After making a Tokyo Tie Bag the other day, I decided to experiment with the dimensions and make a bag that has a size I prefer. I like the dimensions of the pattern I was given, but I wanted it a little deeper and the handles a little longer. So I busted out my butcher paper and made a better pattern. Here’s a photo of the original pattern on top of a pair of pyjamas.

I just added two inches to the bottom of the bag and three inches to the top where the handle is.

The dimensions are as follows:

• The height of the handle is 1 and 1/8th inch
• The length from the top of the handle to the first line is 12 inches
• The first line is 2.5 inches tall
• The length from the first line to the second line is 2.75 inches
• The second line is 5.75 inches (also the same height as the bottom of the bag)
• The length from the second line to the bottom of the bag is 8.25 inches

I drew the curves out by hand between the two lines and the top of the handle.
After I figured that out I transferred the pattern to a piece of tagboard I nabbed from a boot box (thank goodness I work at a shoe store — endless supplies of cardboard). So now I have a stiff pattern so all I have to do is trace around it on my fabric and cut it out. Presto!

Anyway, to get to this posting’s title, I never use flat sheets on our bed. But they make awesome curtains and scrap fabric. I used a dark red flat sheet as the lining for my new purse.

Look at that 400 thread count Egyptian cotton! The handles are just the right length to sling over my shoulder.

Several months ago I purchased this sweater from Her Tern Boutique:

I love the flower embellishments. The petals seem to be made of sweater material and were hand sewn onto the garment.

I had a couple of sweaters I never wear, so I thought I’d give it a try.

I made a little petal template out of tagboard and cut out five petals for each flower. I pinned them in place and then sewed them onto the sweater. Then I used embroidery thread to make the center of each flower.

 I think I might add more tonight, but I wanted to wear my newly refashioned sweater to work.

An acquaintance came into the store the other day with the loveliest little purse. It was a simple design and when I commented on it, she said she bought it in a little arts market in New York City, but a friend of hers had scanned a pattern for something similar.

She forwarded me the pattern and it was for a Tokyo Tie Bag. Here was my first attempt:

If you do a Google search for this, you will find several patterns that resemble the one I made. I recommend this pattern from Darling Petunia’s Blog. Her pattern looks like the one I made, but the dimensions are slightly different.

Besides cutting the fabric, it only took about 30 minutes to construct. It’s really worth trying.

After whipping out my first one, I decided to tweak the pattern a little. I wanted my next one to have a flat bottom, but to also have a sort of kimono look to it. I was hoping the crossover of the fabric would create a little pocket, but it turned out too floppy so I had to sew it shut. I like how it turned out decoratively, though.

I’m going to have to make a ton of these. I think for my next one I’ll make the straps longer. My friend Robert suggested making large versions out of T-shirts, so I’m going to give that some thought. It also dawned on me that thrift store pillowcases could be put to good use with this pattern.