this post about it at the time. Well, I finished it last month, and here it is.

Ta daaaaaaaaaaaa!

In a phrase very similar to a quote from Lilo and Stitch - "This is my quilt, it's smallish, and it's not pretty, but it's good. Yeah, still good".

Off to the dentist now - wish me luck (I'm sure all will be fine - it usually is).

Bye for now

Teresa x

Processing!

Hello folks! Hope you had a good Easter. We had a quiet one at home, with a few hot cross buns and a little chocolate consumed. I enjoyed a lovely, impromptu coffee with friends after a simple, meditative Good Friday service, then a rousing Easter Day service.

An airer full of donated fabric drying.

I am very lucky that lots of lovely friends give me yarn and fabric they no longer want. I usually try to wash fabric before storing it in the shed. This is mainly to make sure any shrinkage happens now, and not after it's been made up into something. When I have lots of bitty-bits, I put them in a duvet cover to wash. They still get a bit tangled but it prevents the washing machine getting clogged with frayed threads.

Along with the lovely, pristine, unused balls of yarn I get from people, or from charity shops, I also un-run jumpers etc to use the yarn. This is a deconstructed jumper after being tied into hanks and washed by hand. These are now dry and rolled into balls waiting to be made into something else.

I finished this longer term project the other day. A crocheted hexagon throw that I've been gradually making at my  2 weekly crafting groups. I had a couple of photos showing more of it but they've disappeared from the laptop. They should still be on the iPad, though, so I'll load them onto my Facebook page in a couple of days (I don't know how to get them on this blog from there without a lot of faffing). This throw was sold and paid for before I'd finished making it, by a lady at one of my groups.

 At home, I'm still on bags. I don't know why, but every piece of fabric I pick up in my shed says 'bag' to me. It's about time they started saying something else. This one,covered with applique flowers cut from another fabric, is my usual boxy style. The main fabric is a sort of strong hessian type. It's lined with a flowery fabric and has an inner zipped pocket.

And this one is a completely new design that I made up in an oddment of plain fabric, to try out before making the 'real thing'. The outer zipped  pocket is also a new thing I tried. It's made from 2 tea towels, a pillow case and a belt. 

I'd like to say I'll have something completely different to show next time, but I have a strong suspicion it may be more bags!

Bye for now

Teresa x

Bags!

Spring is well on its way! This wonderful spread of snowdrops was a lovely surprise in daughter and SIL's garden. Until they've been in their house a year, the garden will, hopefully, keep producing surprises.

Bag making has been the craft of the past few weeks. At the suggestion of a customer, I made a couple with zip fastening tops.

This one has already been sold! The pocket on the front is a new style for me. It has darts at the bottom for more fullness.

I'm really pleased with how this bag, above, came out. The coloured panels are patched pieces edged with bias binding. It was a bit of a fiddle to do but really finished it off well. It also has an internal zipped pocket (another new procedure for me). My mother wanted a bag for her music folder so I gave this one to her for Mothering Sunday.

Bag number 4 is almost finished - I think it's about time I made something different!

Bye for now
Teresa x