Lickety Split Bag Pattern PDF

It’s finally here (and miracle of miracles, it made it before the baby)!
The Lickety Split Sewing Pattern PDF is now available for instant download! Yaaaay!

: : DESCRIPTION : :

This pattern is for the Lickety Split Bag previously featured here on my blog; it is reversible and can be easily sewn in just a few hours (or less!). It’s so versatile you’ll find yourself using it for everything: a book bag, shopping bag, stroller bag, diaper bag, and more! The four pockets are optional (and super-handy for keys, phones, or water bottles), and the adjustable tie strap allows you to get the perfect fit. It can be sewn on a regular machine or a serger.

: : YOU WILL NEED : :

• 1 yard of quilting cotton for each side of the bag (or less; the amount of fabric you use depends on how you position the pattern pieces, which depends on how the design is printed on the fabric)
• ric-rac or other trim for pockets (optional)

: : PATTERN INCLUDES : :

• Detailed step-by-step instructions
• Color photographs to augment instructions
• Hand-drawn summary sheet of instructions (a cheat sheet if you will...this is totally campy but totally me)
• Complete set of full-sized pattern pieces (attach together before cutting)

: : HOW DOES INSTANT DOWNLOAD WORK? : :
When you click on the "Buy Now" button, you will be brought to a payment page at Payloadz. They partner with Paypal, so you can pay either with a credit/debit card, or with Paypal (the Paypal option is small but it's there, lower left). Once you make your payment, there will be a button that you will click to download the pattern AND you will receive an email with a download link. These links expire, so make sure you get your download right away!

For those with little experience downloading and printing PDF files, I would suggest a test download with one of the free patterns on my blog (see left sidebar) before purchase to make sure you have the correct software. A recent version of Adobe Reader is recommended.

: : VERSIONS AVAILABLE : :

Pattern Only ($6)

Purchase this version if you will use the pattern for yourself or for gifts for others (i.e. no profit, for personal use only).

Pattern + License to Sell ($12)

Purchase this version if you plan to use the pattern for yourself and would like to have the option to sell bags from the pattern. Small-scale handmade sales only; one license for each person who makes/sells the bags. For personal and limited commercial use only. You also will have the option to be listed here on the blog as a licensed Lickety Split Bag Vendor.

Note: License alone will cost $8 (not available yet), so it's really a bargain to buy the package.


: : OTHER STUFF : :

Thanks and a Giveaway
Special thanks to Andrea, my good friend, fellow blogger, and sewing extraordinaire who reviewed the pattern for me and is giving away a Lickety Split Bag! Go to her blog for more details on the Giveaway!

What about Etsy?
For those who are interested in purchasing the pattern through Etsy instead, please contact me (see email on left sidebar) and I will put up a listing for you as soon as I can. Because Etsy takes a portion of each sale and I have to personally email the PDF to you, the pattern will cost a dollar more ($7 for pattern, $13 for pattern + license) if purchased in this manner. Also, since I have a toddler and a life (sortof...), the pattern will be emailed to you within 24 hours, not instantly.

Pardon my dust
I have worked so hard on this pattern and getting the instant downloads to work smoothly and properly, but as you might expect, problems can and will arise no matter how much testing you do ahead of time. Would you please let me know if you find mistakes, if something is unclear, or if I could make something better? I really appreciate your patience as I get all the glitches worked out.

Flickr Group
Coming soon!

My boys

I don't usually include much in the "family life" department on the ol' bloggityblog, but since there's been no sewing this week, I thought I'd share this picture from Father's Day a few weekends ago. Elliot helping Mr Rae assemble a grill at Uncle Don and Aunt Sara's ("Zahzee's") house. (picture by Aunt Zahzee)

Have a Happy Weekend!

Rally, people, rally!!!

Oh my...luvinthemommyhood has been kind enough to feature my Spring Top Tutorial in a Top Tutorial Vote this week. Just yesterday I finally figured out what was going on and realized I'd better get out the vote! There's too much firstborn in me; I can't help but get an eensy-weensy competitive. But of course I'm such a doofus, today's the last day to vote! Durr, Rae.

:: click on image (courtesy of luvinthemommyhood) above to go vote ::

Of course, it makes it so much better to be featured along side of some of my favorite creators in Craftblogland (Dana, Traci, Alexis, and Chris) so I won't be TOO disappointed if I don't win...

Anyway, if you have time, go and vote for one of us (translation: me)!

Rae's pattern in a Book : : Lickety Split Update : : Free Pattern Update

Some randomness today to prove I'm still here, puttering away...


New Book Alert: The folks responsible for "One Yard Wonders", a compilation sewing book due out this October, finally released a cover shot and a peek at some projects on their FB page this week so you can hop over and have a look! I submitted a couple of patterns on a whim last fall, and it looks like at least one got in (the summer nighty, below). YAY! I'm extra pumped because it's got 101 (!) projects in it. SO appealing to the Dutch girl in me. I'm very excited and proud to say I'm going to be "published!"

: : A new pattern by me! In a book! : :

(Image by One Yard Wonders, Storey Publishing)

Lickety Split Bag Pattern Update: I am SO close to being finished! All of the pattern pieces are finished, the instructions are almost done, and the cover sheet is ready to go. So...it should be available soon. And from the number of emails I'm getting asking me to send it ("Dear Rae, Please send the Lickety Split Pattern to myemail@pmail.com, thanks, Soandso."), I feel the Pregger-Brain must have miscommunicated somehow. Did I give the impression that it was already available? Sometimes I feel like I've totally lost it. Now to be fair, most of the emails are more like "Dear Rae, when will it be available?" which is gads better. It's so nice to have so many polite people here in Craftblogland; I do really appreciate all the inquiries and emails.

On Vacay: I'm away from home with both sets of parents in West Michigan this week, so I haven't really been sewing much. Just letting the grandparents watch Elliot and working on patterns n' stuff. I realized a few days ago that I probably shouldn't be over two hours from home at 37.5 weeks though...Oops! Started Twilight yesterday. I hear I'm in for a trashy beachread slash addiction.

Paint: Thanks for all the Low/Zero VOC paint suggestions! I decided to go with both Aura from Benjamin Moore and Duration from Sherwin Williams (different colors from each). If I hadn't been such a last-minute kind of person I would have tried out Mythic Paint; "Endless Summer" (row six, center) is so dreamy. I may have to find another room to transform just to try it out. So far I've only used the Aura in the nursery, but I have to say it's totally amazing to only have to do one coat (plus a little extra brush touchup around edges). ONE COAT!

Free Patterns: So I guess in order to restore the Itty Bitty Dress and Buttercup Bag pattern links to their original glory, a piece of hardware destroyed in the lightning storm here in Michigan is still en route in the mail. So it's looking like it will take a little longer than planned. However, I have a backup plan. I have made a "drop" here at Drop.Io:

https://drop.io/madebyrae/login

You click on that link, and enter the password (madebyrae) and you'll see the Itty Bitty Baby Dress (the original version; since I did not make or host the toddler version I cannot vouch for the availability of that one). You should be able to download the Itty Bitty Dress from there. I am happy to do the same with the Buttercup Bag, however, I don't actually have the free web version since it's on the broken server. Yes, that is very very embarrassing but true. If someone can email it, just comment below and send it on. Please check comments before emailing it to me though, I don't need 534 versions of it, just one!

Thanks Grandma G!!! The Buttercup Bag is up at drop.io/madebyrae now too!

TUTORIAL: Pleated Pocket!

Just a minute ago I submitted my final exam for my very last class for my Master's Degree! YAAAAY!!! (to be exclaimed with flailing arms all Kermit-the-Frog-style). I'm FREE! Well at least academically speaking. So let's start tackling that "list," shall we?

Here is the long-awaited Pleated Pocket Tutorial. Now you too can make your very own and add it to everything: skirts, shirts, purses, baby dresses and more. This really is so simple. Enjoy!

P L E A T E D
P O C K E T
T U T O R I A L
made by Rae
please do not take images from this tutorial without permission. thanks!

Materials
For EACH POCKET cut:

• 1 rectangle for the top band of the pocket: 1.5"x12" for narrower band (yellow one, shown in tutorial) or 2"x13" for wider band (pink one pictured above)
  
• 2 rectangles for the bottom of the pocket: 5.5" x 8" each
  

Instructions
Step 1: Press under 1/4" along the bottom side of the top band (I did both sides but later realized I should have just done one).


Step 2: Fold top part of pocket in half lengthwise.


Step 3: With a 1/4" seam allowance, sew around just two edges of the top band, the top edge and the side across from the fold (has been marked with purple in picture below). This will leave the bottom edge (the one you pressed) open.


Step 4: Clip corners.


Step 5: Turn right-side out, poking the corners out with a tweezers or a pencil or some special thingamabob you purchased for this very purpose. Press. If you are smart you will also fold and press the raw bottom edges under along the folds you made in Step 1. Did I do this? NO. Dur!

Now set this piece aside.


Step 6: With right sides together and a 1/4" seam, sew the bottom pocket pieces together, leaving the top open. When you do the corners, instead of making them square, sew them as rounded as you can. FOR BEST RESULTS, DRAW THE CURVES WITH A FABRIC MARKER BEFORE YOU SEW! One rounded corner closeup is shown below:


Step 7: Trim corners off with scissors and clip seams.


Step 8: Turn right-side out and press.


Step 9: Tuck bottom part of pocket into top band, making sure the folded edge of the top band is tucked inside, and pleating the bottom piece to taste*. I would tuck at least 1/2" into the band. The size of the pleats will vary depending on how wide your top band is, but I would guess they will be about 1/2" deep; adjust the size of the pleats so that the edges of the bottom piece fits exactly inside the top band. Pin pleats to secure.

*Want the one you see in the picture? On the pink pockets I made two pleats facing out about 2" from edge of pocket. On the yellow pockets I made two pleats facing one way about an inch apart. For the bird pocket I put one large pleat in the center facing inward).

One other thing here: I found that the pocket looks better when the corners of the bottom piece go farther into the top band than the center, so don't feel like you need to make the edge of the bottom even with the edge of the top. If anything this will help your pocket pucker more.


Step 10: With the pocket facing up, topstitch across the bottom of the top band to close everything up. The closer you are to the edge, the harder it is to "catch" both the top and bottom edges of the top band, so be careful. You may want to baste first with the back side up or do some extra pinning. I'm a glutton for punishment so I always just wing it and then end up inevitably tearing out the part I missed. Of course I remain graceful and dignified as I do so. Always.

Here is a view of the finished pocket from the back (I used a white lining for one of my rectangles because I was short on fabric. You don't see the inside anyway):


And the front:

Notice that it looks a little uneven still; this will go away once you sew it to your garment. Remove pins, press it, pin to your garment and sew around the edges to secure. If you pin it so that the top band doesn't lay completely flat against the garment, the pocket will have more of a rounded look and will pucker away from the garment somewhat.

Finished dimensions are approximately 6" x 7"

Buttercup Bag Seller List

Here is a list of fabulous sellers who are licensed to make and sell Buttercup Bags! Please support them by checking out their shops, adding them to your favorites, and buying their handcrafted stuff!

calicodaisy
calicodaisy.etsy.com
Custom orders welcome, embroidery personalization and monogramming available.

Grace Violet
graceviolet.etsy.com

Homesteadcat
homesteadcat.etsy.com

How About Orange
howaboutorange.etsy.com
Buttercup bags in hip, modern fabrics designed by Jessica Jones, plus patterned goodies for your home and office. Custom orders and international shipping are available.

Jabba's Design Hut
jabbasdesignhut.etsy.com
I've just started my little Etsy shop and am getting things in order. I'll be posting new bags every few days. I'm located in Canada and will ship anywhere. I'm willing to do custom orders, just contact me!

Jona&Lilli
http://Jonalili.dawanda.com
Jona&Lili: Original bags and purses made in Munich. Will ship anywhere in the world!

knitty bitties
knittybitties.etsy.com
Buttercup Bags in two sizes (Mama and Baby)
Please convo if you are interested in a custom order!

La Portraitiste
LaPortraitiste.etsy.com

Pebbles and Poppys
PebblesAndPoppys.etsy.com

PurseStrings
www.PurseStringsShop.com
*Purses, Bags & Wallets Impeccably Handcrafted*
I take orders from my web site and I sell locally in La Jolla, CA at a market and from my home. I have been sewing for many years. I am a perfectionist so what sells my bags is my workmanship, as well as my taste in fabric. I do custom work and I ship anywhere.

Skip To My Lue
skiptomylue.etsy.com
Skip the mall, skip the mundane, go to skiptomylue.etsy.com
Unique handmade items for women and babies

Vision Handbags
www.visionhandbags.com

WendiWee
wendiwee.etsy.com

I will update this page as needed; PLEASE let me know if I have missed you (and please know that it is not of any sort of malicious intent, it's probably that I just misplaced your email!), if you would like to change your info, or if you would like to be added to this list!

Wow. I guess I'll take that as a "yes"...

I'm pretty sure that last post set some kind of record on my blog for most comments received in the shortest period of time. I'm going to go ahead and say that was an ENTHUSIASTIC response to the Lickety Split Bag. And for those of you who have been sending me emails like "how much is it" and "when can I buy it?", the current status report on the Lickety Split Bag is: has been scanned, will be available for sale as soon as is reasonably possible (given my current state and situation), with an option for commercial licensing for those wanting to make/sell them. I'm excited about this. But then I'm also kicking myself for making more work in these last precious days...

Speaking of situation, our basement renovation is complete and I am now able to spend more time in my home as the fumes from the new carpet have slowly dissipated. Which is good because taking a toddler out of the house every day proved challenging. Mr Rae installed some surround sound wiring down there so the TV is goin' downstairs and his dream of having the "Man Den" is finally being fulfilled. Not that we ever have time to watch TV, but when we do, man we are going to feel like we are right there. The old TV room is becoming the new nursery so I have my fantasy nursery all planned out in my head. Here's one of my inspiration points for Baby #2's decor:


I did a refurb on this vintage Irmi lamp I found on Etsy (unfortunately the lovely shop I purchased from is down to one or two Irmi items) by very carefully cleaning the figures and repainting the base. I rewired it and gave it a new lampshade and added pompoms. And if you think this one's cute you should wait until you see the one I got for Elliot's room.

Now finding cheap Low-VOC paint to coordinate is something that will probably only happen in another space-time. Should I buy the $56 per gallon uber high-quality Benjamin Moore Aura if it means I have to put the baby in a dresser drawer? Oh, the issues that have been keeping me up at night. At least I know what colors I want on the walls (warning: blurry sideways scan):


The light mango orange is going on the top half of the walls top and one of those celery greens is going on the bottom (there's a white chair rail that divides the room). The dark red-orange is just an accent color for a side table. Many of you have asked if we know if it's a boy or a girl and the answer is: YES! But that's all I'm leaving you with (and those of you family and friends who know need to keep your mouths shut) since I think it's more fun if it's a surprise! So that's all for now...