The Long Weekend Blog Hop

If you missed the kick-off of The Long Weekend Blog Hop hosted by Fabric Mutt and Lori H. Designs, do check it out here or here. It's all about making Amy Butler's Weekender Travel Bag. And if you've ever even slightly considered it, now is the time. What better idea than to make it along with others. Watch The Long Weekend flickr group for fabric choices, bag progress, and tips along the way.

I had just finished my own Weekender when Heidi asked me to join the blog hop and share my experience. You can read my reveal post here, where I share all about the construction, but since using my bag, I've come up with a few more things for you to think about:

• Add a label. If you have them to add to your quilts, for sure add one to your bag.

• Add a zipper pull. This bag has one long zip, and a pull just makes sense.

• About that zipper length - I've read some complaints that it's too long. It does go down into the end pockets a bit, which I really don't mind as the bag is intended for travel. But just the same, it's good to know before you start and is something to consider.

• I made a patchwork version of the bag, as you can see, layering quilting cotton on batt on duck and using the quilt-as-you-go method. So for the lining, I naturally used quilting cotton, and in reality, it seems quite light-weight and a tad baggy. "Next time" (totally hypothetical!) I would definitely consider using fusible interfacing on the lining.
• Lastly, and this is a biggy for me, I experienced a strap fail. This is a big bag, which means it holds plenty. I found the straps too skinny and 'lightweight' when I actually used the bag. Some threads even popped. If you read my Oh, My Weekender! post, you'll know I added to the length of the straps, but I'd also definitely make them wider, interface them heavier, and maybe even use polyester thread for some 'give.'

Well, I think that's plenty to contemplate for today! I hope some of it is helpful! Meanwhile, I'm pleased to host a giveaway as you gather supplies, do all the cutting (and cutting), and begin to construct your bag!

*** This giveaway is now closed! ***

Here's a beautiful fat-quarter stack of Amy Butler's Cameo from sew fresh fabrics!

 

Just leave a comment on this post by Thursday night and I'll choose a random winner on Friday! If you'd like, share your plans for your bag, your biggest apprehension, or any adaptations you are planning on making. I can't wait to follow your progress and see your bag come to life!

W.i.P Wednesday

Thanks so much for your encouragement as I guest-hosted W.i.P. Wednesday last week! It was fun visiting even more of your blogs than I am usually able to manage! SO many lovely projects in the works!

Many of the projects below I have already blogged about, but at least for today, I'll list them all in one place.

Finished projects
Name Tag and Patchwork Lanyard - The name tag is so not what I had in mind, but oh well. The lanyard was adapted from this tutorial and went together quickly and easily.

Logo Card Holder - This was made from my tutorial, for daughter dear to use at Sewing Summit.

Weekender Bag - This bag was  my major accomplishment for the week, and the reason why most of my quilt projects weren't touched. You can read more about my experience making it here.

Ongoing projects
Glue-in Frame Purse - I've gathered supplies for the one hands-on class I got into at Sewing Summit. I'm anxious to compare the glue-in frame process to the sew-in one I've already tried.

Halloween Stitchery - Just a little hand-sewing project for traveling.

Mod Pop Quilt-along - Still working on piecing those curves.

Modern Crosses quilt, Christmas quilt,  and Dresden projects - sadly, no progress.

Upcoming projects
* scrappy Metrolink - who knows when, but I still really want to!
* another frame purse
* use Polaroid blocks
* placemats
* Binary quilt using blocks from Modern Blocks Bee
* Sew Lux Challenge project
* UR Priceless Blog Hop project
* Christmas!

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday.

Travel Handmade

I love the idea of practical handmade items, and it's been great following the Sewing Summit Travel handmade series. Plus there's some pretty cool stuff gathered on the Travel Handmade: ideas board on Pinterest. I didn't get a whole lot new made for Sewing Summit, but considering I did manage a Weekender Bag, I'm pretty pleased just the same.

And I got my name tag done. I had prepped binding for it, but wasn't paying attention, and just sewed around the edges and turned. oh well! I used this tutorial as a guide for the patchwork lanyard. Honestly, I'm not that thrilled with the end result of the tag itself, but it is what it is.

You may remember the Logo Card Holder I made a few months ago . . .

Well, I made another one, this time for daughter dear.

They should come in handy for carrying our Moo cards, taking class notes, etc.

So see, I'll be traveling a teensy bit handmade!

Linking up with Fabric Tuesday.

Oh, My Weekender!

Well I've been admiring each and every Weekender Bag I've seen over the past year, right along with you. And never once did it seriously cross my mind that I would make one. I had one Amy Butler bag to my credit, "The Everything Bag", which I'd made for my daughter when her own daughter was born. And I confess, it made me cry.

But then a couple of weeks ago, I saw the quilted patchwork bag Oh, Fransson! had made, and then the one by One Shabby Chick, and before I knew it, I had purchased the pattern.

I will not say it was a walk in the park, but it's doable.

For the record, here's some notes about my tweaks to the pattern and other thoughts about the project. . .

• I started with a layer cake of Lotta Jansdotter's Bella, following the method Elizabeth told about - patchwork layered on batting (mine was Warm & White) layered on cotton duck, straight-line quilting as I went. Here's basically how the patchwork/quilting works.

• The piping was made with Alexander Henry's Heath, using the fusible tape method, which worked like a charm. This tutorial shows that technique (though I didn't know to use starch at the time - good tip though). It made for less worry about hiding previous stitching lines.

• I used fusible interfacing in the handles, but wish I'd gone with the peltex to make them a little heavier. Plus I wish I had made them a tad wider for the size of the bag. Rather than fold in 1/2" on each long edge in the first construction step, I'd prefer to cut the straps wide enough to press in half, then match each long edge up to that center fold and press. It would eliminate the need for measuring, which was a little fussy. (Edited to add: I did add 9" to length of handles, which makes it a perfect shoulder bag.)
• When it came to attaching the handles, I added a big 'X' between the attachment lines, just cause I thought it would look good, and I like it.

• The fusible tape came in handy again for the zipper construction, making that step very straight-forward. Only problem is that later when you are hand-sewing in the lining, your needle gets a little gunked up, but still totally worth it.
• I had read of the dreaded step #11, and it deserved every warning of caution. Even with Wonder Clips and binder clips it was tricky. Basically, they often slipped off at crucial times, and on one or two of the corners I needed to unpick and start again. Oh, and I also drew the 1/2" stitching line on the bag sides with a iron-away pen before sewing. It just helped me keep my stitching where it needed to be. Though I assume that the patchwork method is less bulky than with the Peltex, everything is still pretty darn thick and awkward. Be prepared to break a needle or 2, even sewing slow and steady. I broke 2, and I was being super careful. 

• I totally did not get how to slipstitch the lining (also Heath, btw) to the interior of the bag, so if anyone reads this and can enlighten me, please do. 
• And I purchased short on the Peltex, so didn't have enough for the bottom insert AND the false bottom. So I went with just the false bottom, which holds the lining snug in the bottom of the bag.
• Feet for the bottom of the bag + inside pockets would have been fantastic additions, but I just didn't have it in me. 

So yes, this bag is challenging. But not impossible for a somewhat experienced sewist. And the final product IS lovely.

And no tears were shed during the making of this bag.

Linking up with Let's Get Acquainted, {sew} Modern Monday, and At the End of the Hallway.