Color Comfort Zone :: The Bella Clutch
I’ve remade one of my favorite little projects, the Bella clutch {click here for the pattern}. This is a pattern we designed a couple years ago, and it’s still one of our most popular projects! I made this as part of a swap for a friend who loves Anna Maria Horner fabric, so I used more of the Folk Song bundle I bought for the new Pepper tote.
I have to admit, this pouch is really outside my color comfort zone. Some days I feel like everything I make essentially looks the same. I use aquas, grays, melon pink, red, and some low volume. I’ve curated my stash to work around those colors, so that everything goes together. It seemed like buying a bundle of fabric that was pretty, but might not match the rest of my stash was a waste, especially since most of my projects are bags that don’t use much of any single fabric {except the lining, which I often purchase after the project is started}. However, with more shops making Fat Eighth bundles available, and the varied taste of some of my swap partners and birthday club members, I’ve been getting brave and venturing into new styles.
I printed templates for some 3/4″ hexagons and just appliqued those on the Yarn Dyed Essex Linen, to give it some cute detail. After I made the hexagons I considered not adding them, because of the scale of the fabric. I’m so used to using much smaller prints that easily lend themselves to being cut up. But, after I made these, and since it was a hexie themed gift, I had to add them and I’m glad I did.
Since the fabrics are larger scale, I tried to cut a pretty floral piece for the center strip, but it accidentally ended up on the back! Since I rarely use such large scale prints {I usually avoid them, or if I buy them, they sit in my stash forever} I didn’t really think about the front/back too much, so it was only after I sewed the pouch I realized the hexies were on the wrong side.
I felt so bold after I finished this pouch. It’s funny how fabric and sewing can be an adventure and a stretch for our minds in so many ways. I will still always love my aqua and melon {and have started a couple more projects with them already}, but I also want to keep stretching my design and fabric use to include some of the beautiful fabrics that I might otherwise overlook.
How do you feel about color? Do you buy whatever fabric you like, just because it speaks to you? Or, like me, do you tend to buy what coordinates, and skip the fabrics that are outside your comfort zone? I know I’ve told my mom in the past that my fabric stashing goal was to have everything play well together, and I still probably won’t be buying large amounts of saturated fabrics, but I do want to expand my choices a little bit at a time to include some more colors and style.
I tend to buy what I like! That generally works for me, but i can certainly understand the need to enlarge the stash too, with something a bit different to what you are normally drawn to!
I have a stash created through not only my efforts but those of my mom and MIL both now departed. I have never bought by collection but by color, touch, feel , price and fun…not necessarily in that order.
I love bright colors and I buy anything that looks pretty to me. My favorite is pink!
This is darling, Jennie! I love the hexies at the top. I am so thrilled that more shops are offering fat eighth bundles. It gives me just enough to play with each print without having to invest in anything bigger. I’m definitely getting pickier about what I buy, trying to only purchase fabric that I truly love!
I love this pouch Jennie, it’s gorgeous 🙂
I buy what I like, and unfortunately my taste is so eclectic that my stash sits mostly untouched because it doesn’t match. I mean, some fabric looks ok matched up, but I could never pair my pastel floral Tilda with saturated funky Tula Pink. I’m rather jealous of your restraint and ability to shop thoughtfully!
Bella clutch looks very nice – love the hexies on it!
This is beautiful. Love the Gold with the Blue etc. and the style of the Bella clutch.
I now try to buy just the fabrics that ‘speak’ to me. I still have fabric from way back that I often try to incorporate into my projects, but I find it hard as my tastes have changed.
Such rich colour! Love this pouch. Thank you for the pattern ; )
I buy what I like or love and my tastes continue to change so I have fabrics from every color and designer spectrum. What I don’t use, my granddaughters and my daughter in law will inherit. I am sure they will do it proud. 🙂
Your pouch is wonderful. I find my tastes keep evolving. I like similar fabric colours; reds, aquas, greys. But I’m really blasting out of the box as I’ve just received my order of Ex-Libris from Alison Glass. I just love it and it is sooo different from what I usually choose.
I have to admit I buy what I like. Every now and then a fat quarter bundle will have some large scale prints. I too tend to shy away from. I trying to expland and be adventure some. Some projects I’m happy, some not but I tried. I’m learning where I like the large scale prints
I tend to buy what I like…. and I have eclectic taste. I am learning to buy bundles, with less yardage, so I can get more variety . I love using a blue or black Yarn Dyed Essex Linen, along with bright colors, in pouches and bags.
Your clutch is sew darling! I love the hexies, and all of your fabrics!
I love your colour combination. It is bold, and I like the floral feature on one side and the hexie feature on the other. A happy mistake.
I am trying to be strong when it comes to fabric and only purchase what I need for a project. Sometimes this happens. Colours depend on the person its for. Red is featured a fair bit when I plan projects.
Gorgeous, on the to do list!