My new tote bag

Today I tackled a project I've had sitting in my to-do folder for awhile: a cute tote bag! I used the tutorial from Skip to my Lou here. I am so proud of the results! It is going to be my new church bag.

Pouch #2

Here is my second try. It went much faster this time and I got a better handle on the zipper on this one. I also tried using some interfacing like the tutorial calls for and I really like the results. It makes it cushier, so it feels much nicer than two thin pieces of fabric. I am having so much fun making these! I need to visit the local sewing store in town to see if they have zippers in more fun colors. The zipper selection at our local wal-mart is woefully devoid of neon colors :) I am trying out different zipper colors and I like how the brown zipper on this one fades in instead of standing out like the white zipper on my first one.

Next I am going to try a cream, more understaded pattern of fabric with a red hot zipper! Seriously, if you want one of these, let me know your favorite colors/styles and I will go for it!

My First Sewing Project

I've been wanting to learn how to sew for the longest time and I finally bought my first sewing machine! It was surprisingly simple to learn how to use and after I got the hang of threading it and using the foot pedal I started looking around for a project to tackle. At first I was stumped...I wanted to do something that would be useful and pretty, but everything I found was either ugly, frumpy, or something I would just never use. All the cool things were way beyond my skill level as a beginner, so what's a girl to do?

While searching the web, I happened on a tutorial on this website, Gussy Sews, for making a zippered pouch. They are so cute!! It didn't seem that difficult, although I was intimidated by the zipper. Today I found a bunch of coordinating cute fabric in the clearance section of Wal-mart, so I decided to give it a try. I finished it in less than an hour and it turned out pretty well, if I say so myself :) Anthony was dully impressed and said that it looked like something you would buy from a store. Once I buy some more zippers, I will have enough fabric to make literally dozens of these things, so if you are a girl get ready to preview your future birthday/christmas presents :)

Yes, that's right, my pouch has coordinating lining!! The tutorial calls for adding interfacing or felt between the outside fabric and the lining fabric. I think I will have to figure out how to do that next to give it that extra soft, cushy feel.