Bag Experiment
So much going on -- I've been MIA because Pete got a new job and we decided to squeeze in a quick vacation before he started. (Very relaxing, but now I'm trying to catch up on work -- you know how that goes!) And in addition, my sister is about to have her baby. She's been having contractions for a few days, so I'm thinking it could be any time!
But there has also been crafting. I got it in my head that I wanted to make a nice quilted bag with a flap -- sort of messenger style. So I got out some fabric and started sewing. Now I admit, this may not be the smartest way to do things, but I like to learn by doing and so I dove in. First I quilted the fabric pieces:
I like the squares, but next time I think they need to be on an angle. THe straight up and down lines made the corners awkward -- the bag wanted to "fold" at the quilting lines instead of the seams. Hmmmm. . .
I also made a proper lining complete with pockets which worked out fine:
I used straight of grain binding around the top edge. Since I was feeling lazy at this point -- and because I knew that this wasn't going to turn out exactly as I wanted, I cheated and machine sewed the binding instead of hand stitching it on the inside.
I love the handle -- and the stability of the quilted part of the bag. The flap is another story -- I thought it should be softer, so I used a different batting and didn't include any interfacing -- not such a good idea.
So all in all, I learned a lot from making the bag and I'll take what I've learned and make another. It was a fun project at any rate!
Really lovely bag!
Posted by: Asaknitter | Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 11:54 AM
Oh, that bag is CUTE!
Posted by: chris | Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 12:23 PM
Well it is lovely and I can't wait to see the next edition.
Posted by: Tracey | Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 12:43 PM
You should totally make up a pattern for that and add it to your line. I would buy it!
Posted by: Vicki | Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 02:41 PM
Love it - I've had that blue floral sitting around here for ages.
Posted by: Nora | Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 03:02 PM
Very cute bag! I carry one I made similar in style to yours,all the time. I used wide wale corduroy and Kaffe Fassett cotton for the lining - preshrunk everything so I could wash the bag and off I went.Not too much planning either... :)
Posted by: Silvia | Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 04:52 PM
It is beautiful and cute.
Posted by: handknit168 | Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 09:43 PM