This week I finished my first try at the Weekender bag by Amy Butler. It seems that I have been in an Amy Butler mania last couple of months. I think I got it out of my system now. ;)
The weekender bag was a fun project. I decided to make it without the cording around the edges due to the fact that I sewed the zipper to the top and lining at the same time and sewing everything toggether was pretty bulky. I used a wool twill fabric remnant for the outside, with a little leaf motif from the leftover Butler fabric from the last tunic. It gave the boring fabric a spark!
Some other modifications I did was make the handles a little longer, about 55" and sew around them two times to secure them to the bag. (In the picture the handle has three rows of stitches since I first sewed just the handle by itself.) Instead of just sewing back and forth at the top, I made an "x", also in the picture.
Another modification was a pocket for a water bottle on one of the sides instead of a flat pocket. I figure on trips that will come in handy as well. The bag is really nice and roomy, and has the same pockets all around on the inside as well. I am looking forward to seeing how it travels. TIP: I think if I make the bag again, I would make the inside pockets 3" taller, so that they would come up closer to the top. I imagine the bag being filled with bulky items, and it would seem that the less tal pockets would get all jumbled up.
For the interlining I just used the thickest lining I got from Walmart, so it is not as stiff as maybe with Timtex like used in the pattern. The lining is a brown cotton fabric, the same as for the handles. I used some of the plastic craft mesh used for needlepoint for the bottom and it worked out fine. I stitched it together 2 ply before inserting. I also sewed in between the outside and lining so that you can't see it. The bag is not as neat as in some other pictures I've seen, but it works for me. I can't wait to use it!
2 comments:
Hi there!! I just finsished sewing this bag yesterday (way harder than I thought) and I saw you review on pattern review and then took a look over here. I have a question...did your top/bottom panels match up perfectly for you when you attached them to the main part of the bag? I double checked a million times (my seam allowances) but mine did not match up and I had a couple inches too much (so I had to cut down the bottome piece). I am so curious...this was my "test" bag and I can't wait to make another one. (I skipped the timetex and just used duck cloth and it worked out ok..not as stiff as it should be but will work). I'd appreciate your input!!! juliahemsley@gmail.com
Hi, thanks for the question. I am not sure which part you mean with the top and bottom panel? You mean the bottom of the bag, or the outside sewed to the lining at the zipper?
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