The Leslie Backpack

I recently completed an order for a Leslie backpack.

My customer ordered the backpack for her niece who is starting college in the fall.
The backpack style, especially because of its comfortably wide adjustable straps, is a popular one among college students as the bag is also quite large and holds loads of 'stuff'.

My customer chose the elegant & practical black Orleans prequilted fabric & its coordinates for her niece's bag.

The outside front of the bag has a zippered pouch pocket which can be used any numbers of good-sized items.

The inside is accessed via a top zipper which extends from one center side to the other.
Inside there are slip-in pockets on both sides as well as a side pocket which could hold a water bottle.

There is also a carrying handle at the center top of the zipper.

Price as shown is $70.00.

The Smart Pocket Cell Phone Case

Smart Pocket Cases with Front Flapped Pocket & Attached Wrist Strap Shown

                                                                 

During the Columbus Day weekend I made 2 of the Smart Pocket cell phone cases from the pattern I recently bought in sewspoiled's etsy shop. I absolutely love these ever so versatile cases!!

The cleverly designed Smart Pocket features a zippered section that holds a cell phone and keys, a detachable wrist strap, a front flap pocket that easily holds a license & cash, a rear belt loop thru which the detachable armstrap slips when joggers & walkers want to wear the Smart Pocket on their arm. The armstrap fastens with velcro.

The Smart Pockets will be first available at the Carpenter Museum's holiday sale at the Francis Farm in Rehoboth, Ma I will be in November 2-3, 2012.

                                                             

Smart Pocket Shown with Armband and Wristlet Attached

Smart Pocket Back Shown with Armband Inserted Thru

 Belt Loop

           

The Newest Winnie Tote

Today I finished another Winnie Tote.  This latest Winnie Tote is now part of the inventory I have been building up to be ready for the Carpenter Museum's annual sale this coming November 2-3 at Francis Farm in Rehoboth, MA.

I made the Winnie Tote shown out of the beautiful black 'Orleans' prequilted fabric.

The specs are all the same as those found on the other Winnie Totes shown on my blog: http://arlenesbags.blogspot.com/search/label/Winnie%20Bag

Another Lisa Ipad Folding Case

Web Viewing Angle

This week I made another Lisa Ipad Cover as a gift for my sister-in-law who recently bought an Ipad3.

I love making these covers as much as I love using one.  Not only are they very functional, but they are also beautiful and easy to use.

My husband John also deserves credit for his part in making the Ipad covers.  Masonite is used to create the 2 angles for typing and web browsing on the Ipad.  John has every tool known to man including an amazing tabletop saw that he uses to cut the masonite to the specs needed.  The masonite also adds additional protection for the iPad.

I hope my sister-in-law enjoys using her Ipad cover as much as I do!

Typing Angle

Typing Angle

Reading Angle

Closed Cover

Summer Top Simplicity 2977

 About a week ago I made my 3rd summer top from Simplicity 2977.  I love this top!

Two front panels cross over each other to create the v-neckline.  The top panel has gathering along the sides which I think adds a lovely soft feature to the top.

Although it doesn't show up in the photo, there is some purple in the fabric design which softens the effect of the black.

Similar to how I hemmed the sweater I made from Simplicity 2560 (shown in photo on top left), I used the rolled hem on my serger to finish the bottom of the top.   The neckline and armholes are finished with binding.

Three years ago I made the jacket and pants shown on the pattern envelope.  The above-the-waist jacket has a very flattering curved bottom and bell sleeves.   I even got to wear the jacket and pants when my husband and I had dinner at the Eiffel Tower in September, 2009.  How cool was that!!!

My husband John & I having dinner at the Eiffel Tower

                                                              

Summer Sweater Simplicity 2560

 Yesterday I made a new summer sweater from a knitted rayon fabric I bought @Joanns last week.  Aside from the fact I have a new sweater, I am especially thrilled that the sweater cost me a grand total of only $4.88!

I sewed Simplicity Pattern 2560 View A.  From start to finish the sweater only took a couple of hours to make.

I serged most of the seams except for the top stitching around the seam that joins the band to the sweater.

The pattern calls for 1/2" wide hems on the sleeves and sweater bottom.  I took one good long look at that bottom hem and opted to add my own so-called designer touch, serged hems.  And I am so glad I did!   I used woolly nylon in the upper looper, lengthened the stitch and then serged around all hems.  The end result looks great.  The woolly nylon gives a beautiful smooth finish to the hems.

The bottom front and back are gathered at the top.  Several reviewers of Simplicity 2560 did not like the gathering but I do like the effect the gathering gives the sweater.

The front band creates an asymmetrical line to the sweater by making it longer in the front than the back. I wasn't too sure I would keep the asymmetrical look and  decided to 'sleep on it' last night.  Now I like it so am keeping it.

The sweater looks and feels pretty nice! 

New Summer Dress Simplicity 2054

                                          

                                                         

Yesterday I made a dress from Simplicity pattern 2054. Talk about fast & easy! I used a 2-way stretch fabric I bought @Joanns this past weekend. The fabric was already in clearance and then was reduced by 50% so the dress cost me about $5.00.
The fabric looks just a tad garish in the photo but it really is a pretty print. And the fabric feels great!
The dress is amazingly fast & easy to make. What I especially like about the dress is its ever so slight a-line cut & that it slips on over the head.  The dress looks huge in the photo but it isn't as seen on the front of the pattern envelope.
The pattern has several sleeve variations. I chose the sleeve that ends just above my elbow.
I twin-needled the hem & sleeve hems.  Initially I tortured myself by trying to use the coverstitch on my serger to do the hems.   I used the coverstitch on the hem which seemed to take me forever.   For the sleeve hems I used my sewing machine and twin-needled the hems.  I used Sandra Betzina's tip to use woolly nylon in the bobbin when twin-needling a knit.
I do plan to make this dress again in a heavier knit so I can wear the dress to work in the fall and winter.
Can you tell I highly recommend this pattern??!!