I love a red bag... simple, elegant and striking...
Looking at the left-over fabric from the Mod bag I made a while ago, I thought "City Bag". It's a simple, elegant and striking sort of bag.
And then I got a bit fancy and thought to do some of the zippers that I'll be teaching in the zipper class on Saturday.... which was all very well on the inside. There's an exposed zipper pocket and a zipped divider pocket in there.
And if I EVER start getting fancy notions like this again, please...
- Remind me that thick upholstery weight microfibre suede doesn't follow any of the usual fabric rules. (Remind me of the inability to press or fuse things into place... or even pin). This is all very well until one decides to do an exposed zipper in it.
- Remind me how long it took me to turn the strap through and how almost-impossible it was topstitch the ends, and how long it took to stitch it around the o-ring.
- And remind me how the quality of workmanship is more important when a design is kept simple.
Typically, I finished it and thought, "Oh, isn't that lovely?"
But PLEASE... don't allow it the idea to seduce me again. Remind me that I'm scarred, bitter and twisted..... and no matter HOW stylish the finished result promises to be, NEXT TIME things will be different. (Next time, the strap will be a different fabric and the zippers will ALL be on the inside!)
It wasn't fun.
And it's not perfect.
But I like it.
..........................
PS. If you'd like to do the Zippers for Bags class, I beleve there may be one or two places left on the October 6th date.
15 comments:
Tempted to come and do the class again. I enjoyed the class I did in July and learnt so, so much. I no longer shake in fear about inserting a zipper and actually feel confident that it will turn out great. Thanks.
Oooh! Zipped divider. Fancy. Love the spotty lining, especially behind those zippers. I bet that suede was hard work, but it looks SEW GOOOOOD!
Yes you may be scarred and physically ill if you ever attempt it again - but jeez it looks good & is so worth it.
Oh dear...my sister just texted me to tell me how lovely your new bag is that she spotted on FB. Do you think it's a hint?
Yes. It looks fabulous.
thank you. I shan't make anything fanthypants out of microfibre.
I'd say I'm sorry for your pain, but I'm still bitter about the interfacing juggling. ;-)
and the fact that I can't take your zip class.
and how your not perfect is more perfect than my not perfect.
and if the postage wasn't completely stupid I'd send you the ginormous lump of microfibre with a lattice of stitched pleats in it and watch you squirm trying not to be fanthy with it, heheheheh
btw... clover wonder clips?
I feel your pain and the thought of metal zippers grinding under a machine needle is sending chills up my spine ( until I remember how impossible that it lol ) Looks great but I'm taking the hint..leaving well enough alone. Ohh the pain the pain lol
That is one stunning bag! Which reminds me... I have a fancy zipper divider pouch that needs a bag to go in. I should get on that.
Love the bag...have you considered making a video version of your zipper class that those of us who can't get to AU could purchase? I would buy that in a heartbeat.
Yeah, but you know what? How AWESOME do those external exposed zippers look? Super awesome. I'm not saying it was worth all the *@&*#, but they do look pretty great.
The end result looks fab, though I winced at each reminder, poor you!
What a great bag! I love the end result, but I know exactly how much of a pain it must have been to produce.
Oh, I feel your pain with that microsuade fabric! I did one of your workshops last year, and I chose a red microsuade as well. It was the first time I had used a sewing machine in, well, decades, and I unwittingly started with a most difficult of fabrics. Every time an iron went near it, the fabric bubbled. Still, I was very happy when I finished it. And I love yours, too...
I love what you have done. I like that you share your knowledge with people. That's the making of a great teacher. I know for I attended both your zipper and interfacing class. Good to see that you are making more PDF patterns that makes it easier for us to obtain. Cannot wait for winter to start sewing again. Miss you all take care...
It is lovely though Nikki. I've been trying to get some of the same fabric, I am so enamoured with your red Mod, now I am having my doubts....
Oh but that's what challenges are all about aren't they? It's stunning, and well worth the effort - especially those zips!
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