Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Amy Butler Weekender Travel Bag

It. Is. FINISHED! Ahhhhh! And indeed it is the Amy Butler Weekender Travel Bag. It is made from Jess's new fabric from the Dusk colorway of her Outside Oslo collection. Tulip.

Here are some very hastily-taken photos (like in 5 minutes!) that I snapped (using the flash on a dark, dreary morning) just before shipping it off to Jess yesterday. They probably don't do it justice, and she'll have much nicer pics of it on her blog as soon as she receives it and can get her own photos taken (tomorrow or Thursday).



I love this bag! It was a challenge to make, to say the least... definitely the hardest thing I've ever sewn. It took many hours and tested my sewing skills, my patience and my temper. But I learned some things, and I'm soooo glad I made it!



There were 50 pieces to cut out! That wasn't difficult, but it took several hours to do. The rest took many more hours. I didn't keep track of how many (and Jess is probably glad of that).


I'd never done piping before, so that was a new experience. By itself, that wasn't difficult, either, but when it came to sewing all those pieces together, including the piping and very thick interfacing (not to mention the curves)... that was a challenge! I broke 2 sewing machine needles... and punctured my hands/fingers with pins many times.



Those are pockets on each of the 4 sides. Per Jess's request, there are no pockets inside. It is lined with the Dusk colorway's Skiff pattern.



There was a lot of hand sewing to hold the lining in place... not difficult, but just kind of painstaking (literally at times... more pin pricks) and slow.


BUT IT'S DONE!! And I am so relieved! I hope Jess likes it. ;)


If any of you were to consider making this yourself, I suggest doing a Google search for the bag. There are many blogs with tips for making it, and I found them very useful. I'll leave you with that advice and won't take the time for adding any of my own.


Now on to the next sewing project.... after doing some mighty catching up of neglected chores!

15 comments:

Live a Colorful Life said...

Wow, wow, WOW!!! Okay. If I can only clear my calendar, I will start cutting mine this afternoon. It is stunning in this colorway!

Jessica Jones said...

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK! I love it! I can't wait to get it in the mail! It looks fantastic! Thank you for sacrificing your sewing needles and poor fingers! Love you!!

Lori said...

This is the coolest bag ever, I'm so glad I got to see it in person..it so much better than in these pic's, Great job!!!!!!!!!!1

The Luedtke Family said...

What a great Mom to make this for her daughter! I love, love the bag. Bags and shoes are my secret loves. I have to hold myself back. Love.bags.

LiEr said...

Well!!!!!!!!

It was worth the wait, I can tell you! It is gorgeous (as expected) but can I just say that the first thing I noticed was how the print lined up PERFECTLY at the piped pockets and the zipper? And also that the print is so well-centered? Beautiful! Well done! I went to the pattern site to have a look at the size of the bag and yes, it is a wonderful size.

I am sorry your needles and fingers bear battle scars! But those are the marks of the truly accomplished- people who only sew, I dunno, beanbags, don't have such bragging rights.

Bravo! Bravo!

LiEr said...

P.S. I like it much more than a hair-cutting cape, by the way. ;) So much more practical, eh?

Auntie Kris said...

Holy Smokes! That's really awesome, but I think I'll continue to purchase my luggage. I'd probably just end up scrapping it half way through.

Grandma G said...

Thanks, everyone!! Your comments make it even more worthwhile!

Cindy, Cindy, Cindy.... just IGNORE that "schedule". That's the only way you'll get it done. ;)

You're very welcome, Jess... I love you, too!

Lori... way to go!! I love success! ;)

Becky... I may not be as great a mom as you think I am... Jess paid for all the supplies and also paid me for making it (in the form of yards of fabric for ME!). ;)

LiEr... coming from you, it's a tremendous compliment! And thank you for noticing my matching efforts... it's the experienced eye that finds those details and knows what goes into them. ;) As for the cape, maybe I should do that next, just as a "relaxer". I could give it to Lori, since she cuts my hair (which is why she got to see the bag in person when she cut it that morning... which is also why I had so little time for taking pics).

Kris... wise choice! ;)

Oh, Grandma G... you can get so long-winded! Too bad there isn't a photo that would speak all those words for me! ;)

JHNickodemus said...

Oh oh oh it looks soooo great!

Becky said...

Oh.
my.
Gawd.

GG That is beautiful! I'm nearly speechless.

What a project to learn piping on! and you lined all the prints up so perfectly. Gasp!

Beautiful!

Grandma G said...

Thank you, thank you!! :)

Bego said...

beautiful work! i've just seen it in how about orange and i am still amazed. what a talented sewer you are! the bag is just PERFECT!

Driftwood & Turtles said...

Amazing & beautiful! Bravo!

Anna said...

holy moly! yeah, I bet it took forever, why does amy b do that anyway?! thanks for all the tips. piping and many layers with curves can do a doozie on a person. Glad to know it's not just me. it turned out super super fabulous!

Grandma G said...

Thanks, everyone!

Anna... I think Amy Butler does that so that sewers will end up with a high quality bag! :)