Work In Progress: The Fringe Bag!

I’ve been having some frustrations with the fringe bags I’m working on. I started putting together the linings and zippers and when I sew them into the bag, it gets all weird. Kinda twisty like? That’s hard to explain but you can probably tell in the picture below, how the zipper gets all wavy rather than laying flat. I think the solution will be to try one with no lining, just a zipper. The bag really doesn’t need a lining anyway, I just thought it would be pretty.

Another thing I’ve been working on is trying to decide how I want to attach the strap. The first one I did was the green one below. I used little D rings, because I thought it would look nicer. But no matter how I attach the ring, it ends up turning so the pointy end is up. I would have tried O rings if any stores around here had them (I hate ordering supplies online, too impatient). So I ended up just attaching it to the top round on the blue one, which looks a lot nicer I think.

I really want to finish this pattern already! It seems too simple to be taking so long but I’m kind of a perfectionist! :P Anyway, I’m gonna keep working on it and I would love to hear what you think!

  6 Comments

Giveaway! I Hope You Like Pink!

I hope you like pink because I’m having a big pink giveaway! One lucky person will win everything in the picture above! You get a High Tide Skully with ear flaps, a Heartbeat Skully, a Beary, and a pair of Peacock Barefoot Sandals.

Wanna win it all!? Here’s how to enter:

First Entry: Leave a comment below & tell me what your favorite color/color combo to wear is (doesn’t have to be pink!).

Want extra entries? Post a separate comment for any of the following:
♥ Like Gleeful Things on Facebook
♥ Tweet this about the giveaway on Twitter:
@GleefulThings is having a big PINK #handmade #crochet giveaway! Enter here for a chance to win: http://www.gleefulthings.com/blog/?p=5763
♥ Follow Gleeful Things on Twitter
♥ Post about this giveaway on your blog (leave your link in the comment).

Entries will be accepted until Midnight on Tuesday, April 30th.


P.S. The winner of the previous giveaway, for the Heartbeat Skully Hat is Francie! Congrats Francie! I’ll be contacting you by email! :)

  100 Comments

Yarn Storage Basket Sewing Tutorial

I’m so excited to share this tutorial with you! Jo-Ann so generously sent me some fabrics from their new line of HGTV Home Fabrics to try out and review and I used them to make a big yarn storage basket! I really love this Urban Blossom fabric that they sent me because it’s honestly really me! It actually reminds me of the fabric that I have in the header on my blog. The HGTV Home Fabrics line also has some chevron prints that I really like as well as some other floral prints! Jo-Ann also sent me a coupon for you so if you’d like to try these fabrics, scroll down for a coupon! :)

Now, I’m going to show you how I made my yarn basket! It’s a pretty simple project, but definitely requires some sewing experience! This basket is big (12″ high x 17″ wide) so it would be great for so many things, like a laundry basket even!

Supplies:

♥ 1 yard each of two coordinating fabrics – I’m using HGTV Urban Blossom Berry & HGTV Checkered Past Berry
♥ 54 inches of matching trim – I’m using HGTV 1” Pleat Twill Mulberry
♥ 2 yards of extra stiff interfacing
♥ Sewing machine and basic sewing supplies/tools

Step 1: Cutting out all the pieces:

♥ From both fabrics & interfacing – cut 1 circle that is 17 inches in diameter (53 inch circumference) + 1 piece (for the sides) that is 54 inches long x 13 inches tall.

♥ From the outer fabric – cut two pieces that are 12 inches long x 3 inches tall (for the handles)

Step 2: Handle pieces: With right sides together, sew along the long edge (green line) using a 1/2″ seam allowance.

Step 3: Turn the handles right side out and use your iron to press them flat. Top stitch along the green lines.

Step 4: On both of your fabrics & interfacing: With right sides together, sew along the short edge (green line) using 1/2″ seam allowances.

Step 5: On both of your fabrics & interfacing: Pin the bottom circle to the side piece (right sides together) and sew around the circle (green line) using 1/2″ seam allowances.

Step 6: Pin the handles in place on your outer fabric.

Step 7: Putting all the pieces together!

Put the outer fabric inside the interfacing and then with right sides together, put the lining fabric inside the outer fabric. Pin all the way around then sew together using a 1/2″ seam allowance. Be sure to leave about 6 inches unsewn so that you can turn the whole thing right side out.

Step 8: Turn right side out and pin the hole shut that you left for turning.

Step 9: Pin your trim in place all the way around the top edge. Sew around (this will also sew up the hole that you left for turning).

All done! Now stuff it full of yarn and enjoy! :)

I was able to fit about 45 skeins of yarn in there! If you wanted to make a smaller basket, it would be really easy by simply making a smaller diameter circle. Here is a circumference calculator that I always find helpful for this sort of thing!

Here is a 10% off coupon for you to use! From April 14 – May 4, the HGTV HOME line is 50% off at Jo-Ann and the coupon can be used during that time for extra savings!

  7 Comments

Tutorial Round Up!

1. Crochet flowers - pretty, pretty!
2. Cupcake candy jars – Clever use of caulk!

3. Flower photo booth backdrop – This is so pretty, I’d put it on my wall just because!
4. Crochet skull motif - I want to sew one of these onto a hat or bag!

5. Leather tassel keychains – I want to try making these with various (non-fraying) fabrics.
6. Simple crochet bows – Simple but so cute! I need to find a use for these!

7. Striped slouch hat – I love this hat pattern and need to make one so bad!
8. Tiny clay pots – This is so clever! I’m going to try making some larger versions of them!

  3 Comments

Work In Progress: More Fringe Bags!

I’m loving making these fringe bags! Thank you for all of the love you guys left on my last post about them! I always love hearing your feedback on stuff I’m designing.

I had fun shopping for lining fabrics yesterday. I think I’m probably going to make maybe five of these before I post the pattern, just to experiment with different fringe styles and embellishments.

Anyway, sorry for the quick post. I wish I had more to show you but I haven’t had as much time to work on them lately as I’d like to!

  2 Comments