BoxBag-RedTownHouse
Originally uploaded by sweetnichan
This is the bag i was talking about...
Hours was needed to make this bag...not because it's really hard but this bag has details and with the details i put, it's like my sewing machine got hard time to handle it...the thickness of side pocket...the thickness of the edges of the front and back...
Then why do i still make this bag? BECAUSE IT'S SO DANG CUTE! (^v^) ...i love it when i got the design idea, i love it when i draw the details...i got suffer when making it (^0^)...then i'm back in happiness when seeing the result...
I have some points to note when and after making this bag:
1. You don't have to use such a thick interfacing when making this bag...the style idea of this bag is casual...just use thick fabric and thin interfacing...if you want to change the style idea into formal, neat bag, that's ok...hey...it's up to you at last (^.^)...
Ideas for you about fabric: Try blueberry-like fabric...not blueberry the fruit but the label...(^.^)...combine with dark chocolate or black...i don't propose such as big flowery or other big motif fabric...because this basic design concept bag is so dang cute and small 18x18 cm...don't make this design looks old...it's a young and active style...
2. the red-band covering the edges...it's not a must actually...but it can add an accent and it's like "making a statement"...
Ideas: you can make yourself the band orrrrr buy the ready for use one...orrrrrrr just use a strap...the strap that is usually used for string or such a thing...
The one i used for THIS bag was my own made...i used the strap for the first similar bag i made (the picture here is the second).
3. The pocket(s) is up to you...but with pockets you can have these:
a. accecories
b. function
and that's what i did...this bag has 3 pockets...all can be seen on my web: http://nichancraftroom.com, updated every Friday (Asian Time)
The side pocket is not easy to attach not because it's technically difficult but it's more because of the design of the pocket...see the bottom edge of the side pocket?...it's a BOX pocket...if it's difficult for you to do it, you don't have to attch a box pocket...just make it a flat pocket....use zipper to cover it...i planned to use button on this bag, but then i think, ah, no...i like it opened (^.^)...
Any details are yours (^.^)...come, explore my design...
4.LAUNDRY...
i lived in a mountain (if you see my flickr picture, there's a view of in front of my house)...we don't have much sun-light here...almost everyday is raining and the humidity is high...super high...
so the company provide us: dryer machine...i thought using this is ok but you know what...it makes the colors of one of my fabrics made stain on the white part!...huaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa....
also, i remember that if i dry some projects under the bathroom heater, it has the same effect, too...
Now, i wash my bag and dry it under cold fan in the bathroom...
Anyway, when i got this stain, i did this to get rid of it:
i add baking powder into the laundry...the stain was gone but the color of the fabric will be a little bit faded...i don't know actually whether it's faded because of i wash it by hand or because i'm back and forth laundry and drying it in drying machine ...
Really, i didn't know it was the hot fan from drying machine that cause the stain...so, i washed it again and put it into again like maybe 2-3 times...
I realized it when i started to notice, that the stain was gone but after drying machine processed, it came back again...
it didn't come back when i use cold fan...
So, it's better to use under-sun-drying method here...really, not just the bag that become a victim, one of my previous wallet was the victim, too...i didn't realize it that time...
If you have any better method, please, do inform me...thank you (^.^)...
5. See the string...nooo, the STRINGS, i mean...
when it's hard for you to buy ready-to-buy string, then why not making yourself?, it can be unique...especially when you make 2 strings for your bags...why 2 strings? why not?...it's the accent, it's the style, it's the function, it's the idea...
Ideas for you: why not make braided string? You will need a kind of robe, special to be sewn into the fabric...it's white...it's constructed from long cotton-like and covering in a bandage-like...it can be used for the pillow's edges...and hey, sometimes, it's used for bag's edges, too...i don't know what you call it but my supplier call it fill-in-robe...(^o^)...
Well, may be i should get some pictures of some supplies i have and use for my crafts and upload it here...
6. The Big Flap cover? is it wrong? NO...if you see my previous posts, it is the design...it is one of the idea...
ideas for you: i made the flap cover very curvy...why not making it more square?, or round, may be?...or make it like a slope, smaller on the one side...but still, the basic idea is the width is wider than the size of the bag's body...
Okay...i think, that's all i can remember about making this bag...if i remember something i haven't included here, i'll post it right away...
Happy Sew, then
b(^o^)d