Make It Yours Contest – Time to Vote – Blogger Entries

The entries are all in and wow, there is some serious sewing talent out there.  Such a huge variety of bags all made from the same basic pattern.  The imagination and creativity amazes me.  A huge thank you to everyone who has entered and shared their wonderful sewing creations.

Now it's time for the voting!  Which bags do you love the best?  There are 2 categories – bloggers and readers, with prizes for each.  There's even prizes for you, just for voting even if you didn't get round to sewing the bag.

Without further delay, let's look at the first category.

Category 1 – Bloggers

These bloggers all shared their sewing creations on their own sites, so do pop over and visit and check out the full details of their amazing projects.

Bloggers Prizes

• 3 months side bar advertising on So Sew Easy in a 125×125 spot, valued at $60
• Any 3 So Sew Easy sewing patterns of your choice
• Invite to write a sponsored post for the site on any sewing topic, tutorial or project of your choice, including links back to your own site
• $50 voucher to redeem for purse supplies of your choice from Purse Supplies R Us  (USA Mailing addresses only)
• $35 voucher to redeem for purse hardware of your choice from 3d Paper Patterns on Etsy (Worldwide mailing)
• 2 sewing patterns of your choice from Seamingly Smitten
• The opportunity for us to work together to design your own bag/purse pattern, which can be named after you or a name of your choice, and offered to readers on both sites.

The Blogger Entries

1 – Lorena from My Way Of…

I used leatherette for the exterior and 100% cotton fabric for lining. This is the bigger size and I just added a strap and a buckle to the outside, and I added an internal zippered pocket.
It's no too fancy but I like the result. I like it so much that I also made two small size as well.

2 – Georgia at I believe I can sew

For some time now I wanted to do my own owl bag. I've been putting down on a list all kind of ideas for it but I didn't had the courage to try it until now. Deby's pattern seemed pretty good for and I had mad a bag out of it already so I had the confidence needed to make a few small changes. Some of this ideas involved a lot of work but I took the easy way… I took out all my fabric and start looking for prints I can use. ( I just love to look at my fabrics). At the end I added a few accents with felt. The result is really funny and playful. I also tried to give a few details about each of my steps in case someone else wants to give it a try.

3 – Julie at Sum of their Stories

The starting point for my bag was a flimsy scarf which had belonged to my Mum. I knew I would never use it as a scarf but this way I've been able to give it a new lease of life. I layered it over bright pink cotton then added a little machine embroidery and beads just to highlight the design.
I loved the way it all turned out like magic as I followed the instructions and I'm looking forward to going out soon so I can take my pretty new bag out for a spin!

4 – Daniela at On the Cutting Floor

One of the things that I always look in a product is functionality; it must help you to get things done easier, especially these days that I am taking care of a sweet little toddler, eager to explore the world! 🙂

So, I decided that my clutch has to be easy to handle, particularly when I am running after Owen on the beautiful streets of our hometown. That it is why I added a bracelet to the back of the clutch, then I can carry it around without concerns. It is easy to take apart and use the clutch or the bracelet on their own. The fabric I used was a beautiful red twill and I quilted to make it soft and sturdy.

5 – Gosia from As I Sew

The shape of the clutch made me think it would work well to make an animal face so I decided to make a fox. I used faux fur and corduroy for the outside, and a cotton lining. I cut apart the pattern to place the colors, extended the front a little for the nose, and added ears, though it's still basically the same size, shape, and construction as the pattern. I also added a zippered pocket to the inside because I don't like purses without pockets, and a chain “strap” because I don't really use clutch bags. I hope you like it! Thanks!

6 – Georgia from I believe I can sew

I think this is one of the things I love most: take some simple item and make it personal, just mine, unique. That's probably why I got my clutch in the same day I decided to enter the contest… Everything turned out better then I expected from my first try. To be honest I started this project more like a test the pattern sewing with the scraps ( red velvet, quilting cotton with the russian dolls, embroidered ribbons and pom poms tape ) from one of my recent skirts. But once it was ready I just fallen in love with it. It makes me happy just to look at it. And is so good for going to the park to play with my boy, is so light and sticks to me – that why I added the pop poms strap.

7 – Emma from For My Little Monster

All the fabrics used are cotton. The exterior has been made using quilting cotton scraps that have been patch-worked together and then quilted; the interior fabric is a cotton fabric purchased at Ikea a few years ago. I chose to do patchwork and quilting as the main feature, as I have always wanted to make a clutch like this and felt that this pattern was the right time to try it! After the clutch had been sewn together I decided it needed a little something extra, so I sorted through my vintage buttons, but eventually decided that the fabric flower (that I ended up using) was the right embellishment for this beautiful clutch as it enhances the overall design 🙂
I'm incredibly pleased with the finished clutch and really enjoyed showing it off on my blog, Facebook page and Instagram feed!

8 – Lorena from My Way Of…

I used leatherette (faux leather) for the exterior, the lining is 100% cotton fabric with medium weight interfacing on it. I added an interior zippered pocket for extra storage.

I added some flowers on the flap, I made it with the same material from the clutch and added a wooden bead in the center of each flower, I think it looks kind of romantic.

9 – Nicoletta from Dinuvole Dicuori

I've made this bag with some leftovers fabrics from my stash, the shell is a light blue denim covered with little stars and the lining is a lavender cotton,and I've enjoyed the process of making it a lot. Always perfect thanks to Deby instructions and So Sew Easy tutorials!I haven't created the clutch in a very creative way, but I'm quite happy with the result: a romantic minimal and easy clutch, good for a relaxed time at the seaside or at a barbecue.

10 -Millie from 2 Crochet Hooks

I used some red/green/blue plaid fabric with black jean as the inside. After cutting I realized I did not have interfacing so used two pieces of the jeans. I added velcro closure and an Irish Trinity pin with red/blue/green gems for decoration. Pattern was easy to follow, even for me lol, so I will definately make a couple more of these!

11 – Georgia from I Believe I can Sew

I just want to share with you the summer sunshine. I used printed quilt cotton for this bag. I decorated it with beads and pom poms. I hope it warms your heart as much as it does mine.

12 – Alison from Ali Bee Creations

I used a fent remanent from a local fabric manufacturer (they make curtain fabrics). I lined my bag with lemon yellow dress lining and made it my own by adding a pearl brooch. I also made a ‘mini me' version in the form of a purse(wallet).

13 – Millie from 2 Crochet Hooks

This sew so easy clutch is made with the remnants of a ladies dress pants – one leg was all we had remaining after a few projects. Worked awesome but hard to photograph! Inside is a quilters cotton in rose with tiny flowers. The colors are echoed in the antique Garden Lady broach we found at an estate sale. She looks perfect gracing the front of this clutch.

14 – Millie from 2 Crochet Hooks

This clutch is made with a patriotic red, white and blue quilt look stars and a light blue anchor button. I had this cloth for a while but hadn't found the right project. This clutch turned out great! I did add a small light blue pocket to the inside.

16 – Yaniris at Thread and Butter Blog

I chose a red vinyl that was on sale at Joann's. I wanted the bag to have a leather look, but in a material that's easier to work with. I chose red because I thought the color would pop against most of my mostly neutral wardrobe.

17 – Alison from the Patchwork Fairy

My bag is a brown and orange retro 70s clutch as that is the last decade when I was out on the town with a small bag! The chocolate brown fabric is a linen-look cotton mix fabric and the lining is a pretty orange floral cotton. I really like the lining so decided to decorate the front with a piece of it. The pocket inside is just big enough for a bit of make up or a mobile ‘phone. Finally I finished off the bag with two big wooden button with a brown and orange floral pattern!

How to Vote

Wait for the ranking widget to load below – it can be a bit slow…. Once it's loaded, you'll see each of the entries above listed with their number, name and a photo of the bag.  Identify the bag or bags you like the best and want to vote for and give them a thumbs up.  Please, although the thumbs down feature is also available, let's keep it positive and only thumbs up.  Thumbs down numbers won't be counted.

[If the voting widget doesn't appear for you, you can find it HERE ]

Prizes for you, just for voting!

There will be a chance to win prizes just for voting on your favourite bags.

• 2 sewing patterns of your choice from Seamingly Smitten
• Any 3 So Sew Easy sewing patterns of your choice
• $50 voucher to redeem for purse supplies of your choice from Purse Supplies R Us  (USA Mailing addresses only)
• $35 voucher to redeem for purse hardware of your choice from 3d Paper Patterns on Etsy (Worldwide mailing)
• $25 gift certificate from Love Quilting
• Tickets for two for a guided Fabric Buying Tour in the New York fabric district, from Seek NY Tours.

Visit the next post and see all the wonderful bags and vote for your favorites in the Readers Category.

A HUGE thank you to everyone who has taken part in this contest and to all of you for reading, visiting the sites and sponsors and for voting on the bags.

The voting closes at the end of the day on 30th June and the winners in each category will be announced shortly afterwards.

Sponsors

These companies have kindly donated prizes to this contest. Please drop over for a visit and give them your support in return for their generosity.

Seamingly Smitten

Seek New York Tours

Purse Supplies R Us

3d Paper Pattern

Pellon

Love Quilting