Birthday pressie - Cath Kidston DIY bag

I was very lucky to receive a box set of Cath Kidston books for my birthday this year. The set contains the books, Stitch, Patch and Sew, as well as all the material to make your own shoulder bag. Naturally, I couldn't wait to make it! You didn't even have to cut the pieces out, they were already done for you!

The material used is cotton duck and it feels quite hard wearing - though quite why it is called duck I don't know! Quackers if you ask me! (Good ole Wikipedia: Cotton Duck, is from the Dutch word 'doek' which means linen canvas.)

The bag still took me three hours to make in total, though about 45mins of that was trying to turn a piece of material the right way out! I shall explain! You had to make a button loop, otherwise known as rouleau loop. A rouleau loop (and I quote) is a narrow flexible tube made from a bias strip of fabric. Sounds simple doesn't it? And essentially it is simple, that is until I tried to turn it the right way. The book suggests you use tapestry thread fastened at one end, then you thread the needle through the tube, gradually turning it the right way as you go. Well I used button thread, as that is infinitely stronger - haven't managed to snap it yet, no matter how much wellie I give it! Even though I made my rouleau loop about 5mm wide (as opposed to the 3mm suggested in the book), I still couldn't turn it through. So frustrating it was - all I ended up with was a frayed end and a frazzled brain! I don't think it helped as the material was quite stiff. In the end, I conceded defeat and decided to make a loop out of a flowery polycotton instead....where there's a will, there's a way!

The bag is lovely but I fear it is a little too small for me! I like to carry everything with me, including the kitchen sink - must be my age!