For those interested in crafts and craft instruction, there is a new site that I stumbled across and been observing their class expansion for a while now. Craftsy offers a myriad of online classes, complete with video tutorials and lots of handholding to simple workshops with illustrated step by step guidelines and not so much hand holding. They have branched out from only offering sewing, quilting, and knitting and added all kinds of classes in paper arts, soap making, gardening, among other pursuits. I finally jumped in and signed up for a free workshop to test the waters.
Craftsy offers a free workshop that will guide you through some foundation piecing and the construction of an iTote. Since my iPad has become my constant companion, storing current knitting patterns, doubling as a newsreader, and magazine basket, it needed a fitting case. All I had in the way of protection is a screen cover.
Here is the result, quilted tote made from what I could dredge up from my fabric and button stash. The goal was to keep this project a zero cost, other than my time. I made a few unplanned modifications, like using a patterned fabric. I also sewed the zipper onto the wrong side. Oops! The strap is also on the bottom, not the top. No matter, I learned a lot and ended up with a passible and usable result.
I have since signed up for the more substantial, more expensive couture sewing class since I was able to catch the class while they had it on sale.
I'm hoping the knitting classes enjoy some expansion. Now I could go for a class that will teach me to knit fair isle.