Weekend Bag Making

Monday, June 24, 2013

Featherweight Travel Bags by Jeni Baker
Featherweight Travel Bags, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.
Happy Monday! The past few days I've been working on finishing up a few bag projects.  Since I started using my featherweight more often, I wanted to make a bag to travel with it.  I have the original carrying case, but it's a little heavy, and plain. So, I set out to make the ultimate travel set for my machine: a tote bag, drawstring bag for the pedal and a sleeve for the extension table!

Featherweight Travel Bags by Jeni Baker
Featherweight Travel Bags, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.
Everything fits inside the tote bag, with plenty of room left for projects and supplies.

I drafted the tote bag to fit the dimensions of the machine, using my favorite tote pattern as a starting point.  I used the black tulip vines print from Nordika and quilted it with Aurifil #2605 50wt thread.  The exterior also has a layer of batting and cotton duck canvas.  I interfaced the lining with Pellon Shape-Flex, I wanted it to be extra strong! For the straps I top stitched fabric on top of cotton webbing! Finally it's finished off with a thick particle board insert for the bottom.

I made a lined drawstring bag (tutorial/pattern) for the foot pedal and cord.  It fits nicely in the throat of the machine without scratching it up!

The last thing I made was a quilted sleeve for the extension table.  There is a screw on the head of the machine that can scratch up the table, so this keeps it protected!

Overall I'm really happy with how this set turned out! I'm looking forward to traveling with my machine soon! I've published this set as a pattern, it can be found here: Sew Portable Travel Set

I also finished up my Color Me Retro Aeroplane Bag this weekend! I made the larger size from Sara Lawson's Aeroplane Bag Pattern!

It came together really easily! It was so nice to get through a bag like this without any hiccups! I even used all the recommended interfacing, including Pellon Peltex and new-to-me Annie's Soft and Stable! I'm glad I gave it a good try, the results were great! And my machine sewed through them just fine.

Now I just need to travel so I can put my new bags to use! :)

33 comments :

  1. Wow! So very nice, Jeni!! Congratulations on a job well done!

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  2. Love all those bags! Great job and love the fabric!

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  3. Love them, so colorful! If you don't want them, umm you could send them my way - I've got some travel plans coming up :D Super job!

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  4. I love all of them!

    I really do need to make some of my own bags and seeing yours makes me want to make them NOW!

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  5. What a great idea to make a sewing machine carrying bag! It turned out adorable. I think I'm going to have to get myself some of your new fabric!

    -Melissa
    scavengerhuntblog.com

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  6. Those are both awesome. You should bring them on a field trip to Seattle.

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  7. These are fantastic! You're one productive lady.

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  8. Lovely bags.
    I finally realized I had a rolling soft-sided insulated cooler that makes a good case for my Featherweight.

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  9. Wow!!! What gorgeous bags and the fabrics are beautiful.

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  10. OMG Jeni! I have to make one for my Featherweight Now. I was actually looking at making a cover for my featherweight because I leave it out so much! And i planned on using the tulip print. It just matches the Featherweights so well. really cute. can't wait to get Nordika!
    jan@http://sewandsowfarm.blogspot.com/

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  11. All of your bags are just beautiful :-) I love the fabrics that you chose for them.

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  12. These are lovely! Great bags!

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  13. Just love the bags Jeni Thanks for sharing!

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  14. Love love love the bag. The fabric is perfect for this bag!!!

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  15. A wonderful week-end!!! They are all great, Jeni! Congratulations!!!

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  16. Lovely bags made of beautiful fabrics! I really heart your sewing machine... so retro and charming!

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  17. Oh my gosh this is an explosion of total yumminess! I soooo can't wait for your new line to come out. It's amazing!! Love the bags you made. I can't wait to dig into my aeroplane bag. I have the fabric and pattern all ready to go, just need a zipper. Can I ask where you purchased yours?

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    Replies
    1. I bought mine at my local JoAnns! It's a sport zipper!

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  18. All are fabulous.Congratulations!!

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  19. Oh my goodness, I so want your bags. You do such a nice job and The fabric is gorgeous. I really, really love your new collection, it is great. I think the bright print from the Color Me Retro Aeroplane bag is awesome.

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  20. I cannot believe your sewing machine has it's own travel bag - wow! I love the aeroplane bag too, I'd be very tempted to make one myself, if only I had a holiday planned!

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  21. love the whole travel set!!! what a fun idea and executed so beautifully! And the aeroplane bag, so cute!

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  22. I love your featherweight carry bag. Adorbable!
    Our family just found our aunt's featherweight, and my sister hopes to use it soon. (She needs to clean it up so it doesn't smell like the mildewy case....) Anyone have suggestions?

    This would be perfect for her to make for hers!
    Susie

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  23. I didn't know you sewed on a Featherweight, Jeni! I just got one recently and I'm planning to sew the first quilt block on my FW tomorrow... Mine came with a wooden case, too, but it smells like something died in it so it's out in the garage. I love that you've made such a cute little travel case for yours, and I'm going to pin this to my Do List. Perfect timing! :-)

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  24. These are lovely — I can't wait until I'm good enough at sewing to make things like this x

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  25. That tote for your feather weight is lovely!! Love the straight stitching on it and that fabric is wonderful..you are one talented lady!!!

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  26. thnx for sharing this info i like it
    Buy ladeis handbags online in India at best prices from:http://yobags.com/ladies-handbags.html

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  27. I have a featherweight and I just purchased the pattern! Can you expound a little on the size modifications that you did? Also, when constructing and quilting the fabric for the bag, did you layer all three pieces together and quilt them before cutting out the bag?

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  28. Have you had any problems with the car wax on your machine? I am new to featherweights and have seen some folks saying don't use a car wax but a boot wax? Love your tote as well! saw the question above as to how did you "combine" all the exterior layers? did you quilt thru all layers of duck, batting, fabric? thank in advance. Oh with your resource book - do you feel it's enough info without the add'l video that author sells? do you feel what is in his book is the same info/manuals you can download free online? Thank you again - just trying to see what all I should stock up on as I await delivery of my featherweight.

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  29. Jeni, do you have a pattern or tutorial somewhere for your Featherweight travel accessories set? I've never sewn any kind of tote bag or purse before so I don't feel confident about my ability to "wing it" from another pattern. The cases that came with my Featherweights are a bit stinky so they are in storage, and the only padded travel bag I can find that is available commercially is that yucky ketchup red thing that looks like a cooler for a 6-pack of beer. If you DON'T already have a pattern for your Featherweight bag, extension table cover and foot pedal bag, will you please consider writing one up when you get a chance? The only tutorial I was able to find specifically for Featherweights was one for making a cloth cover that fits over the wooden case, covering the sides and top of the case, with a hole cut out for the handle. Like a tissue box cover -- not what I wanted at all!

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    Replies
    1. I'd buy that pattern if you made it up Jeni!

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    2. I do now have a pattern for this set! You can find it here: http://incolororder.bigcartel.com/product/sew-portable-travel-set-pdf-pattern

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  30. I love the idea of sewing a print fabric on cotton webbing! Genius.

    Also, if you ever are looking for a pattern for a dust cover for your Featherweight check out Charlene Phillips' pattern. I believe it is only available as a soft-copy download for a Kindle from Amazon. The pattern contains two sizes and one is for a Featherweight.

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