Some of my most recent work

Tina Roggenkamp
Aug 18
2 min read

This is my very first bag I ever made. It's a reversible pattern that I made with scrap fabric left over from making 100 Acts of Sewing dresses. It was only after I packed it with knitting supplies and was sitting at the library that I noticed the bottom seams don't quite line up.

My kid wanted one too and they chose their fabrics. I think both the inner and outer fabrics are old tablecloths I got at a thrift store. The seams are a little better, but not quite perfect. It's large enough for a laptop and some yarn. It's also reversible.

After having made two bags where the bottom seams weren't perfectly lined up, I researched another way to try. I'm combining two different patterns to make a reversible bag where I'm satisfied with the seam alignment. This one reminds me of spring and is made from an old bedsheet from Goodwill and some cloth napkins from a thrift shop.

As you can see, once I got the hang of it, I'm addicted to making bags! The patterned fabric is some I found at a thrift shop - it was a lot of yardage! The blue handles are from a tablecloth and the tan inside is an old bedsheet.

One last bag - the blue is a thrifted tablecloth and the interior is from the yards of fabric I found while thrifting.

Now onto apparel! I made this shirt from the 100 Acts of Sewing Shirt No. 1 pattern. I love this pattern and have made many shirts with various fabric.

This pattern is from All Well and it's called the boxy top. I got this one from the book - I checked out the book from our local library and liked it so much that I bought it. It's my current favorite shirt pattern. The fabric is from a bedsheet I found at Goodwill. One note on using thrifted bedsheets - try and find fabric that is cotton. It's more breathable and less staticky than some other fabrics out there.

Okay, this is my current favorite shirt. I love the fit (another boxy top from All Well), the color, and the fabric.

One more shirt from the thrifted yardage - and I somehow still have more of this fabric! Someone must have planned a big project and changed their minds. This pattern is the Simple Elegant Tee from CNT Pattern Co. with the kimono sleeve option. I got the pattern from a yarn and fabric shop in Southport, NC. I really like the flowiness of these sleeves.

My youngest has gotten really into amigurumi crochet this summer and they taught me how to crochet this little squid. Currently it's hanging out on our fireplace mantel but I'm thinking it's going to be a Christmas ornament. Christmas squid!