Sunday afternoon crafting

Earlier this week I saw a very old Heather Bailey post for a pear shaped pin cushion. Oh, I really liked it. After an unsuccessful morning working on the lotus tunic lining (had to be completely scrapped) I decided to try and make my own pear shaped pin cushion. Well, apparently I am pincushion impeared...because what I got is maybe a tomato persimmon hybrid. That's okay though.

Weekender bag finishing touches

I finally put the finishing touches on my weekender bag. I closed up the bottom insert (which was really the last thing I had left to do). Then I got the lovely idea to put on a zipper pull.

After that, another lightbulb went off and I added a piece of ultrasuede with my initials. Voila! The bag is mine.

ideas

I got some light yellow (again, apologies for the dark pic) fabric at Joann's for only $1 a yard. Made in the USA too! I think it goes well with the Amy Butler grey and yellow martini fabric. maybe a skirt and top?

Lotus Tunic v.2

I pieced it all together and changed the pattern. I added an inch in length around the waist, and added some room around the bust. I don't know why the picture on the muslin shows the front darts looking funny, as it doesn't look like that in real life.
I put in an invisible zipper. I plan to make this a dress, rather than a tunic.

the lighting is really dark, sorry!

It's complete!

I'm done. It sure took a while, and I tried to be patient. But the final stage was a bear and I now know why so many people have complained about this pattern. Do I want to make this pattern again? YES! Do I want to take a long break before I embark on another? OH YES!
Here is the lining of the bag:

Here is a close up of my hand slipstitched lining. I tried at first to do this ever so nicely, but I quicky got hot, tired and sore. All I had to say was, "ow ow ow." I pricked myself and drew blood several times. My fingertips were aching for a break.

This view shows off the grey ultrasuede I used for the handles and piping. I really liked working with it. It was pricey ($20 a yard! whoa), but I've had a thing for grey lately and I splurged.

Overall thoughts? I think this bag is tres chic and looks really cool. It also feels like a great accomplishment - making a nearly one of a kind travel bag that looks almost store bought.

weekender bag lining

I was first going to only interface the top and sides of the lining, but then I decided to just go all out and interface it all. It'll hopefully help the rigidity of the entire project:

a few more thoughts on the weekender bag:

-I couldn't find a non separating zipper for this, but found the perfect shade of grey on a separating zipper. I just tacked the one side, and all seems well.

-If one is to use metal snap closures on the pockets, these need to go on the pocket side before the lining is done. You will need to reinforce where the snap connects with some interfacing. Otherwise, it'll pull or rip with use.

-I might consider a divider in the middle or maybe a 1/3 divider next time. This could be lined in laminated fabric for a pair of shoes, or for dirty clothes.

Amy Butler Weekender Bag

Woo hoo! I'm nearly done. All I have left is the lining.


I reviewed on sewing pattern review too.

Skirt!

This is skirt #13 from the Japanese pattern book, "Skirts for Every Day and Every Season".

I used contrasting fabric for inside the waistband. Here, you can see the back zipper, dart and waistband detail.

Here you can see the french seam (or is that hong kong seam?)and my hem.

I made this is wool gabardine. I used cream bias tape for the waistband detail and cotton green stripe for the waistband facing.

Something else I made

A little amigurumi style pup:

new project for this week:

I'm working on the Amy Butler Weekender bag this week.

Like a lot of other people who have made this bag, I substituted peltex for timtex to make the sides of the bag stiff.
I chose this fabric for the exterior:


I made the piping, bag bottom and handles from charcoal grey ultrasuede. The lining will be a light blue cotton sateen.

More on this later!