sewinsight: a productive day

So I took Friday to have a sewing day and try to get a few things done I have been thinking about. I am finding sewing takes a good chunk of time, to get everything out, figure out what fabrics I want to use, what I want to make (so many ideas) and get it all done. So I haven't had that much time lately hence the lack of output over here.

I started the morning with a needle case for my knitting needles. Looked at a few patterns online and in books, but didn't find any that I liked. I used a photo of one in the Last Minute Knitted Gifts (my favorite of my few knitting books, I love her aesthetic) as my inspiration. Linen fabric for the outside, and a fun print on the inside. Some green twill tape for the tie and voila!

The wider section is for my circular needles, I only have a few so far so for now this works. I have them in the ziploc bags they came in.

Then I made two kids bags. These are very sturdy boy's totes with a great canvas robot fabric from goodness and some denim on the inside with a pocket. I love the messenger style single strap, works well for my guy and he uses his other one all the time so I thought it would be good to have a second. I made an extra one to keep as a gift (or sell if I do the craft show again this fall).

Then I completed two adult totes I had started a couple of months ago. Used the Lotte Jansdotter fabric again from goodness mixed with some solids.

After making several totes that were narrow and tall, and using them, I realized that I like a wider, shorter tote so I am going to try the one above and see how I like it. These end up being about 14 inches wide and 12.5 inches tall I believe.

Finished up the day by starting some zippered pouches, but I will wait to post until I get them done. All this time B was playing next to me with the giant box that our good friends sent his birthday presents in. He built a whole "home" with the box, all his quilts, chairs and all and would invite me over periodically to sit on his "back patio" and read books. A great, quiet day at home.

I have also been working on knitting, loving that. I fell in love with the hats shown in the Last Minute Knitted Gifts and bought some of the wonderful and soft Manos del Uruguay yarn mentioned in the pattern. I bought 5 colors and will be doing a bunch of hats in different color combinations. Hats for everyone this Christmas!

Here is my little model showing the first two I made. The pattern has different styles of edge band - ribbed brim (above), basic roll brim (below) and garter brim (will try that one too). This was my first experience with circular needles, went well but those double points are something to get used to!