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

Lioness – Toddler backpack

October 18, 2016 by nadel&gabel

It’s a saying: “Everyone is unique.” But that doesn’t mean that uniqueness always is accepted. Life isn’t always easy for them who don’t look “normal”, live or love other than the majority, the way things “should be”. Who are we to judge, to claim the truth, to demand assimilation?! Being obviously “different” with your red hair, protruding ears, small size, dark skin can feel like a burden, especially when you’re a kid and just want to be part of the game. Kids can be […]

Categories: At the sewing machine, bags & totes, children • Tags: backpack, colourful, cushion, lion, lioness, made by rae, patch, pattern, piping, straps, toddler, yellow, zipper

That certain something – Petal pouches in japanese blue

September 8, 2016 by nadel&gabel

For me Anna von from Noodlehead is the goddess of pouches and bags! One reason perhaps is that I learned the basics of sewing mostly with her pictured tutorials. Thanks to her I can sew any kind of zipper … and I am still more familiar to English sewing terms than German ones 😉 It is also, because non (really NON) of her tutorials and patterns (free or for purchase) has led me down at any time. I would say they’re foolproof. […]

Categories: At the sewing machine, wallets & pouches • Tags: anna graham, Asanoha, blue, clam, easy, fabric, graphic, indigo, japanese, noodlehead, pattern, petal, pouch, rounded, traditional, zipper

The blue flower – Another rainbow clutch

May 16, 2016 by nadel&gabel

“Sehnsucht“ – one of those enigmatic German words that books were written about. In the romantic sense it means something like longing for wholeness and infinity – while being aware of the fact that this can only be a hope, a unrealisable desire. The “blue flower” has become the symbol for this feeling. It’s unreachable but in looking at the beauty of “regular” flowers we can get an idea of it.   After the first rainbow clutch from Anna’s book “Handmade Style” […]

Categories: At the sewing machine, wallets & pouches • Tags: anna graham, blue, clutch, denim, fabric, flower, Handmade Style, metal, millefleurs, noodlehead, paper piecing, patchwork, pattern, pouch, print, romanticism, sehnsucht, trimmings, zipper

Modern tradition – Seigaiha tote and pouch

October 25, 2015 by nadel&gabel

When I first came across “kiseki” on DaWanda I was looking for masking tape and this shop had an overwhelming selection… I had a hard time to decide. And then I realized that Juliane, the shop owner, also sells fabrics! Imported from Japan “kiseki” offers a great choice of stunning traditionally patterned Japanese fabrics. Asanoha, Samekomon, Kanoko, Seigaiha … each of them so gorgeous! Some of the patterns are even available as oil cloth. I ordered a stack … and as always they […]

Categories: At the sewing machine, bags & totes, supplies, wallets & pouches • Tags: anna graham, Asanoha, blue, clutch, denim, fabric, gingham, handle, Handmade Style, Japan, japanese, Kanoko, noodlehead, pattern, pouch, rivet, Samekomon, Seigaiha, sewing, tote, traditional, zipper

Precious – Umbrella Prints Rainbow Clutch

September 4, 2015 by nadel&gabel

While we’re unpacking our suitcase, washing stashes of clothes and sorting travel pictures – some of them found soon on this blog – I wanted to show you this small sewing project I’ve finished already a few weeks ago. This clutch is already the second project from Anna’s “Handmade Style” that I’ve approached. I made it as a birthday gift for a special friend of me … and therefore finally could bring myself to use some of my most precious […]

Categories: At the sewing machine, wallets & pouches • Tags: anna graham, clutch, fabric, Handmade Style, metal, noodlehead, paper piecing, patchwork, pattern, pouch, print, sleek, trimmings, umbrella prints, zipper

Not one but two – Double zip pouch

May 22, 2015 by nadel&gabel

Ha! Finally I found the time and mood to get my sewing machine on again. Sewing really didn’t get its fair share the last months. I guess this was what my sewing machine wanted to express as well when she stuttered making her first stiches after such a long time… Luckily she gained momentum – and I hadn’t unlearned sewing as well. But before I am going to approach Anna’s Caravan Tote – pattern already bought ages ago, the cut […]

Categories: At the sewing machine, wallets & pouches • Tags: blue, clutch, denim, double, echo, fabric, florine, lotta jansdotter, pouch, scandinavian, scraps, sew, simple, tutorial, wristlet, zip, zipper

Indigo shibori dyeing … and a tote, a clutch and a pouch

June 5, 2014 by nadel&gabel

I really do enjoy sewing. After a long break when I used my sewing machine only to trim new trousers, I realized this again. If you watched me while I am sewing you would probably not always  assume this – not seldom it is accompagnied with screams of annoyance when I’ve (again) attached two pieces of fabric just the wrong way … but then, when I finally hold a finished project in my hands, it’s all forgotten and I am […]

Categories: At the sewing machine, bags & totes, craft & DIY, fabric, supplies, wallets & pouches • Tags: bag, binding, blue, case, clutch, colour, Craft, dye, fabric, geometric, indigo, itajime, japanese, pencil, pouch, print, resist, sewing, shape, shibori, tie, tote, tutorial, zipper

Summer travel equipment – Wide zippered toilet bags

August 2, 2012 by nadel&gabel

Categories: At the sewing machine, bags & totes, wallets & pouches • Tags: bag, easy, pouch, scraps, sewing, toilet, travel, tutorial, zipper