Smocking Is My Bag

I finished my smocking bag on Wednesday! Yay!

I can't believe I actually finished something. I finished the smocking part over the weekend — it really does take a long time to pleat everything by hand, I will say; I think I used about four rows of pleating down the length of the design, and it was a whooooole lotta width. But I dig it. You can watch movies while you do it. I really enjoyed the process, and I do love the sweet, rustic, sort of fairytale way it looks.

The bottom is a little . . . . bulbous. Too poufy. A lot poufier than the bag from the book looks. I was trying to figure out how this could be; the thing starts as a rectangle, and the angled shape is made entirely from the way the top gets sucked in by the pleats. My final top width matched the dimension given in the book, though I didn't cut the original rectangle to the size specified because when I started it I was just kind of fooling around and thought, "Oh, I'll just start smocking this thing, I won't measure it." When I finished pleating the top, it turned out it was the exact dimension it was supposed to be and I thought, "Cool! Nice one. Lucky coincidence." You cut the lining to that final, pleated shape. BUT my bottom was crazy-wide and the shape of the bag looked really weird. Then I realized that the original bag was made of 1/4" gingham and mine was almost 1/2" — with gingham that big, a lot of extra ease gets sucked into each pleat, and it eventually adds up to quite a few inches. I wound up tacking the outside of the bag to the lining (you cut the lining with angled sides; it has no gathers) at the corners, so that the bottom edge could then just gather itself up between the corners and not go wigging out. If that makes sense. It's still a little poufier than I wanted, but I think it's okay. I'm already doing another one using 1/4" gingham and I have to say I think it will work a lot better, but it is harder to pleat by hand. We'll see what happens.

When I do it again, I'll do something else differently as well. When I stitch around the top, stitching the lining to the bag, I'll flip it so that the bag is on the outside and the lining is on the inside while I'm stitching. That way I can stitch straight on the line that is made by the stripe of the pleated gingham. Usually when I make bags I put the bag into the lining, with right sides facing (so the outside of the lining is facing me). Then I pin around the top through both layers, and just stitch. (I leave an opening in the side of the lining so I can pull the bag through when I turn it.) But my top seamline is not completely straight and it really shows against gingham. If you were stitching while looking at the actual gingham, you could follow the stripe and I think it would look better. Anyway, sewing talk.

Are you still here? Hello? Sigh. I could keep going, seriously. Here's some wallpapered closet door talk though.

Comments

[Stephanie]

The bag turned out gorgeous!

[Leanne]

a-door-able....he he he
seriously, very sweet Alicia.
xo

[Susie]

Oh my! Just found you and LOVE your new creation. Your studio looks like heaven in my dreams...

[Amy Hanks]

I love it! I think it's so precious, and I'd be more than excited to carry that bag around through the spring. Now I feel inspired to try something new--as i always do when I read your blog. Thanks!

[Lisa Marie]

Wow I love it! Great color choices. I do think it's fairytale-ish as well. I need to find time to make something for myself as well.

[Lisa Marie]

wow i just ended two sentences with "as well" cool.

[shabbyjuls]

That is seriously a sweet purse you made there. I will have to show you the sweater my mom just sent me using the lion brand cable pattern you had mentioned in one of your posts. My new favorite sweater.

[Rosie]

That is a sweet bag....perfect for spring :-)

[Andi]

Very nice!! I like the poufy bottom, too.

[cindy k]

love it, love gingham, love smocking, love the door!

[Betsy]

I love that bag; it looks great!! Makes me want to smock something..

[kelly]

Of course I'm still here! Love the "sewing talk" -- I've had a similar experience where following the pattern on the exterior fabric would look better.

In my case, I was able to turn in back inside out and just re-sew the areas that looked wonky. Looks like your bag is finished (and gorgeous!) though, so, as you said -- next time!

[Freda's Hive]

Its just darling. Just the way it is. I like it.

[Darby]

I think the poof at the bottom makes it look super girly. I love it! And I applaud you for having the patience; there's a reason I haven't tried smocking yet!

[Amy G]

Why, I could talk about sewing and smocking all day, too! Do go on!

Have you given any thought to getting a pleater? My grandmother was a smocker extraordinaire and she had a little device where you'd fit the fabric into the frame and sort of a comb-looking thing would pleat it for you; you'd then set it with steam and baste a line or two of thread through it to hold it until smocking. I hope that makes sense...I haven't seen the pleater since I was about 5, but I was always fascinated by it, and it must have saved hours of hand-pleating.

[Gaia]

Oh I love the poufy bottom. I think it looks great!

[Elizabeth Mackey]

Very snazzy looking,and great first attempt. I really want to start working on smocking too. Hoping that I could do a wonderful job when the girls start giving me grandchildren :) The patterns in "Sew Beautiful" has all those heirloom quality dresses for girls and rompers for little boys. I can't wait to start those items.

[Robyn]

I made it all the way to the end, and I don't sew, so that's saying a lot.

Of course, since I don't sew, I don't know a thing about how the bag was supposed to turn out. However, I can say with authority that I thought the bag was adorable both before and after you told me what was wrong, bulbous bottom and all!

[rosa alberta canada]

That is a very cute bag! I've just recently found your site through Brin, at my messy thrilling life and I must say... My desire to craft/sew etc. has been reawakened with a vengence since I've found both your sites. :) Thanks! I'm off to sew a new apron today. First time in over 15 years. Hope I still know how... lol.

[Kathleen]

I love it! The color, the shape, all of it, its too fantastic. I haven't done smocking in ages.

[Mary]

I like the bag -- Poofyness and all. The color is great for sring.

[Sarah]

Just love the pouffiness; very purty indeed

[Dianne - Mama's Pocketbook]

Hi Alicia! I've visited your blog before but just got the chance to really browse and enjoy it! Love it! I love the smocked purse you made, especially the poufy bottom! I also enjoyed reading about your experience with making it. Congrats on the kudos from Country Living! I'm so excited for you and for my mentor, Joyce Lucas from MakeMinePink, she's also featured. I'll be at the event in Chicago so maybe I'll get to say hello to you there!

[Lisa]

I think the bag (and the bottom) is just perfect!

[Barbara]

Very cute bag. Must say I love the pouffy bottom and the straight lines of gathers at the top. Very pleasing all round.