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Sunday, July 31, 2016

Sewing Pinto's Purse (Buttercup Purse, Green Sewing)


Web Resources: "A Purse for Pinto" - Download or Listen on-line  (free) http://enchantedbysewing.blogspot.com/2016/07/ench-by-sew-45-purse-for-pinto-green.html

How about that fabric combination?
Felt great to use up new scraps
and an older remnant 
 In my July Enchanted by Sewing Audio- Podcast, I talked about my motivation for sewing Pinto's Buttercup purse, as well as describing some of the techniques involved in this use-up-the-scraps green sewing project. Here's how Pinto and her purse came together.
Not enough shirt scraps for the bag's outside, but piecing together the remaining bits, made a pretty lining to use inside this buttercup purse. The rosebud fabric was another remnant that had been hanging out in my fabric inventory for a goodly while!


Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Ench By Sew-45: A Purse for Pinto (Audio, Podcast,Green Sewing)


Click on this link in iTunes  to download the 45'th episode of the Enchanted by Sewing Audio Podcast,  recorded in July of 2016. Or listen directly on the web by clicking on this link.
 (http://traffic.libsyn.com/enchantedbysewing/FINALPurseForPintoButtercupLaurelShimerMadeByRae_EnchantedBySewing.mp3 )

In this show I talk about sewing Pinto's Purse using the free buttercup purse pattern from Rae at MadeByRae. Her original (free) pattern is available at http://www.made-by-rae.com/2009/02/free-buttercup-bag-sewing-pattern/

Rae's pattern is designed for laying out on a fat quarter.

My buttercup purse is an example of green sewing. I created it both from remnants saved in my fabric inventory and scraps from Pinto, a sleeveless princess-seamed shirt I had just finished.
 http://meencantacoser.blogspot.com/2016/07/summer-essentials-pinto-picnic-shirt.html


Snapshot of This Month’s Show

Primeros Pensamientos//First Reflections  

Rae has created a number of patterns linked at her site. One of them is this darling free purse. It’s a tiny bag, though you can enlarge the pattern easily on a photocopy machine or extend the pattern freehand. I’ve made several of these purses both in the original small size and also larger versions. The small original, which is big enough to hold my keys, iPhone, iPod and maybe a little cash or a bag for a doggie’s needs, is perfect for a walk or an evening out.
http://www.made-by-rae.com/2009/02/free-buttercup-bag-sewing-pattern/

When you visit Rae’s site to download this free pattern, you’ll find the terms of use. It’s free when you’re making it for personal use. Rae sells a licensed-to-sell version of this pattern for only $10. She also links to sewists who sell these licensed buttercup purses from her site.

I often vary the size, construction, and details of this purse.

Technicos/Techniques I use for altering and sew Rae's buttercup purse pattern

Rae includes directions for working at this pattern in the site, along with a how-to-layout the pattern.

The pattern pieces include:
a) Purse Outer Top – I call this the yoke. It shows on the outside
b) Purse Outer Bottom – . It shows on the outside.This is what you see the most of from a distance. This piece has tucks at it’s top edge to give the purse fullness, and make it blouse out from the bottom of the yoke.
c) Lining – The lining extends from the bottom of the outer bottom to the top of the outer top. This piece does not have tucks or gathers.
d) Strap (no pattern piece – Dimensions are Given)
e) Tab/Decorative Button Flap ( no pattern piece – Dimensions are Given)

My Buttercups
1) Turning Scraps into Lining and the Magic of the Zig Zag
2) How I increased the pattern size
  a. 129 percent size
  b. Extend the bottom for a bigger purse
 3) Play with it
            1. Paper
            2. Muslin
            3. Paper towels
 c. Vary strap length
 d. Add rings

4) Interfacing for Light Weight Fabric Body
5) Altering the original details to suit me
6) Considering Embellishment Options

  Pensamientos Finales/Final Thoughts

Buttercup purses Known and Loved – Kept and Given.
A few Buttercups that stand out in my mind

1) Red Toile Evokes Marie Antoinette
2) Think Vintage - Bluebird with Tatting
3) Little Christmas Cowgirl
4) Engagement Celebration
5) Buttercup Dreams …
. . .
I never get tired of using, sewing, or envisioning, these charming accessories. Thanks Rae! Your buttercups purses are just one more thing that keep me… 
Enchanted by Sewing

Saturday, July 16, 2016

Embellishing Pinto the Picnic Shirt


I've blogged about Pinto the Picnic shirt several times, and I wanted to share a parting tale. 
Or is that tail?
Nothing makes an essential summer shirt sing like the perfect embellishment!
I found these little rabbits in my button inventory. I think I might have purchased them at Button Button in Vancouver Canada.
Did you enjoy that sewist-in-vancouver podcast two summers back? If you missed it or want to listen again 
Vancouver B.C. Podcast including trip to marvelous fabric store and Button Button http://meencantacoser.blogspot.com/2014/11/ench-by-sew-026-embellishment-via.html

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Summer Essentials: Pinto the Picnic Shirt Terminado! (M6076)Sleeveless Princess-Seamed Shirt

Nothing like the neighborhood Fourth of July to inspire me to finish sewing Pinto the Picnic shirt. (I've blogged about my work fitting M6076 - both for Pinto and Western Winds numerous times  ) Pinto is such a cool, comfortable - not to mention cute (!) summer essential. I'm  looking forward to wearing her when I bike to summer chorus and also when buddy Marilyn and I next meet for a cup of tea. I know I'll also reach for her just any old time I reach into the armoire, looking for something to pickup my spirits. I sure hope to create a few more of these sleeveless wonders before fall.


Saturday, July 2, 2016

Summer Essentials: Cropped Pants

Are these Summer Essentials Exciting Sewing? 
No!
Practical though. I've worn out a number of pairs of these full-leggedelastic waist, cropped pants over the last ten years or so. This version is in light-weight denim. They work great with my princess-seamed Western Winds shirt. I'm at work on Pinto, another version of this shirt, and hope to make a few more of these sleeveless, princess-seamed shirts this summer. These pants, as well as the basic denim shorts I made last summer, will see a lot of summer wardrobe wear.


M2791 is out of print But there are many used versions available when you search the web