It’s our local agricultural show in a couple of weeks time, it’s the oldest one day show in the country, it’s the 212th show this year! As well as livestock there’s also handicrafts and baking. Over the years I’ve entered the competitions lots of times, mainly handicrafts with the odd foray into baking or flower arranging or maybe photographs. I haven’t entered for a while but I decided this year to put a few things in, especially when I worked out if I entered ten items and therefore got a free ticket, it was cheaper than buying a ticket on the gate!!…and you have to support these shows if you want them to continue.

I’ve entered a couple of cross-stitch pictures and two bags. The cross-stitch ones are pieces I’ve done recently, but I still had to make the bags, so they’re on my to do list whilst I’m recuperating.

My first finish is a Flip Clutch Wallet, a clutch bag pattern by Spencer Ogg. I wanted a clutch bag that will fit in other bags and contain my essentials, bank cards, cash (a rarity these days!) my phone etc. The idea being that this will fit in my handbag but easily transfer to another bag if needed. I like my handbag for general shopping etc, but when I go to work I end up with two bags as I need somewhere for my lunch etc. My next make will be a backpack for work!

The Flip Clutch Wallet had all the elements I wanted, it’s a pdf pattern too and I found fabric in my stash, the patterned ones inside are fat quarters I’ve had for ages, I love the colours and the patterns but I could never find a place for them in a quilt. The outer fabric is a bumbleberry fabric from Lewis and Irene, it’s nice and bright so I’ll hopefully be able to see it in the bottom of a bag!

I’ve made a few bags now, there’s always lots of pieces and stages and you just have to methodically work your way through the instructions. I’ve not used a Spencer Ogg pattern before but on the whole the instructions were really clear with lots of photos. There were a few head scratching moments and the seam ripper came out more than once, but that could have been my post anaesthetic brain too! I think some of the problem is when I don’t necessarily understand how the pattern is working, sometimes I just needed a short break then re-read the instructions.

This is the two main halves ready to be joined! You can see lots of space for bank and shop cards, behind both sets is a notes pocket.

My biggest fiddle came with the zip, it all went in very neatly, but when it came to sewing down both sides it was very messy at the end as you can see in the photo below. It also sat on the side of the purse, rather than proud of the edge like the picture showed.

I might have cut the zip too short, or rather measured to the wrong bit of the zip. Anyway I fiddled and faddled and got it vaguely respectable, though not sure it’s prize-winning stuff now! – to be hoped the judge doesn’t read my blog 😀

It is all finished now except for a wrist strap, I made a cord one initially as I don’t have a split ring small enough to go through the zip pull, I was hoping to put beads etc on it but my beads didn’t have a big enough hole and it looks poxy! I’ve thought of a shop in Otley that might sell the split rings, a cobbler, so I’ve fabric cut out for a proper strap.

And the inside…you see how the zip is on the side, I think it’s meant to be along the edge!

The phone pocket is behind the top card slots, under the main flap. It’s a bit of a squeeze getting my phone in but I have got quite a chunky phone case..

…and opened up, lots of slots for bank and store cards, I like the way this central bit has a magnetic closure too…

For such a complex construction, the instructions and the design in general are amazing, it’s very cleverly put together! I would certainly recommend Spencer Ogg patterns if this one is anything to go by.

I’m hoping the backpack will be a slightly easier construction!