Make It Yours Contest – Time to Vote – Readers Entries

Do you remember the Make It Yours Clutch Bag pattern released back in April.  So far, this pattern has been downloaded over 2000 times!  Wow.  Ladies have been busily sewing away, adding in their own creativity and imagination to turn this basic pattern into something really special.

Enjoy these awesome bags, vote on your favorites, enter the voting contest to win prizes for you too, and then get inspired and go and sew one for yourself!

The Blogger category can be found here, but without further delay, let's look at the second category.

Category 2 – Readers

Readers Prizes

• Membership of the Pattern of the Month Club for 2014.  Get 15 free sewing patterns. Value $35.
• $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
• Any Craftsy class of your choice.  Value up to $70.
• $25 gift certificate from Love Quilting
• Bag interfacing pack from Pellon. Including a package each of SF101, 808 Craft Fuse, 987F Fusible Fleece and 70 Peltex.  (USA Mailing addresses only)

The Readers Entries

1 – Larissa

This clutch is made from pages out of a book, foil, vliseofix and felt. The fabric is created first by layering strips of paper next to each other, layered then with painted vliseofix and sewn together. The flower feature was free-form machine embroidery over the pages, cut out and attached to the front. The inside is lined with felt.

2 – Juliette

A couple of months ago, I picked up a faux suede jacket from a charity shop, along with a satin blouse, total cost €3.50. My intention was to use them for a bag, but at the time I had no idea of the style I would make. When I found this pattern, I knew they would be perfect. The only other thing I bought was the magnetic snap fasteners. Everything else has come from my stash of stuff hoarded in my girl-cave. The bias tape for the piping was made using the excellent tutorial on So Sew Easy, and the left over tape was used to make the scrappy flowers. Having made the bag, I realised I had enough left to make a coin purse to match. A couple of hours later, and some false starts, hey presto, here they are.

3 – Donna

I used this owl patterned material that I had bought on sale at hobby lobby awhile back and just knew I wanted to use it on some kind of bag. I love making fabric flowers so I used one on this project and the ribbon trim I use is my favorite trim and I have used it shirts and dresses as well–it has elastic in it!

4 – Awbrey

Since I love using clutches I was super excited about this bag. Not too big, not too small, quite roomy inside. I found a perfect black lace in my stash which I used for overlay, putting it over white cotton that was also used as the lining, all of the cotton is backed by a medium weight interfacing. Black cotton was used to make a wristlet strap. I used a magnetic snap. This clutch was made from the large pattern size.

5 – Paula

Hi Everyone!
This is the first bag I've made – I am new at sewing : ) and I loved how it turned out!
I've used a piece of deep blue jeans I had, and a bright pink lining, which I wanted to show off.

6 – Debbie

I used a mid century modern design upholstery material to make this bag and used special embroidery stitching all along the flap and the top of the bag inside continuously for a pretty touch. I used embroidery thread in two colors an orange and a tan. This has a fleece type fusible interfacing which made it extra sturdy but also made it soft enough to protect my phone and goodies if I dropped it. I used more of a utility snap underneath so incase I dropped the purse it would not come open (as I am a wheelchair a lot I have to keep those things in mind). I added a pocket to the inside for my phone. I finished it off with one of my favorite buttons. I have been using it since the first day I made it and have received many compliments.

7 -MaryJane

I made this purse for my daughter's first prom. I used a white satin with a pink and white lace overlay. The pattern went together easily and the instructions were easy to follow. I added a chain handle by inserting ribbon loops on the inside just below the fold. The bag can also be carried as a clutch by letting the chain handle slip to the inside bottom of the bag. I also added an interior pocket that has two divisions in it. One slot is open for quick access to whatever is put inside, and the other slot closes securely with velcro. The interior flap is accented with pink satin ribbon. I added a little bling to the outside with aurora borealis sequin trim and a rhinestone studded flower made of white tulle.

What really makes this purse special for my daughter's first formal dance, is the pink and white lacy overlay is remnant fabric from a dance skirt and shrug I had made for her years ago when she was a little girl in ballet class! Her face lit up when she saw this purse and recognized the fabric right away. (This was possible because this pattern uses a small amount of fabric!)

8 -Becky

I used some leftover fabric that I had in my stash. I had to fussy cut the outside fabric and piece it together but I really like the way it turned out. The back is the bamboo-looking pattern that you see in the corners on the front.

9 -Awbrey

I used a black and white stripe cotton for the outer and a white cotton for the lining. I made a big black bow to cover the flap, using the same black cotton to create a wrist strap. The flap is secured with a silver magnetic snap, I used a medium weight fuse-able interfacing on all the pieces except the bow. I will be using this pattern more and I can definitely see this being my everyday essentials bag!

10 -Christine

I made the base of the bag in brown micro-suede and the flap and lining in a gold pinecone print batik. At the seam on the back, where the flap fabric was joined I inserted a zippered pocket. There is also an interior pocket.
The bird and a portion of the branch is painted with acrylic paint onto white fabric. I then, using Steam a Seam 2, appliqued it to the flap and stitched around the design. Then I did a trampunto technique on the bird to give it some dimension. I finished the branches with more acrylic paint directly onto the flap fabric. I finished off the flap by hand quilting the pinecone printed design in the background.
I used a gold plated pinecone,from some old jewelry I have, as a zipper pull.
I also attached a chain handle.

11 -Christine

I made this bag and the lining of a black swirl batik. I did a beaded embroidery design using a black and gray seed bead mixture onto the fabric first. I also added some silver beads, some hot fix nail heads and some square mirror backed acrylic embellishments. Later I finished the edge of the flap with more seed beading. This is my first beading attempt.
I added a chain handle as I thought it finished the bag off nicely.

12 -Deann

This bag was made for a sweet 8-year-old who is a foster big sister. I personalized it so the family would know it is just for her. The fabric is a super soft flannel, lined with a cute plaid seersucker, which is the fabric for the embroidery.

13 -Diane

I wanted to embroider on my bag so needed a background fabric to show off the design. I chose burlap for something different. The bag is for my mom for Mother's day. Since it is so small, I think she will use it as a change purse so I didn't add a handle. I did sew seed beads in the middle of the flowers for a bit of sparkle and a shiny jewel flower to the flap. The lining is a print that matches the embroidered flowers.

14 – Mairi

My bag, turned out to be a purse. Loved the pattern so much, I didn't read printing instructions properly or the finished measurements, before i jumped in with my 2 left feet.
So it's a tad small..lol, I did enlarge it, now it measures 5 1/2ins along the bottom. So technically i reduced the pattern size.
Used some scrap jersey i had left over from my “star trek” top that humours my husband so much. Never use burgundy and black colour blocking on a top!!!
Did an Alabama Chanin job on the fabric, as i wanted something a little unusual to put my things in. (money and keys then it's full.) Used the Angie's fall stencil with shimmery white paint and white thread.

15 – Janet

I found this gorgeous material in a charity shop and wanted to make a dress from it. When I saw the clutch pattern I had to have the bag to match. The clutch is lined with a black cotton, has a zip pocket stitched to the lining and piping on the top edge. The flower I made from simply ruffling up a long strip an winding it into shape adding a sparkly button to the centre. The colour of my perfume bottles matches the purse beautifully. I hope you like it as much as I do.

16 – Dawn

I love this pattern! I wanted a cute clutch that would be light and summery and would be easy to grab and take anywhere. I can put makeup in it and pop it in my purse for touch-ups at school or work, or I can put some essentials in it and take it by itself for shopping trips or casual outings. My bag is made of pink chevron print cotton fabric on the outside and a hot pink knit fabric on the inside. I added a satin pink bow to the outside to make it extra cute and girlie. I plan on using this clutch all summer long!!

17 – Jeanne

The Wonder Wristlet celebrates two of the comic world's strong females. Images of Wonder Woman and a few of Gamora, from Guardians of the Galaxy, were cut out from comic books and then sewn together. Fusible vinyl was then applied to reinforce the paper. The seams were sewn together with a metallic bias tape. Black satin was used to line the wristlet and a magnetic snap serves as a closure. Any woman carrying this is sure to make a fierce statement.

18 – Robin

This is my second bag. I had a fat quarter of sparkly gold fabric and decided it would make a “fancy” bag, and go with a new gold dress I have. For this bag, I used one layer of fusible Craft Bond on the lining and one layer of fusible fleece on the exterior fabric which I channel quilted in gold rayon thread. Every other quilting line is double stitched. (I did this to hold on the extra pieces used to stabilize the area for the magnetic clasp because the pieces wouldn't stick by themselves.) I added a pocket inside. I like the sparkle and the texture that the quilting created.

19 – Robin

This is my first bag.  I was attending a LULAC (Hispanic) function and needed a small bag to carry.  This colorful fabric was perfect for the event.  I had only two hours in order to make the bag and this pattern was fast and easy.  I followed the pattern exactly, but added an interior pocket.  I received several compliments on the bag that evening.

20 – Val

When I saw this contest I knew I had to use this fabric! It was left over when I made a college bag for my daughter about 2 years ago. It's a lovely heavy cotton, chocolate brown background with lovely colourful flowers all over. I picked out the lilac flower and lined the bag with a cotton fabric in that shade and applied piping in the same fabric around the flap. A little pocket inside completes my bag, which fastens with a magnetic snap.

21 – Val

My bag is made from a heavy cotton fabric in a lilac colour. I've been wanting to try free-machine embroidery for a while so decided to give it a go on this bag! I covered all of the outside using a variegated thread. I lined the bag with a bright purple poly-cotton and added a little pocket inside. An interlining of fleece makes the bag lovely and soft and squishy. I decided to fasten the bag with a vintage button because it has swirls all over it which I thought matched the swirls of the embroidery! I made a loop for the button from the purple lining fabric.

 22 – Dawn

This bag is made out of a silk brocade with a red cotton lining. I attached a decorative frog closure over the snap to go along with the Asian theme and used iron on crystals to write the Chinese symbol for “Love” in the front bottom corner.

23 – Janet

I found this gorgeous outfit in silk at Goodwill and had to have it for the fabric. It was a one way design so I had to piece it so the bird wasn't upside down. I used another pink silk blouse for the lining fabric. I added a pocket (big enough for a cell phone). I wanted a chain for a shoulder length handle. The chain had black faux suede woven through it which I replaced with a pink grosgrain ribbon. The fabric was so gorgeous I didn't add any more trims.

24 – Sarah

This was designed with a young girl in mind. The fabric is paisley and lends a bit of grown up feel to it while the butterfly buttons and flowers add some whimsey to it. I sewed it up a bit higher so that it could hold smaller items inside. For the closure I used a basic magnetic snap.

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 get to 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 previous post and see all the wonderful bags and vote for your favorites in the Bloggers 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