Market Machine Bag

I recently bought a new vintage machine, a lightweight model to take to meet-ups and Modern Quilt Guild meetings. She's an Elna Lotus SP dating from mid to late 1970s and although she comes ready to carry, I thought I would make a bag to keep her in to stop her getting banged about in the car and to keep the dust off whilst in the house.  I've been longing to make the Market bag from Anna Graham's Handmade Style book and the dimensions were the perfect fit for the machine and pedal.

I made a few modifications:

• Added zip casings and an open ended zip so the bag closed partially across the top
• Added plastic canvas to the bag base, holding the edges in place with some big hand stitches. This is all covered by the lining

Otherwise, it was as instructed in the book  I used materials from my stash including a long treasured Japanese zip from Ayumi and some fabric vintage scraps. The linen was a carboot sale purchase from a few weeks back and the leather on the handles was from a leather cushion cover bought years ago in a charity shop and last seen in used for a pocket on the Aeroplane bag!

I used a mix of By Annies Soft & Stable and Bosal In R Foam Sew-in scraps left over from other projects and zig zagged them like with quilt batting but it collapsed at the join so I added an extra strip over the top during the quilting process and that worked just fine. The Soft and Stable has a slightly nicer feel but that's purely subjective and they both sew easily and add structure.

It was my first time sewing leather handles. I added some of the canvas Denyse Schmidt lining fabric to strengthen them and I stitched them using Schmetz leather needle, along stitch and a walking foot. This leather is quite thin so it was straightforward.

The straps can take the full weight of the bag but I tend to carry it underneath just to reduce the strain.   I'm really pleased with it, a lovely pattern from a very useful book, perfect size for the new-to-me machine and I enjoy seeing those special vintage prints against the linen.

SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave

HandmadeStyle: Anna Graham

A few months back Anna got in touch to ask if I could test a pattern in her forthcoming book and now here is the book and it is just like her, full of effortless stylish information and basics that as soon as you see them you feel you have to make them!

It is divided into three sections, 'To Use', 'To Wear', 'To Carry'.  I tested the Gingham Tote pattern; the double zip version.  These are the book versions.

It is a rotary cut pattern which is my preference for bags and a practical design with ample storage options.  I used Ayumi's Lighthearted fabrics for the front pocket and the straps, the main bag is some linen that was a swap from years back, the zips were from Chase and the linings were a mix of stash fabrics.  I passed on my feedback I can see how the book text and diagrams have been tweaked from the version I received.  The bag went together smoothly and I love the result.  It is my work bag, I wear it cross body and it easily carries my food, drink, keys and random musical instruments.  I keep hair bobbles in to the top pocket and emergency snack bars in the bottom pocket.  

I like the way the bag fabric continues as a facing on the inner bag section.

My only change was to use cotton webbing (bought locally, find similar here) rather than construct my own bag straps.  The hard wear came from an old bag.

It is a book that could not possibly disappoint.  Each item is useful and restrained- no fussiness and a great attention to detail with pockets, fastenings and beautiful finishing touches.
 These are the items that most appealed and are on my to-do list.

Makeup travel case

Chambray Dress
I plan to make this as a top.  The envelope neck opening is a comfortable and easy neckline for summer and I love the way the shape repeats in the overlapping cuffs.

Double Zip Wallet

I've never made a wallet before and I like to take a lighter purse when I travel anywhere so this would be perfect.

Carry-all Pincushion
A jumbo storage pin cushion: these have already been appearing on Instagram!

< > quilt
My favourite designs in the book.  This quilt is constructed using the freezer paper technique  and I love the simplicity.  It would make a great pattern for a duvet cover too.

The project photographs are all at the front of the book, followed by the projects which are a mix of written instructions and hand drawn diagrams.  There is a full size pattern pull out at the back.  Clothes sizing is from XS to 2XL.The whole book is a delight and it's from the heart.  I can feel the hard work that Anna has poured into this and she must be incredibly proud, every design is a winner!

It is a Lucky Spool Book and you can find it on Amazon, Wordery and Book Depository,