ChrisW Designs

FREE Bag Pattern - Coco!

2012-02-18T13:55:06+10:00

Yay! Today I am really pleased to be adding a FREE bag pattern to my Blog for you to enjoy! Now you can try out one of my patterns for NIX! :)

I've had fun making this bag, I hope you like it! Here's a pic:

FREE Pattern!

Features:

The Coco is just right for a day out! It closes with a magnetic snap and has an inside slip pocket as well. Featuring grommets, piped handles with hooks and rivets too, nobody will believe you made it yourself!

Finished bag size = 33cmW X 11.5cmD X 20cmH. (13”W X 4½”D X 8”H)

All the details of what you need to make this bag, full step by step instructions and pics, where to get your supplies and much more is all included in the PDF file for you!

YOU CAN DOWLOAD YOUR FREE BAG COCO BAG PATTERN HERE

I do hope you enjoy this free pattern and if so, I hope you will share the link and maybe even add a link to it on your own blog! (You are welcome to grab the pic!) That would be wonderful and very much appreciated! :)

Special thanks to my wonderful pattern testers, in particular Maria for finding my pattern booboos and Naomi for naming this bag for me and for proof reading! I would be LOST without these wonderful Ladies! Thank you!

Enjoy!
Cheers,

Happy New Year!

2012-01-11T08:45:10+10:00

WOW....isn't it hard to believe we are already 11 days into 2012? It seems like only yesterday when I was seeing in the Year 2000 and everyone was panicking there would be a massive computer meltdown! LOL! Here it is more than 12 years later! Oh well....time doesn't stand still for anyone and least of all (it seems! LOL) ME!

I was wondering what the most common New Year's Resolution was this year? So .....I googled it and got the Top 10:

Well....I don't know what yours is BUT mine is (Most of the above?? LOLL) to make LOTS of new patterns and particularly some FREE ones for this BLOG! I am working on one now.....so please DO watch out for it! PLUS if you have any suggestions for a free pattern you would like to see AND/OR some free tutorials, please email me and let me know....No promises....BUT I'll see what I can do! J

Happy Bag Making in 2012!

Another Savannah....

2011-12-14T14:56:43+10:00

Today I FINALLY finished another Savannah.....I started this one weeks ago BUT I didn't get time to finish it until now. This one is Black Canvas with a gorgeous Michael Miller fabric as a contrast. I LOVE this fabric!

Looks smart, don't you think?

I get my gorgeous Michael Miller Fabrics from Michelle at Hypernoodle Fabrics on Etsy. Michelle pairs the fabric up in duos and trios which sure makes it easy to choose when buying online! Do check out her Etsy store!

Interfacing/Stabiliser Alternatives!

2011-12-09T10:54:45+10:00

Ahhh the dreaded Interfacing/stabiliser topic again! LOL One of the most common queries I receive from fellow bag makers purchasing my patterns, is which interfacings/stabilisers can I suggest as an alternative to the ones I have used in my patterns. Mostly because the ones I have used are not available to them or where I am not specific enough as to which ones are suitable. (Like when I say “Medium weight interfacing”)

So I have put together a guide of alternative products which I hope you will find helpful!

Note while NOT identical products, the weight and hand of these products are similar to those I use so you should achieve results similar to that which would be achieved using the products I have used! :)

You can download this handy PDF guide by clicking here!

Cheers,

Move Brightly!

2011-12-08T09:11:00+10:00

Oh I really DO LOVE bright coloured bags and when Barbara from "Move Brightly" contacted me to let me know she has made some of my patterns up in GORGEOUS coloured, hand dyed Hemp fabrics....I just simply had to share them here with you!

Check out this Evelyn:

Gosh I just LOVE this colour!! And there is this Bella:

and this Bella:

...and the BEST part is they are available NOW in her Etsy Store, so do stop by and check it out! :)

Cheers,

Floral Rose Evelyn....

2011-12-07T08:50:00+10:00

DO check out this gorgeous Floral Evelyn:

Tracey Lipman has crafted this beauty and what is more, she has it available in her Etsy store right now, in time for Christmas!

Not only that.....she also has two other Evelyn's available as well:

and:

DO stop by Tracey's Etsy store and see if you can bag yourself an Evelyn for Christmas! :)

Cheers,

No time to sew??

2011-12-06T08:39:48+10:00

If you are too busy to make your own ChrisW Designs bag, why not get one custom made especially for you?

Kassey from "That's So Sassy - Designs by Kassey" is only to happy to help you out! YOU can choose the fabric you want from Joanns and Kassey will do the rest! Voila! A beautiful custom made bag, just for you, in your choice of fabrics!

Simply stop bt her facebook page let Kassey know which bag you are after and she'll be in touch to woirk out the details! Too easy! :)

Cheers,

Savannah....Now available both on my website and Etsy!

2011-11-22T19:07:25+10:00

Life's been rather hectic lately so I haven't had a chance to officially announce Savannah's arrival! Hmmm....It sounds like I am announcing the arrival of a new baby....well...in a way I guess I am! Each of my designs goes through much growth and development and are special to me....they ARE my babies! LOLLL

Anyway.....I am happy to say that Savannah is now available both on my website and in my Etsy Store! Oh and I almost forgot to mention....Savannah is rated "Intermediate",
so some bag making experience will make things easier for you!

Happy Bag Making!
Cheers,

Savannah Messenger........

2011-11-01T12:47:03+10:00

Here's a sneak peak at my next pattern to be released mid November or so....The "Savannah"....a large messenger style bag! It is currently off with my wonderful pattern testers Maria, Naomi and Lotta....a special BIG thanks to Naomi for her wonderful help with naming! ....

The bag is dedicated to my dear friend Nioka and her beautiful granddaughter "Savannah"...this one is for YOU! :)

Features

The Savannah is super roomy and LOADED with pockets to keep you super organized! There are 2 side pockets and a back zipper pocket. Under the flap there is another zipper pocket, 3 large slip pockets, 3 medium slip pockets and 4 pen pockets. Inside the bag is a laptop slip pocket (Or whatever you wish to use it for! LOL) with a button closure, a zipper divider pocket and three slip pockets. The flap closes with a hook and there is an adjustable strap! This bag has MANY uses including Weekender, Laptop Bag, School bag, Book Bag, Nappy Bag, Shopping Companion, Camera Bag and much more......

Finished bag size = 46cmW X 13cmD X 29cmH. (18”W X 5”D X 11½”H)

Some Pics:

I hope you like Savannah!

Cheers,

My Vintage Sewing Machines!

2011-10-07T15:27:46+10:00

Well.......my dh wanted to spend his Sunday going to a swap meet. Normally I will find something else which I just HAVE to do....HE may find bits of twisted metal and other car bits and pieces laying on the ground, interesting....BUT I can't really say that I do! BUUUT....This time I decided to go along anyway. MUCH to my delight, the so called 'automotive' swap meet had a lot more than just 'automotive'! PHEW! SOMETHING for me to look at afterall!

Anyway....I must say that there was a lot of....errr...well..ummm..JUNK! WOW it is AMAZING what some people will try and sell you...and at what PRICES! LOLLL Nevertheless I made my way around the rows and rows of...uhhmmm.....stuff.... and then all of a sudden out of the blue, there right before my very EYES...was a lonely little sewing machine! WOW....NOW things were really getting interesting!! LOL

Before I knew it, some gremlin had taken hold of me and my wallet...and I had BOUGHT the machine...not knowing a darn thing about it or even if it worked! But, hey...it was a Singer and it was only $20 so...what could I lose? Right? LOL

I had NO idea it would WEIGH so MUCH! Thank goodness dh was not far away.....I managed to con him into hauling it back to the car for me.....

Then...back to the Swap Meet we went.... I continued on my merry way, quite pleased with myself! Then, out of the sea of stuff, SOMETHING caught my eye! There, laying on the ground, among a whole pile of other things which I do not care to remember...a wonderful GREEN MACHINE was calling my name!! Low and behold.....THIS machine came with all the bits and pieces, book, feet, cams...EVERYTHING and best of all....it was only $10!

I know you can guess where it is now?? LOLLL Of course, it is taking pride of place in my sewing room too! AND it purrs like a kitten, I might add!!

Of course.....the next few days I was all but CONSUMED with cleaning and reading and finding out as much as I could about my 'new' old sewing machines! WOW...I must say it was FUN to discover that you can find out EXACTLY which model you have as well as where and even what DAY your machine was manufactured, just from it's serial number! I found out that my 'new' old black beauty was a Singer (OK, that bit I knew already! LOL) Model 201K manufactured on May 3, 1950 in Clydebank, Scotland.

I found out that my mean green machine is a Singer (Yes, OK, I already knew that too!) Model 320K manufactured on January 16, 1961 in Clydebank, Scotland.

All you have to do to find out is go here: http://www.singerco.com/ and 'contact' them with your serial number and a day or two later you have your answer!

Thank goodness for the internet! You can even find free manuals to download if you haven't got one! (I wanted one for the 201K as it didn't come with one!)

I also found out a lot of other interesting things! The 320K is rare in the US because they didn't distribute them there BUT here in Australia, they are not so rare and if you are lucky, like me, you can score yourself one! :)

I couldn't figure out how to operate the 201K as it didn't come with a foot controller and I wondered what on earth that funny metal bar was up inside the case...turns out it is knee controlled! The controller (Absent in the photo, because dh is rewiring it for me) lives in the box to the right of the machine and the funny bar which is the knee contoller, goes into the hole at the front! I can't wait to test it out!!

As for the 320K....I soon discovered it uses a different size needle than regular machines so I had to track them down. It uses 206X13 size. It was easy of course, thanks again to the internet! Margaret from KentuckyArgie (Etsy shop) is my needle lady and sure enough, she can order them in for me! If you need needles or other sewing notions, she's your lady!!....These needles only come in 3 sizes now and only Schmetz make them!

NEXT time dh decides to go to a swap meet...I shall be sure to tag along too....why not? One never knows what one might find! :)

Cheers,