▲ 2 r/BagLab
Just for s**ts and giggles
Tell me you sew without actually saying you sew. What's the first thing you thought of when you saw this graphic?
u/CBG1955 — 4 days ago
u/CBG1955
Please - stop spamming every single sewing sub with the same question!
I get it, you need guidance or assistance with an issue you are having, but posting the same thing ten times isn't really going to get any more traction than if you only post once. Most of the sewing folks I know are in all the sewing subs anyway.
u/CBG1955 — 6 days ago
Again with the stolen patterns
There seems to be an increase of entities gathering up other people's sewing pattern designs and passing them off as their own collection. They use a head shot stolen from a random website to represent the "designer", and if you do Google image searches it's quite clear that the majority of their patterns are stolen from other makers. One of them has a banner that says "buy the whole collection for $100" - then advertises a single pattern for $9.99 - 90% off the full price of $100 for a single pattern.
My impotent rage is actually pointless; it seems impossible to stop. The one from today has links all over FB and appears to originate in Morocco. The only power I might have is to message the original designer with a link and hope they can follow up the stolen IP
The worst thing is how badly I feel for the many unsuspecting people who get sucked into these scammy patterns and then cry because they are so difficult to understand, the seller won't help them, and they've lost their money with ruined fabric.. Even with my decades of experience I got caught once a few years ago too, but thankfully it was only one pattern.
u/CBG1955 — 22 days ago
▲ 7 r/Geelong
Potato deliver man - Trav?
We used to buy potatoes from a local fellow called "Trav" who used to drop off - does anyone know of him? Please and thank you.
Delivery! Can't update the title.
u/CBG1955 — 26 days ago
▲ 607 r/sewhelp
Beginners, please don't delete your posts asking for help
I appreciate that we have varying levels of knowledge and experience. Those of us who know and want to help, and those wanting to learn.
However - What is the point in asking a question, receiving valid and helpful information, then deleting your original post? The answers will still be there, but no one will know what the question was.
The information you receive may very well help someone else with a smilar question.
u/CBG1955 — 1 month ago
▲ 11 r/BagLab
A matching pair
After the bright red bag, I figured it needed a matching wallet. So here it is. Of course I forgot to put a label on it.
u/CBG1955 — 1 month ago
▲ 8 r/BagLab
I may have a problem
I started going through my hardware today and moved all my zipper pulls into one place. I'm pretty sure this is all of them. I still have to consolidate my swivels, strap attachments, magnetic snaps, and various other assorted bits and pieces.
I wish IKEA had not discontinued these little boxes, because they fit perfectly into these drawers, which is actually a large IKEA kitchen cabinet, and can hold a lot of hardware. I can't even find them on the 3-D printing pages. :-(
The red things are pattern weights my husband made me out of industrial plumbing parts and spray painted red.
u/CBG1955 — 2 months ago
▲ 5 r/BagLab
Zipper tape and other stuff
So after I finished the red croc bag I decided to make a matching wallet. All good, I had enough fabric and vinyl, and it's a project that I've made multiple times before and use daily. Pattern calls for 38cm of zipper tape (14") and because it's how I roll, the zipper tape has to closely match the red - the pink I'm using in the interior is too pink. I have some red: a leftover piece that looks long enough.
It's not. It's only 30cm, or 12", and I can't make it work even with zipper tabs. I did not want to buy more zipper tape.
However, I relented. Went to my favourite local online supplier, and found red tape with gold teeth. So I figured, to make the postage worthwhile I might as well order some "Bespoke" magnetic snaps that I'll use as bag tags, and a couple of metres of coordinating bonded nylon print.
Sadly, I shop faster than I sew. Plus, I am supposed to be working on a different project and am procrastinating.
Oh, and u/JPBagworks did you get your machine set up???
u/CBG1955 — 2 months ago
Please, do not tell me how to make something that I am gifting from my heart!
****EDIT**** I really appreciate the feedback and did not realise that, in addition to my friend's stubbornnness (he does this to his wife too with her sewing projects, BTW) the cultural significance of the formal sporran was lost on me. I have a couple of weeks to decide whether or not to proceed with it.
Back story: friends of ours have three now 20-something adult children who grew up with us in their lives. My husband and I were one of the few couples that were more like aunt and uncle to these youngsters rather than just their parents' friends. One of them is being married in Scotland later this year and all the menfolk will be in full formal dress Scottish regalia. We were very touched to be invited, since it's a very small wedding, and he only chose to invite people who meant much to him throughout his growing up years.
So, I'm a bag maker and flippantly asked my friend about the sporrans - and offered to make them (there will be two). All good I thought, essentially a small gusseted pouch. I inspected his own sporran, a beautiful piece with a sterling silver cantle and bearskin front and tiny pocket on the back. We had a few discussions, chose the black leather, Australian possum fur for the front, colour of hardware. Found a pattern, made a sample, and he started to pick holes in it. Pouch too big, flap too long, change gusset to this size. I went back to the drawing board, found a fellow who makes sporrans and has been showing me some tips and tricks. I feel rather deflated and now am second guessing myself.
Thing is, this is my gift, it is not a professionally made dress sporran. Part of me wants to just make what I want to make, and send it directly - the other feels like declining gently. Either way, if I am gifting something from my heart, does the parent of the adult recipient get to choose??
What to do, what to do.
u/CBG1955 — 2 months ago
▲ 12 r/BagLab
And here is the finished bucket bag, with the strap
I figured I should show the finished bag with its double sided adjustable strap. I think the strap was the hardest part! Don't be like me and take shortcuts by deliberately leaving the interfacing off the cotton fabric because lazy does not give a nice crisp finish.
u/CBG1955 — 2 months ago
▲ 15 r/BagLab
Bucket bag with a twist
This is the Magic Middle bucket Bag by Spencer Ogg patterns.
I used a croc embossed soft vinyl, with a quilt cotton lining. I also used a 2mm self adhesive foam for additional stability on the vinyl. Because the seams are at the centre front and centre back, I wanted to fussy cut the vinyl so the lines matched up. The outcome was pretty good!
The bag looked like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once I finished it, but I did make a few changes. Diane's instructions are always very well written and comprehensive. There is a video but because I'm familiar with her patterns I didn't need to watch it. The in-built pouch is really clever and overall am happy with the project.
I had a few reservations about the project but they don't my opinion of the pattern. I think the lining is a little baggy for my liking but I suspect that it stretched some while I was assembling the bag - and the pouch feels a little too wide for the bag. I checked my seam allowances and they are all correct. I suspect perhaps the side seams where the pouch is sewn into the lining may be the issue - my fault, because I didn't keep the interfacing out of the seam allowances which of course means it's too thick there.
I made a couple of minor changes. I sewed this as a drop-in lining because I don't usually use vinyl and I have no idea how it would behave if I turned it through the pocket, which is how the instructions tell you to do it. The pocket is large enough but I didn't trust the vinyl. I picked a hardware strap attachment rather than doing it per the pattern, and omitted the flap. I might still use a magnetic snap (I have some that fit over the edge of the bag.) I think there's enough of the vinyl to do an adjustable strap, otherwise I'll just use bright red webbing. I like using one of the pattern maker's hidden card slots in my bags, so putting it into the pouch seemed like a good idea at the time. It works but I wouldn't bother with a zipper opening next time, just a slip pocket. It would have fit much better in the main lining slip pocket rather than inside the pouch, but it's a nice well-hidden pocket for security.
I will you sew it again and I recommend this pattern. I think next time I will take a slightly larger seam allowance on the lining so it sits in the bag a little more tightly. It was a fun and easy project.
As usual I left the strap to last, and am not sure if I'll use what's left of the vinyl or do a webbing strap. Many of Diane's patterns follow a similar formula, so it was easy to assemble. I see more of these in my future.
And no, u/JPBbagworks, there are no "special" pockets in this one.
u/CBG1955 — 2 months ago
▲ 5 r/sewhelp
Some guidance with sporrans
A friend's son is being married in Scotland later this year and I offered to make the sporrans. These people are like family. We've chosen the leather, have the Australian possum fur for the front (he's an Aussie kid so a link to home) Trying to find a dress sporran pattern has not been easy. The only thing even close is the Tandy Leather one, but the sizing was all wrong. So far I've been able to get a more or less accurate size, but the detail that they want is actually making me nervous. I am actually really bad at hacking patterns, and how to finish the top of the gusset is not making any sense in my brain - part of this is because of cognitive impairment caused by my MS. My friend is extremely particular about how this should look, he's Scots, and given a recent really bad experience I had recently with binding I am on the verge of withdrawing my offer and purchasing the sporrans as my wedding gift. I am not a beginner either and if I do make this I know it needs to be perfect.
I do tend to fret some about things being perfect but am also very aware that my friend is super fixated on the specifics of a dress sporran. Feeling super challenged by this!
https://tandyleather.com/.../leathercr.../sporran-pattern...
u/CBG1955 — 2 months ago
▲ 6 r/BagLab
But wait - there's more!
I was on a roll all weekend. Two plate cozies, and one more bowl cozy in a different size. Now, I need to make a bag. I have been asked to make two sporrans for a friend's son's wedding in October, so that has to happen soon too.
u/CBG1955 — 3 months ago
▲ 3 r/sewing
Talk to me about machine needles please
I'll preface this by mentioning I am not a beginner, and know about changing needles frequently. I know my machine well, and I know about that "knock" sound when the needle needs changing. What's been confusing me is needle type.
Lately I'm doing a lot of various projects, and choosing the right needle type has been somewhat problematic. For bag linings, I'm using microtex most of the time, and they seem to be working well. Most linings are only quilt cotton and woven fusible interfacing, and although there can be up to 12 layers in places, the needles are smoothe and silent, and last fairly well.
The past weekend I got stuck into bowl cozies - a lot of them - quilt cotton and cotton quilt batting. It didn't matter what needle I chose I got that knock. In the end, I picked a new jeans needle, no change. In the end I kept on going but was aware that I needed something different.
I actually like microtex for sewing wovens, but sizes are limited (I'm in Australia.)
So my actual question is - for bowl cozies and other fairly thick projects, in your experience what's the best needle? I have many here but don't have a problem buying various types and sizes to test out.
Thank you.
u/CBG1955 — 3 months ago
▲ 7 r/BagLab
And on the theme of bowl cozies....
This was a request from an acquaintance who I only know through an online website. She saw my original bowl cozy and begged for small rectangular ones for her microwaved frozen meals. No pattern, came up with this little tray based on her measurements.. I can already see some improvements for future ones - little handles on the short sides.
u/CBG1955 — 3 months ago
▲ 6 r/BagLab
Not a bag!
We decided we needed some plate cozies, so I dug through my stash, pulled out some bowl cozy acrylic templates that I acquired and cut out two of the largest ones. Lo and behold, they are freaking HUGE and will fit about a 2-litre casserole. Still fun, and an easy make.
And bonus, I showed someone on another forum I visit, and she immediately asked me to make her four to fit her frozen easy meals. Plus, I get to pick colours and surprise her.
u/CBG1955 — 3 months ago
▲ 3 r/sewing
Bowl cozies and thread
Bowl cozies and thread
There is a lot of information around about only using pure cotton fabric, batting and thread, if you are using the cozies in the microwave. I only have Rasant, which is 50/50 cotton/polyester. I really don't want to buy a whole new stash of [very expensive] 100% cotton thread if I can avoid it.
I'm not too sure why this matters so much. It's the food that is being heated - is it only heat transference from the dish it's cooked in that could potentially cause the polyester to melt? (Apparently polyester begins to soften at 230C (446F) - so potentially not an issue.)
Thanks for any feedback.
u/CBG1955 — 3 months ago
▲ 10 r/BagLab
A quickie project
After the slog if the rucksack I thought I'd treat myself to a quickie. I've made this little bag about eight or nine times now, and it takes about two hours (if I did it without stopping!) I have acrylic templates for it, so it's really quick to cut out. I rarely use vinyl but this was the last little bit of a piece I bought simply because I loved the print. I left off the outer zipper and didn't put on a strap attachment, so it's an evening clutch bag. Sort of.
u/CBG1955 — 3 months ago
▲ 13 r/myog
I made this pack for my grandson as a school bag. While the pattern is basically a fashion bag, my bushwalker husband prodded me to make sure everything would be secure so it doesn't fall apart when Mr 13 yanks it around. Like double stitching all the straps, handles, etc, plenty of padding. The outer is leather, inner is cotton canvas interfaced with fusible woven cotton interfacing, there's foam for padding.
The straps were a bone of contention: sewing them was turning into a nightmare, partly because the pattern instructions were a dog's breakfast, so in the end my husband bought proprietary third party removable straps from Placatac
The original pattern called for a triangular attachement, but all I had was leather or corcdura. I was concerned that the cordura would shred; it did once on another bag, and since these seams are bound there was now ay to have a larger seam allowance there. In the end, to spread the load on the bottom attachment we chose to use webbing directly into the seam, separated per the photo, and use a slide-in strap attachment so we now have 50mm rather than 25mm to spread the load.
The back, showing the strap attachments
Fun zipper tape says 'Caution Keep Out\"
u/CBG1955 — 4 months ago
▲ 17 r/BagLab
This rucksack nearly broke me. But, it's finished. Leather outer, cotton interior. 3-D mesh for the back, purchased removable rucksack straps.
I hate binding.
u/CBG1955 — 4 months ago