A clever use of staples

When sewing curves or any other tricky seams which are troublesome to get to stay in place, make your seam allowance 1/2" and instead of pinning or clipping with wonder clips or similar - STAPLE! 😍 Your seam allowance will stay dead put throughout the curve or seam, minimising the risk for folds or unevenness!

First wonder clip the section, to make sure everything is where you want it, and then replace the clips with staples.

Beautiful, smooth curves and seams is the result! After I've sewn the seam I just cut down the seam allowance and with it the staples which I've placed at the edge - making the process of removing them a breeze!

Reno Rounded Makeup Bag - Pattern Update!

Sewn by Tania Chanroux of Smartmade Designs.  

I'm very happy to announce that my Reno Rounded Makeup Bag pattern has received an update and does now offer both CENTIMETER and INCH measurements!! And the style of the cutting instructions and pattern now reflects my newer patterns, as well as offering three different methods to finish the sides

Hand-stitched, like these ones I made for my mother in law:

Machine-stitched like the original:

And with rivets like this super cool version by Aafke Jongsma:

If you've bought the Reno Rounded Makeup Bag pattern previously, you will naturally get the new PDF pattern version for free! 

Just drop me a line with your payment confirmation email forwarded or just attach the old pattern file with your email, and I'll send you the new version. If you bought the pattern on craftsy.com, the new version was sent out a few days ago.

These gorgeous, quilted (such a great move!) Reno Rounded Makeup Bags (including the first one in the post) were made by my awesome pattern tester Tania Chanroux - of Smart Made Designs on Instagram during the test of the new version of this pattern. Aren't they just gorgeous with the cork? Thank you Tania! <3

Mediterraneo by Katarina Roccella

I'm super proud to have been one of the lucky to get to work on projects for the look book for one of my favourite designers latest line, Katarina Roccella's Mediterraneo! This gorgeous line was inspired by her childhood summers spent on the Mediterranean coast. As someone who's lived the past 11 years in the Mediterranean, this line spoke to me right away! The stunning bouganvilla, the beautiful fruits, the gorgeous shades of navy and magenta went straight to my heart!

I made a Paris Purse in the beautiful "Frutteria Bleu" print, it lends itself stunningly to purses! The photo above is directly from the look book, which can be found HERE, make sure you check it out for tons of inspiration!

This bag had quite an extensive photo shoot in Portugal, I had way too much fun with this! The Pattern for the Paris Purse is available here, and if you want to know where to buy the frames, please take a look at this blogpost.

This Paris Purse was such a blast to make, and I'm super excited to share that the lining fabric, which is the gorgeous "Cartographe" print, was signed by Katarina herself (look at the pocket, right hand side)! It might be some time before I dare use this bag ;) But I LOVE it!!

Found a lovely little gated garden with a beautiful green fence, it had to be photographed!

The pool was a lovely backdrop I thought!

And this orange blossom smelled sooo delicious, and fit the bag so nicely!

The bottom is pretty cute too.

The making of this bag was so much fun! I had a great time deciding where I wanted the prints for front and back (this process took two days, I kid you not! So many awesome options!!), I did as I always do and cut out the pattern piece and use the leftover "paper frame" to decide on placement. 

Backside. Sorry for the poor image quality, but they where taken with my phone as reference for myself only originally. Here I was also trying to decide on fram color, I leaned towards the silver for quite some time, but in the end, the brass was the right way to go!

Thank you Katarina and Art Gallery Fabrics for letting me be a part of this! It was a pleasure and an honour!

Loule Bag Pattern Release!

I'm super excited to be able to release the Loule Bag pattern today! The Loule Bag is the perfect little shoulder or crossbody bag for every occasion! With the beautiful and classic, while still a little edgy look thanks to the zipper piping, it's sure to find a place in every woman's handbag collection!

The pattern is available in both English and Swedish and has both inch and centimeter measurements, you can find it HERE.

It's a super fun and quick bag to sew, you'll for sure like me and many of my pattern testers, not only want to make one!  

Thanks to the small but convenient size of ~11” (28cm) long, ~6” (15cm) high and ~1” (2.5cm) wide/deep at the base it allows you to bring a standard size wallet. But should you wish not to do so, it also offers 8 card slots for the occasions you wish to leave your wallet at home. There's naturally slip pockets for your cellphone and a few other necessities.

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My amazing pattern testers has sewn a number of beautiful Loule Bags naturally and here they all are! Thanks a million each end every one of you, I couldn't do this without you! <3

Noor Rats - Whom can be found here on instagram made this absolutely beautiful pink version! The lovely flower cotton fabric is perfectly paired with the pink vinyl. She chose to use regular piping instead of the zipper piping. And look at that lovely, two sided strap and those details of the many rivets, gorgeous! 

Katrien - The talent of www.katrienette.be whom can be found on Instagram here and Facebook here made this absolutely stunning faux leather version! Such a classic and classy looking bag! Absolutely stunning! 

Cheryl Wright Simmerman - of Adarra Handmade made FIVE (I told you they're addictive, she's not the only one making more than one ;) ), absolutely gorgeous Loule Bags!! She made one to match her stunning, yellow Fresno, aren't they just the perfect pair? And that shiny blue vinyl version makes me think of mermaids, it's just so alluring! Beautiful! And those THREE, amazing nail polish ones are just OUTSTANDING! So delish!

Dee Brasher - of Paisley Cherry Mercantile made this romantic, drop dead gorgeous light pink and version! The postage stamp cotton fabric combined with those gold details are just perfection! So beautiful and right up my alley in those soft pinks!

Alison Heath - of Bobbin Girl (she has fantastic bag making supplies, check them out!) made two beautiful Loule Bags! One tweed version that is just to die for, so classy! And one in a beautiful, gold faux leather and batik fabric. Stunning both of them!

Pia Jestin -  Who can be found here on Instagram made this stunning cork version! Love the tweed top and those details, like the embroidery and that two sided strap, just absolutely gorgeous! She chose to replace the card pockets with a zipper pocket. 

Tania Chanroux - of Smart Made Designs on Instagram made two beautiful versions. One lovely dark denim one combined with a summer meadow cotton fabric, and one black and red with perfect gold details!

Barbara Dörig - Whom can be found here on instagram made this beautiful cork and Tula PInk version! Such a beautiful combination with the brass coloured hardware, just lovely!

Annette - Made this absolutely lovely gold flecked cork and rainbow one! The dark blue piping just shines and the gold hardware is just the crowning jewel! Such a happy, yet classy bag! 

Thanks again everyone! 

Fresno Foldover Bag - Pattern Release!!

I'm so happy to release the Fresno Foldover Bag pattern! It actually came to be on a request from my mother, isn't she the best? <3

This fashionable, but super practical foldover bag quickly became a favourite with my testers and myself. The back has zipper pocket for convenient access to the essentials, while the interior has a number of slip pockets and of course another zipper pocket.

Pattern is available in both English and Swedish, with both inch and centimeter measurements  HERE.

The construction is surprisingly quick and will teach you two separate ways to sew zipper pockets (one for turning your bag through in a very handy way) and two separate ways to sew darts in a bag.

Back zipper pocket for easy access to the essentials. 

Interior zipper pocket and many slip pockets, it will fit a laptop, and has much room without becoming bulky.

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My fantastic pattern testers has sewn a number of gorgeous Fresno Foldover Bags naturally and here they all are! Thanks a million everyone, I couldn't do this without you all! <3

Annette - Made this absolutely stunning faux leather version, contrasting so perfectly with the beautiful red! I love her alternative closure solution with the two swivel snap hooks and isn't her horse just adorable!?

Anja - whom you can find on instagram here made this awesome retro version made from a repurposed curtain! Isn't that just brilliant?  The colors are so lovely and those dots! Beautiful! 

Cheryl Wright Simmerman - of Adarra Handmade didn't make one, she didn't make two, she made THREE gorgeous Fresno Bags!! They really show the versatility of this pattern and it truly can be made to fit any taste! Everything from romantic flowers, to cool cork and all the way to the super edgy and yellow and black! I can't help but love them all!

Eva Halvarsson - of Borlänge Sycentrum  and also my fantastic mother, (from whom the idea for this awesome bag originates) made a classic black and white version, super classy and easily worn, love the contrast stitching!

Casey of JC'Mila Designs - whom can be found here on Instagram and here on Facebook made this super cool, version of upholstery weight fabric! Look at those chains and rivets combined with the flowery strap! Such an awesome combination!

Kristin - whom can be found here on Instagram made this super cool cotton and faux leather version. The awesome airplane sketch fabric contrasts so beautifully to the brown leather! Stunning!

Margareth Tai - Bags by Mags can be found here on Instagram, made this stunning striped one! Those aquas and browns are just so classic and makes for such a beautiful bag! Love how slouchy it is too! 

Sheri Ferrano - of Munkee Made made this epic cork version! The simplicity of the cork and the soimple straps makes it timeless and just so gorgeous! As you might know what a cork kick I've been on lately, this bag went straight into my heart!