Sunday 22 July 2012

A Philosophical Bag and An African Skirt

The fabric of my latest bag made me think of the quote about the tree falling in a forest, with no one there to hear it. If no one hears it, has it made a sound?









This is my second attempt at making a bag from Amy Butler's book. It is the small teardrop bag. Again I found the cutting out and interfacing the fabric hard work, but really enjoyed the sewing. I love the shape of this bag, and its pleat, but I think the larger version might make a more practical bag.  I like a bag with room to keep a purse, book and numerous other things. My first go at fitting a magnetic clip, which was fairly simple.

Although I have a big box full of fabrics, I found it very hard to find two that would go together well. A lot are things like old curtains, or bits left over from other projects. So I cheated a bit and used the edge of this African waxed cotton for the handle and top band, and the main part of the fabric for the bag.  It is a rather busy pattern, which I am not sure would be to everyone's taste, but I think is rather unique and beautiful.

I love this fabric, which I bought a long time ago in Shepherd's Bush for a skirt project when I was doing my City and Guild. I had to buy a lot more fabric that I really needed as the picture on the wrap around sections of the skirt had to match exactly. 






















So here is my African-inspired skirt. I am rather pleased that over 13 years and 2 children later it still (just about if I hold my breath) fits. It was the first garment I made on my fashion course, and my first go at designing a garment and blocking a pattern. The regulations of the course meant all the garments had to have a theme, which led to a few rather unusual outfits.

It has one major design flaw, that it is not comfortable to sit down in. You end up with a beading imprint! So it languishes at the back of my wardrobe, but it took so much work, especially the beading which was all done by hand, that I cannot bear to part with it. And I have made so many different things from the fabric that I had left over, which is really lovely to work with.



19 comments:

  1. Both of your makes are really lovely, but have to say the skirt is my favourite. I do like the beaded trim. Hope you have a good week.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the skirt - the beading is wonderful! I also like the bag - the shape is unusual and I think the pattern on the fabric really makes it.I can see how a bigger version would be better for (losing) fitting more in.

    ReplyDelete
  3. OOhhh... that's a great fabric. The bag is lovely and so is your skirt. What a shame that it sits in your wardrobe, I think I would put up the inprints!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very colourful and funky! Love the bag & the skirt.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love the bag,it's a great shape.The skirt looks great and I'm stunned to see you did the beading yourself-fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the fabric, it's made a lovely bag. The shape is great.
    Your skirts gorgeous, I really like how you can see the pattern of trees
    and the beading is amazing. Thanks for sharing. Ali x

    ReplyDelete
  7. i love your little bag, there is something very appealing about the shape and also the size.. the fabric is gorgeous and its lovely to hear about the story behind it! x

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love Amy Butler :-) Cute bag x

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lovely fabric - amazing work on the skirt and bag, no wonder you keep the skirt. Have a lovely week. Jo x

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love the shape of that bag, looks great

    ReplyDelete
  11. The bag is beautiful. I have seen both of those fabrics alot. I will stick my hand up and say I LOVE most of the african prints

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love that bag, it's very cute! And the skit is great too, especially the beads add that special touch :-)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Your bag is very pretty. I love it.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Gosh I really love that bag! Now I must run off and look for that Amy Butler book!

    ReplyDelete
  15. the fabric is just lovely and the bead work too - that took some love to do all my hand but I guess being graded on it helped push you too :) The purse is great, I don't sew well but if I did, I'd make myself one of those.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Love the bag and I can only imagine how long the beadwork on the skirt took, but the effect is stunning. P'raps padded knickers are the next on the list (cut out those bead issues!) x

    ReplyDelete
  17. Very very late on catching up with everyone but just had to say this bag is fabulous. I love the material that you have used and can quite see why you cannot bear to part with the skirt that you made with it all those years ago. Hugs Mrs A.

    ReplyDelete
  18. love the skirt and the bag but I have to say I like the bag better :)

    ReplyDelete