Simply Sewing
First Published March 2022
Simply Sewing the MidnightSUN
Back at the end of last year I was delighted to be asked by Simply Sewing Magazine if they could publish one of my patterns. What a wonderful opportunity! We agreed on publishing a version the MidnightSUN bag. The magazine was on the shelves yesterday, 17th March, which also happened to be St. Patrick’s Day!
Space in a printed magazine is limited in comparison to the flexibility of a PDF tutorial. I needed to supply them with a step by step photographic tutorial. As the amount of room for steps is not infinite (and you all know I like to give you lots of options!) we agreed that I would provide the pattern, and make and photograph the steps, for the tall, open tote version of the MidnightSUN with a magnetic snap closure to the main bag.
For the fabric and notions I reached into my (extensive) Zipper Zoo stash… Rust dry oilskin combined with their raspberry lightweight canvas for the outer fabrics. I went with their yellow lightweight canvas for the lining. The only notions needed were cotton webbing for the straps, rivets to secure the pocket corners (totally optional, a stitched bartack works too) and a magnetic snap fixing!
I quilted the raspberry canvas for a little extra strength and texture, and partly because I think I just love any chance to do a bit of quilting… I also added a layer of H630 to the main lining, for a bit of extra gently squishy structure.
I was delighted when the editor said that they would like to feature the pattern as one of the 3 printed patterns they include with each edition. Which meant that it features on the front, and back, envelope cover!
As all the shops were closed here in Dublin yesterday, I had to wait until today to go grab a copy for myself! Tonight, I will get a chance to peruse the pages with a cup of tea.
GIVEAWAY & SALE
To celebrate the release of Edition 93 of Simply Sewing I’m hosting a giveaway of a PDF copy of the original MidnightSUN pattern – with all the options! And Zipper Zoo are sponsoring a €25 voucher for their most dangerous bag making supplies shop! Pop on over to the Instagram giveaway post to join in!! It will run until Sunday morning, 20th March, and a winner will then be drawn at random.
The MidnightSUN pdf pattern, along with the SUNrise pouch pattern, is on sale with a 20% discount until midnight on Sunday too!
OTHER NEWS
UKRAINE I was amazed by the response to my pattern sale last week and was very grateful to be able to donate €1505 to the Irish Red Cross Ukraine Appeal on Tuesday of this week. Thank you to everyone who purchased a pattern or shared the sale.
I also wanted to help give my children and their friends the opportunity to take action so we hosted a musical get together in our small home on Sunday. I was utterly gobsmacked to be able to make a second donation on Wednesday of €3422.15 to the Red Cross. The children were all fantastic in their joyful singing, brave performances and general amazingness!
I will continue to donate 10% of sales on a fortnightly basis and keep thinking about what next action to make to support all those effected by the horrors of war. Feels like a drop in the ocean sometimes but the drops can add up.
There are many other creatives trying to extend a hand of friendship to the people of Ukraine. Nicola Brown, and eco printing and felt making textile artist, will, this weekend, be selling some of her beautiful work with 70% of proceeds going to the Red Cross. You can find Nicola here: website, facebook & instagram.
Come join our growing bag making community over on Facebook at In Complete Stitches Sew & Share to be inspired and to share your own In Complete makes!
