Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Week with Pattern Parcel

Short Story:
Enter to win five (5) fat quarters from the new Cotton & Steel line "Tokyo Train Ride" by Sarah Watts:

1. Signing up for our newsletter to know when our Perfect Pattern Parcel sales are, and/or
2. Bonus entry, vote for Perfect Pattern Parcel as "Indie Pattern Company" by clicking here. Leave us a comment on this post with telling us you voted.

Winner will be picked on Monday, December 15 and notified by email. Prize will ship at the end of January when the fabric line is released. Open to international entries.


Full Story:
We're a husband and wife team that started Perfect Pattern Parcel last year in order to promote independent pattern designers and raise money to support classrooms in need through Donors Choose. We curate concise collections of digital patterns made by indie designers called Parcels.

We put these Parcels for sale on our website for two weeks only and we let you choose how much to pay for the Parcels. We also encourage you to donate a portion of your sale price to students and teachers in need. Pattern Parcel pays for all the PayPal fees and advertising associated with the Parcel sales so the designers don't have to, then we donate the remainder of our profits to Donors Choose as well.

To enter to win a pack of five (5) fat quarters from the not-yet-released Cotton & Steel line "Tokyo Train Ride" designed by Sarah Watts, please use the form below to sign up for our Pattern Parcel emails. We only send out emails to let everyone know a sale is on so that you never miss the opportunity to choose your own price for a gorgeous collection of digital indie sewing patterns.

For a bonus entry, please go here to vote for Perfect Pattern Parcel for "Indie Pattern Company" of the year on Madelynne's blog. We'd be so excited if you did and it would help us get the word out to sewists that are missing out on our Parcel sales. Once you vote, please leave a message on this post here telling us that you voted (and please make sure to leave your email address as well. We need it to let you know when you WIN!)

We're super excited for what 2015 has in store and hope you are too.

Jill + Danny

Sign up to enter to win, and never miss another Parcel sale!

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Handbag Hardware and Interfacing

Something about handbag hardware seems intimidating to sewists. Which is silly. Sure, they're metal, and heavy, and much more solid than fabric and thread, but including the hardware on your bag makes it look so much more professional and polished. Plus, using hardware is not as scary as you think.


Below is a list of hardware used for all the bag patterns in Pattern Parcel #7. I usually buy hardware in bulk from shops on Etsy (here, here, and here) and buy last minute single pieces from Joann's. Veronica at SewVery has a great post on upcycling bag hardware, too!

Betty Bowler:
(4) 1" rectangle loops (optional)

Midtown Messenger Bag:
(1) 14” metal non separating zipper
(2) 1.5" wide rectangular metal rings
(1) 1.5" wide metal slider buckle
(2) 1” wide metal tuck catches

Butterfly Sling Purse:
(1) "Almost Square" shaped turn lock (1-1/2" x 1"), or
(1) Heart shaped turn lock (1-3/16" x 1-1/8")
(2) Flat rectangular rings - 1" (25 mm) wide
(1) Flat rectangular adjustable slider - 1" (25 mm) wide
(2) Slim magnetic snaps - 9/16" (14 mm)
Full hardware kit here.

Evelyn Handbag:
(4) Bag feet
(1) 18mm (6/8”) Magnetic snap closure
(5) oval (or rectangle) rings 30mm (1 ¼”) across (inside measurement) and no more than 20mm (13/16”) deep (inside measurement)
(16) 6mm (¼”) rivets (optional)

Barcelona Bag and Wallet:
(1) 3/8" snap for wallet

Daphne Bag:
(1) 1-1/2" Slider and rectangular ring

And then there are interfacings. Interfacings give handbags their structure. They hold you up when you're feeling down. Shopping for interfacings can be overwhelming to a novice bag maker. The different names and numbers can leave your head spinning, but have no fear! Alicia of Swoon Bag Patterns has a helpful blog post about the different types of interfacings, and what to use them for. Pellon also has this downloadable PDF guide on the Top Ten Handbag Interfacings. It's a handy tool to take shopping with you.

Pellon has graciously offered to give away a collection containing the four basics you'll need for bag making: 1 pkg Shape Flex SF101, 1 pkg Fusible Fleece 987F, 1 pkg Peltex Ultra Firm Stabilizer 70, and 1 pkg Craft-Fuse 808!


To enter to win, simply leave a comment below (click the black talk bubble) and tell us what is your favorite indie pattern to sew. For an extra entry pin the contest image above to Pinterest or share this contest link with your stitchy friends online, then leave us a second comment saying you did so.

Don't forget, Parcel #7 ends this Friday at midnight EST, so don't miss out on the chance to choose your own price for this collection of digital handbag patterns from indie designers. It's our goal to raise $20,000 for the charity, Donors Choose, and we're so close! With you're help, we can meet our goal.

Parcel #7 is here: Handbags Galore!

Pattern Parcel #7 is here and we're super psyched to tell you is is all about handbags! Messengers, satchels, hobos, shoulder bags, vintage bags...Parcel #7 has something for everyone. Never sewn a bag before? Now is your change to try your hand at a new skill. Plus, handbags never make your butt look big and never need a FBA. Trying to keep the budget tight as we head into the holidays? Perfect! You can make a new bag for all the ladies in your life. (Heck, even some for the men.)

Parcel #7 includes:

Barcelona Bag and Wallet by Pat Bravo
Butterfly Sling Purse by Emmaline Patterns
Evelyn Hangbag by ChrisW Designs
Midtown Messenger Bag by Betz White
Betty Bowler by Swoon Sewing Patterns


Choose a price of $32 or greater for Parcel #7 and you will automatically also be sent the Bonus Pattern! That's just over $5 a pattern. The Bonus Pattern for this Parcel is the brand new Daphne Bag pattern from Clover & Violet. The Daphne is a slouchy satchel that can be worn cross body or as a shoulder bag. The zip top keeps your gear secure and the internal pockets keep your accessories where you need them. This is a brand new, never been seen before pattern and is an exclusive opportunity for Parcel #7 customers!



Need some inspiration? Follow the Inspiration Tour!
Parcel #4 Inspiration Tour Schedule:

Friday, November 7 Stitched || Sew Exhausted

Saturday, November 8 Made by Sara ||Oliver's Fancy || Strawberry Patch Ramblings

Sunday, November 9 from a box || Mia's Creations || MOMENTS

Monday, November 10 owen's olivia || While she was sleeping

Tuesday, November 11 Nutta || Radiant Home Studio || La Pantigana

Wednesday, November 12 Sew Fishsticks || Stacy Sews || Stitching Insane || GnomeAngel

Thursday, November 13 Needle and Ted || Patchouli Moon Studio || Sprouting JubeJube || The Crazy Tailor

Friday, November 14 Casa Crafty || A Jennuine Life || 'So, Zo... What do you know?'

Saturday, November 15 Stitches by Laura || Rebekah Sews || Serger Pepper

Sunday, November 16 Blogs Like A Mother || Vicky Myers creations || Blossom Heart Quilts

Monday, November 17 Shanni Loves || So Sew Easy || GYCT Designs || Tiger In A Tornado

Tuesday, November 18 The Nosy Pepper || Keep Calm and Carrion || There & Back || Sewing Sober

Wednesday, November 19 Sew Like My Mom || Knot Sew Normal || Stacy Sews || sewVery

Thursday, November 20 Mimi's Mom || Our Family Four || shades of BOLD || Modern Handcraft

Friday, November 21 Shawnta Sews || Lulu & Celeste || Amanda Rose || Robin's Fabric Nest || House of Pinheiro


It's our goal to raise over $20,000 for the charity Donors Choose. All Pattern Parcel profits after expenses goes to our cause, as well as part of each Parcel sale.