Brandt's Boulevard by Chris W Designs

Brandt's Boulevard wallets I made during the pattern testing

This blog features the second pattern in the new Easy Street line by Chris W Designs -- Brandt's Boulevard. It is a full-featured wallet that is quick and easy to sew (in fact I made three during the testing process). It makes a fine gift or a fast project to sell. 

It is a nice slim design that still has 4 card slots, an ID pocket, three slip pockets (one large enough for an iPhone 6 Plus), and a zippered coin pocket. It secures with a nice tongue lock and can be made with a removable wrist strap or a cross-body strap or with no strap. It is approximately 7.25" wide x 4.25" high and 7/8" deep when finished. 

This wallet requires just a bit of fabric. I even used fat quarters for the first one. All the fabrics used were quilting cotton weight from my vintage stash. The directions (as with all of Chris W Designs patterns) are clear, well illustrated and easy to follow (even during the testing phase). This line (as I mentioned in the Abby's Alley blog) is simpler and has fewer pages of instructions to print, usually 20 pages or less, that are still full of step-by-step illustrations.

   The above three photos show the front exteriors of the wallets I made.



Interior of  first wallet






Interior of second wallet






Interior of third wallet






Interior of third wallet showing inserted items to make features more visible

I had a lot of fun making these wallets and plan to make more. One can easily be made over a weekend, even with lots of interruptions. The card pockets and ID pocket are done in a manner that was new to me (more of Christine Welsh's wonderfully unique and practical fabric engineering). Get your own pattern here --  Brandt's Boulevard.


Until next time, may you sew with joy, stay healthy and be filled with God's awesome blessings!
                                                                                                                                          Judith

Abby's Alley by Chris W Designs

Abby's Alley exterior front

It's new and exciting! Have you heard? Christine Welsh of Chris W Designs has just released the first two patterns in her new Easy Street line of of quick to sew and sell patterns. This new line is simpler and quicker to sew, with fewer pages of instructions. 

Abby's Alley is the first pattern in the Easy Street Line and is a quick to sew roomy tote. In fact, it can easily be made in an afternoon. It has four large outside slip pockets that are mirrored on the inside for a total of eight pockets to keep everything organized. The approximate finished size is 18" wide x 12.5" high x 5.25" deep. The pattern comes with directions for rope handle for a casual look. But you will see that I chose to add web handles because I thought they went better with the cheerful denim stripe fabric I used for the exterior. Some of the other testers even added classy leather handles.

There are minimal pieces to cut out, but they are large so clean off your cutting table before you begin. I loved the way the interior and exterior pockets are cleverly engineered to be part of your main fabric pieces.

Exterior side view

I had this perky denim in my stash and had been saving it for just the right project and it was perfect for Abby's Alley.

Interior view showing pockets

I used a lovely bright salmon fabric for the interior and neutral webbing for my handles. I love rivets and chose to add security to my handles by adding rivets. 

Holding Abby's Alley  

These will be very popular year round, great for the beach, toting books and school supplies to class, carrying sewing supplies to a workshop, keeping your current knitting or crochet project handy. The list of uses is endless. Abby's Alley makes a great gift, quick to make and sell, or just for personal use. You can get your own pattern by clicking this link -- Abby's Alley.

In my next blog, I will be reviewing the second new pattern in this same line, a quick to sew and sell wallet called Brandt's Boulevard. 

Until next time, may you sew with joy, stay healthy and be filled with God's awesome blessings!
                                                                                                                                          Judith

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