Construction photos of the Blue Calla Boronia Bowler Bag + Voting is Now Open!

Voting is now open til Oct 24!  I would be beyond thrilled if you would consider voting for my entry in the PR handbag contest. If you've been a PR member (free or paying) for at least 3 months, you can vote.  The gallery of all 33 entries is here.

Since my last post focused mainly on the finished bag photos, I thought I'd show some "construction" photos here.


Printed the pattern 4x and taped it together....ha ha for printing pages double sided.  Here it is on the pig leather from Kashi

I made a lot of strap samples before sewing "the real deal"

Connector strap assembly line--As far as I can tell, I am the only entrant who used contrasting thread for topstitching on leather (it's gray to match the crosshatch pattern)

Trick for making sure the connector straps are really 5" apart--used a quilters ruler (which I use a lot in garment sewing) which is 5" and lined up the middle of the ruler with the middle of the fabric

How I knew where 3/4" from the edge of the rectangle ring was--with 3/4" scotch tape.  Also because the connector is folded around the rectangle ring and then under, I used a scrap of folded leather under the back of the presser foot as a "hump jumper".

If I stitched up, over and down on my strap samples, the corner stitching kept popping out, so I stitched up, kept long thread tails, pulled them to the back.  Then I stitched down, kept long thread tails, pulled to back.  Then I stitched across with long thread tails and pulled to the back.  By "pulled them to the back" I mean I threaded the tail on a leather handstitching needle, brought the tail to the back and then tied it off.

Wonder Clipping the Pellon Flex Foam to the bag.

Walking foot excitment (cue "walk this way" played over and over and over again in my head)

With rivets and feet and bag bling--installing all of that is SUPER easy.

The lining that was an utter fail (too thick, heavy, and off grain to boot)

The lining that did work out!  Silver quilted brocade with NYC subway map interior zipper pocket of course!


Making straps with a piece of tape on my 1/4" quilter foot so that it doesn't get stuck on the leather

Just add more rivets!! and done!
 
Take shots of the sexy straps

Take photos outside

Rejoice! The bag is finished! :)

There are more pix in this Flickr album.

If you'd like to vote (and have been a member of PR (free or paying) for at least 3 months), the gallery of all 33 entries is here.  Thank you for your support, y'all!  I really appreciate you!

Be well!