Living Out of the Box

Thursday: Tutorial Trial: Noodleheads' Drawstring Backpack

I love sewing. For the most part. BUT, I am self taught and really really slow. I can't following a paper pattern, but probably because I have never been taught. I can, follow instructions. I had spotted this Drawstring Backpack from Khaki Pants on Noodleheads and I HAD to try it. For the most part, I followed the directions to a t... except for using cord for the straps as I had everything BUT cord so I used fleece binding and sewed it up. It actually turned out well to use it because it is soft and squishy as well as being the perfect amount for premade binding. I ended up making three of them... one for each of the little boys and one for my neice, Miss K.

First, I started with a pair of pants, just like the pattern. The boys are made from Mr. A's wedding pants... linen khakis as we got married on the beach in FL :)

I worked in the zipper... it was my first time sewing a zipper since 8th grade home ec! The one for Miss K, I had misplaced her pink zipper so I recycled a zipper from one of the million first class packs we have recieved from flying. I always feel guilty just tossing them out so now I am excited to rip the fancy zippers out of them first!

 

The hardest part? Surprisingly, not the zipper, but making sure the tabs to thread the straps through line up. I don't like ironing too much, so the end results weren't ironed. T has been using his as his school bag which works well since they only get a paper here and there. We used the boys bags as their toy travel packs which have been perfect. They both can carry them and if they are too heavy, they are too full of toys that they don't need!

I really like the fabric for Miss K's... Apples and Pears. See the fancy zipper with the fancy little leather pulls?

Ugh... that wall looks nasty. Guess there is something else to add to my list... Any way, back to the matter at hand....

 
Anna's instructions were easily read and followed, even for a beginner like me! I think that she lays everything out nicely so that you don't miss anything. By the third bag, I didn't even need to follow the directions and remembered all the measurements which made everything super breezy. Next I am going to try her Fold Over Bag... I can't wait!

xoxo N

 

Thursday Tutorial Trial -- Crochet Bear

 Meet Miss Miffy. She's a bear. Eventually she is going to make her way to my niece in Minnesota. There are a few more things I want to put together to go along with Miss Miffy. I am certain I will showcase them later!

I taught myself to crochet a few months ago. It is much easier than I expected and despite being left handed, the instructions are easier to follow than many knitting patters. I got this crochet boy and girl from HERE and while it isn't a site I generally check out, it looks like they have some fun things. I am a member of Ravelry which has a great list of patterns and links to what other people have made (knitting and crochet) If you look up the pattern on Knit and Crochet Now! TV, it looks like it is pattern 13.

My only problem with most amigurumi patterns (small crocheted objects) is that most seem to turn out weird. Like most patterns seem to have too many repeat rows which make things look a little oblong. So I just took a couple of extra rows out of the head and a couple out of the body and things seemed fine. I think that they are great for beginners who are looking for something different than a hat or a scarf.

Happy Hooking! (As in CROCHET... shesh! Mind out of the gutter people!!!)

xoxo N