well isn't THAT speee-cial

Cue Saturday Night Live skit :)

Sew (snicker...) I told you I was taking part in a Sew-A-Long hosted by SewPrettyDresses.blogspot.com -- well, today is MY day! This is a book of girly whirly-ma-gig and fluffy patterns to beautify your home. I tried to talk my husband into letting me do a table cloth (with ruffles!) and some pom-poms and he gave me the stink eye. He said I had to keep my ruffles on the kids clothes. And ya know - I can agree with him. We're pretty eclectic and like a little old and a little modern and somehow ruffles just didn't fit in. But when I mentioned the laundry bag -- he said "Caleb needs one of those. How about that, since we actually need it" -- haha, pretty sure that he meant more to that statement... more like "How many of your crafts do we NEED? What's it going to cost and is it functional for anything?"

I love my dear husband. He's my best friend, my biggest supporter and often times my words of wisdom Laundry bag it is!

I tried to talk Caleb into some Jennifer Paganelli fabrics like these -- he cried and begged me not to put anything pink or floral in his room. Fine, son, fine. So I went budget on this one. I got my canvas (yes! lined with canvas = important for stability) on a remnant sale so I didn't pay attention to what it looked like or what weight it was. I used some old Dr. Seuss fabrics I had on hand from makings some of Caleb's bed sheets -- he approved. So -- while I could have gotten more creative with the style... it works just fine and my hubby says it's patriotic to boot - not my goal, but we are an Air Force family so I'll just pretend I meant to.

The project is not difficult. There are a few things that could have been described more in depth. If you go slow and think about it as you go - you'll figure those out (such as the notches -- when you top stitch the seams flat on the inside, you need to stitch those flat as well... that will only make sense if you're making this project).

I was also sewing with the kids. That is... um... always interesting. I managed to make the bag and not put the canvas in. NICE work. Rule #1 - never gift or sell and item from a pattern you are trying for the first time. You will always learn your lesson about some part of the pattern... No biggie - I stitched it in afterwards. What would I change about the pattern? 2 things. I would incorporate the canvas into the whole bag -- as in the top casing as well to provide support. These would be great gifts for college kids... but do you guys remember college? I practically shoe-horned my laundry in and then chucked the bag down the stairs so I didn't have to carry it. 2nd thing -- I would provide some stability stitches around the drawstring opening like this:

(that bottom stitch is me adding in my lining that I forgot... whoops)

I'll admit....... I don't read patterns well. Reason #2 for always trialing one first. I like to go fast and fly by the seat of my pants. So these things might have been mentioned and I just missed it. Don't blame me - just don't copy me. HAHA

Now - who's going to do the laundry? There's already some in it... had to pick it up off of the floor just to snap the photos ;)

Too bad I picked the same project as Courtney did... guess it was a good project then :) Here's the blog roll for the other guests. My buddy Kathy is up tomorrow! Wonder what she's making... and HERE is the book link!

June 11 Jenny Fish www.sewprettydresses.blogspot.com

June 12 Cathy Caprio Peckiconis http://sewingstoryproject.blogspot.com/
June 13 Judy Buchanan www.hickity-pickity.blogspot.com/
June 14 Guest on Sew Pretty Dresses: Shannon Branscom Winters www.sewprettydresses.blogspot.com
June 15 Leah Kinghorn http://makinglifewonderful.blogspot.com
June 16 Monique Reynolds sewfunbymonique.blogspot.com/
June 17 Melissa Peda 100billionstars.com/
June 18 Jamie Harned http://theinsecurequilter.blogspot.com/

June 19 Courtney Watford Davis www.sweeterthancupcakes.blogspot.com/

June 20 Kristi Pernell Elston burlapbutton.blogspot.com
June 21 Kathy Hennessey http://handmadedresshaven.blogspot.com/
June 22 Stephanie Messer Danko www.tabbodesign.blogspot.com/
June 23 Guest on Sew Pretty Dresses: Jade Nocella Jenny Fish www.sewprettydresses.blogspot.com
June 24 Sally Keller http://sallysangelworks.typepad.com
June 25 Tour Wrap Up www.sewprettydresses.blogspot.com