Crescent Tote x 4

For Christmas this year, I started off with grandiose plans to sew and knit ALL the things for ALL of the people on my list. But I quickly realized that I didn’t actually want to be a production knitter, toiling away to make mittens resentfully for all the people. So I decided to just…not do it. I kept most of the sewing plans, but instead shopped for small locally made things and had lots more time over the holidays to relax and actually recharge. One thing I did to make things more efficient was to make the same pattern for multiple people. I made four Noodlehead Crescent Tote bags, using the version of the pattern in one of my issues of Making zine. Three of the bags were for gifts, and one was for me! It might sound terrible, but it definitely helped me stay motivated to sew the bags when I knew one was for me!

I sewed these in batch format, which was great because it meant that all of the front panels with the zipper were included at the beginning and then the rest of the sewing was pretty breezy. Something I love about the design is the asymmetry of the front. I thought it might be tricky, but it’s super easy because the raw upper edge of the zipper and pocket is covered up with a little panel that’s just top-stitched down. This means that if you accidentally cut the pocket at the wrong size (like I did on the bag I made for myself) it doesn’t matter because that little strip can go wherever! This first one is for my sister, and I used Rifle Paper Co. for the exterior and for the lining. She suuuper loved it, and coincidentally it turned out that her very first and favourite Rifle Paper Co. agenda that she’d previously had was the exact pattern I used for the exterior. It’s nice when you know someone’s taste so well!

This second tote was for my great aunt, also using Rifle Paper Co. for the exterior. I’ve used this print in the past for another bag I gifted, and I think it’s so elegant and painterly. For the inside, I just did a solid blue and matched it with the strap webbing. I gotta say, I did get bogged down in the bags around this second one. There’s something about feeling obligated to sew things (even if it’s something I chose to do) that makes me feel a childish resistance to doing it. That instinct is a big reason that I don’t do commissions and have no desire to sell things that I make. I just want to make the things that I want to make! And the good thing about gift giving is that I get to pick the things I make, even if it is for other people. But I don’t think in the future that I would make the same thing for so many people (even though all three of the gifts were huge hits). It just made me sew with less enjoyment and love in my heart than I usually would when making gifts for people that I love.

Strangely enough, this also extends to my own sewing planning. This time of year always seems to bring a lot of thoughts about planning for the year ahead and examining your sewing queue. I have so many projects that I have patterns and fabric for, but I am so resistant to planning and making a list. It’s not like I don’t have ideas swirling around in my head (and piles of fabric with patterns on top in my sewing area), but I lately have been realizing that I sew more and enjoy more of what I sew if I just let myself be impulsive with what I do when I sit down to sew. It’s why I haven’t finished the Sophie swimsuit I planned and did fit adjustments on and cut out in August 2018 – I just haven’t felt like it. But it will happen eventually! Same thing with the Kelly anorak I have in progress from this past summer that I did cyanotype printing on. I’m feeling more in the mood for that one lately, so I think it’ll be happening sooner. But I’m not going to rush it.

The pink polka dot Crescent tote that you see here was for my friend Georgina, and it rejuvenated my enthusiasm for the bags because I got to tea-stain the webbing for the straps! I could only get blinding white and not cream, so I stained it with black tea so it would go with the bag better. It was nice to have a little break from the assembly line to do a little textile manipulation!

This final tote was for me! I’ve been using it already as a new knitting project bag, and it’s really great. I love the flat bottom of the tote because it makes the bag sit upright in a handy way, and allows for lots of storage room for extra balls of wool and my little tool bag! This fabric (and the dots above) is part of the canvas collection that Ruby Star Society released. When I saw this turquoise print, I knew I wanted to make something for myself with it, and I’m glad it turned into this bag. I especially like the bright yellow lining – it makes me so happy every time I look inside! And I used my labels on all of the bags, which I bought from Dutch Label Shop. If you’re looking to get labels for your own projects, I highly recommend them. Not super expensive for small order sizes, and very high quality!

The moral of this post is really that I’m not going to make any sewing plans or resolutions and am going to keep doing what I’m doing – sewing based on pure whim, impulse, and instinct. I’m feeling the need for a few quick projects for me in the next while, and then maybe back into a big involved project. Does anyone else completely resist the idea of a sewing queue? Are you a comprehensive planner? Tell me about your overall sewing style!