Waiting on a Messenger

This post is past. I actually finished the Zakka Style Messenger Bag on Monday but have not, as yet, had a chance to write about it until today. It figures though because this project has had to wait before. On the tri-bar slider kit that I should have ordered BEFORE starting. I did try to buy the hardware locally from the 2 major fabric chains Lincraft and Spotlight but to no avail. I ended up purchasing via the Etsy store listed in the Zakka book. No problems with shipping but my unpreparedness put me behind the Zakka Style Sew Along by 2 weeks with this one.


This project was the 2nd only bag project I have attempted after the earlier Zig Zag Tote and I was a bit intimidated. However, it was a lot simpler to follow the directions in the book without getting into trouble.


There are a lot of great versions of this messenger bag on the Flickr group but I kind of stuck with the original colour palette in the book and I am so happy with the results.


Fabric Choices

Amazingly enough, Spotlight have just added some textured / woven solids to their quilting range lately and I was able to buy a lot of fabrics for the Zakka projects and use my $40 off when you spend $100 voucher to buy some really lovely large 1m cuts. Also some pre-made bias binding and various zips.

The rest of the fabrics, for the leaves, came from the scrappy solids I had lurking around. The outer body of the bag is from the previously purchased Essex linen in natural. Now the inner lining fabric is from Alexander Henry and I only had 1 yard of it instead of the 1.5 stated in the book, but I managed to stretch it by using the linen for the outer pocket lining.


Variations

Lining - I changed the layout of the inner pockets in the lining, added some interfacing and also added a magnetic clasp to keep the inside closed. I have seen a few ladies use these to keep the flap closed but I had already made the flap and could not work out how to put it in without a lot of unpicking and rethinking. 

Straps - The pattern called for a 1.5" strap in the same fabric but I wanted to show off some of the great lining fabric and so I went back to the Zig Zag Tote instructions to make a 2-toned version. Unfortuately I miscalculated and mine ended up at 2" wide. They kind of squished into the 1.5" tri-bar slider.

There are only 2 things that I am unhappy about:


1.  Is the stain that the basting spray made on my leaves because I really overused it.
2. My mother has requested the bag for her August birthday present (so that means that I have to make myself another one eventually). It's nice that she liked it that much though. I am making her a matching Zakka Style Orchard Tweed Pouch to go inside as a surprise.

I am linking up with...

Wet Wednesday WiPs

The past few days we have had heavy showers followed by bright sunshine. It makes consistent laundry drying impossible but makes great sewing weather.


Stem Messenger Bag

I am up to the second last section of the bag assemblage however I do not have the necessary hardware to complete the straps. I have put in an order from the Etsy store called sewingsupplies, however I am not sure how long it will take to arrive. But then The Patchsmith came up with a clever idea of going to an op-shop and buying an old bag to re-purpose it's tri-bar slider combination. So I may get a chance to do that in the next day or so.


Fussy Fairytales

I tried so hard to get this project finished by LAST Friday but even after 5 hours of hand sewing the binding I had only reached halfway. Hopefully I can finish by this Friday.


Katy Jump Kites

Today I was able to complete the further 19 blocks and now I have the layout of the quilt on my design wall. I had to tweak a few blocks just to spread out the pattern of the fabrics, but it did come together quite smoothly.

This week's stats:
Completed projects - 0

  

Currently in progress   - 'HR Far Far Away 2&3 Fussy Fairytales'  binding half sewn on.

                                               - Katie Jump Kites - 56 blocks sewn

                                               - Messenger Bag - lining and outer sewn.
                                               

On Hold projects   - 0

So how are you going with your WiPs this week?


I am linking up with...

100 Followers Give-Away Winner

I had hoped to post a tips tutorial today to go along with this week's Zakka Style Sew-Along project - the Messenger Bag - however, I am not quite finished it. Here's a sneak peak though.


Last week I decided not to link up with Sew Mama Sew's big Give-Away Day because I just wanted to reward all you regular followers who bother to come and visit me on regular basis. So the 100 Followers Give-Away was a low-key in-house affair. I really don't have aspirations of growing large and then pursuing sponsorship.

So the winner of the Sew-Lux mug rug kit is...#21  Sooli from South Australia. 


Congratulations and I will contact you and post this kit out this week.