Yoga mat bag

It has been a little over two years since the day Shannon and I hopped on a treadmill to test our ability to run a mile under 14 minutes, two weeks later we signed up and ran our first 5K, and so the journey into running began. I have since run three half marathons and am loving this new habit of mine.

Running then took me to yoga. I had tried yoga a few years ago and found it to be too challenging, I now think I went to a really advanced class back then, this time I fell in love with it. With everything I was learning at work and as a new runner I became conscious of the importance of stretching and breathing and yoga fulfilled that.

We recently moved to a new area and a yoga studio is just down the street. I decided to make a yoga mat sling, all I need is my mat, I am one block away. The problem is that yoga studio is not as affordable as my old gym, so I cannot go as often. I might have to travel farther and a bag would be more appropriate. I was so pleased with the way my sling turned out, I decided to finally make the yoga mat bag I had been planning for months.

I followed a free pattern from Amy Butler, you can find it here. I also followed Jane's Girl Designs tutorial and made a few little changes along the way. I used a stiffer interfacing on the exterior fabric, I do not like the look of flimsy bags. I also do not like slip pockets, so I made an elastic pleated one instead.

Fabrics: 

• Namaste Yoga Poses Oatmeal 1/2 yrd
• Namaste Geo Light 1/2 yrd
• Kaufman Essex Yarn Dyed Linen Blend Black 1 yrd

A HUGE thank you to my good friend Diana, aka LadyDi, for taking these awesome pictures, and for her patience and her time.

A bag for Kristal

I was looking to make the BEST bag for when I start my college program next month! I really love the Pritemps fabric collection from 3 sisters, and after falling in love with the fabric combination of my yoga mat sling I went ahead and used the left over scraps. Oops spoiler alert, I haven't made that post yet...coming soon.

 A few months ago I bought Sara Lawson's book, " Big City Bags". I have made a total of three bags from that book. 1. Lucky Denver Mint Bag owner can't be revealed yet , 2.Fireside Bowl Bag ,  for my mom's good friend., and 3. Piccadilly Circus Handbag for my good friend Marcia, a lover of handmade and handbags.

This is bag is the fourth one I've made from this book...and every single one I make I love even more!

Organized!

I made the side panels using "the crazy 9 patch squares", a pattern given to me at the San Diego quilt run, you can read all about it here.

This is my back to school bag, but I finished it the night before a trip, I was so excited about how beautiful it turned out I just had to bring it with me. Also, it was a great opportunity to take some great pictures of it in beautiful locations.

Fine! I've been sold. The beach is AWESOME. 

Black and White Bag

Another beauty from my "big city bags" book. Again, this was made pre-blog, and these are the only two photos I found. Lovely bag!

A bag for Letita

I had originally bought this fabric to make pillow shams, but I haven't explored that area and it was a shame having it sit there for months. So, I put to good use once I bought the book "Big City Bags".

 This was made pre-blog. I am thankful I thought about at least taking these pictures. It now lives with it's new owner, which I just went on a weekend trip with and she brought it with her. I saw it in use! but I forgot to take pictures. This I made for one of my mom's good friend, and why not? my friend too. Do to health issues she has to travel every month and I thought it would be a nicer trip if she flew in style.

A bag for Marcia

My friend sporting her new bag. 

Very smart, kind, and generous, are only a few words to describe Marcia. She is one of the most awesome teachers I know, dedicated and committed to her students' learning and development and some one like that is always in need of a new bag and what better than in a numbers themed fabric.

This was again pre-blog so details and pictures are scarce. I had just purchased my new book "big city bags" and was excited to jump on it and start sewing.

Looks like she loves it...right? Just as much as I love making it for her.

My Bag!

Yet another noodlehead's pattern, "The Cargo Duffle". I really love her style and her instructions. This pattern is FREE! you can get it at Robert Kauffman's website, and it is an easy pdf download. 

Fabric:

• Printemps Lace Pond by 3 Sisters by Moda #44033-14
• Dimple pimk fabric

cut, labeled, and color matched

pockets are ready!

elastic inside pockets

inside zipper pocket.

Kindle Tablet Cover

I really wanted to experiment making it as padded as possible since I was making it for my nephew. I made him one for Christmas out of flannel and within months of a lot of love he was in need for another one. During spring break he came to visit and asked for it. In the course of two evenings I was done. I used fussible pello 971F, and to that I added a layer of felt for batting. Added music key notes as applique.

The cover opens from the top into the side.

It was a bit of a challenge to figure out how to add the limning. You sew it as if it were a regular zipper pouch and then the insides together leaving an open gap to be able to flip the project.

Gifts for three great friends

I had a few friends in mind who were due for a handmade with love present from me. I really wanted to try out Noodlehead's pattern 241 bag and this was the perfect excuse. If you haven't figured it out yet, I really, really love noodlehead's work. This was the perfect gift for all four friends. I am sure they love bags as much as I do, and this one is very unique with lots of pockets.

I purchased the pattern and headed out one Friday to shop around for excessive amounts of fabric, I had too many people in mind.

Three stores to find the perfect fabric.

Shuap Shuap's

Inside!

Tanya's Birthday/first subscriber bag

Happy Beautiful Lady!

Melissa's girly gym bag.

Tote bags

I've always loved tote bags. I think they are very practical and useful. They can be used as a personal bag or as a carry-the-extra-stuff bag. Taking up sewing made me want to make my own. I wanted to make it quilted and colorful, just for myself. Searching all over the internet trying to come across a free tutorial was hard. Most of the patterns I found were for sale. I wasn't willing to pay. I am trying very hard to make this hobby as inexpensive as possible. Eventually, I came across this wonderful lady who is my sewing angel! She has a lot of tutorials on almost everything sewing. I have learned a lot from her. You should check her out here. At the time I was trying to make everything with 60° triangles. I was more worried about the design on the bag then the bags' own design. I made this one for my mom as a Christmas present.

I came to find that this bag was too basic and was missing pockets, a zipper and snaps. I did not know how to add any of these. I went again on a search to find a tutorial, but nothing made sense. I saw somebody post a very neat tote bag on instagram, big and fancy with all the things I mentioned I was missing before. After digging around Instagram I found out it was noodlehead's super tote. I just had to buy the pattern. I love the bag, loved her blog, and loved her entrepreneurial spirit. All of a sudden I wasn't worried about spending money on patterns. I bought two of them! Check her out! You will also like her work.

I really really loved the super tote. Have I mentioned that already? Well I can't stop making them!

Inside out!

Guess what?! I have not made one for myself yet! So far I've made a bag for my mom. I made a super tote for my mother-in-law. I loved it! So, I went on to make one for Seth's grandmother and another one for his great aunt. It is very satisfying and makes sewing much more fun to sew for someone you already have in mind. I put projects for myself on hold because sewing for a loved one fills my heart. Does this happen to you too?