Military Messenger Bag: A New Pattern

(This post contains affiliate links!)

I'm a little late in announcing it here, but if you've been following along on Facebook, you may have seen/heard that there is a new pattern out! 

The Military Messenger Bag. 

And, what is even more exciting is that it is in One Thimble. 

That's right--right now it is exclusively available from One Thimble--either in Issue 15 or as a stand-alone pattern. 

This is the blurb I came up with about it: 

Inspired by my sons' love of anything military, I designed this bag as a book bag for pre-teens and teenagers. However, depending on your fabric choice, it works great for adults as well, as it includes a longer strap option for adults. Both strap options are adjustable.

The main features include the bellow pockets on the front, highlighted by the grommets. Also, the bag is reinforced by webbing that goes all the way around the sides and bottom to make sure that your creation will withstand the rigors of lugging books and other items. 

There are two options included. Option 1 is an asymmetrical flap with one pocket while Option 2 is a symmetrical flap with two pockets. Or, you can leave the pockets off and applique, embroider, or otherwise decorate the flap--the possibilities are endless!

This pattern includes printable pattern pieces and clear instructions with full color pictures. 

Finished size is approximately: 

Height: 12" Width: 10.75" and Depth 2"

Both my boys LOVE their bags! 

They take their Bibles and notebooks to Church in them, and they look pretty cool in the meantime. 

Fabrics used are a brown denim from Canadian National Fabric, and the rest are a camo twill type fabric and two quilting cottons from my stash. 

Hardware is from Emmaline Bags and the webbing from Cleaners Supply. 

Giveaway Day, Prizes, and Sponsors! **CLOSED**

Hi! If you have never visited before, welcome!

If you're a regular reader, thanks for sticking through.

 

I have some very exciting things happening right now--a contest, fabulous prizes, and a giveaway.

Make sure to finish reading to find the giveaway!

 

But, first:

Have you heard about the contest we are having over in our Facebook group?!

 

Find more details about the contest here.

 

I wanted to share with you what is up for grabs as prizes.

Seriously--over $110 in prizes.

 

We have some amazing prizes lined up from some equally amazing sponsors!

 

Up for grabs are:

 

$25 Shop Credit to Emmaline Bags!

 

 

$25 Shop Credit from Canadian National Fabric

 

 

 

A Fat Quarter Bundle from Stay Home Fabrics

 

 

 

$50 Gift Card to the Fat Quarter Shop

 

 

Pattern of Choice up to $10 value from Muffin Head Patterns

 

 

Pattern of Choice from Sofilantjes

 

 

A huge thank-you to these sponsors--you've all blown me away with your generosity!

And, seriously, if you need fabric or patterns or the like--go check these sponsors out.

 

And, of course, enter the contest so you can win these amazing prizes!!!

 

Oh, and the giveaway?! Well, to get you started on entering this contest, I'm giving away a four-pack of patterns!

 

You can win a copy of each of these:

Perfect Petal Purse Pattern

 

 

Pirate's Treasure Wallet Pattern

 

 

Zippy Keepers Pattern

 

 

and

Sunburst Clutch Pattern

 

 

To enter, use the Rafflecopter below!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Make sure to stop by Sew Mama Sew for more giveaways!

On-the-Go Chalkboard Notebooks

I've had an idea to make the kids a coloring/drawing folder for long trips.

When I saw the chalkboard fabric over at Canadian National Fabric, I knew I had to give it a try!

 

 

As I started to browse their awesome selection of wovens, the Wild Horses collection from Michael Miller popped out at me.

The colors would go beautifully with the black of the chalkboard fabric.

And, to add to my certainty, it came in a 'boy' color and a 'girl' color.

 

Matching solids were soon found--Art Gallery's Pure Elements in Pansy and Fresh Water.

For the record, I had chosen Verve Violet as a match, but she was kind enough to send me a better match along with it!

 

So I started making them, assembly-line style.

 

A snap pocket for the chalk.

(Yes, I know...that pocket flap sticks out a little more than intended...the drawbacks of doing assembly line style on a pattern/tutorial-in-progress!)

A pocket for the cloth.

 

And we were all set to go.

 

They definitely met with approval and had to be thoroughly tested out.

 

The chalkboard fabric is not listed at Canadian National Fabric anymore but it is still available by request if you contact her!

 

 

 

 

 



Kitchen Gifts

Friends of ours were recently married, so I thought I'd make the wedding gift.

 

 

It's a pretty basic set, and it's the first time I used Insul-brite which I bought from Stay Home Fabrics.

The other fabrics are from Canadian National Fabrics.  

They are from the Country Touch line.

 

For the apron pattern, I traced my apron and 'made' a pattern that way.

The oven mitts are a free pattern from YouCanMakeThis.com

 

A gift for myself was that my dishwasher was finally ripped out after never using it in over 7 years.

And, we put some shelving in to hide store the kids' crayons and coloring books, school books, and some other stuff.

A curtain was in order to keep things looking tidy.

 

 

Again I used some fabric from the Country Touch line.

It fits in quite good with my kitchen!

 

Amanda Dress

(This post contains affiliate links. I also received the fabric in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.)

 

I have to admit, I'm super excited to share this dress with you!

I had been eyeing these fabrics (here and here) at Canadian National Fabric for a while--they are so delicate and feminine.

When I received them in the mail I grew even more excited--they are even more gorgeous in person, and I knew they'd be perfect for a very girly dress for my daughter.

 

 I used the Amanda Dress pattern from Lily Bird Studio.
I sized up to a size 5 since she'll be in that size this spring, I'm sure. She's almost there already.
The buttons I had purchased some time ago from Australia. I had ordered the large buttons from an Etsy shop (which is now out of business) for my husband's cardigan and thought I'd stock up a bit on extra buttons.
The wood buttons really worked well.

 

It has a tulle underskirt (my first time working with tulle, and I forgot to take a picture of it!) and is fully lined.

I have to make a confession here...I got enough of the plaid fabric to line at least the bodice. But, I couldn't bear to put that prettiness inside a dress not to be seen, once I had it in my hands. So, I bought some white cotton to line it.
You just may see this combination again in the near future...

 

With the circle skirt, this dress is perfect for twirling, the slightly puffed sleeves add even more 'fanciness.'

It's funny, when I hear the term, 'puff sleeves,' I think of Anne of Green Gables.

The construction of the dress was lengthy, but the results are amazing.

I had to use dental floss for gathering as gathering all three layers (lining, tulle, and main) was a bit much for my thread--it kept snapping.

I just did a wide, long zigzag stitch over dental floss, making sure not to catch the floss with the needle, but keeping it centered. Then you just pull the floss. Perfect.

 

I'm not sure where my daughter gets her modelling skills from but she cracks me up.

The only thing I tell her is to sit or stand or turn around.

She makes all the faces and poses.

 

Some more shots of the absolute prettiness of the fabric. 



Canadian National Fabric has a great sale section, including all their Christmas fabric. They also have a great selection of fabrics such as denim, fleece, and organics!

And, with shipping for $3.50 to Canadian addresses and free shipping over $50, you can't go wrong.

(US shipping is $20 flat rate and International is $40 flat rate.)  

 In January, they'll be starting a points system--more details on that are still to come, so make sure to like their Facebook page to get the details when they come.

 



Orange Skinnies and a Marc Shirt

So...

This post is rather exciting for me!

Rather, I was excited when I received the orange denim in my mailbox...

And, I'm super excited with the results!

 

 

Canadian National Fabric is a new-to-me shop which I found as I was looking for Canadian shops that sell Art Gallery Fabrics. (Yes, those are some of my favourite!)

But, when I saw their selection, prices, and shipping costs within Canada, I knew they'd be a go-to shop for me! Seriously--$3.50 shipping and over $50 shipped free?!

 

Anyway, I talked to them, and they sent me some fabric to try out and share with you all what I thought of it. I must admit, I ordered more from them and you'll be seeing their fabric pop up on the blog more frequently, I'm sure.

 

So, the first thing I sewed up was these jeans.

 

They're bright, they're fall-ish, and they are soft yet sturdy.

I wish I could wear them.

But, they're for my youngest son.

And, I'll just have to be content to admire them on him.

 

The pattern I used is Peek-a-Boo's Skinny Jeans (affiliate link).

I sewed up the size 2, made an adjustable waistband for my super tiny 2.5 year old, and did the top stitching in a contrasting blue.

The jeans sewed up very nice and relatively quick.

 

To make a complete outfit for Sunday, I whipped up the Marc Shirt from Filles a Maman.

 

The blue fabric in the shirt is also from Canadian National Fabric, which I ordered from them myself.

I used it for the shirt but also for the pocket lining on the jeans.

The knit fabric is from Girl Charlee (referral link).

And, the snaps are Kam Snaps.

 

As is usual with Mel's patterns, the Marc Shirt sewed up great and the sizing is quite accurate!

My son is quite petite, so even the smaller sizes are a bit big on him, but that's to be expected.

My hope is that he'll actually grow enough to fit into it this year.

 

And, because I had a very willing model who wanted to go stand by every tree, I have some more cute pictures to share!

Watching the neighbour's tractor and machinery go by.
Definitely a boy!

A huge thank-you to Bebe over at Canadian National Fabric for the great fabric!

 

Make sure to stop by there and have a look around--their prices and shipping are AMAZING!