Traveler's Backpack (Rucksack)

I mentioned in my Cape Town travelogue that I planned on using some fabric I purchased there.  I decided to use it and some of the Shweshwe to create a backpack to replace the one I have carried around for years that is now MIA.  There are a lot of patterns out there for children's backpacks but I was looking for a more grown up model but something more practical than the City backpack patterns that I have run across.  I began by looking at my husband's pack and taking measurements and ideas from it and what I remembered of my old, favorite pack.  I wrote down the measurements, sketched my ideas and began cutting!
One of the hardest parts was lining up the curved areas for sewing. I must have pinned some areas 5 times! Sewing through all of those layers was no picnic either, especially since the bag has more layer than is visible- it is lined with yellow polyester inside and quilted on the back.  I used the lining to make it easier to see the interior and because it will wipe down better.  I used my zipperfoot to guide me when sewing the area with the cording.  I felt the one of the ubiquitous beaded keychains made just the right touch for finishing the look of it. 
Now I am ready to be on my way and with a very special souvenir from my time in this country.  My eldest son complimented my bag saying it looked like I bought it from a street vendor. 

One of the most helpful tips in this process was a Youtube video on putting in zippers.  I have always slopped through the zippers but why do that when Youtube is a wealth of knowledge?  My favorite series of videos were by Candi Cane-Canncel.  They ought to have a link to follow from one video to the next but you can look for the tell-tale pink fabric.

I Sew for My Little Girl...Again

In South Africa there is a local fabric known as Shweshwe.  Shweshwe is a cotton fabric heavier than a quilting weight cotton but lighter than denim.  When I picked it up from the store the sales lady told me "You need to soak it for four hours in salt water and then wash it.  The material comes with A LOT of starch in it and a distinctive odour.  A very interesting history of Shweshwe is found on the (d)urban(a) blog. 

I have been hoping for a good project to use my Shweshwe on (pictured right) and knew I found it when I ran across the Rumble Tumble Coveralls tutorial from the Blooms and Bugs blog. You can see my daughter is enjoying her new overalls and, of course, I added the obligatory pink details.  There are changes I will make if I sew this a second time.  I think I would button the straps on the inside of the yoke.  I am also learning that when measuring add a little extra for wiggle room.  I had to add an insert on the backside to make room for the diaper.

Doll Project in Zimbabwe

I belong to a piecemakers group here in South Africa.  Many of the members are not quilters but we all do some kind of handwork and chat and have tea/coffee, etc.  As we were sitting together sharing projects Irene brought out several dolls.  She is an American who, together with several other expatriate volunteers, began working with a group called Batsiranai while she was living in Zimbabwe.
Batsiranai is a collaborative made up of mothers of disabled children who make embroidered handicrafts to raise money for food, housing and school fees for their children.  Irene and her friend Ellen, both with backgrounds in maternal child health programming, joined the group in 2003 as volunteers.  They developed a child health and stimulation program for the disabled children and their preschool siblings in order to compliment the handcraft  business enterprise. Some of the mothers were trained to run the child center; the children began to repond to music and play activities and their mothers were amazed at the changes in their children. Ellen and Irene felt that the children could benefit from having some toys, so began experimenting with different doll designs including a doll with a knotted cloth body and head.  In the end the women liked the design of the doll shown above the best and decided to add it to their list of crafts for sale.  This doll has a Waldorf like head, an embroidered pocket on an African cloth (shweshwe) body and of course the pocket holds a baby.  These dolls and the other work of Batsiranai have been Fair Trade certified and they can be purchased through the website.  The dolls and other crafts would made a great addition to a Christmas bazaar.
Note: An interesting history of shweshwe can be found here.