Sweetheart Handbag – reader make: Sewing World magazine project

In my last post (here) I showed you some lovely Sweetheart Handbags, made by Janis Davies, from one of my bag-making projects featured in a past issue of Sewing World magazine. Janis also had another one in progress, with beautiful embroidered butterflies on a front panel…

…and here’s the finished bag which I thought you might like to see…

“It is finished and ready for Portugal. I will use it on the plane as my iPad and kindle fit in perfectly! Hope you like my interpretation of your great pattern.” Janis Davies

I do, it’s fantastic! I’m so pleased to see how Janis has made the bag her own, by incorporating the embroidered front. That’s the thing I love about bag-making, you can adapt them to suit your needs exactly.

If you’d like to make the Sweetheart Handbag, download it now from my Craftsy shop.

Happy Sewing! x

Reader Makes – the Sweetheart Handbag from Sewing World magazine

…and more gorgeous makes by Sewing World reader, Janis Davies, to share with you! A past issue of the magazine featured my Sweetheart Handbag project and Janis made these three amazing versions!

“I have just been looking through my past editions of Sewing World. The Sweetheart bag is my absolute favourite. I have made it several times. I have three and several others have gone to special friends as gifts. I am currently making it so am just sending a construction picture for you to see what I am doing with it. My other passion is machine embroidery and I love to incorporate it in my sewing wherever I can.” Janis Davies

Here’s a picture of the Sweetheart Handbag in progress. Janis has incorporated a piped centre panel, with embroidered butterflies on the front, instead of the pocket. I think this will be a really lovely bag and look forward to seeing the finished result.

Want to make this handbag too? Download it instantly from Craftsy.com and start sewing it today!

The Sweetheart Handbag Sewing Pattern

Reader Make – Summer Shoulder Bag in Sewing World

Check out Janis Davies’ version of the Summer Shoulder Bag, my bag-making project featured in this month’s issue of Sewing World magazine!

“I loved the bag on the cover of June’s issue of Sewing World. I had offered to make a bag as a present for my friend’s 60th birthday and this one was perfect. She asked for purples, browns and greens, plus she loves cats, so I incorporated a machine embroidered cat, using my Janome Memory Craft 350e and came up with the attached. I love the finished result and hope my friend will too!” Janis Davies

Too cute! I think Janis’ friend is going to absolutely adore this bag. Well done Janis and thanks so much for allowing me to share your make.

Sewing World magazine June 2015 out now!

The new issue of Sewing World magazine is out now. I was ecstatic to find my new bag-making project is featured on the front cover! I used the lovely fabrics from Suffolk Garden by Brie Harrison for Dashwood Studio. I have these prints in stock, in my online shop.

What’s in this month’s issue:

TECHNIQUES & FEATURES

• We Meet Janet Clare
• Competition
• Fabric Showcase – Summer Florals
• Masterclass – Decorative Edgings
• We Visit CallyCo
• Brilliant Bagmaking – adding zips
• Re-fashion! Collars

PROJECTS

• Summer-time – Modern shoulder bag
• Here comes the sun – Empire line sundress
• Sundial Cushion – Easy appliqué circles
• Cosmetic Purse – Using Vilene Lamifix
• Fun in the sun! – Girls sun-top and skirt
• Funky Key Fob – Colourful key holder
• Criss-cross Table Runner Set – Quilted runner and coasters
• Bear Cushion – Animal friend cushion
• Scratchin’ Chicken – Appliqué and embroidered bag recycler
• Home from Home – Campervan picture

If you’d like to get a copy of the magazine, it’s in the shops now or can be ordered online at Inspired to Make.

Purse Projects featured in Issue 9 of Quilt Now Magazine

Super excited to see my new purse projects featured in this month’s issue of Quilt Now magazine. They’re on the front cover! So exciting!

You’ll get an exclusive free gift with this month’s issue, a Go Forth and Quilt retractable tape measure. It’s double-sided with both metric and imperial measurements.

Also included in this month’s jam-packed Quilt Now:

• 30 fantastic projects inside!
• This issue’s cover quilt is super simple but with striking effect!
• Perfect Potholders by Laura Jane Taylor – a pair of English paper-pieced potholders that would make an ideal housewarming gift
• Popular author and blogger Susan Dunlop has not one, but two, kiss clasp purses for you to try!
• Jo Avery’s striking offset lone star quilt is strip-pieced for speed and simplicity!
• Make a bed-sized quilt and matching cushion with just eight fat quarters (plus some background fabric)
• Making the same project in different fabrics can completely change the effect. Hadley’s flying geese cushions demonstrate this perfectly!
• Be the most popular guest at the baby shower with Angela’s trio of gifts, including a quilt, cushion and matching taggie blankie!
• Editor Katy uses Cuckoo’s Calling from Dashwood Studio to make an adorable baby quilt and matching monogrammed cushion set.
• Keep your essential bits and bobs organised with Sonia’s little zippy pouch.

For more info, check on the Quilt Now blog. They’ve got a fab subscription offer too!

March issue of Sewing World Magazine

I’m delighted to have a new project and an article published in this month’s issue of Sewing World magazine.

My new project is a modern, zippered makeup pouch which I made with lovely yellow and grey fabrics from the Comma collection by Zen Chic for Moda Fabrics. There’s an image of it on the front cover!

The article that I’ve written for this issue is all about how I became a project designer for the magazine and what work is involved to design and write the project. I hope that my article will inspire other would be project contributors as the magazine is always on the look out for fresh, modern ideas. Give it a go! It’s fun and very rewarding.

What else is this month’s issue?

TECHNIQUES & FEATURES:

• Knits Know-How – Part 5 PLUS pyjama bottoms to make
• Pattern of the Month – Simplicity 1615
• Fabric Showcase – Trees
• Masterclass – Sewing Skills – Facings
• From Concept to Publication – The Creative World of a Project Designer
• Sewing World 20th Birthday Competition
• Seeing Stripes – Blazers for Henley Regatta
• We Meet…Nanette Regan

PROJECTS:

• Citrus Pop! Zingy lap quilt
• Henny Penny! Decorative hen
• Super Sponge Bag – Classy toiletry holdall
• Bandana Bib – Bibs for dribblers
• Kingly Cord – Contrast panel Liberty cord dress
• Get Organised! – Cath Kidston® hanging tidy
• Easter Booty! – Easter bags to fill
• Easter Brooches – Embellishments for your bags
• Knotty Pinny! – Girls’ pinny dress
• Green Fingers! – Garden tote
• Dine in Style – Table runner

The Lotta Tote featured in Love Sewing Magazine

So pleased to have another project featured in this month’s issue of Love Sewing Magazine. This is my Lotta Tote, made with statement fabrics from Lotta Jansdotter in bright pink, black and white. I’ve used cut-out metal handles to compliment this design.

Issue 10 is packed full of exciting sewing projects to get your pins stuck into. What’s more, to celebrate the return of The Great British Sewing Bee, Love Sewing is excited to bring every reader an exclusive Great British Sewing Bee Fat Quarter!  Inside the magazine there’s lots of great ideas for using your free fabric, top tips from Sewing Bee contestants and a free blouse pattern designed by the Great British Sewing Bee Team!

You’ll find fun ideas for using your free fat quarter, all with step by step photos and instructions!

Two in One Skirt Pattern!

With every copy of Issue 10 you will also receive a great versatile skirt pattern.  You can choose between a tie waist skirt and a wiggle skirt!  Or why not sew both – another great pattern from Simple Sew exclusively designed for Love Sewing.

Enjoy!

Petite Street Tote featured in Sewing World Magazine

One of my all time favourite fabrics is Petite Street, by Wendy Kendall for Dashwood Studio, so I really pleased to contribute this cute little tote to Sewing World magazine. The January issue is out in the shops now!

This month’s issue has 12 sewing projects to get your pins stuck into, in the New Year! As well as the projects, you’ll also find plenty of features and new techniques to learn:

• Fabric Showcase – Get Knitted!
• A Crafty Sale – Selling at Craft Fairs – Part 1
• Pattern of the Month – Simplicity 1418
• Masterclass – Sewing Skills – Gathers
• Stylish Stitching from Sainte Luce
• Knits Know-How – Part 3
• Sew Smart with Vilene – Part 5 – Bags
• Overlockers Overview

My First Bag Making Project in Quilt Now Magazine!

Excited to bring you news of my first bag making project for Quilt Now magazine! Issue 5 is in the shops now and I’m delighted that Katy Jones (editor) has featured my new Rail Fence Bag sewing project. Perfect for using up fabric scraps from your stash, this bag is sure to delight any little girl.

Issue 5 is all about those scrappy bits you can’t bear to see go to waste! From little projects to big beautiful quilts, like this issue’s cover star, you’ll find it all. There’s a brilliant range of patchwork and quilting projects suitable for all sewing skill levels. As well as all the great projects, this month’s issue also has plenty of interesting reading and fabric eye-candy to get you inspired.

Christmas Projects made with Dashwood Fabrics in issue 8 Love Sewing Magazine

I’m delighted to have some of my Christmas projects featured in this month’s issue of Love Sewing magazine. I made a Christmas sack and table topper, using the gorgeous fabrics by Lizzie Mackay for Dashwood Studio, called Christmas Wish.

You’ll also find more great projects in this fantastic Christmas issue of Love Sewing, including a free dressmaking pattern to make a fab evening/party dress. Issue 8 will be hitting the shops within the next couple of days, enjoy!

Issue 8 Love Sewing Magazine

New Sewing Projects in issue 6 of Love Sewing magazine

The new issue 6 of Love Sewing magazine is out now! I am delighted to have contributed the Autumn Woods Shoulder Bag and the Halloween Party Set. I’m so excited to see these in the magazine! I hope you like them and if you have the magazine, I hope you enjoy making them too.

This month’s free cover pattern is the Eva, a wiggle dress designed for Love Sewing by Eliza M, a British independent company specialising in easy-to-sew paper patterns based on authentic designs from the 1940s, 50s and 60s. You’ll also find the following in this month’s issue –

• 5 Free patterns & bonus template sheet.
• 55 makes & ideas with 7 projects to sew and wear Alison Smith’s dressmaking tips Magic Makes!
• Red Riding Hood cape
• Halloween party projects
• Great Gifts
• Luxury pyjamas, purses, bags & more
• Bonus toy pattern
• Christmas sewing starts here!
• Mini-makes: Fast-Sew style you’ll love!
• Debbie Shore’s Guide to Easy Quilting Eco Sewing: How to Buy Green
• Save 30% on Eliza M patterns
• Expert Tips
• Quick fixes
• Step-by-step instructions

New Projects in Love Sewing Magazine Issue 5

The latest issue of Love Sewing magazine will be on sale later this week and I’m excited to show you the two new projects that I’ve contributed for this issue. If you’re a subscriber, you may already have your copy! I’m delighted to be designing and writing for this fresh new publication from Practical Publishing. I have a pretty, purse frame clutch project in the main magazine and I have a zippered wallet project in the special supplement – the magazine comes with a free fat quarter of fabric, especially designed for Love Sewing by Kay Whittaker, and the supplement gives some ideas on how the fabric can be used. I was asked to design and make a project, using the Swallow Song fabric, and I came up with this really useful wallet tutorial. I wanted to show how versatile a fat quarter can be (teamed with a little bit of lining fabric).

Summer Purse

Zippered Wallet

I’m still very much involved with writing for Sewing World magazine, which I’ve contributed to now for the past two years. However, I’m really enjoying the opportunity of also contributing to a couple of other magazines too. They both have their different style, features and projects and they are both equally enjoyable sewing magazines to read and learn from. I’ll have more new upcoming projects and articles later on in the year (and all throughout next year), with both Love Sewing and Sewing World, and in an upcoming issue of the new Quilt Now magazine! Look out for my Halloween projects in next month’s issue of Love Sewing…

Hope you like all these new projects.

New Sewing Magazines, New Projects on The Way!

Many of you will know that I’ve been writing for Sewing World magazine for a few years now. Whilst I’ll be continuing writing new technique features and bag making projects for this fab magazine (I love it so much!), I’m delighted to let you know that you’ll soon also find my project contributions in the new magazines Love Sewing and Quilt Now!

Love Sewing magazine recently showcased my new printed sewing patterns with a full-page feature. This was absolutely fantastic for getting the word out about the new patterns, which I’m really pleased to say are proving to be popular through my own website and shop stockists. The response has been wonderful and I’ve just sent off second and third orders to some of these shops. Here’s the feature:

Watch out for some of my new projects coming up in the next few issues of Love Sewing. Here’s a wee sneak peak of some of the fabrics I’ve used for them.

I’m also working on a project for an upcoming issue of Quilt Now magazine, which is a great new mag for patchwork and quilting enthusiasts. Again, here’s a wee sneak peek of the fabrics I’m using:

Watch this space, to see what I’ve made with these gorgeous fabrics and the upcoming issues the projects will be featured in!

August issue of Sewing World Magazine

The new issue of Sewing World magazine is out in the shops now! Another fab issue, full of lovely projects, features and a special Patchwork & Quilting supplement.

The projects in this issue include a gorgeous little girl’s shirred dress, floral fabric brooches, ‘crashed fabric’ clutch bag (I know, sounds intriguing and it is!), jewellery holder, kid’s chef hat and apron, drawstring backpack, eider duck cushion, high-waisted shorts, shoe storage bag and a lovely vintage look sewing set!

…and then there’s my ‘Brilliant Bag Making!’ series! It’s the last part of 6 and I must say that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed writing this series. I hope readers have enjoyed it too! If you’ve missed any of the parts, back issues can be ordered as well as the current issue – visit the Sewing World magazine website for more information.

I don’t have anything in the next few issues of Sewing World 😦 I’ve been so busy on other things but, rest assured, I will be back with regular monthly projects in the mag nearer the end of the year (I’ve got lots of nice new ones lined up) and I’ve also got some more exciting new features/articles commissioned for next year too. So watch this space!

Hope you enjoy this month’s issue of the mag. As always, editor Julie has put together a fantastic range of projects, features and techniques for us all to enjoy!

Susie x