I Get Sew Emotional

I’ve realized I might like making bags more than I like making clothes or quilts. A couple of weeks ago I finished an A Place For Everything 2.0 bag from ByAnnie in some Japanese cat fabric I bought a couple of months ago. It was a challenge – it has a million components and as much as I love ByAnnie patterns, homegirl’s dedication to binding thick, foam-y edges is…not my favorite. Also I am still not very good at binding! I do love the finished product though, and it holds E V E R Y T H I N G. She is a chunky girl.

Hot off the machine is The Tula Tote, a Sallie Tomato pattern that I basically bought just because it was Tula Pink-inspired. As soon as I got the pattern I knew I wanted to make it with Graywork fabrics with its big animal prints. This is also A BIG BAG. It will handily hold all the crap I lug to my sewing class on Saturday mornings. AND! It has a luggage strap on the back so it will sit right on my roll-y sewing machine carrier! Efficiency!

This one was also a challenge. For one, it took me AN ENTIRE SUNDAY (minus one nap and a meal) to cut the fabric, interfacings, and stabilizers.

I had this idea that I might post a cost breakdown of the things I sew because so many people seem to think sewing is a frugal hobby and also it’s a way to keep myself honest about my spending and then I was like no, I don’t need to be this honest with myself at this point in Donald Trump’s America.

Now I need to figure out what the next bag I’ll make is going to be. I probably should focus on finishing one of my many WIPs, including the Elodie Wrap Dress I’ve had on timeout for like two months because it frustrated me so much. I also haven’t really started either of the mystery quilts I signed up for for 2026. I do need to sew some new tops, though. Or a dress. OR A JUMPSUIT? Sewing is the best.