Announcing...the Barrelette Clutch!

I'm happy to announce the completion of my first sewing pattern, the Barrelette Clutch!  Named for it's barrel shape, this is one of my first clutch designs, and one that I've adapted into numerous designs over the years.  The pattern has three variations: Basic, Gathered, and Bow. 

Along with the variations, there are instructions for two add-ons, a chain or fabric strap, and a wrist strap.

My fabulous testers were so patient and helpful through my first testing process, and here are some of their versions and feedback!

Gathered version with wrist strap, by Liz Schaffner. "This is a fast, fun clutch for a night out. Whether it be made in silks or denim... It will look fabulous!"

 Basic version by Ana Cristina Machado.

Basic version by Anupama Rao

Two versions, Bow with lace overlay, and Basic with wrist strap, by Bethany Mitchell.

 

Basic, and Basic with Shoulder strap, by Elizabeth Gilmartin. "This pattern provides the perfect base for making a classic barrel style clutch. I love the variations that come with the pattern too (it's like a 3 in 1)!"

Basic version, by Jennifer Lario Moya. "I had a great time seeing my barrelette clutch. As a confident beginner I found it clear and easily to follow. The variations in the pattern are wonderful and so personal. I highly recommend this pattern."

 

Basic version, by Saar Mertens. "The Barrelette is an easy to follow, well-written pattern with great results! The instructions are clear, with diagrams and pictures to guide you through every step. I really enjoyed going through my fabric stash to find the perfect combo for this beautiful clutch. I chose a black fabric, which I embellished with some embroidery and added a vibrant red interior. I couldn't enjoy the finished Barrelette very long, because my best friend claimed it the very same evening to go out on a date!"

Basic version, by Karen Cook.

 

Two Basics with wrist straps, by Kelly Shaw. "Easy pattern to use and great use of pictures too. Love this pattern and easy to use even if you're not used to working with patterns."

 

Three different Basics, one with a wrist strap, by Lori Peoples. "The Barrelette Clutch is a quick sewing pattern that is very easy to personalize. The possibilities are endless - cross body, wristlet or clutch, plain or embellished, the only limit is your imagination."

 

 

Basic, by Tammi Mooney. "Very cute and simple pattern! Quick to make, and you can dress it up or make it simple."

 

Basic version, by Hanie Noor. "This pattern might not be the easiest to sew as a first bag, but you can tell once it's done that it is worth it. The options for making this bag personal are endless. With the right fabrics, it can be as dressy or as casual as you want it to be. A great, roomy clutch!"

 

Basic version, by Anne Verberckmoes.

 

Basic Version, by Rajyalaxmi Pradeep.

 

 

Judi Duncan- "Super cute and fun pattern to make. Instructions are clear and easy to follow and you can sew one up in an afternoon!"

Karen Thomas- "I love this design. The variations mean it will suit anyone. It can be made from any fabric making it easy to compliment your outfit."

And many thanks also to Bec Munro for pattern edits!

The Barrelette (ask me how often I misspell that!) will be available on Etsy and on Craftsy.  Give me a week or so, and I will have interfacing kits ready to sell as well.  I'm combining my PDF patterns with my supply destash shop (formerly ColorSpree), which is now ToriskaPDF.

My next two patterns are actually almost finished. September has really been a whirlwind.  As soon as this pattern goes live I will be finishing them up and asking for testers.  Join my facebook group for more info about those pattern.

 

Heel tags

I had an interesting order this week.  This customer wanted custom heel tags to go on the back of her wedding party's Converses.  With bridesmaids, groomsmen, a parent, and the happy couple, it was 14 people, so 28 labels! 

 I wanted to do double topstitching on the edges to match the look of the heel of a Converse, but it was hard to get it straight and consistent from label to label.  Those things were just so small! Eventually I set up an assembly line and topstitching all of my labels like this.  They ended up much better.  I hope the bride sends me a picture!

Here's a taste of my personal life.  We had the day off last Monday for Rosh Hashanah and headed to the beach.  The weather was perfect, the toddler and I made sand castles, and the older kids froze in the water with their dad.  Their grandparents came too. A great end to summer!

 I also started a new part-time job.  As someone who has employed herself since college, this has been more nerve-wracking than I expected. But since I am teaching at the school my kids have gone to for three years before this, I know everyone. I've taught two days of music so far and both have gone well.  I redecorated this whole classroom, which before had a bunch of posters with lots of words.  These are preschool kids ages 2-5, so I took everything down, printed and laminated a bunch of pictures of animals with musical instruments, and redecorated!

 My youngest started at the school today.  She loved school and seeing Mommy in music class.

I am finishing up testing on my first clutch pattern!  My testers are giving helpful feedback.  I have the other two framed clutch patterns almost finished, but am waiting on supplies.  I am offering those patterns in new sizes and need to test them myself before sending them to others.

New photos and pattern making updates

I have continued to experiment with my new photography equipment.  I finally have come up with something that I like, and I spent last week redoing all my photos in my shop!

I'm very happy with this new style.  I've always wanted to evoke a mood when people come to my shop, and ever since I moved my sewing machine to my photo spot that had the best natural lighting, I have struggled to come up with a new style. I feel like I have finally made it!  I also have been paying more attention to my non-Etsy site lately, and updated the photos there too.

In pattern news, the more research I've done, the more I realize I need to do before I can release my patterns! I'm currently taking an online course on pattern-making and I'm about to make the plunge and purchase some computer software to help me start.  I have no idea how long the actual process will take me.  I had nice ideas of releasing my three most popular clutch designs simultaneously, but that may be too ambitious.  The nice thing is that people are already asking me to be testers. If you are interested, just let me know and I will add you to the list.

New color swatches

This weekend I worked on a project I have been wanting to do for awhile.  It involved a lot of photography, editing, and tediousness, but I'm happy to have created a new selection of color swatches!

 

To compare, this is what my swatches looked like before.

 I think the new graphic does a much better job of comparing colors to each other and hopefully is clear.  I found the best results by photographing 4-6 at a time and editing them together before cropping into the correct size.  That way I got the correct colors in relation to other ones. 

In other news, I bought a new photography studio setup.  I bought a little mini backdrop stand, which is awesome, as well as a white backdrop.  I have another backdrop coming in the mail for me to experiment with.  I also bought two softboxes.  I like the light they give off.  It's diffused and easy to change around. I'm still experimenting with light direction.

 Here is an example of a picture with these lights.  I like this one a lot.

Looking for sewing pattern testers

I have slowly been preparing my patterns for publication, and the first of my patterns is almost ready for testers!  I am just waiting on a scanner so I can scan in the shapes for pattern pieces.  I've already sent this pattern to my first tester, but I had to send her dimensions only, so I'd like to have the scanner before I send it out to other testers.

 This barrel-style clutch with flap is my first pattern. This is my most popular purse and I am happy to offer it as a PDF.

 It can be tricky because you have to sew through several layers of interfacing, including double-sided fusible peltex, the heaviest interfacing.  I use two layers, and that can be finicky.

So if you are interested in being a tester for this clutch, please let me know.  Leave a comment with your email or email me at toriskabags (at) gmail . com

 

I already have written my patterns instructions for three other styles, but I need to take pictures and edit those before offering them.

 Some of my supplies are expensive to buy unless you buy in bulk, so I am willing to send my testers a frame and squares of interfacing to make things easier on them.

 I have never written or sold patterns before, so I'm really hoping to have 5-10 testers for each pattern before I publish them on Etsy.  I'd like testers who have experience in testing patterns and/or sewing purses. Most of my patterns are not suitable for beginners, but are still not too difficult.

Bombshell swimsuit pattern

I decided this week to make myself a new swimsuit.  I made my last one from a self-drafted pattern. It turned out well, and still fits, but because it was the first suit I made myself, it has a few issues.  The legs gape a little, the halter straps aren't quite long enough, and it covers the front but not the side of my bust very well.  So I decided to purchase the Bombshell Swimsuit pattern that I have had my eye on for awhile.  I did a lot of research--read the Sew-a-long posts on her blog, searched blogs on the internet, and read the pattern thoroughly before beginning. These are the two pattern options:

In my research, I realized that very few bloggers who posted pictures of themselves made the larger sizes.  Also, none of them are that short!  I wondered how much I should shorten the pattern, which is made by someone who is 5'6", while I am 5'1".  I ended up shortening it only 2 inches.

Going into the pattern, I knew beforehand that I would make a couple changes. First off, no matter how much people raved that this was a "modest" suit, there was no way I would be as modest as most of these other bloggers.  Either I would spill out the center of the plunging halter, or out the top of the maillot.  I planned on making a couple modesty adjustments.  Also, I wanted more support, so I knew I would be inserting foam cups at the least.  I wanted to use an old bra for its underwirse, but I'm still nursing, so none of them fit.  I just went with the cups.  I had plans for using boning, but once I was making it during the baby's naptime today, that went out the window in favor of finishing it quickly.  I figured the halter would be more supportive, so I chose that view, and I made the triangles larger so they could cross over.  I also put them a bit further back on the sides to eliminate the side boob problem of my last bathing suit.  I had the idea of using white buckles on the straps for some contrast.

After I put together the whole polka dot body, I tried it on.  The suit was horribly short!  I have a pretty short torso, so I was pretty disappointed with that part of the pattern.  I ended up adding a five-inch band to the top, which doesn't really show with the polka dots.  So--wow!  I probably could have just added four inches, but I wanted to make sure I had enough.  If I make it again, I'm actually going to have to add a couple inches to the length.

The finished suit looks really nice.  One advantage of following an actual pattern is that it tells you how to sew a swimsuit correctly, especially with the seams!  My last swimsuit doesn't look nearly as polished.  My husband thought this looked store-bought.

 When the suit is actually on me, I'm not sure how flattering it is, but then again, how flattering is anything going to be when I'm at a weight I'm unhappy with?  I lost all my baby weight months ago with hard work, but now I've stopped working as hard, and well, you don't lose weight unless you work!

 

I cropped out my legs, which are my least favorite thing to show off.  The back view is also not super flattering in the picture I took.  Overall, I think I'm happy with the end result.  My husband thinks it's cute.  My baby likes to grab the halters and yank on them.  My kids think it's super cool.  I wouldn't mind trying view A, though I would extend the neckline higher and definitely have more support then just foam cups.