Saturday, August 03, 2013

The Super Online Sewing Match: Round Three Challenge



Let's recap the Challenges so far

And now for Round Three a bag, specifically, U-Handbag's It's a Cinch Tote.
Head over to Sew Mama Sew for information about this bag and a discount code on the pattern.

My first thought when I saw the picture of the bag was applique, I am going to do some applique.  Then I thought about it for a day and decided on reverse applique.  



The challenge was to find appropriate fabric in less than a week and the only place for me to buy a pleather or vinyl is Joann's.  My husband and I had a business meeting 2 hours away last Sunday.  To my surprise, this town had a recently opened Joann's.  The two of us hunted and hunted for pleather, finally we found it but no bright colors.  The brown and black were nice but not what I had in mind.

I said let's try home dec and yes a nice selection of marine vinyl, with a red.  I like red, I can do red vinyl with black webbing.  Now the hunt is for d-rings, rectangular rings and clips.  I found plastic clips in black but nothing else.  My wonderful husband, Mike, said no worries, you look for what else you need and I will look for the other things.  He did just that and found just what we needed in the purse section along a side wall.  Check that off my list, now webbing.  The hardware was 1-1/2" wide, so I went with that width instead of the pattern recommendations of 1". 


 Now if you are like me at this point, smooth sailing, I have everything.  Well, not so fast, only 2 yards of webbing, when 4 is what I need.  No worries, another Joann's on the way home, yes I got the rest of the webbing, we went to a movie and the day was perfect.

I worked on a design for a couple of days, stitched some practice pieces  When I was comfortable, I stitched out a design which I made into a  laptop sleeve.  I thought why waste a perfectly good piece.   


This looked okay but wasn't the look I wanted, so back to the design process.  I used my chalk pencil to sketch out a design on the vinyl.  After sketching and wiping off the chalk a few times, I went to the family room and discussed ideas with Meredith and Kaitlyn.
Then BAM, it came to us, half a flower coming out of one of the webbing straps.


I love this design and it just pops off the red vinyl.  I did purchase some Soft and Stable from my local quilt shop.  I could not iron any fleece or interfacing onto the vinyl, very scared of melting it.  The Soft and Stable was layered with the vinyl after I placed the cotton pieces for the applique.  It worked perfectly and really gave the bag some structure.  

On the reverse side, I changed the pocket a bit, I wanted it to have a zipper in the pocket and then a place to put in papers, an umbrella or anything else for easy access from the outside.

I did make my bag 2" taller and 2" wider, now a bit bigger to put files and other work items I needed to bring home.


Thanks to the great U-Handbag instructions, the zipper was a snap to stitch into the top of the bag.  The tabs on the end make it look so finished.



On the inside is two pockets, one on each side.  The first is gathered like the instructions

the other pocket is a straight pocket, divided into two sections.

I also cut two pieces of Peltex and inserted them into a fabric sleeve, adding a bit of structure to the bottom of the bag.

The lining fabric is peacocks, which I used the feather part for the flower petals.  I love the look of the colors against the red.

Once again the front of the bag


Then the bag clipped on the side, which I think makes my bag have more of a bowling ball bag shape.  Love it!

This was a challenge to make, the design, the fabric and the zippers.  I stitched very slowly as I felt I could not unsew anything, the holes would show in the vinyl.  My patience and slow-pace really paid off, I love my bag, the look, the size and the flower.  Thanks for such a fun pattern.  Oh, and BTW, the instructions for attaching the lining at the corners is genius and a method I will incorporate in my future bagmaking.

Thanks to Kaitlyn for helping me photograph this bag and Erin's dog, Junior for making a cameo appearance in the pictures.  

62 comments:

  1. What a neat bag! I bought some black pleather from Kashi in June and maybe I will have to make this bag from it!
    I also really enjoyed your story about finding the necessary items at Joann's. I'm impressed that you and your husband were able to get it all at JoJo's.

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    1. Thanks so much, Kyle. Your black pleather would make a fabulous bag. I was really worried about finding all the necessary items from Joann's.

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  2. You did a great job on a beautiful bag....so impressive! Good luck in the challenge I look for your entries every week.

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    1. Thank you so much, I was hoping it would turn out like the picture in my head and it did!

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  3. That is a gorgeous bag. I love your flower design. As usual, your workmanship is amazing. Great job. Good luck in the contest.

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    1. Thank you Kelly, the flower design really pops. I appreciate your kind comments.

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  4. That is a gorgeous (and unique) bag and laptop sleeve! Sometimes it pays to get the whole family involved:)

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    1. Thank you, Angela, many opinions do help to see things differently.

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  5. This is awesome! Colors are great and the appliqué really shows it all off. Congrats on another job well done.

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    1. Thank you, Donna, I appreciate your comments.

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  6. Love this bag!!! This contest is so exciting to follow - you are doing great!!

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    1. Thank you, Bonnie, you are right a very fun contest. A very talented group.

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  7. This is wonderfully unique, sturdy, and BEAUTIFUL! This is such a great bag, Lori!

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    1. Thank you, Meredith, I appreciate it.

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  8. Wow! This is a fantastic bag! Bravo!

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    1. Thank you, the bag makes me smile!

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  9. This is a well thought out bag. And your construction is spot on. It's wonderful Lori.

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    1. Thank you, I did many sketches, that is for sure.

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  10. Wow, that is fantastic and very creative! Really like it. Clever, clever, clever!! Its great having daughters to bounce ideas off too.

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    1. Thank you, Vicki. I liked the help from the girls, it makes the bag have more meaning.

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  11. I love it! The bag's shape and size is wonderful, as are the lining fabric and the reverse appliqué technique on the outside! Job well done!!!

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    1. Thank you, Kristin, it is a great size. I appreciate your comments.

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  12. I'm in major awe.... of your sewing skills, the vision you had for this bag AND your wonderful husband helping you in JoAnn's. This bag is dynamite!

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    1. Oh, Sarah, thank you so much. I am so touched by your sewing skills comment, because you are a fabulous seamstress who inspires me with each of your garments. That is the first time hubby has helped but he was great help.

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  13. You certainly do inspire me! Great job on the bag! I'm sure you have another winner!

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    1. Thank you, Joen, fingers crossed. Results on Wednesday.

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  14. I love your bag! The red color, the applique ', your sewing skills, everything about it is fantastic. I hope you win.

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    1. Thank you, Beverly, I appreciate your vote of confidence!

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  15. Awesome bag. Best of luck in the contest.

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    1. Thank you, Glenna. Results from this challenge on Wednesday.

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  16. This is the kewlest bag! I love how you thought out and incorporated the details. I hope you do well in this round too!

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    1. Thank you, Carolyn, my brain hurt from all the thinking - LOL. Thanks, we will see mid-week on how I did.

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  17. I was heard to exclaim out loud "Wow! That is super cool!" when I saw this bag. Love everything about it.

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    1. Oh, thank you, Trumbelina, I appreciate it.

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  18. love that reverse applique, so cute.

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  19. I love this bag!! Truth be told, I had to go back and look for Erin's dog since I was so focused on the bag! The red is so much better than a darker color would have been and it goes so perfectly with the lining/applique fabric! Good to know too about the home decor area in JoAnne's since that store is the only close option for me.

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    1. Thank you, Shar. J's has quite a few colors in the marine vinyl.

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  20. Love the bag! I especially love the beautiful lining and the way that all the patterns on the petals match. Your attention to detail is awe inspiring!

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    1. Thank you, Pam, I appreciate your kind comments.

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  21. I think you knocked this one out of the ball park!

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  22. Anonymous5:41 PM

    How fun! What a unique, cool bag!

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  23. You are a fabulous seamstress! That bag is perfect from the design details to the stitching! Great Job!

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  24. Lori, your bag is fantastic! I am so impressed by your creativity and workmanship--and patience!

    I think I am going to attempt this pattern, and I have a question for you. What is your beautiful lining fabric? Is it quilting cotton or apparel fabric? Or home dec as well? I'm curious.

    Good luck in the contest!

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    1. Thank you, Mary, I appreciate your kind comments. The lining is from Joann's and I found it in the quilting section.

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  25. WOW Lori! Your tote is fantastic. Great details, and it is the perfect combo of professional tote, yet is stylish at the same time. I love it!

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    1. Thank you, Lisa, I am quite pleased with the results. It will be a bag I will enjoy for years to come.

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  26. Fantastic bag, I love it!

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  27. You did an awsome job. You are going to make it to the next round. Good job?

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    1. Thanks, M, I hope you are right. All the entries are up on the contestants' blogs and they are each fabulous. A very talented group of ladies.

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  28. Great bag. Love the work you put into making it yours. It's so nice to have some helpful girls in the process too. Good luck in this round!

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    1. Thank you, Amy, there are 6 great bags, hate to be a judge!

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  29. You did a great job on it, Lori! I love the red and the appliqué just pops right off of it.

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    1. Thank you, Stacy, fingers crossed but it is very stiff competition, some amazing bags.

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  30. Anonymous6:33 AM

    Your choice of pleather was ingenious (and just goes to show that Joann's, while limited on fabric choices, doesn't have to limit a fabulous end result). I could totally see me stopping you in the airport to say, "I LOVE your bag! Where did you get it?" because I tend to do that when I see something I adore. The sportiness of the web straps and the pleather make it look hardy enough to stuff into overhead bins, make several plane changes, and yet still look fresh and ready to go on arrival. It's big enough to carry everything you need while traveling. If I saw your bag in the store, I'd snap it up in a heartbeat. Well done!

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind and generous comment. I appreciate it so much, I will really enjoy using my bag.

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  31. Hi Lori, Thanks so much for the compliment on my tote! This morning was my first peak at everyone’s creations, and I must say, I was blown away by your beautiful bag! I adore vibrant colour, and the red vinyl that you chose is a winner for me. When I was in the fabric store, I was drawn to a light turquoise vinyl, but I was afraid to work with it. You not only sewed the vinyl brilliantly; the addition of the blooming flower is adorable. Black accents complete the WOW factor.

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  32. I've come back to peek at this a few times. This "it's a cinch" tote pattern is on my sewing list. I love how you added your creative touch to make it your own. Beautiful design!

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