Travel Bag Part 2

I am sure you all know this is a Simplicity Sew Along featuring a pattern designed by Suede, a new designer for Simplicity and discovered through the Project Runway series on Lifetime.  You can read more about Suede on his Facebook page and follow along with the Sew For A Cause: Suede Says Red Bag Sew Along by clicking on the links.

On my last post I was very disappointed with the front zippers, and I had ordered regular 7 inch zippers.  Funny what a few days away from a project can do for mental anguish!  I was able to make those zippers work without using the ones I had ordered.  (Well, I like having extras on hand anyway! lol)

Front Zippers

I have the handles on the bag front and have the inside front mesh pocket in place.

Bag Front and Handles

Mesh Inside Front Pocket

I also have the pocket on the back of the bag and the inside back pocket in place. I still need to put in the 28 inch zipper and add the sides. It is coming along quite nicely! I am really getting excited about the bag and ready for my summer trip to the beach!

Back and Outside Back Pocket

Inside Back Pocket

I love that the inside back pocket is actually two pockets.  One smaller then the other and perfect for a curling iron or shampoo....etc.

I hope to be able to do more sewing on my bag today, but I have a ton of laundry to do, so I may not be able to get very much done. Hopefully I will be able to sew some on it this week, but I am often to tired after work to sew. I learned years ago never to sew if I am tired, makes for too many mistakes!

Have a great week!

Happy sewing!

New Sew-A-Long Coming Up!~

I will be participating in another Simplicity Sew A Long on Facebook. It will begin on January 24th. I know I have complained about some of the patterns that are offered by Simplicity, but this is a travel bag designed by Suede so I have high hopes that this will be a great pattern and a great sew a long.  Also some of the proceeds from the sale of the pattern will be going to charity.  I think that is very cool!

Simplicity will be doing things a little different this time, they will be offering video tutorials.  I think this will be a huge improvement!  This bag offers some techniques that I have never had the opportunity to do and videos will be a nice way to learn.  I always do better with a visual tutorial.  The written word just don't cut it sometimes!

Here is a link to the  Simplicity page featuring the bag that will be made and a picture is shown below.

The next photo really shows the size better, as you can see it is a very roomy bag and I think it will be a lot of fun to create a travel bag!(Look out beach, here we come!)

As I said before a percentage of the proceeds from the cost of the pattern will be going to charity. Keep A Child Alive is a charity that provides treatment, love and support for families affected with AIDS in Africa. You can go to  Keep A Child Alive to read more about this great charity!

If you would be interesting in joining the Sew A Long, you can click here and request to join (upper right hand side of the page).  Remember it will begin on January 24th and you will need time to order your pattern, so join us today!  Hope to see you there!

If you are not interested in joining, I hope you will follow along as I learn a few new tricks and hopefully create a great travel bag!

See you soon!

Happy Sewing,
Glo

Simplicity Project Runway Sew-A-Long...2( fabric preparation)

I have chosen my fashion fabric.  A cranberry babycord and a multicolored paisley.  I plan on making the dress and vest out of the cord and the yoke and sleeves out of the paisley.

I prepared my fabrics for sewing by straitening the grain using the technique I was taught years ago during a class I was participating in.  I am not sure anyone uses this technique any more, but I have done it for so long I cannot sew without first following these steps.

On the cut edges I clip one end about 1/2 to 1 inch from the edge.  This is usually enough to get a strait edge all the way across, but if it is not just repeat the process.  I then careful tear the fabric and it will tear easily and strait along that cut edge.  (some fabrics will not tear, with these you must pull a thread, very carefully, and then cut along that line the missing thread leaves, if the thread breaks, cut as far as you can then pull some more of the thread).

Simplicity Project Runway Sew-A-Long

I am participating in the Simplicity Project Runway Facebook Sew-A-Long.  The rules are that you must use a Project Runway or New Look Workroom pattern.  You must use a Technique that you have never done before (fabric you have never worked with, application you have never done, etc) and no pictures of your project can be posted until the last day which is September 15Th.

I have chosen my pattern which is Simplicity Project Runway 2157, you can check it out here, and I will be making it for my 6 year old grand-daughter.  I have not chosen the fabric yet but will post the info as soon I have.  I plan to post every step of the way from preparing the fabric to the last stitch of the hem.  I am excited and hope you follow along.