In the Sewing Room

I started this project a few weeks ago, so it has taken me a while to get it completed.

The first stage was the cutting out of all the different pieces.

Then, I had to quilt the three main pieces - back, front and pocket,.

After this, the pocket was stitched in place on the front panel.

The zipper was particularly challenging because it had to curve at the corners, which they don’t normally do.

After this, I stitched the bag together along the sides, then made quilted handles. 

This afternoon, I finally finished stitching the handles in place and I now have a bag for my laptop.  I’m really pleased with the results and it was worth the effort, especially as this fabric was leftover from a bag lining of a knitting project.

Keep Calm...and Bake on...

As lockdown continues, I’ve been spending some time in the kitchen baking.  As we needed a change of taste one Saturday, I baked pizza three ways.  The first was feta cheese and tomato on a hummus base; the second sausage with spring onion on harissa and the third, pepperoni and goat’s cheese with red pepper, also on harissa.

Good Friday found me in the kitchen baking Hot Cross Buns.  These didn’t last long!

And my favourite Easter treat - chocolate cupcakes with a chocolate ganache and mini eggs.  (I managed to save some of these and had one, complete with a candle, on my birthday, which was Easter Monday.)

Yesterday, I made a marzipan fruitcake from a Nigella Lawson recipe - I’ve made this before and it’s a favourite.  Then I tried a new recipe for malt loaf.  This was absolutely delicious still-warm from the oven with butter.

I managed to save the marzipan fruitcake until this afternoon, when I served it with a cup of Yorkshire Gold tea.  

How are you getting through lockdown and what are you baking?