Date: 3/5/07 0:12 AM

Here is my conundrum. I own the Rural Messenger Bag pattern. Because I just can't help myself, I just ordered the High Street Messenger Bag pattern. (Yes. I am pathetic. Now that we have that clear, I'll keep going.) Some day I am sure I will make both, but since I have limited time and a specific objective in mind, I need to decide which one I will make first. It may be awhile before I get the time to test drive whatever pattern I choose to do second. Here are my constraints.

* I want to make this as a computer bag for my laptop
* I intend to pad it with quilting batting
* I don't need a ton of pockets
* I don't want a magnetic snap (especially after my husband's dreadful experience with Laptop Extermination Carried Out By A Horde of My Little Ponies - alternatively known around these parts as Death by Pink Pony)
* I'd like to use a very cool Alexander Henry print I have on-hand and don't mind doing crazy things with Timtex or Craft Fuse in order to make it work
* I'll probably add some low tech fastener, like a tie with grommets (I love Gromit)
* This project can't take forever - I have a limited attention span because somewhere in the process of bearing 3 children, a lot of my neurons got lost. If you see them, please let me know. (The neurons.)

So, has anyone out in Patternreview-land made both of these patterns? Any opinions on which one I should try first?

Thanks in advance!

Yak/Deanna

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Brevity is the soul of lingerie.
-Dorothy Parker
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Sewing blog & free sewing patterns at my website:

Yakityak Talks Back
www.yakityak.com

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Reply to Yakityak
Date: 3/5/07 12:58 PM

I've made neither pattern. But in the interest of bringing this topic back to the top, here is my opinion:

My personal choice for your project would be the High Street bag.

I guess the Rural Messanger is OOP, because I can't find a place to order it.

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You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm.
--Sidonie Gabrielle Colette

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Date: 3/5/07 2:22 PM

I could be wrong but I think the Country Messenger Bag is still available from Amy but apparently not through PR. I made the CMB for my college student DGD several years ago. When I asked her about it she said while she did use it some, she didn't use it as much as she thought she would because it was heavy and awkward to use. I made it at her request. I just read the specs on the High Street bag and I vote for that one because it specifically mentions it as being suitable for a laptop. I would think you can use however many pockets you want to use and eliminate the rest and you can use Velcro instead of magnetic snaps. Hope this helps.

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Date: 3/5/07 3:00 PM

I don't have any suggestions as to which bag but now I'm curious about the story behind the Death by Pink Pony.

And, while I don't have any experience as a mom, I do watch kids as part of my job and I'm convinced parent neurons aren't lost so much as fragmented -- you have to watch and think about so many things at once. We need a de-frag program for the brain. :)

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Kit
"Never underestimate the power of the right dress!" - drsue
"Hyu gots to know how to sveet tok de costumers, dollink" - Girl Genius, 11-24-08

Sewing and sewing videos - http://aliciajeanae.blogspot.com

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Date: 3/5/07 7:36 PM

I have made both bags. The first one I think I did 4 times and the 2nd I have made three times so far. you can read my thoughts at my blog. Here Dec 06 post
And then if you look in January I think I have pictures of all three rural bags.

For a quick answer, I would say do the newest pattern but eliminate the inside organizer thing as well as the pockets on the flap. To be totally honest the flap is so long you don't need a closure unless you want one for design or extra security.
I hope this helps.

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Reply to Yakityak
Date: 3/5/07 10:37 PM

I've done both and by far the new one is the best messenger bag that I've made up! The new bag pattern is a lot of pieces and does take a bit more time to construct, but is well worth it. The rural messenger can be made up in about a day if you had the time.

I've done reviews on both of them here at PR if you need more details.

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"If you can't afford to buy art, you wear it." - Michael Kors

Stacy
http://stacysews.com/

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Reply to Gsd
Date: 3/6/07 0:06 AM

Thanks for the input everyone! I am so glad I asked. It sounds like I would be happier with the newer pattern, based on everyone's assessment. I had been leaning toward the Rural because I had been told it was a lot less involved, but now that I asked here I will be taking a much closer look at the High Street Pattern. I will admit that I like the sleeker look of the High Street better - at least for a computer bag. I guess I will try to Timtex the heck out of it to see if it will work with a quilting cotton. I have 2 yards of Alexander Henry's "In Crowd" and I want that to be my computer bag.

I think I will definitely want a closure. I would hate to have the bag upended accidentally (that sort of thing happens around here quite a bit) and have the computer slip out. It takes enough abuse as it is.

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Brevity is the soul of lingerie.
-Dorothy Parker
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Sewing blog & free sewing patterns at my website:

Yakityak Talks Back
www.yakityak.com

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Reply to KitnRose
Date: 3/6/07 0:32 AM

Quote: KitnRose

I don't have any suggestions as to which bag but now I'm curious about the story behind the Death by Pink Pony.

Every My Little Pony is equipped with a "magic" hoof. A small magnet is embedded in this hoof and the darling Hasbro Corporation produces scads of little toys that the ponies activate with this hoof. Dresser drawers "magically" pop open, juice drains out of a container, doors open, etc.

One weekend morning my 6 year-old was playing with my husband's laptop on the MLP website, and in the process discovered that Rainbow Dash will stick to the computer by dint of her magic hoof. She will even stick to the computer screen back so that she is standing sideways in mid-air. We all thought this was mildly amusing. My husband remarked that maybe it wasn't such a great idea to do that, and went back to drinking his coffee.

Well if Rainbow Dash will stick, will Tangerine Twinkle? Why, yes she will! What about Sunny Daze? Certainly. Star Surprise? Yup. Desert Rose? Yes ma'am. Cupcake? Butterscotch? You betcha. Sparkleworks? Yup-arino.

Before you could say "Thistle Whistle" 3 times fast, 11 ponies had found their way onto daddy's computer, and the hard-drive had gone to The Great Beyond... while the ponies pranced on its titanium casket.

Yak/Deanna

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Brevity is the soul of lingerie.
-Dorothy Parker
---------------------------
Sewing blog & free sewing patterns at my website:

Yakityak Talks Back
www.yakityak.com

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Date: 3/6/07 0:44 AM

Oh my goodness. Thanks for the story. Sorry about your husband's laptop demise, but that was funny. Sounds like something that would happen around my home.

ETA: I have made the Rural Messenger bag several times. One of my friends has a standing order for this bag at Christmas. I pick the fabric. I added a zipper to the small flap at her request this year. Something about cell phones flying... With all of the positives about the new bag here I may have to give it a try.
-- Edited on 3/6/07 1:02 AM --

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Kris

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Date: 3/6/07 1:06 AM

That has got to be the cutest computer death ever. I love My Little Pony! I had so many of those when I was a lil'un.

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I'm crystalnickel on Ravelry!
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