KnipMode Magazine: 08-2009-22 (Weekend Bag) - Type:Accessories  | | Viewed 121 times
| | Review rated Very Helpful by 4 people | | Reviewed by: | squirrellypoo | 
| About squirrellypoo | | NA UNITED KINGDOM | | Member since: 3/27/05 | | Reviews written: 121 | | Sewing skills:Intermediate | | Favored by: 52 people | | patterns reviewed: 112 | | Bio: more... |
| | Posted on: | 11/4/09 12:57 PM | | Project Photo: |  | | Pattern Photo: |  | | Pattern Rating: | Highly Recommend | | NEW! See reviews of patterns from this issue | | | | Fabric: | Cotton Broadcloth [See other projects in this fabric] | | Related Links | Click on  to add a link |
| I've wanted an Amy Butler Weekender Bag for ages, but I knew I DIDN'T want the stress and trauma of sewing one together after reading review upon horrible, emotionally scarring review. So when this bag pattern appeared in the August 2009 issue of KnipMode magazine, I figured this was my chance to get the bag without the heartache!
Pattern Description:
This is a large weekend bag with a rounded, trapezoidal shape and a long zipper running along the top. Purchased handles are inserted into the top seam.
Pattern Sizing:
One size. The finished size of the bag is stated as 30 x 45cm. It's definitely large enough for an overnight or weekend trip (if you don't overpack on the shoes!)
Instead of tracing pattern pieces from the sheets as usual, this bag pattern was printed in the instruction section as a drawing on a grid, which you then replicated on your own paper, making every square something like 4cm each. It was a different experience, but not necessarily bad if you're decent at freehanding curves. I think in the end it took me a bit longer to do it this way than to just trace it, as I had to first draw out the grid onto my paper since I don't own any patternmaking dot & cross sheets.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes, the general shape looks a lot like the photo, though I added a bunch of pockets to mine (see below).
Were the instructions easy to follow?
I can't speak Dutch so I can't vouch for the instructions. I've never made a bag like this before so it did require a lot of forethought and mental sewing on my part to get all the steps in the right order before I sat down at my machine (it saves on unpicking stitches that way!).
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I really love the shape and size of the bag. I have a similar RTW bag that I've worn down to a ratty shadow of its former self, and I wanted something more robust to take its place.
Fabric Used:
The fabric is a black, white, and pale blue "Inger" heavyweight canvas from IKEA, bought for £3.51/m. The outside was then coated with the laminate plastic Lamifil to make it waterproof and (hopefully) more wear-resistent. It's worth reading the above link if you're not familiar with this product, as it has a large bearing on the outcome of this bag!
The vinyl handles, Lamifix, magnetic snaps, bag feet, and plastic bag bottom were purchased from the lovely Lisa at U Handbag.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
First of all, I added a self-lining. On the outside, I added a long, flat pocket to one large side to hold magazines as I travel, and onto each end I added pockets that are gathered at the bottoms to create space, and a magnetic snap inside to keep everything in (photos here).
Also not shown are some brass bag feet to further protect the bottom surface, and a big sheet of plastic canvas along the inside bottom of the bag to give it more stability.
On the minus side, I omitted the piping around the top and side edges as it sounded like a recipe for frustration with all the layers of laminated fabric!
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
When this bag gets as ratty as my current one, I will certainly make this bag again, and I recommend this pattern to others also looking for an Amy Butler alternative!
Conclusion:
So in general, I like the pattern and I like the bag, but the finish is not entirely aesthetically pleasing to me. First of all, the lamifix seems like it'd be great for fabrics that stay mostly flat and don't move too much, but on such a flexible bag, it wrinkles really badly and has started separating from the fabric in places already (and believe me, that stuff was fused to within an inch of its life, too! Even worse is that there are permanent grey/white spots where creases happened during flipping the bag right side out, which kinda make it look used already. On one hand, I suppose that's not too bad, as I won't feel I've got to treat it especially gently or anything, but I kinda miss having that "uber-bright white new shoes" experience.
The other aesthetic concern is that the laminated fabric has a really plastic feel, like laminated paper, and doesn't feel like oilcloth or vinyl or leather at all. It's hard to describe the difference, but if you were a teacher's daughter like me and spent half your childhood playing with the laminating machine, then I'm sure you know what I'm talking about! The last concern is that the laminated fabric doesn't ease - at all! Sewing the rounded corners of the bag were a bitch (and there's a lot of them!), and adding piping would've almost certainly made this a frustrating Unfinished Object. So I'm really, really glad I took the lazy way out and decided not to pipe these, though I think it would've added some nice stability to the frame of the bag.
So I think the end result here is that I like the bag, but I'm not in love with it. I'm glad I tried the Lamifix, but I'm not sure if the bag might've been better without it. Don't get me wrong - it's a cool product and I think it'd be awesome on stuff like placemats or baby bibs or super stiff bags or even for making wipe-clean marker board surfaces, but I'm not sure it was the best use here. I'm still going to use the bag, as it's a damn sight prettier than my well-worn RTW weekend bag, but I'm not entirely certain this has fully scratched my bag making itch.
For way more photos, head over to FehrTrade.com! | *LOGIN to add a comment to this review
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<< Previous Review Next Review >> | Reader Comments | | TrixieD | 11/4/09 | I love the look! | | * * * | | nancy2001 | 11/4/09 | Beautiful bag. I think you did a terrific job. | | * * * | | kkkkaty | 11/4/09 | cute!!! Good to see that you are busy, hope that means you are feeling well | | * * * | | Karen6790 | 11/4/09 | Thanks for the review - I got the August issue and was considering this but was afraid it would be as traumatic as I've heard the Weekender is. Now that you've taken the fear out of it, I need to find another excuse. Great result - love all the extra pockets too. | | * * * | | Patti B | 11/4/09 | What a snazzy bag. The size looks perfect for a weekender and your addition of pockets really adds to the appeal. Very nice! | | * * * | | tg33 | 11/5/09 | What a great bag! Do you think this would work in vinyl (you know the fake leather stuff)? | | * * * | | squirrellypoo | 11/5/09 | Oh it'd definitely work in vinyl or leather, as long as you had some thick needles for all the layers. | | * * * |
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