Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Luxe tote bag, version 2

Thanks for all your well wishes for my birthday and your comments on my aloha pajama birthday top. I'm wearing it right now (and no, the chakoner chalk did not come out in the wash!)

my new vinyl bag
On Sunday afternoon I rewarded myself for packing early for my work trip by making a new luxe tote bag. Somehow I thought this would be a stress-free tote, bwah ha ha ha ha.  It's a companion tote for my briefcase style tote I sewed last month, pictured below.
U-Handbag "It's a cinch!" tote with peltex inserted in sides, plastic canvas bottom, and macbook air inside
Companion tote above, blogged here.

Another black vinyl tote bag, this time with lining from Gwen Couture
Black vinyl (with and without holes): Kashi's (Metro Textiles) in NYC from the June trip with Velosewer.
Piping and straps: Pacific Trimming in NYC
Peltex: Joann's
Interior pocket zipper: Gosh, that cheap store we went to in SF for PR weekend 2013 that was selling zips for 25 cents
Interfacing:  Fashion Sewing Supply online
Interior Lining:Knit fabric from Gwen Couture during my visit with Elizabeth in San Diego Interior Pocket lining:  Yes, I know, I know, I know...that NYC subway fabric from The City Quilter in NYC

The pattern:  I decided to knock off this bag that Antoinette sweetly sewed for me for my birthday.  It is the *perfect* size.  Somehow I messed up the measuring and my bag came out taller than hers, but it's still lovely.

Antoinette made me a bag for my birthday
Antoinette's bag that she made for my birthday

Another black vinyl tote bag, this time with lining from Gwen Couture
Cutting corners, literally....

It was fairly straight forward until I got to the Peltex.  Looking back, I should have just put the peltex in the bottom of the bag, inside the lining, and called it a night, but nooooooo..I decided to Peltex the whole thing...which does make the bag stand up all on its own, but was really difficult to sew.  My machine bed was MOVING while I sewed it...I felt like I needed three hands to get it under the presser foot (one to raise the presser foot higher than normal, the other two to shove it under the foot).

Another black vinyl tote bag, this time with lining from Gwen Couture
I learned a few things this time, mainly to have the shiny side of the vinyl against the feed dogs to prevent shifting. Add to always sew top to bottom to prevent further shifting, which is how I got the pic above... (also I used my wonder clips, thanks to Jacqui for another round of 10!)

Look at how stiff it is!
Another black vinyl tote bag, this time with lining from Gwen Couture
It was pretty serious.
Another black vinyl tote bag, this time with lining from Gwen Couture
Here's a closeup of the piping. It's actually a black cord wrapped in silver (I know it looks white in the pic) lame with a black, hole-y vinyl encasing it.
Another black vinyl tote bag, this time with lining from Gwen Couture
There are two pockets; one for my cell phone with my very last worded fabric label, sob!
Another black vinyl tote bag, this time with lining from Gwen Couture
The other side has a zipper pocket
Another black vinyl tote bag, this time with lining from Gwen Couture
This alphabet fabric from Gwen Couture is pretty amazing.
Another black vinyl tote bag, this time with lining from Gwen Couture
Ok, it's only my 2nd zipper pocket ever, but it's my best one, ha ha. I felt very satisfied with how it turned out.
Another black vinyl tote bag, this time with lining from Gwen Couture
But there were so many layers to sew together at this point...aboveI'm about to attach the lining to the bag but haven't turned it right side out yet.

Here's what it looks like, all done.  
Luxe tote bag version 2
The patch pocket is not flush because I sewed it to fit my cell phone....
my new vinyl tote bag

Sooooo..normally one would topstitch the top edge or understitch the lining to keep it from poking out but there were SO MANY LAYERS, it just wasn't going to happen, and I was running out of steam sooooo...I left it as is!  And the world didn't stop turning!
my new vinyl tote bag
pockets!
my new vinyl tote bag
With Izzy:
Another black vinyl tote bag, this time with lining from Gwen Couture
Extra bonus points if you know where I am (work conference) based on this photo taken from my hotel room:
Mystery location: do you know where I am?
Be well!

9 comments:

  1. Seriously fantastic tote!!!!
    Need to find your 'holy' fabric out west.

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  2. Fabulous tote. Great fabric, too.

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  3. Nice tote bag!! I have no idea where you are, but I'll take a wild guess and say South Carolina. It's nice that you get to travel to great places for work.

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  4. Oh wow. You have a great skill for picking great fabric for bags.
    Enjoy your travels!

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  5. If I haven't said it before, I am going to say it again: You are the tote bag master! You have my address. I expect a tote bag-sized package soon. =)

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  6. Arg! I've had the same trouble with chalk marks on Blake's shirts. They will eventually wash out... eventually. If you don't have one already, I would recommend one of those disappearing ink pens that quilter's use. It's my favourite marking tool — and it actually disappears. Beautiful bag! Though it was a pain, I like how it looks with all of that interfacing.

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  7. Those are seriously fabulous bags!

    I'm just embarking on the bag-making carnival ride. Do you have any tips to get through the multiple layers of heavy fabric? What kind of machine do you have?

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  8. a. A companion tote is a great use for the excess fabric!
    b. I am glad the cats in kimonos tote is just the right size!
    c. I <3 NY, too!

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  9. What a great looking bag! Belated happy birthday and have fun where ever you are, it looks beautiful!

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