I'm having some technical difficulties uploading video this morning, so we're going to switch gears.
A few weeks ago I made Amy Butler's weekender bag. I've had the pattern for this in my hands for nearly a year, and, truth be told, I was a wee bit apprehensive to start it. I love projects like this, the idea of sewing something strong, sturdy, and usable like luggage makes me feel very happy with my abilities, but I knew it would take tons of focus (and who has that when kids are home for the summer? not me, but as usual fashion is to ignore that fact and start anyway...). I did focus (she says with pride) and finished it in time for our June trip to North Carolina to visit family. I used it as my carry-on for the trip, figuring if it held up okay, I'd write about it here. (Or if it didn't, I'd be really bummed out and still write about it here.)
I resisted the urge to buy new fabric to start this, instead using a mid-weight pink/brown floral print I'd brought home from Goodwill a year or so ago. I did use new fabric for the piping, the Fire Honeycomb dot print from Joelle's Cake Rock Beach collection. I love the way the two fabrics go together.
I find Amy Butler's sewing pattern instructions to be beyond complete, and I mean that in the nicest way. I mean, there's absolutely no inferring or guessing what to do at any point. (I think she may even mention when to take a break in there somewhere.) Every question has the answer in there somewhere, but I usually have to read them a minimum of 14 times to find it (that's the focus part). But eventually it makes perfect sense. Does this happen to anyone else with her instructions? Is it just me?
It's really the reason why this project took a few hours each day for about 3 days, all that rereading (and seam ripping after rereading). My biggest challenge on this bag is the combination of sewing the layers of Timtex. canvas, and piping all together neatly. I ripped out the bottom panel 3 times before I finally got it in right- and Melissa, your advice about hand basting the seams/layers together did the trick and was absolutely necessary for me to make those thick layers come together neatly, my machine basting was making me crazy because it wasn't working. And yes, Melissa, I think that bottom panel could be a little long.
(photo by Ian)
Well, I'm happy (and relieved) to say that the bag made the trip just fine, no seam busting, carried its share (my camera, a portable DVD player with movies, what seemed like an awful lot of charger cords, 3 paperback books-for me, 2 magazines-also mine, boarding passes) with plenty of room to spare. And it fit in the overhead bins no problem. I'm fully in love with the bag, and with the print, which is a happy surprise (thought I'd be sick of it before the bag was done).
The one piece of advice I'll pass on to you is to NOT leave 5 pins stuck in your bag, you know, the ones you are stuck by find later at the airport...
"What?...this bag isn't home sewn! Who me????"
Claire has made this bag more than once and I love the additions she's made. I think I might make another one I love it so much.
We here at the house are finished watching the Jericho series (which I am so sad to see end), and will now be starting Flight of the Conchords, which will be fun. The kids are loving the audio book of Soupy Saturdays with the Pain and the Great One, and Jen reminded me I should pull out the audio Harry Potter again, because the whole family loves that one.
I know, I know...the amount of excitement oozing from the household is too much for you, right?
Hope your summer is currently full to its brim with good TV, successful sewing, riveting audiobooks, and sunshine.
