Keyka Lou purse patterns

I stumbled across Keyka Lou's cute little purse patterns on Etsy one day. You can buy them in pdf form (always helpful) very cheaply and create to your heart's content.
I bought patterns for the business card wallet, small satchel and the zip clutches that come in three sizes. They all include some tips to improve your sewing, like how to neatly slipstich an opening closed and how to create fabric zipper ends. Keyka Lou's blog also has a section of sewing tips and some free tutorials too.

Here are some pictures of the small zip clutch made using Kokka ballerina fabric. (it's the tiny one so it looks more like a coin purse than a clutch!) In the second picture you can see the little fabric zipper ends. I use them all the time now as I prefer how they look.

Here are some pictures of the small satchel I made for my good friend Mandy for her birthday. I really like the shape and the flap. I am also a big fan of fabric covered buttons. This button matches the lining.

I am in the process of finishing two more of these sachel style bags for little girls using kokka ballerina fabric and denim. Cute. :)  

the purse

I love fabric purses and bags. They are pretty much the first things I started sewing. I found lots of really helpful tutorials in books, online in blogs and on you tube. I find that looking at different ways people create the same thing helps me to work out what style I like and which method is going to work for a particular project.

My first purse came from 'Meet me at Mike's' by Pip Lincolne. I learned how to make a clutch style purse with a magnetic clasp. (no zips... yay!)

I have given away all the purses I have made from this book, but i'll post a pic of one if I ever make one again.

Next step was learning to make lined zippered purses and pouches. I found a few helpful sets of instructions, but the one I used in the end was from Skip to my Lou She has fantastic tutorials with lots of pictures and really easy to follow instructions. (she has a degree in Art Education so she explains things like a teacher.... helpful!) I recommend it for beginners who are keen to get started but are a little afraid of zippers (like I was). The zippered purse tutorial can be found here.

There is a variation on this style also on her website called the pleated pouch tutorial. I love this one as it introduced me to making pleats, and it's a really cute design. The pattern can be downloaded from her site as a pdf. Yay!

Here are some pictures of my versions. 

I love the fabric, it's a brand called Echino.

this one I made for a friend's birthday

More purses and bags to follow!

Zing the polite cat

I love cats. All of them, even the cranky ones you wouldn't dare try to pat while their tails are swishing. I have two of my own, Claude and Madeleine who were named after friends of ours who are sisters (that's a long story). Mr Claude and the Kitten make me and my husband Karl so happy every day, just being themselves. Anyone who has owned a cat (or dog for that matter) can understand just how special owning a pet is. I'd be lost without my babies!

Anyway, "Zing the polite cat" is a cute cat softie you can make from Pip Lincoln's book, 'Meet me at Mike's'. Isn't he adorable?

Zing the polite cat

Meet me at Mike's is a lovely little shop in Melbourne, Australia. The book has lots of great projects for novice sewers, with really easy to follow instructions. You can learn to make a purse, softies, baby yoga pants, an Obi and plenty more. They also have a blog which has lots of inspirational stuff and links to some good tutorials for making cute things. Check it out! Meet me at Mike's blogspot



'Meet me at Mike's' book



To make Zing, I cut up a pair of jeans for his body and used a patch of cute goldfish fabric for his belly. (I thought it was quite fitting for a cat softie to have fish in his tummy. hee hee.)

He was fun to make, and now sits on my bookcase with a babushka doll softie and a retro fabric owl.

 I love him!!

Here is a photo of my cat Madeleine having fun with Zing. He sat politely while she gnawed at his leg and disrupted the photo session. Cute.

                                                                 Yay for kittehs!