Sunday, January 26, 2014

Beggars can't be Choosers



I am visiting Mom.  She loves her Viking/Husqvarna electronic machine.  She thinks it is the best machine in the world.  Who am I to argue? ( No camera with me on the trip.  Hence the lousy iPhone photos.)

I will allow that it performed adequately.  It is mostly electronic and adjusts tension and stitch length automatically.  You can override the settings.  I tried but I just couldn't get the nice straight stitch that I love.   The foot pressure adjusts manually. (Is that a pun?)   The machine is strong enough to sew through several layers of fabric.  I liked the zz stitch it made but the ss left me wanting my 201 or any one of my Kenmores.  But hey, beggars can't be choosers.  It's the only machine here.  So I suffered.

I promised, months ago,  to make a hand bag and a wonder wallet for a friend who is sponsoring a silent auction for a worthy cause.  The dinner and auction are on Saturday.  I failed to complete this task before I came here.  Because I don't want to be considered an unreliable dead beat, I stopped at Joann's Fabrics in Albany Friday night to buy supplies for the project before I checked into my hotel.

Yes, it is true, the Albany airport is a mere 75 minutes from home.  The forecast for this past early  Saturday morning was for blowing snow and frigid temperatures.  I opted to drive up Friday night, rent a motel room and get up for my early Saturday morning flight.   I thus avoided  some travel stress.  Oh and did I mention I had to stop at Joann's?

I found more fabric than I needed and bought it all.  I also bought some yarn, but only a little. I bought much less yarn that I bought fabric.  I am trying.

Today I set to the task of making the infamous OHB (One Hour Bag)  from All Free Sewing.  It took me all day.

OK not really ALL day.  I did have to clean Mom's iron.  I was working in pretty primitive conditions as well.  No cutting mat, rotary cutter or nice, big,  plexiglass ruler.  All I had was scissors, a very old cutting mat, a faded ruler, a pencil and a twenty year old electronic GENUINE MADE IN SWEDEN sewing machine.   Plus, I had to make the pattern from one of the bags I brought along.  I think I finally started close to noon.  I took a break mid afternoon for a nice long walk in the NC sunshine.  That felt WONDERFUL.  I finally finished before dinner.

I made some critical errors along the way.  The fabric has a big, bold pattern.  I realized this after I finished fusing the interfacing.  I cut out two new pieces, paying attention to the pattern.  I am not sure I paid close enough attention to the pattern.   I can't tell if the bag looks like an owl or Wonder Woman's Chest.


15 comments:

  1. I think it looks good, would have never thought it looked like Wonder Woman's chest if you had not put that thought in my head! LOL

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  2. Definitely an Owl. But heck, at least you're no ded beat!

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  3. Thank Goodness you did not drive to NC!!
    It looks like neither Wonder Woman nor an Owl. Did you make any attempts at pattern matching for the Wonder Wallet?
    Very Smart bag, and poor you for suffering the Viking. (But it seems like that gigantic foot controller would be great.) I'll bet it doesn't warm your bare foot, the same way the vintage ones do, on a chilly evening.
    Honestly, the appealing thing about making your own bags IS the ability to use bold patterns. No one will look at your bag and say what a great shape- its the fabric choice they notice first, and the meek get lost in the crowd.
    Enjoy the sunshine!!

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    1. The WW is small enough that I didn't have to try to pattern match. My feet have no chance to get cold here. Mom likes to keep the apartment HOT (remember we heat with wood and its been frigid). But I do sew barefoot (or sock foot).

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  4. I really like the bag! It's very nice, you centered the large pattern well. It has a modern feel to it, like an Amy Butler pattern. Good job!

    Pattie in Missouri

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  5. You still sew a better bag than me. Maybe if you put a big chunky button on the closure strap, people would look at that first. I love the fabric. I am very picky about a straight stitch. Try to relax and keep taking walks! I bought some fabric at local quilt store Saturday to make my daughter's tote, but when reading the pattern, I don't like how they do it, uh-oh.

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    1. I closed it with the magnetic clasp. I think that the pattern is big and clunky enough.... I can live with it.

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  6. It kind of reminds me of a Tiki or a Totem carving, so that's what I'd go with LOL

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  7. I think you should use fabric like this for your SMM model. She looks so weary in her pink slip - a little bold fabric might perk up the site.

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  8. Love the bag! One of my guild buddies has a machine like that and loves it. She also has a Singer 9W treadle that she let me look at but has not let me get it working for her. Yet. I'm still trying to convince her that she would love sewing on it.

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  9. I think Wonder Woman's chest is MUCH larger. Cute bag!

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