Good news, my poor fingers have healed enough to be functional again! I still manage to bang my knuckle about 10 times a day right where that cut is healing (which hurts like hell), but it doesn't bleed any more, so that's a good sign. Isn't it crazy how such seemingly little things cause so much pain?
As soon as the craziness of the day settled down yesterday, I escaped to my sewing room. I started this bag before my injuries, which wasn't that long ago, but my goodness, I had a hard time remembering where I left off. Everything was already cut out, all I had to do was sew.
When I committed myself to a spring line using vintage linens, I knew that I wanted to include a tote sort of bag. It had to be something fresh looking, something you'd want to use with a cute dress or jeans and springy cardigan. My first thought was one of those bias trimmed bagswith the bias trim handle, but I don't like to make those. Fiddling with bias trim is a pain, and making my own bias trim is even more of a pain, so that idea was out. Plus, when I've made those sort of bags I feel like the handles aren't strong enough. After 2 failed attempts, I came up with what I think is a winner. My first version was too poofy, my second was too wide, but this one is just right. In fact, I'm a little in love with it.
When I finished sewing it up I wasn't totally convinced that this was the one. Those pleats bothered me a little...would they hold up and lay right once in use? I decided to load my stuff into the bag and carry it around for a little while to test it out. I'm happy to report that so far, so good! I wasn't planning on making myself one of these bags, but it looks like I did - I don't want to give it up! Never mind that I have a spring bag for myself already cut out and ready to sew...
Along with the clutches, you can expect to find some of these in my spring shop update. I plan to include 2 more designs as well - a smaller bag and small zippered pouch - everything will have an exterior made from vintage linens with a polka dot lining. I've never done a collection of bags with a common theme before. This whole process has been much more fun than I thought - so much fun that I might just have to do it again!
