Sew Time Consuming

I recently acquired a replacement footpeddle for my sewing machine that had been out of commission for years. I have never been much of a seamstress, but lately I have taken up a passion for sewing. I am fascinated with all of the things one can do with a simple sewing machine. This week I made a bag. I have been carrying it around like a purse. I guess I must be a bag lady now. As you can see, I had a little trouble with the edge stitching around the opening. I try to do everything by machine if I can help it. Maybe I could have used a different needle in the thick layers of fabric? Does anyone else sew?

I like it!

Thanks! I am thinking of making some more padded versions for laptops and stuff.

I don't sew, but it looks very nice. well done.

It's funny, because my sewing machine just came out of the closet for the first time in about 2 years. Not for me--for Mr. Clod. Because he talked the kids into these labor-intensive homemade Halloween costumes, and I waved my hands and said, "Not my responsibility, I'm not up for it this year" repeatedly, but I still had the cynical assumption that when push came to shove I'd have to get it done myself.

Not so! He sewed like a champ, especially good considering it was essentially his first time ever using a sewing machine. I was genuinely impressed.

It's very nice. It looks a lot like the stuff at my sis-in-law's party where her friend was selling similar bags and the like. I'm hoping to get the stuff I ordered today.

I can't sew to save my life.

case is multi-talented!

I'm too busy doing other things to sew. I really love that bag, though. I could probably manage something like that!

I'm crocheting a twilight camo hooded kanga sweater for myself (that just means there's a big pocket across the belly) right now.

I did make a cute ladybug petit-point for momwolf while I was sitting with her in the ER, though. It's not actually framed yet, I need to get the right kind of craft glue to finish it.

That bag is very nice indeed! Well done! :thumb: I don't sew...I guess I just made my compliment worthless...:p hihi...Anyways, I had home-ec in 7th grade, learned the basics of a sewing machine, know a few seamstress, hem my own pants whenever I'm not too lazy, so I do know a few things about sewing. Yes, you'd need a different needle for thicker fabric. And in some cases, you may even need to change the presser foot. However, in this case, that wasn't necessary.

Upholstery needle. ;)

Bruce, you sew, talented man? ;)

Sewing is one of those things I wish I had picked up from my grandmother when was younger.... Oh well. At least I can still impress my husband by replacing a missing button...

Pie, stapling doesn't count. :p

Me, I'm still trying to sew my wild oats. No, wait ....

Tulip;600597 wrote:

Bruce, you sew, talented man? ;)

Used to do leather, I just gave a commercial leather machine away. Still have the antique Singer Patch Machine for sewing harnesses and such, but I was never very good with that one.

Thanks for all the comments, guys.

Wolf, I love the ladybug! The bag was not too hard to make. I mean, I don't have a lot of sewing experience and I managed to pull it off, for the most part. You could incorporate your needle point projects into a bag of some type. I don't know why I am so obsessed with bags!

Bruce, I will get an upholstery needle. What did you use to make out of leather? I saw some really neat leather tooling the other day and it made me want to try that, too.

Just kidding. :haha:

Nothing complicated, mostly fixing stuff, or simple things like saddle bags or tool bags.

case;600816 wrote:

Thanks for all the comments, guys.

Wolf, I love the ladybug! The bag was not too hard to make. I mean, I don't have a lot of sewing experience and I managed to pull it off, for the most part. You could incorporate your needle point projects into a bag of some type. I don't know why I am so obsessed with bags!

Bruce, I will get an upholstery needle. What did you use to make out of leather? I saw some really neat leather tooling the other day and it made me want to try that, too.

I don't have time these days, but I still use a checkbook cover and a mouse pad that I worked and dyed. I particularly like the checkbook cover because part of it is a portrait of one of our dogs who has since passed on.

I got started when I was a kid and there was a Tandy leather shop in the local mall.

Would a person need a heavy duty sewing machine to sew thick materials, such as leather, upholstery, etc.? For example, Bruce said he just gave his commercial leather machine away. I have a regular Singer sewing machine at home and that can't sew denim. I either have to hand hem my jeans or ask a friend who uses a professional all metal sewing machine. I'm not sure what kind of sewing machine Case has so I'm just wondering out loud. :p Oh, and my two cents on the needle is that I don't think Case really need an upholstery needle for the bag since it's fabric. But hey, what do I know. :p

I don't have a fancy sewing machine...just a little Kenmore one I got as a gift from my parents many years ago. I think I could have done the edgestitch on that bag better if I had been more careful. I was at the end of the project and got excited about having done it, that I rushed through and made some errors. Perhaps if I had slowed down it would have gone better.

Do I need a different kind of sewing machine to do my bags in, say, canvas or corduroy?

Hmmm....I'm sorry, but I really don't know. Corduroy doesn't sound too thick to need another sewing machine while canvas may be. If you have some sample fabric, give it a shot to see. :D Does anyone have a definite knowledge on this? Hmm...Bruce, would you know?

No, the machine's ability to adjust for thickness, and power to handle heavier needles in stiffer (harder to stab) fabrics, varies greatly even in different models of the same brand.

The best thing is talk to someone with a lot of experience on the same machine you have, which is damn near impossible, unless you can find them in a sewing forum online.

If you can find somebody local, that has experience doing what you want to do, and convince them to try it on your machine, they'd know right away if your machine is capable.

If you talk to the people that sell your machine, they might know the manufacturers recommendations for models vs materials. But just as likely, they'd try to bullshit you into buying a heavier machine.

Wouldn't hurt to plug the make/model of your machine into Google, and see what shows up.

I have to hand sew everything because the machines always break for one reason or the other. I usually try to sew up something that is broken and I end up with 2 things that are broken, when I use the machine. You obviously have more skill and patience with it. Nice bag. Please send the laptop case or cover as that sounds awesome!! lol!

I love the bag. I made something similar recently - I also am in love with tote bags. Also recently made two lined grocery bags patterned after those flimsy plastic ones, but I wish I'd made them bigger. I saw a website where some lady had made a bunch of grocery bags out of a sheet she got for a buck at the thrift store, thought that was an awesome idea. So far I've made the "prototype" but the rest of my thrift-store sheet is wadded up in the closet. :)

I love to sew. Don't have much time for it these days.

Thanks for the advice, Bruce. I don't know anyone who owns a Kenmore. The people at Sears don't even seem to remember what a sewing machine is. :P I am still trying, though. It seems to be working with canvas alright and corduroy. However, I am working on a little cosmetics bag with heavy fusible interfacing and I have broken 2 needles trying to get the zipper on the damn thing. I went out and bought some more heavy duty needles, so perhaps that will help.

I love totes, too. I was going to try the grocery bag pattern. I might have to do that, still. I want to try making a messenger bag with the corduroy, though. Hopefully I don't break the machine.

I was about to tell you to just try sew with those fabrics to see if the machine can handle it. I guess you already tried that. :D

Why don't you put up more pix of your finished products? We would love to see them. :D

I definitely will post more as I get more done. I have been stuck behind this shirt I am making and the stupid cosmetics bag that I am ready to throw away. :)

case;602347 wrote:

I definitely will post more as I get more done. I have been stuck behind this shirt I am making and the stupid cosmetics bag that I am ready to throw away. :)

[has mental image of very small person trapped behind fabric items, struggling to get out]

That's sort of like how it feels.

So, I took Bruce's advice and got some heavier duty needles. I kept breaking the standard ones, so I thought it was time. The problem is, Joann's didn't have any needles for my machine called "apholstry", so I got ones that were designed for sewing jeans. They seem to be working well.

I have been carrying that bag around as a purse and kind of forgot about it. My friend here in town liked my black and white bag so much she told me she would buy some from me. Woohoo! So I have to make three of these. I started with this one. I finished it a couple of days ago. I made it a little differently, with stiffer interfacing in the body and no interfacing in the handles. I think I still like the original better. But this one is nice and sturdy.

thats beautiful -

I like this second bag! Maybe it's the pattern or it's the color, or both! Hehe....don't know why but I really like it. :D

Glad you found the needles that work. :D

Nice job, Case, now you're officially a professional bag lady. :haha:

Make it bigger, and put some pockets inside, and you've got yourself a hip custom-diaper-bag business (and unlike purses, there is a real lack of hip diaper bags out there.)

Actually, Clod, I am working on a design for that right now. It has a whole slew of pockets inside and out and is bigger than this bag. I will post that when I get it done.

I have always wanted to be a bag lady, Bruce.

Thank you for your compliments, Tulip and C-man.

We are snowed in today and I needed to go to the fabric store to get more supplies. I guess it will have to wait. I think I am going to make a book cover or something while I am stuck in the house.

So my friend wanted one similar to the first one I made. She also wanted a smaller one for her niece. Then she wanted one for another relative. I just finished these yesterday. Sorry the picture is so blurry.

Case, those are awesome! I'm really impressed by the fabric coordination on the first two.

I love the little birdie buttons!

Time to give Vera Bradley a run for her money!

Thanks, guys! :)

Who is Vera Bradley? Time to get the google out.

post google: ah, interesting. She has some nice designs.

It's a big thing here. Mrs. Dar and both darlets have VB stuff.

impressive stuff, case. A new avenue of income?

One can hope! Thanks, monnie.

My friend came and bought 3 bags from me, yesterday. She bought the black and white with green interior, the turquoise and brown and white one that I posted last and chose a different fabric for the birdie one. So, That made me pretty happy. I just have to make one of the small ones for her, now.

With your artist's eye and your apparent ability with the sewing machine, you might consider marketing these. They're good, and like dar said...on par with Vera Bradley and I wonder how she started out? You're talented enough to pull this off!

Shawnee! Thanks for your encouragement. :) I hope to market them once I have solidified what exactly works the best as far as products. I have been doing a bunch of research on these, on Etsy.com and elsewhere, and I think there is a market for them. I just need to find my niche. I am trying to come up with a name for a company. I want to make bags, purses, wallets, checkbook covers, bookmarks, book covers, gadget holders and whatever else comes to mind for carrying things around. I am having a hard time coming up with a name. Any ideas?

Case's cases?

Case2Go

the 2 probably wants to be susperscript

Cases case's :D

That's funny. I wasn't even thinking about my name.

Justin Case
(I actually have a brother named Justin. True story!)

Case Cases

Case's Carryalls

Or something along those lines?

That could work! I like that one.

By the Case

Oh, that one is really good!

I like the way we've planned Case's future for her.

But I can't resist my suggestion for a name:

Special Cases

Case by Case

case;606018 wrote:

Case by Case

Excellent!

dar512;606013 wrote:

I like the way we've planned Case's future for her.

Yes, just let me know what I should do next! I like it this way, so I don't have to make any decisions. You guys are like my cyber parents.:D

[LIST=1]
[*]Design five more purses, wallets etc.
[*]Get Oprah to talk about them
[*]Profits!!!
[/LIST]

I'm on it!

I can see it now...
Oprah: And joining us today, a Colorado woman, and her meteoric rise from baglady to Haute Couture designer.:D

There's a woman in town with a pretty solid purse-making home business, case (except I like your designs a lot better, she's kind of more into the chic clutch purse thing rather than the useful shoulder bag.) What she's found to be the most successful business model is to get her happy customers to host "purse parties" at their house. The host gets a bag for half-off, and all the guests get $5 off or whatever. She brings a huge array of fabric swatches and some basic designs, and lets the guests custom-build while they get drunk on wine the hostess supplies. :) Then she delivers them to the hostess for distribution to her friends a week or two later.

I got my favorite purse ever from her, and even got some of the customizations named after me in her design books (all her purse models get names, like "The Anna") because I wanted so many she'd never been asked to do before, like a little 3" by 4" pocket sewn near the top on the inside for my cellphone. And it was so much fun to mix and match all these funky fabrics she had.

Oprah:"Next, meet the catalyst behind this crazy woman...the internet culture club who gave her all her ideas, including the name of her company!"

I like that idea, Clod! That actually sounds like a lot of fun. And I can think of a few friends around here that might actually be up for it. Hell, I get invited to jewelry parties and candle parties all the time. Now, I just need to get more designs developed and then I can get on with it. The design parties sound like fun, even if I weren't to sell anything. Am I weird to think it would be fun to sit around getting drunk and designing purses?

Oh I bet you'd sell a purse to almost every person there--mob mentality takes over. The hostess, at the very least, is having fun pawing through fabrics and picking the things she wants, and asking friends' advice... and soon the friends realize that they don't really like her purse exactly, it would be so much more awesome if you matched this with that... The only difficult part would be getting people to come in the first place, and hey, that's the hostess' job, right?

Clodfobble would be an awesome name for a company.......

Actually, it would. Clod, maybe you should make bags and purses...do you sew?

Maybe Clod could provide the voiceover on your infomercial?

case wrote:

Clod, maybe you should make bags and purses...do you sew?

Not in the slightest. :) I have a basic understanding of construction, but I promptly forget things if they're not in constant usage, and I can't even remember how to thread my own sewing machine anymore. Plus, I've got no spare time whatsoever. But if you ever need an infomercial voiceover (or a talking purse?) I'll gladly trade you for one awesome bag!

talking purse :eek: scary. especially if you think Microsoft Office Assistant

It seems like you are looking for a tampon. What size would you like?

Talking purse made me think of =tags&includes[]=title"]this.

I just spent some money on stuff just like this at my sis in law's friend's party. Your stuff is at least as good, if not better.

https://www.mythirtyone.com//repsites/frm_replicated_content.aspx?page_id=catalog_test

Any way you could incorporate monograms?

I would like to also be in on the business. I'm pretty good in the role of "consumer" ;)

Clodfobble's idea is great. Another idea or an option to have on the side before the business takes off is selling them on ebay.

Etsy.

Shawnee, I would love to be able to do monograms, but that would require much better a sewing machine than I currently possess. i will keep dreaming, though.

Yes, I have thought about both Ebay and Etsy. I love looking around Etsy for inspiration.

Knitters need bags, but the pictures on this site load far too slowly and I gave up.

They've got some beautiful wood buttons. :thumbsup:

Ooooh, I like those buttons, too! The bags are also neat.

Here's the one I made for my friend's niece. I hope she likes it!

And another I made. Those beads are mother of pearl.

Those look great, case!

Oh oh OH I want one!

I'm telling you, case. Start marketing these things, stat.

Then you can outsource the bags to China, and become a robber baron. :lol2:

How long does each one take to make?

Don't they have to have lots of compartments for all the different stuffs?

Wow, thanks guys.

A. design cotton handbags (steal the underpants!)
B....
C. PROFIT!

Time spent depends on the bag and whether I make some lame mistake along the way. I am still kind of learning, here. But, now, that design I posted most recently takes me about 1/2 hour to 45 minutes, because I am use to it, now.

I am working on a design for a messenger bag (or mailbag) that has a bunch of pockets on the inside and out...for the baby mamas out there. Clod is right about diaper bags.

Wow! They're really pretty! :thumb2:

How much are you charging for them? I have no concept of what the materials for that sort of thing would cost, but I know fabric can be surprisingly expensive. Or have they all been gifts so far? :)

That's pretty fast, case, definitely an income potential there. The problem with most art as I'm sure you know, is that it is so tiime-consuming to produce nice pieces that it prices the items out of the range of many -especially on functional items. Unless you are spending an absolute fortune on the fabric, this could really be a great business. And you're starting it at just the right time for all of us to shop for christmas and provide glowing customer reports in time for your full online roll-out for the easter basket market ;)

Thanks, Tulip!

Clod, I haven't really priced them, yet. I will be listing bags for sale in my Etsy store at http://www.etsy.com/shop/casebycase. I don't have anything listed yet, though, since I am still building inventory, doing some market research and working on some more interesting patterns. The fabric I have been buying, I have gotten at a discount. I collect coupons for fabric stores and buy my materials when they have good sales. I also ordered some from fabric.com, using coupon codes. These are 3 of them that I have ordered and will come in next week:

Antlers

Pressed Flowers
and

Tossed Flowers

These are all designer fabrics, which are quite popular, so I think they will look very nice. this site is dangerous! They have so many beautiful fabrics.

Monster, I agree. I think there is definitely potential for this to create income. Right now I am just really enjoying making the bags and sketching out new designs. I am addicted to fabric, now, too, so if anyone knows of a good support group for that, let me know. :D But, yeah, if I don't start selling some more of these, my husband just might cut me off from the craft stores.

Easter baskets...that is another fantastic idea.

very nice case. They are very beautiful and professional looking.

hey, another mom at the swim meet today had two fabric bags like these. I said "did you make these, they're really cool" she said oh no...and then her husband butted in with some designer name and that they cost a freaking fortune. So I'm all, "well I know somone...." better get that store up and running.....

hehe....I am getting there...I have some listings ready...just need to finish them up and we are off and running!

If you are willing to be totally shameless about pricing you might crack the Japanese market. Practically every Japanese woman has at least one Brand Bag for at least $1,000, many have several, and the total top of the range can break $20,000. You'll need to make them from ostrich skin for that, though.

what about squirrel skin? there's a plentiful free supply of that around here....

I've heard it said that the original Cinderella story has been traced back to an ancient Gallic piece of folklore, and that in fact her "glass" slipper was a mistranslation at the time. Supposedly her fancy shoes were originally made of white squirrel fur.

So, I just finished a cape for my step-daughter. Unfortunately I can't get pictures until she opens it on Christmas. I was pretty proud of this one. I made it from burgundy fleece and lined it in this cute printed flannel. It has a lined hood, too. It is fully reversible and I used strips of suede leather for tying at the shoulders. I can't wait for her to open it!

I don't think I have put my latest up here. Check it out...sorry these are so frickin big!:

And, I made a bigger version of the birdy bag for someone:

Absolutely beautiful case. You really are talented!

Aw, thanks, classic. I am learning a lot, at least. I've been working on making a wallet with pockets and stuff, and it is giving me fits. I just about threw the thing out the window last night.

Actually, if I had tried to throw it out the window, it would have made a sound like being smacked by a pillow and just fell to the floor. Not satisfying.

So... where's your store??? I am seized with an overwhelming covetousness. :love: :notworthy

[COLOR=Plum][COLOR=LemonChiffon](Who knew that was an actual word?)[/COLOR]
[/COLOR]

Pie;618692 wrote:

So... where's your store??? I am seized with an overwhelming covetousness. :love: :notworthy

Hahahahah......I was thinking the same! :p

Sorry, it's at http://www.etsy.com/shop/casebycase.

:)

Case, what's the name for that black/white/pink bag in post #96? I'd love to get that design [SIZE=1][COLOR=DimGray](with an accent color other than pink... maybe purple? or blue? or blurple?)

[/COLOR][/SIZE]I didn't see it up on your etsy site... :fingerx:

Pie, that one is at http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=22828612 . You didn't see it because it is in my sold items. I can certainly make it in a different color. Right now I have orange, lime green and bright yellow on hand, but I could get whatever color you are looking for.

Sorry for the tailpost but I just relisted the sold ones as made-to-order items. FYI.

[FONT=Verdana]I'm going to order the Uptown Traveler -- I'd like the colored fabric to be either a 'Prussian blue' or burgundy, your choice. Nothing too bright. :) Is that doable?

For reference:
[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]#003153[/FONT][FONT=Verdana] (Prussian Blue)
#800020 (Burgundy)[/FONT]

And my amateur photoshop:

That is doable, pie. It should be pretty easy to find either of those.

Your photoshop looks pretty good! I wish I could use that to advertise what they look like in different colors.

Wow, thanks, Pie! It just so happens that I got the fabric to make your bag today. I saw a number of blues that were close to Prussian blue, but it is a very specific shade, and I didn't want to get something that would look off. So, I went with burgundy. I found a nice shade and am working on the bag right now! I will post a picture when I am finished with it.

Wooo! :happydance:
Even though I know it will show up after the holidays, this is my Christmas present to myself. :D

Aw! That is so cool. I will do my best to get it out quickly!

There's no hurry. Anticipation is sweet in and of itself! Enjoy your holidays!

Oooh -- I'm so excited! It's in the mail!

And you'll be an official bag lady, too. Cool. :thumbsup:

Beautiful!

How pretty! Pie, you should pose a pix with that bag for us when you get it. :D

Pics will be forthcoming, I promise. :)

Sweet! :)

Well, I got my bag! It's beautiful. I took it when we went out for dinner tonight!

Actually, it came a lot sooner than this. I went through an iteration with Case, who very graciously agreed to make a modification for me -- I wanted the shoulder strap to be a little narrower.

Here are some pics. The second shows it holding my Eee PC (very convenient size!) and the third one has my cat to show scale. :p

Wonderful bag, and I love how 'personal' it is. Someone made this for me!

Yabut, how big is the cat? :haha:


It's beautiful... the bag, not the cat.

Nice! It is a beautiful bag.

xoxoxoBruce;629394 wrote:

Yabut, how big is the cat? :haha:

11lbs 6oz. :)

How about a picture of YOU holding the bag? :D

Awesome! Your cat is pretty, too. If you needed to sneak her someplace, she might fit in the bag. She probably wouldn't like that, though, if she is anything like my cat.

I am always happy to make modifications. It helps me to fine tune the bags to what people like to use.

I'm not sure what the policy of resurrecting old threads is, but this one fit. I've started sewing more and I wanted to show off what I am making. This is Barnaby. He is the first stuffed animal I've made. There are some mistakes that I see, but he has already claimed his place at the head of the bed. :)

Hi Barnaby!

Great job, bbro! Barnaby came out well. I like that pattern of fabric in the body too.

glatt;956592 wrote:

Hi Barnaby!

Great job, bbro! Barnaby came out well. I like that pattern of fabric in the body too.

Thanks! It almost blends in with the couch. I'm making Hugh tonight. He'll be much easier.

Barnaby looks great! x

limey;956606 wrote:

Barnaby looks great! x

Thank you! :)

Way cool, both Barnaby and poking old threads. :thumb:

xoxoxoBruce;956618 wrote:

Way cool, both Barnaby and poking old threads. :thumb:

So, it IS ok to resurrect oldies! Good to know. And thanks :)

bbro;956590 wrote:

I'm not sure what the policy of resurrecting old threads is...

Ya find one, and ya resurrect it.

That's pretty much how it's been working, anyway.

:D

I renamed Barnaby to Rupert because I couldn't remember his name and I couldn't find it anywhere!

Recently, I've made a bag
[ATTACH]56598[/ATTACH]

And Hugh
[ATTACH]56599[/ATTACH]

Close up of Hugh
[ATTACH]56600[/ATTACH]

Is that a manatee? Please tell me that's not a manatee. Tell me it's a dugong, or something...

that bag is great!

Gravdigr wrote:

Is that a manatee? Please tell me that's not a manatee. Tell me it's a dugong, or something...

It's a manatee. Why? Do you not like Hugh? I didn't name him. The pattern did, but I liked it and kept it. He's very comfy to cuddle with.

limey wrote:

that bag is great!

Thanks! It's a failed wine holder pattern. That's why I added the pockets. I didn't get unidirectional fabric that time. I am going to try again with different fabric. If I still fail, at least I'll have two cute bags :D

Nothing wrong with manatees...But...Oh, the Hugh Manatee...:facepalm:

Gravdigr;960553 wrote:

Nothing wrong with manatees...But...Oh, the Hugh Manatee...:facepalm:

Heh - that's his name :p:

Great name, Hugh Mermaid. :lol:

I got some patterns for clothes. I think I may have over reached. Luckily, my mother will be down in a couple weeks. I am sure she would love to help me on her vacation week - LOL

That's sew thoughtful of you, providing for Mom to not be bored. :haha:

Gravdigr;960553 wrote:

Nothing wrong with manatees...But...Oh, the Hugh Manatee...:facepalm:

That is so good I may have to knit a manatee and name it Hugh :D

limey;961014 wrote:

That is so good I may have to knit a manatee and name it Hugh :D

DO IT! :D

I second that, Limey will give Hugh personality. :thumb2:

I made a coin purse for my mother, but I wasn't satisfied even though she took it with her. I made another one that I think is better, but still needs some tweaking. Maybe one more and I can make her second one perfectly. Then attempt some clothes. Pictures later today.

The first one with no pattern and just winging it. With some tips from online
[ATTACH]57291[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]57292[/ATTACH]

The second one. This had a pattern and a plan, but it still needs tweaking
[ATTACH]57293[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]57294[/ATTACH]

bbro;964032 wrote:

The second one. This had a pattern and a plan, but it still needs tweaking

needs googly eyes

For Mom's stash?