Bag of the month: Tote Bag/ Yarn Bag

This is a lovely versatile style that can be made in various sizes and used for various purposes. It is designed to fit comfortably over an arm -- thus the yarn bag versions that have been used for knitters whilst walking. I have also made it as a peg bag, as it also suits this purpose well.

I originally sourced a free pattern from Lorelei Jayne's "Yarn Bag Tutorial", which can be accessed here:   Yarn Bag

But then I decided to support Apple Green Cottage by purchasing their reasonably priced ALLina Tote Bag PDF Pattern, with much clearer instructions and two sizes to choose from, and it can be sourced here: Apple Green Cottage Tote Bag

This is my version of the smaller pattern, made into a bag to hold my embroidery cottons.

Finally, I drafted a pattern from http://masteraiumniki.blogspot.com/2018/08/blog-post_98.html , choosing the version with the wider handle for my peg bags.

This is how I sewed them together:

Cut out the outer and lining pieces and applique "Pegs" onto the front piece.

Sew the seams across the top of the handle on both the outside and lining pieces (I found this easier than the complicated instructions in the bought pattern, but my way may not work with a narrower handle).

With right sides together join and sew the outer and lining pieces around the sides of the handle.

Clip the curves and turn right side out.

Now join the side seams of the outer bag to the outer bag, and the lining to the lining. Sew across the bottoms of the outer piece and the lining, but leave a gap in the lining for turning.

Now box the bottom corners by pulling the side and bottom seams together and sewing across the gap.

Here is a closer view of the finished seam.

And here is a view of the side and bottom seams coming together before pinning and sewing.

Now turn the bag right side out through the gap in the lining. It will look like this. Sew the gap in the lining closed.

And finally pull the right side out through one of the side seams on the handle. I then chose to top stitch, close to the edge, around the handle openings to finish off.

Some other colourways.

A design feature after I accidentally cut this one along the fold line.

And yet another colourway -- this one had a bright pink lining.

This is the bag I made first with this pattern, and it is now my sewing notions bag.

Remember: If you believe it will work out, you'll see opportunities. If you believe it won't, you'll see obstacles. Wayne Dyer

When the walls start closing in

 Today I have read articles about how we are only at the half-way point of the marathon of living with Covid 19 and, in Australia, our hopes for a better 2021 have been dashed by new outbreaks and concerns about the new more contagious variant of the Virus. All of this can leave us feeling that the walls are closing in again, especially if we have been placed in lock-down or been told to isolate due to places we have unwittingly visited. It can feel a bit like groundhog day! 

However, these are some of the things which I have found helpful when I have felt the walls beginning to close in on me:

Looking out

Fear and anxiety can cause us to become stuck looking inwards at our own reactions, so if we can reach out towards others instead, this can change our perspective. Remembering that we are not alone, that the whole world (or even just our community) is in this together, finding mutual ways to support and comfort people we know, and having empathy for others, can all help us to look outwards instead of inwards.

Looking up

I love looking up at the skies (in all the diverse and constantly changing moods), and up into the canopies of trees, to places that are Covid 19 free, where birds continue to fly free without being weighed down by the problems of the earth. It is good to be reminded that there are worlds above our troubled existence.

Giving it to God

When it all becomes too much, I am reminded that there is a God who has this in His care, who is watching over us, and providing us with comfort, protection and strength, if we but reach out to Him. So many things are too difficult to control, make sense of, or resolve -- and these I put in my "too hard" basket, and then give it to God. We can also pray for others, no matter where they are, and recently I have discovered that it is helpful to pray through news bulletins. 

Changing deprivations and restrictions into acts of love

Earlier in the Pandemic I realised that practicing social distancing, wearing masks, sanitising hands and respecting the rules was actually about giving to others, rather than depriving ourselves. This can make a huge difference to living in fear (which is about looking inwards at ourselves) and is another way of re-focusing outwards.

Remember: Healing isn't about overcoming the pain; it's living despite it. Hannah Blum