Sewing

bridesmaids gifts

This is kind of a funny story.  A woman called me a month ago asking if I would sew up some bridesmaids gifts for her wedding.  She had actually bought a lot of my stuff at a craft show I attended last year, and kept my business card.  Pretty cool, since I figured most of them would get tossed in the garbage.  Anyway, I agreed because she lives in the same town, is the art teacher at the elementary school, and I actually work for the same company as her brother.  Small world. 

Now I guess I should insert here that I do not usually sew for people other than my friends and family, especially in this quantity.  I would love to, but there’s just not ever enough time. 

We ended up agreeing on using my gathered clutch pattern for the bridesmaids and making a simple snap wallet for additional wedding party gifts, yep, 9 of each! I kind of cringed a bit when she told me she had bought her own fabric, but it worked out great, my only contribution was the Amy Butler Love print.  I didn’t feel pressured to try and put together any fabric combos, since she requested it to be more of an eclectic look.

I used nine 1/2 yard cuts for making it all, clutches and wallets, with a bit of scraps leftover.  Each had a handy dandy detachable wrist strap and two card holders.  I used an alternate way of making the interior clutch card holders and I will definitely post on that later, just another way of doing it, that’s all.

I felt kind of like a sweat shop, by the third night of consecutive sewing, I felt pretty worn down.  I did make them all assembly line style, which helped a lot.  Cut all the pieces, did the interfacing, and assembled all the parts separately.  I also grouped the colors together when I did all of the top stitching so I wouldn’t have to keep switching threads.

She’s getting married this weekend, and hopefully I can sneak in and get a few shots of the stuff in action!

63 thoughts on “bridesmaids gifts

  1. by night says:

    these are all very nice! I really like the fabrics and colours she picked! You did an amazing job – again….

  2. Grushe4ka says:

    Wow! The are so really cute!!!!!!!!!!!!

  3. They look great! She’ll be so pleased.

  4. crafterhours says:

    wow, way to go you. That sure was a lot of work, but they all look perfect. I wish I was one of her bridesmaids! I would be fighting over those red & white polka dots 🙂

  5. nima says:

    wow…that looks lovely

  6. Vanina says:

    Felicitaciones!! quedaron hermosos!
    Tendrías que dedicarte a coser para vender! Tus trabajos son muy lindos!
    Un beso!

    Congratulations! were beautiful!
    You’d have to dedicate yourself to sew to sell! Your works are nice!
    A kiss!

  7. alissa says:

    Very pretty Anna! Any bridesmaid would be lucky to receive one.

  8. Amy says:

    That looks like a lot of work but what great bridesmaids gifts! They are lucky ladies!

  9. 19nullsieben says:

    wow, the clutches are great!

  10. Tiffany says:

    I like the addition of the wallet, it’s all very nicely done. That was quite an undertaking, they turned out beautifully!

  11. I love the way they look all lined up next to each other. What a great gift.

  12. Rachael says:

    that was so nice of you to agree to do. they turned out great.

  13. TJ says:

    Holy smokes! Those are great!! I sooo would want to be one of her bridesmaids. Those are gorgeous. How long (estimated) did it take you to do and complete all 9 of them? You mentioned third day, but was that like a 20-24hr project?

    They look great. I’ll have to look back on this site and see if you have a tutorial for the straps too. I can’t ever figure out how to do that X stitching to keep the strap ends together.

  14. These are just adorable! Wish I could be a bridesmaid again and have loads of fun with handmade goodies from Anna. Beautiful work!!

  15. Julie says:

    they look fabulous! you did such a great job! I have yet to accept a custom order, I think I’m slightly scared to accept, not sure why, but I am….perhaps I should just give it a go!

  16. Stacy Marie says:

    I sewed 5 tote bags and 5 jewelry rolls for my bridesmaids, then I sewed 8 jewelry rolls and 8 make up bags for my friend who’s getting married in November…and the sweat shop definition is just right!

  17. Lora says:

    oh my goodness! those are so cute!

  18. You go Girlfriend!!! woot woot!!!

  19. Cyndi says:

    That’s a lot of work, but they all look fabulous! I’m sure her bridesmaids and other wedding guests are going to be thrilled with those gifts!

    XOXO,

    Cyndi

  20. Chris says:

    Wow. What a work of love. I hope the wedding goes of fabulously and that the recipients are tickled. I know I’d be so happy to get one of them.

  21. Erica says:

    These are so cute! What a cool bridesmaid gift. I love the colorful fabrics that you chose.

  22. Sandy says:

    Those are so great… I’m sure the bridesmaids will love them. Any chance we can get a snap wallet tutorial… love those!

  23. You did an awesome job! So pretty and what a cute idea for a wedding! I use mine all the time and love it. I can see how that would get tedious to make all at one time…I made so many of one handbag for gifts at the beginning of the year that I don’t ever want to make it again..haha.

  24. These are such a great idea for bridesmaids gifts, I would be thrilled to bits if I got one,though I’m far too old and married to be thought of in bridesmaid terms these days 😉

  25. Katie says:

    Her bridesmaids are going to love them! Such fun, bright colors.

  26. Leslie says:

    these are great, what an awesome gift idea

  27. Lovely! Especially loving those sweet little snap wallets.

  28. Beatrice says:

    I love them! It’s a great idea for a wedding! 🙂
    I just tried to do my own gathered clutch, but was not so successfull as you. Sigh!
    I linked your blog anyways.
    Mine is http://www.beaslab.blogspot.com

  29. Mary says:

    I could tell right off the bat those weren’t Noodlehead fabrics 😉

    You did a great job! I can’t IMAGINE sewing 18 items in such a short amount of time! Wow.

  30. Trista says:

    Hi Anna, I found you over at Yards and Yards. I love those gifts, the eclectic look is awesome all the way from the zipper to the fabric.

  31. Holy cow, lovely sewing job.
    I for one want a zipper tutorial from you.
    Those zippers are just PERFECT.
    (I know, you’re gonna tell us it’s all in the foot)
    Pleeeze?

  32. Emily says:

    How gorgeous! I wish I was in the wedding so I could get one. 🙂

  33. Nicole says:

    I love these! An assembly line, indeed!

  34. Susan says:

    just gorgeous!

  35. Emily says:

    Wow! Look at you go girl!! Amazing job on these!

  36. WoW they sure do look FANTASTIC….

  37. love it! i have a question – where do you get the clasp/claw clasp from? I can’t seem to find those!

  38. they look fantastic!!!
    that sure is a lot of work, you must be sew-ed out!

  39. Jeannie says:

    Oh my gosh! you did such an awesome job! my favorite clutch too.

  40. Belinda says:

    Awesome job Anna!
    Don’t know that I would have signed up for 9 of each. 4 clutches and 4 zippy wallets was all I could handle 🙂
    I’m interested in the snaps you used and how you attached them.
    These do make GREAT bridesmaids & House Party gifts! Hope she compensated you well!!!!!

  41. Just luv then all…sooooo clever

  42. stacy says:

    those are so spunky and fun! i love your tutorial on these. i’ve made two for friends and am hoping to make more soon. where do you get your zippers, by the way? the bright colors are awesome.

    thanks for blogging! it’s a major inspiration 🙂

  43. Delia says:

    What a cool gift for bridesmaids! I want to be a bridesmaid! 🙂 I love all the bright colors.

  44. dana says:

    oh cute! WOW!! You were busy!

  45. Vicky says:

    You are a star. I’m sure everyone will be thrilled with them.

  46. sneezerville says:

    how awesome. i wish i was a bridesmaid!

  47. Anna says:

    hey tj, I’d say it took me about 10 hours in total for the clutches and the wallets (which seemed like forever!).

    The strap directions are part of my pattern.

    And the hardware comes from beingbags on etsy!

    hope that helps! 🙂

  48. Lori says:

    Too funny; I check your blog once in awhile when I get time and I love all your stuff. I actually made the same exact bags (different prints obviously ) for bridesmaids gifts for this weekend also. I ended up making 12 of them… it definitely felt like a sweat shop in my kitchen!! They all turned out so cute though.. my soon to be sister in law loved them 🙂

  49. Those are oh-so fun! Tiring for you, but I bet the bride loves them! My version of your pattern never looks quite that cute, but I still enjoy making them!

  50. Quiltnut says:

    they are GREAT!!!! You deserve a medal to do all that work in a short amount of time. I would have said no. If she would have given you a little time….But of course you pulled it out. GREAT JOB! they are awesome!!!!!

  51. Susan says:

    Amazing! I am sure all the recipients will love them!

  52. Jocelyn says:

    That looks like a ton of work, but they sure turned out beautiful. Good job. I keep meaning to try that tutorial. It’s waiting in my internet favorites folder 🙂

    http://sparetimecontinuum.blogspot.com/

  53. jayayceeblog says:

    Congratulations! A lot of work but how cool is that? And, of course, they’re beautiful … lucky girls!

  54. Laura says:

    These are awesome! I cannot wait to see your tutorial on the card holders, I could really use one of those!

  55. They look really cool Anna…I’m feeling inspired to make a gathered clutch now 🙂

  56. What a great finish Anna! I also follow your rule of not sewing for others, especially in quantities. I hope the client was happy!

  57. PY says:

    All are so colourful and beautiful!Great job!

  58. MissM says:

    Wow, I’m sure you’re pretty beat down from the project, but your work does not reflect that at all. <3 Love the final products <3

  59. Do you have a tutorial for the wallets? I’m addicted to your tutorials!!!

  60. Tamee Renae says:

    Where do you get your clasps? I’ve been to several JoAnn fabrics and haven’t been able to find anything remotely like these.

  61. Where did you find that purple fabric with the swirls on it? that’s very neat.

  62. Anna says:

    hey mc-pat, the purple fabric was purchased by my customer, but I believe she got it at hobby lobby.

  63. David Otunga says:

    These articles and blogs are certainly sufficient for me personally for a day.

    Unique Bridesmaids Gifts

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