Jaida's Make It Perfect Library bag ...

After long awaited anticipation, Jaida's 4 year old Pre-School group starts their "Lending Library" tomorrow! Lending Library is a very important and enjoyed part of the Literacy Curriculum and not only encourages a delight in reading, but helps to develop independence and responsibility with respect to these young Pre-Schoolers learning to care for their books and return them "safely" back to the Pre-School each week!

Jaida is very excited at the prospect of feeling "all grown up" and allowed to borrow books at her Pre-School and bring them home like her Big Brother Caleb does from School! I'm sure that tomorrow night will bring great anticipation and a perfect excuse to have an extra cuddle on the couch before bedtime during story time!

With the notion that I would "need to provide a named cloth Library book bag to safely carry the books" (as quoted by the letter that came home) I decided to give the Make it Perfect Playschool Library Bag Pattern a whirl, hence my latest Wordless Weekend from HERE

I am smitten with this material range as well and know that I will be going back to buy some more!!

From pottering along and making different bags along my journey, I added a soft quilting wadding to both sides of the interior lining and also added a light interfacing to the handles as well. I don't know, I just like my bags a bit softer and cuddly these days with that quilted feel. I also top-stitched along both sides of the handle, as I like that finished look on the handles.

Instead of unpicking a small section of the lining side seam, I turned the bag right side out using the same principles outlined in the Rae's Buttercup Bag (where you leave a small section of the lining bottom un-stitched and use this instead, likewise you could leave some of the side seam un-stitched like you do when making Amy Butler's Birdie Sling as well.) Saves unpicking and then restitching (and I had over-locked all my edges as well.)

What I would do differently though is use a bolder fabric for Jaida's name, the pink spots kind of disappear into the fabric. The soft Burgundy that also contrasts in the fabric may have been a better option and is something I will consider with my next bag!

Nonetheless, Jaida's bag is named (as per the requirement) and is unique enough that she will be able to identify it :) She helped choose the fabrics and is very pleased with the outcome :)

So one Library Bag from the MIP PreSchool range successfully completed, and the April component of the 12 month challenge (something lined.) I'm doing terrible at keeping up this year! (but ssshhhh ... there is a zipper challenge for May, can you hear me screaming and running for the hills???) lol

January Sewing Challenge Presents ...

... the finished Anna Maria Horner Socialite Dress.

I brought this as a kit many months back and it arrived all the way from Texas, USA! While my good intentions were to have it made by Christmas, it somehow was put on the back burner while I finished sewing for everybody else!

So many thanks to Carolyn for her 12 month challenge and forcing me to make something for myself, hence out came the kit and away we went!

I am so in love with my new dress and you can be assured that it will have lots of wear! I made a belt for it, which gives more shape to the waistline, or likewise can be tied under the bustline too (which is how a few of my dresses are styled.)


Gorgeous fabric, gorgeous dress :)

The Socialite - no belt ...

Belted at the waist (above) and bust (below)

Stay tuned for Jaida's matching number, pictures coming soon ....