Anybody out there care to do some pattern testing for me? I have two patterns that I've been sitting on for at least a year, probably longer. Ridiculous, right?
One is for a bag very similar to my free Phoebe Bag pattern. I get so many requests to make & sell these bags (sorry, please don't make & sell my free patterns), that I decided to come up with a solution - The Ruby Bag. The Ruby Bag, is slightly larger than the Phoebe and contains two additional variations on the design - a front pocket and a center panel. I started making samples for the pattern cover of this bag last summer, but petered out before I got them all made. My solution to the Phoebe dilema is that if you purchase the Ruby pattern you get rights to make the Phoebe for sale in limited quantities (as always), as long as proper credit is given.
The second pattern is the ??? Bag (still figuring out a name). I first made this one about a two years ago, but never went anywhere with it. It's a simple, roomy bag with a few pleats, a center panel option, and a top band.
One thing I always strive for in my patterns is simplicity. I like making patterns with different components (center panel, top band, etc) that you can customize to your own liking. If you're feeling adventurous, you can use different fabrics for each component. Feeling more reserved, make it all out of one fabric. Want to add some ruffles or covered buttons? Go for it! I also don't do zippers and fancy pockets. This isn't because I don't know how to do those, I simply don't like to. When I make a bag, I want to make it with as little fiddling as possible. If there are too many details to deal with, I lose interest.
Y'all, I've got so many patterns that I've drafted to near completion that are just sitting on my harddrive. Sitting there because I've doubted them in some way or got sidetracked by other projects (or got pregnant and had my brain sucked out of my body!). It is my goal to get those babies out!!
So, any takers, er testers?
P.S. don't forget about the Hand in Hand giveaway! (I just realized that I titled that post hand AND hand instead of Hand IN hand. yes, i'm a dork)
P.S.S. If you were ever curious where I get the names for my patterns, Phoebe was my dog. Gosh, I loved that dog, even though she was a mess! I got her when I was a in college and had her until she passed at 13 years old. She was a brittany spaniel and chewed/ate everything in sight. Boy, do I have some stories about her. One of the funniest involded her cast iron stomach and a bottle of suntan oil...I'll spare you the details, ha ha. Ruby, well, you know Ruby. She's also a mess!!
