Self Drafted Lunch Bag

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Quando se aproximou o aniversário da minha amiga e colega de trabalho não sabia bem o que lhe oferecer. Depois de pensar comecei a bordar um quadro em ponto cruz, cheguei mesmo a terminar o dito, mas não tinha moldura, ou um bastidor com o tamanho adequado. Estávamos em pleno segundo confinamento, assim que me vi sem tempo para encomendar um, sem poder sair para comprar. Coloquei então a peça de lado para outra altura e comecei a pensar noutra coisa. 

When my friend and co-worker birthday came close, I really didn't know what to get her. After some thinking I started with a cross stitched project, I even finished the whole thing, but I had no frame or decent sized hoop to gift it to her. We were in the middle of the second lockdown here in Portugal, I didn't have enough time to order some, nor go out and buy it because everything was shut down. So I set it aside for maybe another time and started thinking of another project. 

E assim, lembrei-me de recriar um saco que costumo usar como lancheira. É na verdade um saco de um plástico bem rijo que veio do veterinário com medicação para o meu gato. Embora seja um saco publicitário, adoro o modelo e o fato de fechar com uma mola. E como se aguenta tão bem de pé, gosto muito de o usar para levar o meu lanche diariamente. A D. uma vez mencionou que também o achava bastante prático também. 

And somehow, I came with the idea of recreating a bag that I use as my lunch bag. It is actually a very stiff plastic bag that I got with one of my cat's medicine at the vet. Although it has some pet publicity on it, I love the design and the snap closure. Also, because it stands so well on its own, I love to use it as my lunch bag everyday. D. once mentioned she thought it was pretty handy too. 

Andava com a ideia de recriar o saco em mente há algum tempo, pois queria fazer um para mim num tecido jeitoso ao invés da publicidade do meu atual. Acabei or fazer um para a D. primeiro. Usei um tecido grosso de decoração para que o saco ficasse mais rijo e se aguentasse bem. 

The idea of recreating the bag was in my mind for a while actually, I wanted to make myself one in a pretty fabric instead of the publicity in it. Turns out I made one for D. first. I used upholstery fabrics for the bag to make it as stiffer as possible and it holds pretty well. 

Desenhei o molde a partir do saco existente e correu muito bem. O viés que usei para terminar as pegas é que não ficou tanto assim, principalmente no interior, não ficaram nada como eu teria querido. Para o próximo vou ver se faço a construção do mesmo de forma diferente, porque, sim, vai haver uma próxima vez, já que continuo a querer um para mim também. 

I drafted the pattern out of that existing one and it worked pretty well. The bias I added to finish the handles didn't go so well, especially on the inside it doesn't look as pretty as I would have liked. I might make the construction a little different next time, because yes, there will be a next time, I still want one for myself, that is for sure. 

Mochi bags |FREE pattern by Sew Chibi|

Hello again everyone! How's 2021 been for you so far? We are in lockdown once again, and suddenly Portugal became the country with more covid cases when looking at numbers by population. Personally, me and my family have escaped from the virus so far, hope as many as possible of you are save too. We all have enough about this already, so let's move to the good stuff, and the good stuff is always about sewing, of course. 

One of the few things I sewed this past year for Christmas was this Sonic waistbag for my son. I made my first Mochi bag, a free pattern by Sew Chibi, back in June 2019, a girl's L.O.L. version for my birthday girl. I sure had a very bad day when I sewed that one up because when you compare both it's hard to believe the same person sewed them. 🤣🤣 As you know though, we're not here for the bling and I have no problem at all to show you my failures too. 

Well... is it still a failure if your kid adores it and wears it like crazy? Maybe it's not such a failure after all! Just saying! Anywayssss... So, I made that first one as a birthday present for my girl who was turning 8 and had a LOL themed party (I also sewed her a dress to match, should look for those photos), which she was crazy about back then... One year and something forward, and there goes her love for such dolls. 

For hers I used the same fabric I had bought to sew the dress, and the L.O.L. applique was a sticker she gave me. I then ironed some plastic on top and sewed it to the front piece. It still lasts, shiny as new. I clearly failed the sewing lesson this time, I was even able to mess the side tabs by placing them upside down. 

Ever since, my youngest also wanted one for him too. I said I would make it, but time just kept passing and nothing. Every now and then, he would see his sister's and remind me he had asked for one too. As her love for the L.O.L. dolls decreased and with lockdown keeping us at home, she barely used any bags and this was forgotten. 

Every now and then we visited a flea market where kids love to buy some second hand toys or books with their own money, so I like them to have a small bag they can carry their wallet on. Covid cancelled our markets, and he won't take his new bag to one anytime soon, but I had to make this for him. 

He loves Sonic, and so I stamped the front piece after printing the image. I then handstitched his name on it too - and I was so happy I did when he opened the present on Christmas Eve. The boy was crazy about it! This one is not flawless, but it is sooooo much better than his sister's. I should make her a new one, really! It's just that the sewing list is always growing, and I don't sew as much as I'd like anymore. 

I also have the adult version of the Mochi bag but didn't get a chance to try that one too. I should make some matching ones for me and hubby... ahahah... I wonder what he'd think of it?!

What have you been sewing?!

Refashion Month with HattieLu Handmade

Denita from HattieLu Handmade was a new to me blogger that joined the series. As I said before, I love that while  hosting this seriess allow me to get to know more blogs, more interesting and talented people from all over. She's the mom to three boys, she sews for them, and herself too. She runs a little shop with the cutest handbags, wallets, etc. Show her some love and visit her. For our series she refashioned for herself for the first time. How great is that?! Look at the cute pair she made. 

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Hi House of Estrela readers! I'm Denita from HattieLu Handmade. I'm excited to show you my first women's refashion!

I'm new to the world of refashion and upcycle. The extent of my knowledge has been taking old t­shirts and making new shirts for my boys. Today, I'm stepping outside my comfort zone to refashion something new for me.

I didn't really know where to begin. Usually I hang onto clothes for an eternity because I think I'm going to wear them again. Eventually, the clothes make it to Goodwill. However, I'm in luck. There was a large box off to the side where I found three shift style dresses that haven't worn in at least five years.

Great, free material...but what to do with the material?? Mental block abound. Then it hit me! I love handbags and need something to carry small things. I've also started to wear more skirts and dresses. Eureka! I had my answer.

First things first! Which handbag pattern should I use? Swoon Coraline was the one!!! Coraline doesn't require a lot of fabric and allows for a little creativity. The accent fabric was a laundry failure that's been sitting on the shelf for a year. True story...didn't realize that denim fabric was in the wash load when washing the flower fabric. Oh well! Works perfectly for this project! 

I measured and marked the length needed to save for a tank top, then cut the remaining skirt portion off the dress. There was a seam on the back of the dress that I wanted to incorporate in my handbag.

Now back to the tank top portion. I have plenty of shirts so I needed to be more creative with the tank top idea. There were three dresses exactly the same except for color. The coral one above was the first, there was a turquoise one, and a lavender one. The turquoise seemed to be the best choice to use with the coral. The colors were contrasting, but complementary.

Surprise! The top and bottom are cut at an angle to give the dress more pop! The dress is hemmed at knee length. On the next refashion, I'll take in the bust darts a little more!

So what do you think? Simple, quick, and easy way to refashion a few old dresses! Not too bad for my first try!

Thank you House of Estrela for reviving up my creative juices and helping me to think outside the box.

From a Box * Rebel and Malice * In a Manner of Sewing * Miss Castelinhos * Threading My Way * Fairies, Bubbles and Co. * Mabey She Made it * Conversas de Hermanas * Lulu and Celeste * Made by Sara * La Folie * Climbing the Willow * HattieLu Handmade * Swoodson Says * Knot so Normal* Friends Stitched Together * Just Another Project * Sew Thrifty