Another Selvage Purse

I said I wouldn't do it, but I did. I made another purse from selvages. This time, the purse is a bit smaller, and there's far less detail on this one than on the one I made for myself. Even so, I estimate that there is an investment of twenty hours of labor.

Here are the blocks that I started with.Blinky watched from a peculiar angle. At least she wasn't playing the game of trying to catch the thread that's unwinding from the spool as I'm sewing..
When I made the first purse, I started with squares of selvages that I had made with no particular purpose in mind. This time, I knew I was making a purse, so I made the blocks rectangular instead of square. I also chose particular selvages, working from dark in the center to lighter on the edges, knowing that I was going to surround the blocks with black fabric. This time, I did far less ripping out and restitching due to the fact that I got smart and basted the seams first to check for accuracy. (What a novel concept! I've been sewing for so long that I hardly ever baste anything anymore.)

Here's the finished purse, along with some of the detail.

If you're interested, it's for sale in my Etsy shop. I give a Family and Friends discount.

Hooked on Selvages

It only took one selvage project, and I'm hooked. I love the way the blocks look, and I'm happy with how my purse turned out. This is not a tutorial, but rather a review of what I did.

I first went through my entire fabric stash, pulled out the pieces with usable selvages, and cut them all off, filling a small basket.
I began constructing blocks, experimenting as I went along since I had no clear idea of what I was going to do with the blocks yet.
Here are a couple of different block layouts (still didn't know what I was going to do with them).I've seen quite a few selvage tote bags, but I have so many tote bags already that I really didn't want nor need another. Finally, I decided that I would make a purse -- something with a little more shape and construction than a tote. I used a pattern or two as guides, but I pretty much made this up on the fly, and if you saw how many times I ripped something out and did it over, you'd believe me. My desire was to use what I had on hand and avoid having to buy anything. So, I used some of my stash (including a small zipper) for the inside pockets. On one side, the pocket is "three-for-one." It's a little hard to see, but between the two larger pockets is a skinny pocket for holding a pen. And a zippered pocket, showing the inside of the pocket as well.I wanted a sturdier fabric for the bottom of the purse, and I didn't have anything suitable on hand. Since I was out and about on the opposite side of town from the fabric store, I took a look in the thrift store for a pair of black denim jeans that I could cut and use. One store uses color coding for half-price sales, and yellow was the color of the day. Success! (And my apologies to Mr. Lauren for desecrating his designer garment.)By-the-way, creativity gets messy.Here are all the purse pieces ready to be assembled.Here are close-ups of the cell phone pocket on the side (actually, there's one on each side) and the button detail on the closing tab. (I have half a mind to remove the buttons and rearrange them into traffic light order. It's that OCD kicking in, I guess.) And (drum roll) the finished purse.So, what do you think?

Sewing This Week

After I made my selvage purse, my youngest sister kept saying she wanted me to make her a purse. She said it didn't have to be as involved as mine; she just wanted a fabric purse. I saw this idea online recently and decided to give it a try, using a pair of thrift store jeans. I really like how it turned out, and I may make myself a similar one. Since the front waistband of jeans generally sits a little lower than the back waistband, that's how the purse opening is too -- with the front a bit lower than the back. Inside is a hidden velcro closing.The other sewing this week involved mending. It's my least favorite task at the sewing machine. There are too many creative ideas swirling around in my brain. Anyway, I hemmed a pair of pants for James. Since I bought them at an Eddie Bauer outlet store while on vacation back in July, it was about time! I also repaired some of Emily's maternity pants, repaired a mesh bag for laundering lingerie, and hemmed the lining of a skirt. The skirt as well as the lining are cut on the bias (I didn't make it) and the lining stretched more and was hanging a bit below the skirt. So, it feels good to have my mending basket empty for a while.

I *think* I'm finished quilting Jordanna's baby quilt. I'll let it rest a day or two and then see what I think. After that, the only thing left is the binding, and I'm undecided on that as well. I don't think I've ever made a quilt that was totally planned out, start to finish, before I began. All have just sort of evolved. I'm not ready for the final unveiling, but here's another sneak peek.

Sew, Sew, Some More

Although after my first selvage purse was made I said I wouldn't make another one, I've now sewn two more. Here is some of the detail of selvage purse #2. I listed it on Etsy, and it sold! (Thanks, Angi!) So, I decided I'd make another and list it, too. I figure that it takes me about twenty to twenty-five hours to make one of these purses. I could probably shave a couple of hours off of that if I could convince Blinky to go away while I'm working.

Here are pictures of selvage purse #3.

Make Sure You Have it All

Make sure when you are about to take your baby out in the stroller that you have your purse, bag, purse, bag, and purse with you. You can never be sure what you might need. I wish I could have gotten a picture later of Alexa pushing the stroller. She had a hand on each handle, which necessitated the use of her shoulder to hold her cell phone to her ear while she jabbered away.

Busy Sewing Week

I had a lot of good sewing time this week. I made a purse and an apron that are now in my Etsy shop, and I've begun another purse, all from recycled thrift store jeans. Here are pictures.I'm not sure if that giraffe-print fabric is going to stay or not.

In addition, I hemmed three pairs of curtains for my sister, and I made two hand towels for Phillip. I'm sure everyone who sees these will want to order a set for themselves.

Finally, I made (and mailed) one postcard, but I forgot to get a picture of it. It had a pink heart on it, and it turned out quite nice.

Forgetful Friday (on Saturday)

The Falcons game last night was fun. They won. I was mad at myself when I realized that I'd forgotten my camera, so I couldn't make any pictures to post. I had my cell phone, but it is only a phone. It doesn't make pictures, play games, send text, surf the net, make coffee, nor give me a pedicure. Angi has a picture phone, but she accidentally left it at her office. Pretty soon, we're going to have to pin our names and addresses to our shirts before we go on outings.

Footnote: Be forewarned. We were accustomed to the Turner Field practice of visually inspecting the contents of purses, coolers, etc. At the Georgia Dome, they did that, and they will confiscate any and all prescription and non-prescription drugs. Angi intended to take some ibuprofen once we got inside and she could get a drink. She had to beg them not to take it, and they had to call a supervisor who let it go. They didn't see that I had both ibuprofen and acetaminophen together in an unmarked bottle in the deep, dark depths of my purse. Nor did they see that she had two bottles of prescription medication buried even deeper in her purse. After than fun experience, we learned that they pat you down before you can go in! At least they had a girls line and a boys line.

Sewing With a Cat

Technically, the title should be attempting to sew with a cat. I'm working some more on selvage blocks. If all goes well, this will be a purse for me. If it doesn't go well, it will be a purse for someone else. .... :o)I don't mind Blinky being in the room while I sew. I don't even mind if she sits on the table. But does she have to sit slap in the middle of what I'm trying to do?!

The Miss Innocent/Who Me? look.

Selvage Purse Update

Thanks to Karen Griska for posting my selvage purse on her blog. I first got my inspiration from all the fabulous creations I saw on her blog. I'm collecting more selvages while I decide what my next project will be.

One Lonely Thing

My only sewing this week (Where did the time go?!) was one lonely bow. I don't even have a picture of it. I made the purse on the left first, and gave it to my sister. Then I made the purse on the right that I kept. When she saw mine, she wanted a bow for hers. So I made her one and delivered it. The end.