a jazzy new laptop bag, finis!

February 15, 2011 at 11:18 pm (Accessories, Historical)

It’s done, it’s done!

Well, we had our usual Tuesday night sewing time and all three of us completed our professional totes. Sharon and Lorrie’s turned out fantastic – the leather really looks great and they even added feet to the bottom to keep the bags from wearing too easily. Mine doesn’t look too different from the partial finished photo in the last post. The big difference is the center zipper that closes it all up and of course the zillion pockets on the inside. Okay, maybe it’s only 7 pockets – but it seems like a lot more when sewing them all together. Final tally: about 19 hours. Not too bad for my first bag. Now I’ll have to take it to work tomorrow… just because!

A pink partial petticoat! Only the dust ruffle was attached in this photo. There's a 12" flounce that gets added on top, too.

Over the weekend I also finished my 1911 chemise and drawers as well as a pink sateen underpetticoat, except for one button and button hole. I have a corset in the works, too but am waiting on some boning to arrive before that can be wrapped up. Unfortunately the underpetticoat can’t get fitted until the corset is tried on again and I know my final waist size!

There’s another sewing night planned for tomorrow at work which will entail more 1911 sewing. At this point I have almost enough photos for a complete tutorial on 1911 drawers, chemises and petticoats. If only I could find the time to sit down and do it!

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a jazzy new laptop bag, part deux

February 9, 2011 at 11:49 pm (Accessories)

The end is in sight… and I have photos to prove it!

So close to being a bag, and yet... still more to do!

So… for the most part the outside of the bag is done! Well, except for the top zipper section that holds the whole thing closed.  I should be up to about 17 hours on this one since I put in a some time on Super Bowl Sunday and then another hour earlier tonight at my weekly sewing get together. Lorrie and Sharon are even closer to being done with their bags – they have nothing left to but to attach the top zipper section, which combines the outside and lining all-in-one. As a result – I was tasked with getting my bag to same step so that we could all finish our bags together next week.

I am so excited! I actually love the combination of fabrics much more than I thought I would and it really will be the perfect size for my laptop. Which is good because I keep leaving it lying around and never seem to have the cords near it. It will be great to give it a home!

Three styles to choose from... 2 weeks to decide!

With finishing this bag next week, that means we’ll get to start our next group project: The Mandarin Jacket from Favorite Things. We were chatting tonight about what to make it from. Lorrie and I had seen it made up in some great Asian fabrics and I was also partial to the linen version shown on the envelope. But then Sharon suggested silk… and now the idea of it in a silk dupioni is very appealing!

But what color? I already have four brown jackets… I think it’s time for a change! What goes with the jeans and scarves I have? Or would this just be a fantastic new excuse for more scarves…. Uh-oh. Now I’m just thinking of the gorgeous embroidered scarf my dad brought back from Hong Kong. It has some very hot pink flowers on black. I bet a jacket made in one of the embroidery shades would be perfect!

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A jazzy new laptop bag

February 5, 2011 at 9:00 pm (Accessories)
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So among my resolutions was to accept sewing plans whenever they come up. Unfortunately snowmagedon worked against me this week as our house is in danger of roof damages and basement flooding. Ugh – my arms have never been so tired of shoveling! And falling on the ice this afternoon didn’t help either. What’s worse is that due to all the at-home issues, I had to miss the ASG chapter meeting and I had been looking forward to it for months. Damn. Damn. Damn.

But back to sewing plans – I have been fortunate to have two friends to sew with on Tuesday evenings. They have been working on the Creative Thimble Professional Tote Bag pattern and they are making their bags in leather. As this is their second go round and I need a bag from my lovely 17.3″ new laptop, they offered to help me re-work the pattern to fit my computer. It’s been a blast getting together every week and having some girl time along with serious sewing.

Since I didn’t have any leather handy, and I kind of liked the idea of a washable bag – I went with all cotton quilting fabrics from Joann’s. Mostly because it was on the way to my friend’s house! If I am remembering correctly, I’m probably at about 12 hours on the bag, since two nights were devoted to cutting and fusing, and two nights have been devoted to sewing. I *almost” have a bag shell at this point!

With all the snow/rain/nastiness and needing to be home to keep an eye on things, I did get out my old machine (the Bernina is in the shop getting repaired after being dropped) and started work at home on the swag for the living room curtains. It’s just a piece of simple velveteen, dark brown, but the darn thing is nearly 36 feet long and needs hemming on two sides. Ugh. I managed to get one long side hemmed and then I broke three needles on the other side so I gave up and put the machine away. Who knew I had such little patience today?

Anyway, camera is still MIA so photos delayed yet again. And there are so many fun things to take pictures of!! Maybe it will turn up tomorrow…

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