Isn't it nice that the days are getting a wee bit longer?
It's starting to feel like spring is just around the corner.
Our resident family of red squirrels have been scampering about the garden enjoying the warmer
days
Today I have been finishing off a commission so I thought it would be a good time to tell you a bit more about Tartan Lobster bags.
I have to say, there's no real strategy to my bag-making! The end results really depend on the fabric remnants I've managed to source. I look out for remnants or 'deadstock' of heavier furnishing or upholstery fabric and also waxed cotton from the garment industry - I'm more than happy to recycle random bits of fabric rather than them ending up in landfill.
More often than not, this means a Tartan Lobster bag will be a complete one-off.
The style of the finished bag is very much dependent on the size of the remnant. For example, a couple of the bag styles have handles made from the same fabric. These handles have flashes of the bright coloured lining where they join the bag. However, I can only make these styles where the remnant is wide enough or long enough to cut the the pieces for the handles.
The 'Katie' and 'Sheena' bags below are made from brushed linen with bright cotton linings and strap flashes.
The Katie (pics 1 &2) is a fairly large bag and features a removable organiser that is big enough to hold an iPad with pockets for your phone, pens etc
The Sheena (pics 3 &4) is, again, a fairly large bag and is made up in panels. This means that if there's not a lot of the brushed linen fabric, I can swap in an accent fabric - how cute are the pussy cats on this one?
When I first started making the bags, I posted pics on Instagram and quickly learned that giving each style a name helped identify which bag someone was asking about. The bag styles are named after the first person I made that particular kind of bag for (you know who you are!!)
Where there's not enough fabric to make a bag with handles, I'll use it to make a 'Louise' cross-body bag with a shoulder strap. The shoulder straps can either be made from the lining fabric or leather.
The 'Marion' bag has carry handles and a cross body strap. This style features pockets on the front and back. This is achieved by sewing three panels together - a good use of long, thin remnants. The cross body strap can be either an accent fabric or leather.
The bag in the picture is made from brushed linen but it looks just as nice made up in waxed cotton.
.......to be continued!
I'll post pics of the bag I've just finished once it is with its new owner and also give you a sneaky peek at the latest adventure with fabric.
See you soon!
Fran
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