Courtney from Skull and Thread has created a fantastic Leading Lady using glitter vinyl and Star Wars themed exterior fabric.


I love the cheeky rabbit popping up in Bernice's Leading Lady:

Next is Dyan's beautifully created Starlet:


Line's Starlet is classically stylish!


I love the fabric choices in Susan's Leading Lady - so fresh and floral - perfect for Spring!

Hi Lovelies,

I'm so excited to introduce to you my pattern for March's Bag of the Month Club...the Captivating Clutch!

Leading Lady Oversized Clutch

The pattern comes in two sizes, the Starlet Clutch and the Leading Lady Oversized Clutch. I'm torn between which is my favourite!

Starlet Clutch

I really wanted to push myself as a designer for this club, and create a pattern which came together smoothly, but with tons of features, and I hope I've achieved it!

Both sizes are constructed the same, but with slightly different proportions.

Open the top flap to reveal a full width slip pocket.

Then open the second flap to reveal the main clutch compartments.

Add caption

The Captivating Clutch has a full width slip pocket on the very front, then two half width slip pockets. There's a zip pocket on the back of the clutch interior, and a zipped divider in the centre.

This is definitely a bag with pockets galore!

There's an optional strap, with tabs hidden between the two flaps.

The Leading Lady Oversized Clutch

If you'd like to make your own Captivating Clutch, you can get the pattern by joining Bag of the Month Club. You'll receive the Jan-March patterns immediately, and then Apr-June as they're released!

Starlet Clutch - The Captivating Clutch Pattern

The Captivating Clutch pattern will be available as a standalone pattern in my store from 1st September 2017 as it's exclusive to the BOMC until then.

If you're already a member of the Bag of the Month club, simply log in to your account to download your March pattern!

The fabrics used for the Captivating Clutch were provided by Simply Solids. They're Mixologie linen by Studio M for Moda Fabrics, paired with Kona Navy and Kona Ice Frappe.

Photography by Our Beautiful Adventure, based in south Wales.


Want us in your inbox? Join our mailing list!

Hi Lovelies,

Today I thought I'd share some photos with you from the British Bag Makers Facebook group. Organised by Christine from Bags by Bags of Style, the ladies have been taking part in a mass Reversible Hobo sewing challenge. The rules were:

To make a HOBO bag using upcycled, preloved fabrics and hardware, showing the items before you cut them, be creative and above all, have fun!


The Winner (3 patterns from mrs-h.com):

Leanne Borland, making this fantastic patchwork denim Hobo!

Before:


After:




Entrants (1 pattern from mrs-h.com):

Helen


Jane A

Jane P


Judith


Kelly

Lorraine


Michele

Pam
 Susan


Lyndsey




I've loved seeing the creativity of these ladies - using whatever they can lay their hands on to create perfect Reversible Hobos! You can get the pattern here.


Want us in your inbox? Join our mailing list!

Free Pampering Pouch Pattern on www.mrs-h.com 
Hello lovelies,

I love a little bit of bling! I made a Pampering Pouch (Free pattern on my website) using some shiny gold faux leather and some Alison Glass Ex Libris. I used Michael Miller Sun Tiles for the lining.

I added pintuck pleats to the front to play a bit more on the angles in the fabric print.

 I used a shiny gold 'Handmade' label from Emmaline Bags for added bling and framed it with navy and gold faux leather.
 I used a dark blue zip with gold teeth and pull, and as if this pouch hasn't got enough bling, I added gold faux leather to the zip ends!
 You can see the shape of the pouch is held by the internal Bag frames (Style C - Emmaline Bags)
They also help keep the bag wide open when it's unzipped. I only added elastic holders to one side of this pouch.

If you'd like to make your own Pampering pouch, the pattern is free on my website.

How to reinforce your pockets with rivets! 

Hello lovelies,
I've recently purchased a rivet press from Green Grizzly, so therefore I am inserting rivets everywhere on my bags! Sometimes not even for practical uses!

On Amanda's awesome new work bag though, I wanted to reinforce the pockets a little better than just stitching. I know she'll be carrying a lot in her work bag, and need it to stand up to a lot of wear and tear, so I used rivets to reinforce the tops of the pockets.... like with Levi's!

'Handmade' zip pull from Emmaline Bags

The rivet press I bought comes with an instructional video, which you can see here.

This tutorial is super simple, and you'll wonder why you haven't done it yourself before!

You'll need single cap rivets, (I used ones with an 8mm post and a 9mm cap, a double cap rivet also works as well, but you won't see the underside), your finished pocket panel (with your pockets sewn to the bag panel), some Fray Check, and some scraps of foam stabiliser or leather.

You'll also need a hole punch and either a rivet press, or a rivet setter and anvil + hammer.

First up, punch the hole for where you want the rivet to go, through all the layers. I had two sets of slip pockets, one over the other, with both divided down the centre, so I put rivets in the top sides of each, and then on the top of each of the centre dividing line.

 Next, dollop a good amount of Fray Check into the hole. This can be a bit fume-y if you're doing a lot of them, so open a window.
 You'll need to punch a corresponding hole in the foam stabiliser (or leather) and then pop the post of the rivet through as shown below.
 From the wrong side of the pocket piece, push the rivet post, with stabiliser attached through the hole.
 Pop the rivet cap on until you hear a nice little click which will hold it in place.
 If you're using a setter and anvil + hammer, then place the rivet on top of the anvil, then put the setter on top, domed side down. Give the setter a good few whacks on the end and then lift up to check if the rivet is set.

If you're using a rivet press, insert into the press, push down until you feel the resistance sort of 'nudge' into place then remove and check the rivet is set. You shouldn't feel any movement on the rivet cap once it's set.

On the back you'll see the rivets and the stabiliser, you can trim the stabiliser down if you'd like, but it shouldn't be noticeable.
 I'm not quite sure why I chose the white side for one of the rivets, maybe just to show you all it's not perfect here in the studio?
 I know now, that Amanda's pockets aren't going anywhere and she can load them up as much as she likes!
Where will you start riveting?