New Website & Products at SusieDDesigns HQ

Hi everyone! Hope you’ve all had a good start to 2019 and that you’ve had some time to fit in some crafting. What have you been making? Feel free to share. I’ve been really busy over the past few months, revamping the main website for my SusieDDesigns‘ brand. Have a look, I’d love to hear what you think!

So, as well as my bagmaking range of sewing patterns, I’m also offering some of the finished handmade bags and accessories which I make in the process of creating my patterns – just a few on the website for now but you’ll also find them all in one of my Etsy shops – Handmade Bags by SusieD

I’m also really excited to share my new Pompompets® with you! These are available from the new website too . I make a range of little creatures, including custom-design dogs and cats from pet photos! I’ll bring you more news on these little fellows in future posts but for now here’s a few of them…

Yorkshire Terrier Pompompet by SusieDDesigns

Corgi Pompompet by SusieDDesigns

Westie Pompompet by SusieDDesigns

The new range of PomPomPets® by SusieDDesigns®

New Sewing Projects! Witch Hazel Halloween Pattern Collection

New! The fun, co-ordinating Witch Hazel Halloween Sewing Pattern Collection includes three easy-to-make sewing projects, perfect for beginners and beyond, which you can stitch up for the kids, just in time for Halloween. There are spooky-themed, fabric party bags, a trick-or-treat tote bag and a quilted table-topper mat that can be used year after year!

You could use any Halloween themed fabric you like or even try solid fabrics, in oranges, greens and black! I used these fabulously spooky designs from the Witch Hazel collection, by October Afternoon, for Riley Blake Designs.

This collection is a great introduction to bag-making, patchwork and quilting. I’ve designed the projects so that they are easy to follow, with plenty of full-colour images to guide you from start to finish.

If you’d like to make these fun accessories, the pattern collection is available in my Etsy shop: The Witch Hazel Party Collection

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New Bag Making Sewing Pattern: The Wiltshire Handbag!

Don’t you just love Liberty of London fabrics? I used the gorgeous Wiltshire L Tana Lawn to make this evening bag design – the Wiltshire Handbag.

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The fabric is soft and silky and lends itself very well to making a special bag for events and evenings out. The lilac and blue version is my favourite but it also comes in red and lilac on a white background, which would work just as well. The use of woven cotton interfacing and cotton lining, makes this bag strong and sturdy whilst retaining the soft handle of the cotton lawn.

I used some good quality purse hardware to compliment this bag; silver D-rings, swivel snaps and a nice round twist/turn lock for the flap closure. These are availabe from most good bagmaking supplies stores. So, if you’d like to get on with making this luxurious bag, visit my Etsy shop to download the Wiltshire Handbag sewing pattern.

New! Summer Beach Bag Sewing Pattern

My latest sewing pattern release is this snazzy Summer Beach Bag, ideal for all those hot summer days or even all year round, as it’s sure to brighten up a dull day! The fabrics I used to make this bag are Lucy’s Crab Shack by Sweetwater for Moda Fabrics.

Make this large tote bag in fun fabrics and hit the beach in style. It’s big enough to carry all the essentials and it has a useful interior pocket to keep a few things separate. You could also take this bag on holiday; pack it flat in your suitcase and use it when you’re on the beach or out and about exploring.

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The Summer Beach Bag sewing pattern includes easy-to-follow instructions with lots of colour images and a full set of printable pattern template pieces. If you’d like to make this bag, the sewing pattern is available in my Etsy shop now. Happy Sewing!

New Bag Making Pattern Sewing – September Blue Hobo Handbag

As promised, I have the first of some new bag-making sewing patterns ready! Introducing the September Blue Hobo Handbag sewing pattern:

I used a fat quarter bundle to make this modern hobo-style handbag. The use of pieced panels allows you to show off coordinating prints at their best. For a professional finish, I added a twist/turn lock for the closure. I used some gorgeous fabrics from Dashwood Studio, called September Blue by Susan Driscoll.

This sewing pattern is suitable for intermediate sewers but could be tackled by confident beginners who have made a bag or two already and feel ready to take on a more challenging make. It includes easy to follow step-by-step instructions, with plenty of colour images throughout, and full-size pattern pieces are provided for you to download and print at home. If you’d like to give this bag a go, you’ll find the sewing pattern in my Etsy shop here. Happy sewing!

New Bag Making Sewing Patterns Coming Soon!

It’s been a while…again! I’ve just been quietly working away in the background on old, current and new projects – including my new handmade crafts offering over on Etsy, PomPomPets®. More on them in a later post, though, as I want to let you know about my new, upcoming bag-making patterns!

I’m excited to be bringing out a lot of new bag sewing patterns, very soon! Some are from past projects which have been featured in sewing magazines over the years and some are completely new ones, which I’ve never published before! I’m planning on releasing the first installment of these patterns over the next few weeks, so keep an eye on my blog posts and I’ll let you know as each one becomes available. Here’s a sneak preview of some of the new designs coming soon…

In the meantime, if you’d like to have a look at my currently available sewing patterns, they’re available over in my Etsy shop, SusieDDesigns.

Customer Make – The Sophie Diaper Bag Sewing Pattern

These are Teshae Carrasco’s versions of my Sophie Nappy Bag design! I love the use of the black and white fabrics in the first bag and the red and black is awesome! Thank you for sharing Teshae.

“I really enjoyed making this diaper bag from SusieDDesignsUK. She is a great pattern designer and gives such easy to follow instructions, I am already on my 3rd bag! Her customer service is also excellent, always answering any questions kindly. I highly recommend her patterns to anyone.” Teshae Carrasco

Get the sewing pattern for the Sophie Nappy Bag from my Etsy shop!

Customer Makes – The Abigail Nappy Bag Sewing Pattern

I love, love, love this bag! Made by Stephanie Charles, of Sylvie’s Sew Crafty on Etsy

If you’d like to have a go at making this bag too, it’s the Abigail nappy bag which the sewing pattern is available for, in my Etsy shop here.

Customer Make: The Petite Street Nappy Bag

Another absolutely gorgeous version of my Petite Street Nappy Bag, made by Rebecca Santiago. Thanks for sharing Rebecca, I’m so pleased you enjoyed using the sewing pattern to make this lovely bag!

“I’m delighted with the way it turned out. Thanks for the awesome pattern!” Rebecca.

If you’d like to have a go at making this bag, it’s available in my Etsy shop or my UK shop, SusieDDesigns.

Customer Make: The Barcelona Satchel

Here’s Polly Bell’s version of my Barcelona Satchel sewing pattern. Fantastic, I love the fabrics used and what a great all round job Polly has made of this gorgeous bag. Very unique and eye-catching!

“I thought that you might like to see my finished bag.I have added a pocket on the gusset for my phone and a clip on the other side to put my keys on when not wearing pockets. I have also added a zip to the top of the bag for added security. I hope you like the look of your design in my colours.” Polly

If you’d like to make this bag, the pattern can be downloaded from my Etsy shop.

or my UK shop, SusieDDesigns, has a downloadable version and a printed version.

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

Customer Make – the Tri-fold Wallet sewing pattern

Check out Amy Fahey’s version of the Tri-fold Wallet sewing pattern! I love the fabrics Amy has used and the matching bag is great too!

“My first attempt. I like the pattern very much!” Amy Fahey

Thank you, Amy, for allowing me to share your fantastic wallet. I’ll look forward to seeing more makes from you.

If you’d like to have a go at making the Tri-fold Wallet sewing pattern, it’s available for instant download from my Craftsy and Etsy shops. It’s also available as a PDF download from www.susieddesigns.co.uk, as well as a printed version with full-size tissue pattern pieces.

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.