Today I am sharing a Glossary of bag terms which Karen has put together for you! Over to you Karen! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There are so many bags out there now. Some bags are called after how they are worn rather than their shape or style, i.e. Crossbody or Shoulder bag, or even how they close i.e. drawstring, which can make describing exactly what you want even more difficult. I decided it would be fun to compile an alphabetical list, a glossary... Read more →

WOOP! Today I have a FREE video pattern tutorial to share with you! The I’d Rather Be Sewing Grocery Tote is super fast and easy to make. It can be whipped up in an evening. With a simple technique to add some piping for definition and style, the tote is unlined to make it light and able to fold nice and flat for easy storage. Made from Home Decorator Fabrics, your tote will be durable and neatly finished with French... Read more →

EDIT: WOOP! And the winner of the most creative comment below is Veronica Johnson! Congrats! Please email me christine@chriswdesigns.com so I can give you your Penny Inn Pattern + Video prize!.....PLUS Cindy Huggins....I would like to also give you a copy because....well just because life can be tough sometimes and I know what that feels like so I hope this will brighten up your day a little! Please email me christine@chriswdesigns.com Thanks everyone who took part! Great comments from all!... Read more →

WOOP! The time has finally come to release my contribution to the January - June 2018 Bag of the Month Club. The Podium. The Podium is a roomy across the body bag with an adjustable strap. Featuring an exterior quick access phone pocket which is also great for keys if you don’t have a phone. Inside the roomy under flap main compartment which closes with a magnetic snap, you will find a zipper pocket, 2 slip pockets and a pen... Read more →

In this video I share my favourite Interfacings and Stabilisers that I use every day in my bag making endeavours. I hope you will find this useful! :) To download my FREE PDF Interfacing and Stabiliser guide, please click HERE. Happy Sewing! :) Read more →

Today I have a FUN hack guest post by Karen to share with you! So COOL! Over to you Karen! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Gemini Pouch is a free pattern available to members of the ChrisW Designs Facebook group and when I was browsing the pictures of pouches made by testers I came across the hack Robin had made to make it fit in a ring binder. I decided this would be a fun project for me to attempt, just in time... Read more →

WOOP! I am SO excited to let you all know that I have finally released my Penny Inn video tutorial! So if you have already purchased the video, it is now available in your account! Ladies, this video has taken me MONTHS of work BUT I feel it is SO worth it because now, with the help of this video, ANYONE can make this super impressive, super COOL wallet! The video is literally JAM PACKED with everything you need to... Read more →

Today I have another AWESOME guest post by Karen to share with you! Over to you Karen! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do you like to crossbody or prefer to shoulder? Love clutching your bag or prefer gripping a handle? Or are you a wrist dangler? Whatever your preference, or needs, you can make your bag meet them! Did you know there is a Museum of Bags? It is the Tassen Museum of Bags and Purses in Amsterdam, and it has a huge collection... Read more →

How AWESOME is this! Today I have a super tutorial by Ellen on how to add a zipper closure to your Gabbie's Grove! YAY! Over to you, Ellen: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello everyone .. Today I just wanted to share with you all, how I did the Zip Top Closure on “Gabbie’s Grove”. There are two different ways to add a Zip Top Closure, one way is to add a finished (on all edges) Zip Top Closure panel directly onto your lining.... Read more →

YES! It's that time again! What 'time' you may ask? NEW pattern release time! YAY! My latest Easy Street Pattern, Gabbie's Grove: Gabbie’s Grove is a super quick and fun sew creating a unique, versatile foldover bag which you can use as a tote: Or fold it over and use as a shoulder or crossbody bag: Or put your arm through the Top Body Strap and use as a large clutch: You can even wear it as a foldover backpack... Read more →

WOOP! we are having a FLASH sew along of the Brandt's Boulevard Easy Street wallet pattern over in our Facebook Group AND there will be a LIVE VIDEO too! Starts TOMORROW! Hosted by two of our AWESOME group admins, Rachel, who has made a STACK of these wallets to date and knows more about them than I do... and Amanda who is braving the camera for us! Quick and easy to make,the Brandt's Boulevard wallet is the perfect warm up... Read more →

Today we are back with another guest post from Karen to share with you! This one is part 3, adding free motion machine embroidery! Over to you Karen: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- For this project I am making the Snazzy Slouch. I haven't made it before but it has been on my To Do List for a while, and it has those great exterior pockets for decorating. I am using recycled denim for mine, so I skipped the fusible interfacing to keep it... Read more →