I'm working on my swap apron tonight. I'll try to share another sneak peak a little later.

I should have been working on my Sassy Apron Swap apron last night ... or folding the laundry ... or emptying the dishwasher ... but instead I was making a handbag. The Charming Handbag from Bend-The-Rules Sewing to be specific. I thought it was cute the first time I saw it and it only got cuter when I saw all the wonderful versions people have made up.

This is my new dressy winter purse - all my other dressy purses are just too summery for the weather we've been having and I don't like to carry a big bag when we're going out for the evening. The outside fabric is a nice wool blend houndstooth with a velvet ribbon and a covered button that matches the cotton lining. It took me ages to make up my mind about which ribbon to use but it was the button that finally decided it - it just popped against the black velvet and at the same time looked very warm and inviting.

I didn't have any flannelette for the interlining so I used two layers of broadcloth (it was handy). They don't provide as much loft as the flannelette would have but the wooly outer layer makes up for that. I think the bag is a little firmer than it's meant to be but I like as it is.  Because of all the layers (and my forgetting to clip the curves before I turned it right side out) the bag has a slightly puckered, squashy look to it. I think it suites the shape and handle style nicely. I'm usually quite particular about how my edges turn out and where my topstitching goes but on this project I didn't mind the little mistakes and now that it's all finished I kind of like them.


Note about the apron: I cut out the front and the pocket and then discovered that the  rest of the green I was using was all in little bits and I don't have enough to make ties. An apron without ties just won't work so I'm going to have to go back a step and get some more fabric - I'd still like a pale green so I will have to drop by the fabric shop.

I had made up Calorimetry, from Knitty Winter 2006, with my last skein of the Possum Worsted but it was a little too big for my head. I finally got around to frogging it the other day. Now it's just waiting for me to start gain.