Charming Handbag Sign-Ups CLOSED

Sign-ups for the Charming Handbag are now closed. If you sent an email asking to be a part of the swap your name should be on the right hand side of this blog. If you are missing, please let me know (btrsswap@gmail.com).

Partner information will be emailed out no later than this Saturday, March 7. If you do not receive your partner information by Sunday, March 8 please let me know (btrsswap@gmail.com).

Now, to clear up a few misconceptions-

1. The Charming Handbag is a pattern in the book "Bend the Rules Sewing" by Amy Karol. It is a great book with lots of easy projects. If you are participating in this swap you will need to either buy the book or find a way to borrow it (library, friend, etc.).
2. I am not Amy Karol. I didn't write BTRS. I wish I did, but I didn't. I am Adrienne M. and I am very happy to be doing this for you all!

That's about it for now! I hope you all are gearing up for a great swap!

Swap sign up is closed

Time's up and the swappers are in! I should e-mail you your partner's info in the next few days. I'll put up a post when all the e-mails have been sent.

There are 82 swappers from 5 countries and 29 US states. This kind of blows my mind...way more than I ever expected.

I'd like to remind everyone that (at least in the first edition of Bend the Rules Sewing) the dimensions for the pocket are incorrect. The pocket should be around 10" x 9". I've also read that some of the metric conversions may be incorrect. Please head over to the discussion on the flickr group to find errata and some helpful construction hints.

If you've made the bag before, feel free to add a comment with some advice, tips or tricks. My only mishap: I was really conserned with matching the inside and outside pleatson the top when edge stitching to finish the bag that I forgot to keep the constrasting fabrics matching on the bottom of the bag. You can't see it because it is the bottom of the bag and it's not off too much, but I will pay more attention to the top and bottom seams next time.

Any one else have any tips or tricks?