Category: bags and purses

IKEA backpack (Kanken backpack knockoff)

Once in a while, I make something just because of curiosity. Like this backpack that I made a couple of days ago. Perhaps you’re familiar with the general shape, that reminds you of the Kanken bag made by the Swedish company Fjällräven. Or perhaps you recognize the material, that is the Frakta shopping bag by IKEA. I have several Kanken backpacks, from the mini, original, and big. My son and husband also use them. They’re perfect everyday bag, made from strong materials in many choices of colors. This is not an advertising for Kanken backpacks though, I just really like them. […]

Fortune cat tote bag

My new tote bag! Actually I wasn’t planning to make more bags but then I found this canvas fabric with interesting panel print. One panel is showing a Maneki Neko or Fortune Cat, and the other panel is Mountain Fuji. The print is interesting enough that I want to show it off as much as possible with simple lines and no visible topstitching. That is why the straps and facing are tacked to the bag with small rivets.   I left the bag unlined and bound all the raw edges with twill tape. The wide bag straps are quite wide so […]

Mesh nylon tote bag

This mesh nylon tote bag is very simple project that has quickly became a favourite of mine. I wasn’t planning to make a bag when I found this mesh nylon in the fabric store. This fabric is quite stiff with large diamond-shaped mesh. I thought it would make an interesting bag. The fabric is very easy to sew with thicker thread and longer stitches. I bind the raw edges inside with neon-coloured binding for added details. This binding is also necessary because the stiff raw edges are a bit rough and the cut mesh could easily catch into things in the bag. Sometimes it is nice to […]

Pattern testing: Desmond Backpack

Taylortailor is one of my favorite sewing blog. I love how much thought and details are shown in each project that Taylor has made. There is no one day sewing project in his blog, everything is developed slowly with so much patience. Something that I often don’t have! If something takes more than a week, I usually begin to lose interest…. Another thing that I like about his projects is that his style is something that my husband can relate to. My husband likes simple lines, functional details, and often muted, calm colors. So when Taylor called for patters testers for his […]

Running belt

Since I moved to Japan my weight had been slowly creeping up. In the last 6 years I gained 6 kg, while before my weight stayed more or less the same since the college days. Recently I put on one of my handmade dress and it was tight around the waist! It was time to do something. I decided to start doing exercise and running. I have to admit that I’m not big on exercise, mostly I spend my days on the couch behind my notebook. But there is a beautiful jogging track near my house so it would be a […]

Yoga mat bag

A quick sewing project from last week. This is a yoga mat bag for my sister in law. The fabric is a gift from lovely Iveta of Wonderosa.You might remember that I’ve made one of them in this dress. It is just a simple unlined drawstring bag with cotton webbing for straps, my own pattern. The diameter of the bag is quite too big for my yoga mat, but my sister in law had sent the dimension of her bag and it is bigger than mine. I think her mat is thicker. My husband will go to Indonesia this week […]

Dog saddle bag

Monte has been with us for a week now. I take him for a walk twice a day and he seems to enjoy this routine. He’s very energetic though, which is quite good for a dog at his age. But it means that I get tired before he does, and he still needs more exercise to calm him down (or I need more exercise so I can keep up with him). I read somewhere that wearing a backpack can give the dog more exercise and sometimes helps focusing his attention. Monte is pulling on the leash a lot and easily […]

Stash busting: Feed the Animal coin purses

Just like any other who sews, I have acquired a massive amount of fabric scraps after several years. Of course I have tried not to hoard and got rid of those unnecessary scraps after each project. But there are always the ones that are too big too throw away and too small to be turned into a piece of garment. This has became  quite a problem. What do you do with all of those fabric scraps? Recently I bought a PDF pattern for Feed the Animals coin purses by Straight Stitch Society. It’s a round zippered pouch (10 cm/4″ in […]

iPad case

  We just got the new iPad last week and I made a case for it so I can bring it everywhere. You know, in case I need to play some DrawSomething…. The fabric is microsuede leftover from my zebra skirt, it is stiff enough so I didn’t need to use interfacing. For added protection, the case has thin batting between the layers of fabric. The flap closes with magnetic snap. It is such a simple case, finished in about 15 minutes. Instant gratification FTW!  

Fourth grade bags

Sidra is starting fourth grade today! I made him a new set of bags and pouches for his school needs. Every elementary school student in Japan has this set, consisted of a book bag, a shoes bag, and a pouch for lunch napkin. I’ve made him a set of bags with grey robot print fabric two years ago when he entered second grade. Now all those bags already have holes or ripped at the corners. Since he is a big boy now, Sidra didn’t want all those cute print fabric anymore, he wanted all his bags in camo print. I […]

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