Kindergarten Backpack

Youngest son had his first day of kindergarten today. Sniff, sniff. He needed a backpack large enough to accomodate the oversized homework folder the school provides. I decided to make him a string bag. I had visions of something a bit grander (still a string bag, though.) I just didn't have the time. This should be enough for his needs, a half-day program.

I made it from PUL leftover from my diaper-making days. It worked wonderfully!


I added an inside pocket for the folder. It is made from a cotton train print I've been stashing for awhile. You can just barely see the yellow name label I made. He could read his name, so that's a good start!


I cut the front panel extra wide and gathered in the fullness to enable the bag to easily hold more . I made 3/8" "strings" for the straps from the same cotton as the inside pocket.


I made this last night after said kindergartener was put to bed. He was so excited with it when he got up! The bus driver even commented about it when she dropped him off after his first day. He's just told me he told all his teachers about his "mommy-made bag". Got to love it!!

Messenger Bag

It's getting close to the beginning of school. The first day here is September 8th, due to Labor Day falling so late. But the last day is June 18th, barring no unforeseen closures for bad weather.

I've been busy getting things ready for the kids for that first day. I've completed an lunch bag and have three more to do. I hope to get pictures up for that soon. My latest effort was a Messenger bag for DD who will be entering the middle school. She decided she would rather have a messenger-style bag than a backpack. I had made her a great backpack last year and it lasted well. The fabric wore out as the laminated covering pulled off the cotton in a lot of places. The bag is still ok to use, just not waterproof, and looks a bit ratty like it has been put through its paces. Then again, it was!

So without any further rambling, here it is! I am quite thrilled with the results:

That's not a great picture, but it's a great bag! It's a little heavy, even empty, but DD loves it. It's a self-made pattern created with the inspiration of other bags, both DIY and ready-made, and our own ideas. I used every bit of the one yard of red heavy duty fabric (Cordura???) that Mom picked up at her favorite fabric place. Thanks, Mom!!! The bottom is a piece of heavy vinyl to make sure it survives the floors. I lined it with quilting cotton, a piece of pink/red/purple fairies that has been languishing way too long in my stash. It came from Fabric.com at least 5 years ago. I used a canvas inner layer just for the main pocket. I also used the red fabric for the bottom of the main pocket. I figured a little more durability there would be good!

Here's close-up pictures of all the details:

Back folder pocket

Side water bottle pocket, pleated bottom & elastic top

Side pocket trimmed with fairies

Shoulder cushion, nice and comfy

Front folder pocket & organizer protector

Organizers & pockets
Adjustable book pocket

Key loop, hidden in zippered pocket

Pencil and pad pocket

Top zipper closure

Main pocket

There is a large zippered pocket on the flap. With it's white zipper, it can be seen in the first picture. If she doesn't want to carry it over her shoulder, I included a handle. I had a nice rubber-type handle that I salvaged from an old bag and re-used it here.

Now I'm off to make a matching zippered pencil bag for her desk. There's not a lot of room, so pencil boxes are not allowed.

Thanks for looking!

Reversible Purse Tutorial

These are my own instructions for assembling the Martha Stewart reversible purse.
The Martha Stewart reversible purse pattern is located here:
http://www.marthastewart.com/article/reversible-purse?lnc=13fbf423088 Click on “bag template” to get the pattern. For my little treat bags, I used it as printed, no enlargement required.
I construct it the same way I construct a lined sleeveless bodice in a dress/top. There is no need for any topstitching or hand-sewing to close any holes in the handles/straps. It is a little tricky at first, especially on such a small bag, but once you get the hang of it, you will love it! If you are having trouble, try it on a larger project first.

Cut out 4 bag pieces, 2 of the good material and 2 of the lining. (In this example, I used the same fabric for both)
On the outer fabric, sew the entire side and bottom seam. On the lining, sew the side seam and around the corners, but leave the bottom open for turning. Clip curves on both.
Turn the outer piece right side out and place into the lining, matching handles. The pins show where I left the bottom open.

Sew the outer piece and lining together at the handles, but leave the ¾” or so free. I placed pins where I started and stopped (but I left too much open here, ¾” works better on this small bag). There are 4 seams to do here. (If it was dress, it would be the 2 neck edges and underarms.) Clip curves.

Turn the entire bag right side out through the hole in the lining.

Make sure to get the handles turned completely.

Safety pin the lining together at the unsewn handle seam (akin to the shoulder seam). These are already right sides together.

Now, reach up through the hole in the lining and poke your finger through the strap to grasp the safety pin.


Pull the safety pin down through the strap and out the lining hole. The straps will come along. Pin the two outer handles right side together and sew the short seam. Also, pin and sew the lining seam (where the safety pin is).


The trickiest part, sewing the handle lining to the outer fabric, is next. I recommend starting with the longest handle to get the hang of it. Then move onto the tricky little handle.

Pull from the middle of the strap so that the two seams just sewn will lie flat upon each other. I’m holding it where I had stopped when I sewed the outer fabric to the lining. I will start sewing there, (I’ll actually flip it over and insert the machine needle where my thumb is), making sure to keep the raw edges even, matching up the top seam, and keeping the rest of the handle out of the way. Work slowly and stop to pull up more of the handle as you sew if needed.


Repeat for the other side seam of that same handle. When both are completed, you have a fully sewn handle with no holes in any of the seams.

Reach into the bag and pull the handle out to the right side.

Voila! It’s a perfect handle! Repeat for the other handle.


Fold in the seam allowances of the lining opening. Close with slip-stitching by hand or edge-stitch with machine.

Push the lining into the bag. Press.
Admire your finished bag!

Long Wrap Skirt

This one is for my NMSL friends. This is a long 3/4 circle wrap skirt using directions posted several years ago on the NMSL list. It's made from a rayon blend. I did not know if I was going to keep it, but my daughter gushed about how much she liked it, so I decided I would. Besides, it goes perfectly with the shirt I was wearing and it's really comfortable. The picture is courtesy of my 4-year old.

Teacher Appreciation Gifts

Golly! It's been a long time since I've posted anything. The whole school year has whizzed on by in a blink of an eye!

I told myself I was not making the teachers any gifts this as I had contributed to the class gift card funds. Then that little voice in the back of my head started talking and, of course, I had to listen to it. I started searching the internet and found some really cool ideas. I love the money book here: http://everythingispink.blogspot.com/2007/06/teacher-gift.html, but it would be class project and I certainly did not have time for that. I also found this page of poems (that could really be customized for any occasion) and liked the "mint" one: http://www.imakenews.com/storytimefelts/e_article001426483.cfm?x=bfv57JK,bb9CMG21,w.

So off we went to Wal-Mart on Wednesday after school to see what we could find. I had little plastic jars (afraid the kids would break glass on the bus) filled with mints or bubblegum in mind. No luck there or at DollarTree, so we just came home with 4 pounds of starlight mints and no idea what we would use to hold them.

I had been admiring this Japanese knot bag: http://showyourworkings.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/knotbaginstructions1.pdf and thought it would be great! Afterall, I would only need to make three, one for each of the kids' classroom teachers. Then, I found this similar one with fewer pieces: http://www.marthastewart.com/article/reversible-purse?lnc=13fbf423088. The little voice started talking again--shouldn't the related arts teachers be thanked as well? That's the librarian, and PE, health, music, art, and Spanish teachers. OH, and let's not forget the principal and the bus driver!

So I settled on the Martha Stewart bag and modified the mint poem. Several hours later (and sore fingers later!), we had Teacher Appreciation Gifts!!!!

I used the pattern as printed, no enlargement, and my own method of assembly (of course!) which eliminated all need of topstitching, but required the turning of those little tiny handles what seemed a billion times, thus the sore fingers. I simply closed the hole in the I had left in the bottom of the lining by machine, stitching close to the edge. If I hadn't needed to make so many so quickly, I might have actually slip-stitched it closed by hand. (But probably not!)

The kids were really excited when they found the bounty this morning! They could not wait to hand them out. They are also really excited about the 2+ pounds of leftover mints!