Thursday 6 September 2012

Rustling up a rucksack whilst we are waiting for the giveaway to cook

Thank you to all the entrants in the giveaway - feeling nervous now and hope that I haven't 'bigged' up the prizes! Interesting that the embroidered seems to be the favourite - thinking of starting an 'Embroidered Purse Emporium' this afternoon..... I have sooooo many things to make in my head it is a shame that only a few things get out of there to play in the real world!

Will put names into three different (relevant time period) hats next week so time for others to enter if desired.

Just off to work so hastily put together this post.  Bronte put in a request for a rucksack/duffel type bag - I said that she could have free rein on any of the fabrics that I have.....gulp.....a rash moment......I had to wait three days for the decision to be made....gulp again....would it be something very rare...double gulp.....'Mmmm....I'm not sure' said Bronte......triple gulp

In the end Bronte chose some Walt Disney fabric (?from the 1970s or maybe 60s) a pair of curtains that I bought a while ago from a charity shop (4.99 if I remember correctly).

Very simple to make - I used a large dinner plate as a pattern for the bottom and then a simple large rectangle stitched down the side for the main part.


A fold of paper with half a circle made the flappy bit. Bronte is still deciding which button to use as a fastener.  A bit of adjustment to ensure everything fits together neatly


Two strips of fabric for the straps (vintage buckles optional - ho ho). Adjust according to new owners height and personal preferences! Make the lining just the same and stitch together - top stitching optional but I always prefer it.

I then inserted the eyelets - goodness me they were a shock of a price! I have only ever used the small ones before.  Does anyone know where you can buy them cheaply? I realise that I have put them in the wrong way round but either way looks fine to me. Finally thread through the ropey ties and add big beads at the ends for extra jingle jangle



Ta dah

PS: I was quite pleased so now going to make a duffley type bag for myself out of some 50s barkcloth...or maybe a patchwork embroidered one...or perhaps.... so many things to make
 I will work on my eyelet technique....


31 comments:

  1. I love it! And the way you manage to rustle up something before work.....do you ever sleep woman, I am home all day and still don't have any time. I guess the more time you have the more it slips away....

    I love self cover buttons but they can be a bit pricey too, I always avoid John Lewis- apart from the sale time. I find eBay the best for sewing accessories, mostly from china if you afford the long wait, whilst it comes via slow boat.

    Let me know when you opening your purse empororium, I will be first customer. ( despite having purse frames of my own .....other peoples stuff always look better) bit scared of starting my first purse off, I guess once I have done one it will get easier.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I dream of sleep....
      Many thanks as always for your kindness. Know what you mean about those buttons though the old ones turn up now and again as they appear to be often bought but seldom used. I will give ebay a whirl - though some things I like to see up close first!

      Pleaeeeeese have a go at making a purse - it took me a goodly amount of time to get it vaguely right but you can make mock ups out of raggedy fabric and then test it out.
      Best wishes
      Jenny

      Delete
  2. Not the backpack you will use when we trek the world together then?!
    It's great! The prizes are lovely, the winners will be very pleased with them, don't worry! Ada :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes indeed Ada - might have to scale up the size a bit!! Many thanks
      Jenny

      Delete
  3. Very vintage, love it and can't believe how quickly you made it. I couldn't tell the eyelets were the wrong way, they look the same on the inside and out to me, oh dear, maybe I shouldn't use any! x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Many thanks Cheryl - I think that there is supposed to be a front and back thingy but couldn't fathom it out!

      Delete
  4. Oooh, it's great! I can't imagine that it was easy though. Have spent the morning wrangling with stool covers. Oh dear, I need a stiff drink now. Hope you're having a good week. Hen x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I look forward to seeing your stool covers Hen - your latest photos look delicious as always. Nice and sunny week
      Best wishes
      Jenny

      Delete
  5. You clever bunny, that bag is lovely Donald Duck is one of my all time favourites, Lucey x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh - do you know I rediscovered the same fabric in white that I then remember that my mum gave it to me when I was a teenager (I think that it has a slight distortion in the pattern) - I must resolve to use it!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

      Delete
  6. Fabulous bag - love it!
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww many thanks Liz - I feel a range coming on..
      Best wishes
      Jenny

      Delete
  7. Am very impressed! Wish I could just rustle up something so lovely and unique xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Really was very simple - will do a proper tutorial thingy to demonstrate when time allows!
      Have a sunny day

      Delete
  8. Looks brilliant, you are clever! My mum was exactly the same, if we said we wanted anything she would just make it, rarely using a pattern.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes indeed - my mum was just the same and newspapers would be transformed into patterns for dresses and tops. How did they do that!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

      Delete
  9. Very cute ... love the fabric ... Bee :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Many thanks Bee - could be made in a range of sizes for little children too!

      Delete
  10. Yes those eyelets are flipping pricey - so much so it's always put me off buying them. But then recently at a car boot sale there was a lady selling off the entire contents of a seamstress's sewing kit and she sold me a large tub full of those things for a few pounds. I was over the moon. But sadly I have no idea where a cheap supplier is -maybe eBay - one of the Chinese sellers?

    Still haven't tried to use them though - I don't know how - must sit down and try.

    Fabby fab backpack and you've made it look so easy to do - so blimey another thing for my To Do list because I could use something like that for lugging around my charity shop loot. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah yes - the car boot beckons I think and it is not uncommon to find someone selling off old stock as it were. I had to find a Youtube video to fathom out how to use them....
      Bag size could be scaled up for charity shopping purposes....
      Have a sunny day
      Best wishes
      jenny

      Delete
  11. Wonderful backpack. I think you must have the best charity shops ever in your area. I keep looking in all the ones within a 20 mile radius of my home and they never ever have anything similar to the materials you find. :-) Philippa xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah these came from a favoured 'one off' type of charity shop where I can stay a while and chat with the ladies and we discuss the merits of making things ourselves and twitter on endlessly!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

      Delete
  12. Dear Jenny you are so very talented,I LOVE the duffel bag,I must make something soon,I don't know how you find the time!!!! Kind Regards Pam.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Time is relative Pam! Ho ho - a little Dr Who joke there! Making the bag did not take very long because I cobbled it together using my simple plate pattern. Last night I got up at 2.30 and then went to bed at 4.45.....a bit tired now...
      Lovely to see your photos on your blog Pam
      Best wishes
      jenny

      Delete
  13. Great backpack! I never find any thing decent in our local charity shops! I'll have to look further afield! I've never tried eyelets but always loved the look of them - keep us posted if you find a good source won't you??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will indeed Gill - it may be ebay by the sounds of thing!
      Best wishes
      jenny

      Delete
  14. Hi Jenny,Lucky Bronte,the bag is gorgeous,you ARE Clever you know. Your giveaways are gorgeous too,happy weekend,love JulieXxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww many thanks Julie. Bag not fancy in any way and perhaps should have put extra pockets on the inside/outside....may be next time...
      Best wishes
      Jenny

      Delete
  15. Love the duffly bag Jennie, the fabric and style are wonderful - clever you and lucky Bronte.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. Just deleted myself! Was going to say that it was not too clever - just too mean to buy a pattern. Bronte tie dyed some t shirts yesterday - the creating continues!

      Delete