Recommended Pattern on Craftsy!

I'm super happy! Just found out my Bring the Basics Bag is a recommended pattern on Craftsy! Number 8 in the sewing category to be exact! Such a wonderful Christmas gift! =D

Thanks to everyone who's purchased it! <3 If you've made one and shared it on social media, please feel free to add the #bringthebasicsbag hashtag so we all can see and enjoy it! =)

I also hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! I sure did! =D

We celebrated with both our families and we also hunted down and sawed down own, very first real christmas tree, we named him Grenar and I think he's so very beautiful, he's so lush and has such amazing shape! =)

Beloved Notions

After hosting the giveaway and reading up on everyones most beloved notions, I just had to share my must haves. Like most of you, my trusty seam ripper is very high on that list =)

Here are my most trusty companions that alway are within an arms reach from my sewing machine. <3

From left to right:
Mechanical Pencil - For marking on dark fabrics.
Frixion pen - For marking on light fabrics and for making notes and sketching for pattens.
Sewline Gluestick - For all troublesome things that need a little temporary hold, like when sewing zippers it's such a good tool!
Gütermann Glue - For evertying that need to stick and stick permanently, I glue everything when I make bags, totally my best friend this one! <3
Bent Tweezers - for everything from turning fabrics, poking out corners, holding fabrics when sewing and for cleaning lint out of the machine.
Clover Seam Ripper - So very sharp and nice to hold.
Clover Awl - For guiding fabric.

Top row:
Clover Clips - Big and small clover clips I just can't live without! I love how they're marked on the see through side for folding, hems and the like - fantastic! And when sewing bags they're invaluable for holding fabrics you can't pin and for seams that pins easily would distort due to many layers.
Metal Thimble - Can't hands sew a single stitch without this one!

And the Winners are...

Thanks to all who entered the giveaway! 
This has been so much fun! But I'm very sorry I haven't been able to reply to each comment with an email like I usually, do but there was just too many of you and I've had too little time this close to Christmas. <3

The comments lead to quite a bit of research on my part trying to learn about a few new notions and it will absolutely result in som shopping, I just have to try a few of these things! Like the Bloc Loc ruler, how awesome doesn't that look? Had no idea it existed!

I had quite a good laugh at the fact that the by far most common notion was the seam ripper, all of ours trusty friend when in need =D

The winner of the gorgeous Bali Pop is Kim! 

KimDecember 10, 2015 at 5:16 AM 

I love my 2 x 6 ruler. I use it to make sure my seam allowance is accurate and for placement on other sewing projects.

And the 2 random winners of the 2 Bring the Basics Bag patterns are: 

AlidaPDecember 10, 2015 at 12:42 AM 

I follow on gfc thanks for the chance!!

Happy Cottage QuilterDecember 9, 2015 at 11:28 PM 

My rotary cutter is my favorite gadget. Next to that would be pins. I might only use a few, but pinning helps me keep things straight :-)

Then I just had to add 2 more winners of the Bring the Basics Bag pattern, as they both posted so many good notions and tips in their comments, thank you both! 

JakeDecember 10, 2015 at 3:26 AM 

I found your blog about a month ago and went thru ALL the posts to the end! I love your new little purse pattern too. CANT LIVE WITHOUT MY GLUE. Yup, I'm a glued. Mostly use glue sticks, but there are some occasions where liquid glue is a better choice...so that is an item I cannot live without. As for new tools, for FMQ, why pay the outrageous price for a Supreme Slider when you can get HUGE Teflon sheets for a few dollars? I have two machines sunk into a table made from a sheet of plywood and I have covered the whole table with Teflon...total cost of the Teflon? $22...yeah, take that SS! And for ruler work...expensive rulers? I think not! I cut my own from foam board...cheap cheap cheap! And I also have a few cut from Lexan so I can use the lines. And for my bags, I just cannot live without rivets and studs. They add soooo much to bags. As for regular purchased tools, besides the basics of course, I'd have to recommend titanium needles. They really do last longer and stitch better in my opinion. Hope you like some of these thoughts. 

RobynDecember 10, 2015 at 8:03 PM 

Hmm... sewing notions I can't live without... I LOVE my hand-turned wooden seam ripper and stiletto I purchased on Etsy. The stiletto is pretty much a part of my hand when I sew, and the seam ripper is incredibly sharp... so much so that I have to be extra careful with it. (I posted about them here http://hoopsandthimbles.com/another-seam-ripper-my-magic-wand/ & http://hoopsandthimbles.com/i/)
My Karen Kay Buckley Perfect Scissors are also gush worthy Especially the curved pair, which are SUPER sharp and perfect for debulking seams when sewing with thick interfacings. I have all four sizes of the scissors! The medium size git my hand great, and are my go-to pair when I don't need the length of the large size. (They're 40% off on Massdrop right now btw; if you want to use my referral link... https://www.massdrop.com/r/RXSVMZ)
Best Press is definitely something I can't live without... hmm, what else... Oh! Tulip's Size 10 Milliners/Straw needles are THE BEST for binding quilts. They glide through the fabric like butter, and I swear I bind faster since finding them. I don't even use a thimble with them most of the time because they go through the fabric so easily I don't really have to protect my finger when pushing.
And for EPP on the go, Clover's Petite Cut threader/cutter combo is awesome for tiny sewing kits.

I hope all of you will enjoy your winnings! Congratulations! =D Emails are going out right now!

Giveaway Day! Win a Gorgeous Bali Pop or a Pattern!

Sew Mama Sew is having their lovely Giveaway Day again! Make sure you don't miss out by visiting their page and find out who else is hosting giveaways this week =)

I'm giving away a lovely, Brown Sugar Bali Pop!

I'm also giving away a 2 PDF versions of my Bring the Basics Bag Pattern:

How do I enter?
This giveaway is open to anyone worldwide, and it closes on Sunday 13th December, 5 p.m. PST.
3 random winners will be chosen among the comments and they will be notified by email, so please make sure you're not a no-reply comment blogger or include your email in the comment if you're unsure =)

You have a chance for two entries. It's really very easy =)

1. Post a comment on this post telling me which sewing notion you just can't live without. I'm hoping to find some new cool tools ;)

2. My followers (as I love you all so very much!), old and new get a second chance to win! Make a second comment and tell me how you follow.

Best of luck and and have fun blog hopping! <3

Bring the Basics Bag - How to Fold the Card Holder

A few people have been confused about how to fold the card holder (the first steps of making the bag) and as it clearly was a little tricky to show this with photos, I decided to make a little video showing exactly how it's done, please enjoy and try not to laugh to hard at me ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbBhkx6f07o

However, while my skills in this department isn't quite up to par, and my english accent changes according to whom I last spoke to (terribly embarrassing but I just can't stop it!), I found this really fun and such an easy way to show off a technique, so more videos will for sure come =)

I also just have to show you this beautiful Bring the Basics Bag made by one of my amazing pattern testers, Thisgirlissewdestructive on Instagram and you can also find here here on Facebook, isn't it gorgeous!? <3 Love the fabric choices!

Dual Zipper Baggies & Christmas Decorations

I made some gifts for my very good friends, one of them got one of these baggies a couple of years ago and she's literally used it to threads! As the creator, you can't get a better grade then that and nothing makes me happier then hearing such, so of course I had to make her a new one =)

Upon receiving it yesterday she immediately moved out of her traditional wallet again and asked if any of us wanted it, as she was going to toss it anyway, really made my night =)

Made one with Bonnie & Camille's Ruby, such a stunning line!  

One was created from the adorable Makeover UK's Patch line my mother sent me, for my dogloving friend.

And a third with Tula Pink, because, it always makes me happy working with her fabrics! And these purples are just too pretty! <3

Had much fun choosing different linings and matching but contrasting zipper pulls. 

Filled them with a little candy before gifting.

Other then this we've Christmas decorated our little home, had mulled wine and gingerbread cookies and listened to a lot of christmas music of course!

As our flat is so small, we have the smallest tree to date, it's adorable! Only 12" <3

And the snowflake star is up and so is the balcony decorations, all the lights makes me so happy!