Well equipped – Knitters project bag

May 21, 2017 by nadel&gabel

I had bought the Cloud9 “Wound Up” fabric already with the idea of sewing a knitting bag in my mind. And then … nothing happened. … Until I wanted to take my recent knitting project with me and it didn’t fit into my small project bag I made a while ago (btw one of my most popular blog posts these days). After some measuring to find the perfect size – the hight fits circular needles and small double pointed needles […]

Categories: At the sewing machine, bags & totes, wallets & pouches • Tags: bag, drawstring, easy, equipment, knitter, knitting, maker, needles, pouch, project, sewing, tutorial, wool, yarn

Jassa – Summer tote

March 16, 2017 by nadel&gabel

Ok, summer still is some months ahead, but spring is on its unstoppable way, trees are getting greener from day to day, blue crocuses, white spring snowflakes and snowdrops are sprouting and are heralding the new season (although they still carry ‘snow’ in their name). So, kind of naturally I feel torn again to colours. No better time for IKEA to launch their limited collection JASSA, a collection inspired of asian materials and techniques: rattan and bamboo furniture, colourful batik print […]

Categories: At the sewing machine, bags & totes, supplies • Tags: anna graham, asia, bag, batik, collection, colour, ethno, exotic, fabric, gingham tote, graphic, Handmade Style, ikea, indonesian, jassa, noodlehead, pattern, print, sewing, summer, tote

All black – Oilskin Explorer Tote

March 1, 2017 by nadel&gabel

When I saw Annas new pattern, the Explorer Tote, she – again – got me. I immediately could imagine the large version as a great weekender bag. I was thinking about sewing myself a new travel bag for a while. I was kind of fed up by the one I sewed about two years ago (similar to this one) which I use for smaller trips. It now felt just too much: too many colours and patterns, too floral. The new […]

Categories: At the sewing machine, bags & totes, supplies • Tags: bag, black, explorer tote, handle, merchant and mills, noodlehead, oil cloth, oilskin, pattern, recessed, sewing, stable, strap, sturdy, tarpaulin, tote, travel, waxed canvas, weekender, zipper

The flow – Trail tote

January 29, 2017 by nadel&gabel

Panta rhei. Life is a flow. Most times it’s a steady flow, we’re floating in familiar waters. Perhaps you would prefer some more movement, a slight change of directions, but somehow it doesn’t happen. Are you even moving forward, is there any progress although you’re working for it? You can’t see it. But suddenly it’s there: It starts with a small swirl, you can sense some kind of acceleration … and suddenly things happen! Is ist just luck? Some kind of […]

Categories: At the sewing machine, bags & totes, wallets & pouches • Tags: bag, blue, easy, fabric, free, gütermann, long island flower, multipurpose, noodlehead, pattern, piping, pouch, sewing, SnapPap, tote, trail tote

Efficient – Origami bento bag

November 20, 2016 by nadel&gabel

This may be the fastest and easiest thing I’ve ever sewed. Ratio of time invested : outcame = unbeatable! Although this origami bento bag isn’t difficult to sew, it is helpful to have have pictured tutorial of the folding steps at hand when sewing it for the first time. (I have lot of experience in sewing things wrong sides together, it’s some kind of logical problem.) These pictured instructions f.ex. are helpful. (Optionally you could box the corners to create […]

Categories: At the sewing machine, bags & totes • Tags: bag, bento, easy, eyelet, fabric, lunch, market, origami, reusable, sewing, tote, towel, tutorial, wrap

Minimalism – Laundry bags from SnapPap aka Kraft-Tex

May 16, 2016 by nadel&gabel

  This place has got a bit quiet during the last weeks, for different reasons. One of them was the major spring cleaning up, decluttering and rearranging that happened in this place. And although it comes with costs in time, dorsal pain and patience – to stand the temporary mess – it’s totally worth the effort. There is this connection between outside and inside. Sorting things out, clearing your space has an immediate impact on your mind and soul. Every […]

Categories: At the sewing machine, bags & totes, craft & DIY, decoration, paper, storage • Tags: bag, basket, bucket, capsule wardrobe, decoration, KonMari, kraft-tex, laundry, minimalism, paper, plant pot, sack, sew, simplicity, SnapPap, stash, storage, sturdy, tidying-up, toys, tutorial, vegan leather, washable

Handy – Reversible knitters project bag

November 22, 2015 by nadel&gabel

Already yesterday there was this smell in the air. Yes, I insist on this: You can smell upcoming snow! And when I got up this morning, over night the surrounding had magically transformed. As a daily commuter by car, I am aware of all the discomforts snow and cold temperatures bring with them. But every year, when I see for the first time again rooftops and trees covered in white, when I recognize the silence that snow creates, I forget about […]

Categories: accessories, At the sewing machine, wallets & pouches • Tags: accesory, bag, carry, Craft, crafter, gift, knitter, knitting, lotta jansdotter, pattern, pouch, project, reversible, sewing, travel, tutorial, winter, wristlet, yarn

Approached and accomplished – Caravan Tote and Pouch

July 9, 2015 by nadel&gabel

I’ve announced it already – and now it is done: I can hold my first Caravan Tote and Pouch in my hands! It took me quite a time to approach this pattern. After I’ve cut all the pieces – and there are a lot – they already started to get dusty, so long did it take me to finally start sewing. The pattern – like all patterns and tutorials from Anna I’ve sewed before – is easily understood. By the […]

Categories: At the sewing machine, bags & totes, wallets & pouches • Tags: anna graham, bag, blue, denim, echo, fabric, florine, handle, knitter, leather, lotta jansdotter, noodlehead, organize, pattern, pouch, spacious, tote

Sensory – Tactile bean bag pairs game for toddlers

July 1, 2014 by nadel&gabel

My little godson is so curious. At the moment he’s in his oral phase. He is exploring everything by putting it in his mouth and you carefully have to watch him, because everything really means everything: stones, garden mould, crumbs,… If he follows the usual developement he’ll soon reach his tactile phase – and I am prepared. With some fabric scraps I sewed these little pyramid bags for him that are filled with different legumes and grains – from big […]

Categories: At the sewing machine, children • Tags: bag, bean, children, easy, game, grain, haptic, learning, legumes, memory, natural, play, pyramid, scrap, sense, sensory, sewing, tactile, toddler, toy, tutorial