Wednesday, February 11, 2009

A purple elephant

To remain in the same theme as last post, the Amy Butler weekender bag really is something to do in little pieces and steps. Quite a time consuming project, and I had to work in another way for the interfacing, as my interfacing is not fusible :(.

I've a few things as comment on the instructions of this pattern, but will save that for the complete review when I'm done. I'm making a lot of pictures, uploaded them but right now I don't feel like blogging about each step in detail.

One important decision was to skip the piping. The faux leather is rather slippery, and didn't want to cooperate on two test pieces for piping. I don't have much fabric left and don't want to find out on the real bag that it's not working. I can't start again.

For today, two pictures of the "bag in the making", one of the large side panels with large pocket and handles and one of the inside of the large pocket. I've added a magnetic snap to the pocket, which I ordered last year from Nicole Mallalieu when I made my first bag. The real color is somewhere in between these pictures.

Threads to be knotted and cut.

In the comments on my last post, Nancy K asked "Do you actually sew on more than one at a time, or just have them ready to sew?" The answer is that I prefer to work on one thing at a time, but sometimes I can't help myself and get carried away, like with this bag. I did finish my lingerie set last weekend before I started on the bag, but DD's skirt and bra will have to wait. The BWOF blouse is not cut yet, but I often do cutting and marking a new project during working on another project. Often later in the evening when my son goes to bed. He has the room adjacent to my sewing room, and I don't want to disturb him with the sound of sewing machines and pressing.

Usually I don't sew at two projects at the same time, because changing needles and threads for sewing multiple projects is too irritating.

9 comments:

  1. I have got to get sewing. I want to use smaller piping, but haven't been to to the store yet. Because I'm waiting for the interfacing to go on sale this weekend. Thank goodness we have a holiday.

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  2. The bag is looking good already. Very stylish.

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  3. That's about what I do too. Changing thread is so annoying. Especially if I am changing the serger and the coverstitch machine too! I do like to adjust more than one pattern and cut out several things at a time. I tried sewing more than one thing in the same color but it's too confusing. I think that I am going to try Trina's method of making a picture record of what she's sewing. It always feels so good to cross things off a list.
    The bag is looking very interesting and very professionally done.

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  4. The bag is looking wonderful. I don't like to change thread either so I tend to work on one project or one colorway.

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  5. The bag is looking great! I have some magnetic snaps I want to use for a more polished bag finish.

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  6. Very elegant. I love that contrast lining and the magnetic clasp is a sleek professional treatment.

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  7. The bag looks great. I have been thinking about going to the threat store and buying an old leather jacket and turn it into a fabulous bag???HMM Maybe I will look this weekend. I actually work on different projects at the same time but I use alot of gray thread for the main seams and change for anything visible. It's hard though because it feels better once a project is actually completed and you move on to the next. I guess I just get antsy when I think of something else I want to do.

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  8. I can't wait to see the finished bag!

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  9. This bag is going to be fabulous! I can't wait to see the end result.

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