weekender bag

I started making the amy butler weekender bag last Sunday - 6 days ago, finished Thursday! It was my 2nd time using a sewing machine. The first time I made Amy's Nappy Bag as a gift for a baby shower, it was difficult because I was learning how to use my sewing machine! It took me 3 hours just to figure out how to get the bobbin in right lol. So that project, while much simpler, was so much more stressful and difficult for me.

I'd been staring at the weekender bag pattern for months, too scared to attempt, but my cousins birthday was coming up and would be a great gift so figured better now than never. It was difficult, but came out pretty good! I did take a few shortcuts (used matching ribbon & stitch witchery for the piping), the hardest part for me was sewing the lining without tucks around the corners. Finally got it "good enough" and used fabri-ac to attach it to the inside of the exterior - I don't know how to hand stitch yet and didn't have the time. I'd def do a few things differently if I could go back, like lining up the fabric pattern on the panels so they matched... It took me about 25 hours total to complete this bag, HUGE project for me haha. Glad its over! Now I want one for myself but not sure I'm ready quite yet

(This photo was before the lining and false bottom was in - the bottom panel flattened out a bit more)

Here is the nappy bag I did a while ago, cousin had TWINS - girl & boy and loved this fabric for a diaper bag... i found at tonicliving.com, was lucky enough to find the matching polkadot lining at joann's. this was a good pattern to use to learn how to sew, for me.

I think next up is Amy Butlers Sweet Harmony purse for a birthday gift. Has anyone made this? I assume its much easier/cheaper than the weekender!

i'm not sure how long my $60 brother sewing machine will hold up lol, it unthreads itself every other time i stop sewing. Asking for a Janome for christmas 

Looks great! I have this pattern too...but I'm intimidated...however, reading about this post sort of remotivated me.

Ooh! I'm using that ?Kaufman? fabric for a duvet cover for my bed! Nice bags for your first efforts!

You did a beautiful job!  I'm in love with the weekender bag, but haven't bought the pattern yet...  Gotta hop to it!

Thanks for the inspiration!

 
  I'm so thankful for your post! You did an amazing job. This is a project that has been on my hope to do list and had been very intimidated in trying. Now, I'm excited to make one for a holiday gift. It will be my very first of this kind of project. I think it may be doable . I LOVE what you did it's Beautiful. I just did a post on this,this morning, Lol.
 http://elise-mcginn.blogspot.com
Thanks again,
elise