A Boy's scripture bag

As you know I've made a few scripture bags for girls. Or maybe you don't since my blogging has been so sporadic this year. In any case, I have. I was looking forward to working with a different pattern in anticipation for Beckham's big day. As it turns out our cousin is an amazing seamstress and had a pattern that was perfect for Beckham's request for his bag. She sent the pattern right over.

The cool thing is she trusted me with half of a pattern. It wasn't quite finished, but she felt I just might have the skills to do it anyway. I would say that was mostly true. Except for the part where I misread a whole step and didn't add the lining at the top *blush* Oh well. As I told Skye, the white (that was supposed to also include the striped lining fabric as well) is a special one of a kind feature of Beckham's bag. An extra pop of color if you will.

Inside out view

Inside out view. There should be brown and blue striped fabric on top of the white duck cloth. It's cool. It's a new feature ;) The suit fabric is an inside pocket.

Right side out, looking in

The truth is, when it's right side out, no one even notices.

I constructed the bag from suiting material. It felt masculine and timeless to me. I wanted something that was cool now, but would still be fitting as he grew older.

I added the grommets because metal is the perfect accessory for anything you give a boy.

 It's akin to something sparkly for a girl.

I also added one additional pocket more than the pattern called for. The big front pocket the grommets are on. Beckham is a pocket kind of a boy :)

Here is the exterior pocket the pattern calls for

Karaia helped me choose the mustard yellow zipper and thread.

LOVE the zipper pull tabs!

 We really went back and forth between what color to chose. I'm glad she was there to help!

I am thrilled with how it turned out. Nice and sturdy, great lines to look at, fun features like the zipper tabs, and fun to sew. Good times.

More about the Head-eating-Elvis collar

The photographer sent me this picture

Hilarious!

Now for more on how this fantastic photo came to be.

My cousin Chrissy is an amazing, truly gifted, seamstress.

I brought her thisAnd in no time she had drawn me up a pattern. She used math and everything just to be sure to get all the curves just right.

From there I took the pattern and the original outfit and figured out how to construct it. That's right, no directions! Yeah me! I did call Chrissy and ask her a few basics, considering I have never sewn a sleeve or collar in my life.

I ended up with this

I am so proud of myself. I had no idea I could do such things. As you can see it looks very proportional on the hanger. Not at all like a head-eating-Elvis collar. The problem came in that I allowed for a 5/8" seam and only sewed a 1/4" seam resulting in a size bigger than intended. I'm told that comes from being more acclimated to quilting than clothing construction. But I'm learning.

I can't wait to see what I can do next. Its like I have surprises waiting inside of me I never knew about.

How fun!

Here are the cute little loafers my mom crocheted to go along with the outfit. Sanders was in a "mood" and kept rubbing his feet together and knocking them off during the photo shoot. We'll get some with them on though.

The pictures don't do them justice. I've already "ordered" some more in different colors from Mom. Too cute.

PS the color behind the shoes in my new kitchen color. Don't you just love it?!??!?!

Crafty

I've alluded to becoming crafty recently. I thought I'd post one of the items I have been making in mass recently, along with my first ever tutorial! Just in case you would like to make some too. Remember this is my first tutorial. There's bound to be some confusion. Just ask questions at the end.

This, is a stationary holder.




It's a darling little project that can be personalized and filled with all sorts of treasures. I got the idea from here.


It's very easy to make. A one hour project if you will.

Buy a 13" x 14" canvas bag at your local craft store.

Cut off the bottom and the sides.



Turn the two cut pieces so the handles are opposite each other. Cut out fabric to fit between the handle seam and the edge (about 10 1/4"--but it depends on how much you cut off the bottom) and half way up (about 5 1/2 "). I cut out a double layer of fabric for each pocket. Set the fabric aside.



On iron-on interface draw or copy the monogram of the child who the holder is for.


Remember to draw/copy it backwards on the paper side of the interface. Cut it out. Iron it onto the wrong side of the fabric you wish to use for the monogram.


Cut out the letter, peel off the interfacing and position and iron onto the front of the holder.


Sew around the edges of the letter to ensure stability. You can do this with contrasting or matching thread.


Sew the two fabric pieces of each pocket together. Then position the pockets onto their correct positions on the holder and sew along both sides and the bottom leaving the top open. (You are going to want to sew along all the cut edges of the canvas bag so that it can fray without unraveling. I incorporate sewing the bottom of pockets in at the same time I sew along the bottom of the bag.)

Once the pockets are in place and the bag has a seam along the top and bottom cut edges, then match the two halves of the bag up, pockets facing each other, and sew them together.



Add some velcro between each handle and your quick and easy project is completed.

Have fun!