The Cuben Fiber Laptop Messenger

With every project comes some kind of learning.

This recycling project was kind of long in gestation as it was fraught with all kinds of difficulties. The main one being I had to drive and hit all the fabric stores and all the haberdasheries in a 100kms radius to source all the whopping 27€ worth of materials needed to make it! I wanted to know what was available regionally and frankly it was a lot of trouble for not much. Next time I make one (I did put it for sale in my Etsy store), I'll order online.

Transparency was another problem, Cuben is see-through and a little limp so, I chose to back it up with white felting. I chose the zigzag stitch because it's a sail bag but, my sister who-will-wear-anything-I-send-her has asked for one and I think I'll try a little Chanel-like quilting with hers because I think it'll look good.

One of the things I chose to disregard in making this bag, it will be addressed in future editions, is the Cuben + felting turn of cloth, I cut the lining the same size it's not pretty. I'll have to cut and mark better as well, but that's not easy because I am using a sail, it has a shape so I can't count on the grain to help me visually. Cuben will destroy your scissors so don't take your good ones and have one of these little sharpening devices with you at all time. Cuben Fiber has absolutely no stretch whatsoever, this is why it's used in sailing and it makes it difficult to sew if you haven't been precise because you can't pull a bit to make it fit and iron it out, heat will destroy the fiber. I have to find another method to put in the piping as well, I don't like the result, but then I may need another kind of finishing ribbon altogether.

All in all though, I am pretty happy with this prototype and refinements will only make it better. You know what is the best thing about this bag though? It weighs just a little more than a pound. If we chose a lighter material than this black denim lining, I'm pretty sure we can come under it. This is pretty light for a waterproof, sturdy messenger.

Now I have to go buy a computer to test it myself!

Ohé! La Chemise / Ahoy! The Shirt Simplicity 7082

La transformation de Nicolas sera bientôt complète! 

Rien de super spécial pour la chemise tachée au thé, j'ai changé les manchettes pour me rapprocher de celles de Jack mais surtout, j'ai utilisé la méthode de montage de Kathleen Fasanella pour monter le col et les poignets et je ne la remercierai jamais assez. En faite, j'aimerais ça qu'elle écrive un livre pour nous les  couturières du dimanche intitulé genre : "Bidouillez vos patrons pour avoir des résultats professionnels" ou "1001 trucs de pro" ou "En direct du plancher de l'usine". 

Regardez, c'est presque parfait et ça s'est fait en une seule passe (la deuxième c'est pour faire plus solide vu qu'il va se battre avec). 

Kathleen, je vous aime!

Nicolas' transformation is almost complete!

There's nothing very special about the tea stained shirt, except that I changed the sleeve cuffs to make them more Jack-like. I have used Kathleen Fasanella's method for mounting the cuffs and the collar. I'll never be able to thank her enough. In fact, I would love her to write a book for home seamstresses titled something like : "Professional Tips from the Factory Floor" or "1001 Professional Sewing Tips For Sewing Enthusiasts" or "Modify Your Patterns and Sew Like a Pro".

Will you look at this? It's almost perfect and was done in one take (the second one is to make sure the cuffs don't come out in the sword fights). 

Kathleen, I love you!

:: verypurpleperson :: love

Encore un :: verypurpleperson :: !

C'est pas de ma faute, c'est le sac favori de toute mes copines! Celui-ci a été fait avec des bouts de coton rouge offert par Suzanne et le très joli polyester à pois que j'ai trouvé cet été. La seule modification a été d'ajouter 10cm aux anses parce que ma copine est très grande. Je l'aime beaucoup et j'ai été triste de le voir partir... je vais peut-être devoir m'en faire un, mais pas avant d'avoir fini mes cadeaux de Noël.

Another :: verypurpleperson:: ! 

It just happens to be my girlfriends' favorite bag, it's not my fault! This one was made with some red cotton that was in Suzanne's stash and the really cute polka dot I picked up this summer. The only modification I made was to add 10cm to the handles because my friend is really tall. I really like it and was sad to see it go... I might have to make one for myself, after I have made my Christmas gift.

L'Élève Douée / The Talented Student

Gwen est venue coudre le tissu qu'on a choisi lundi dernier.
Gwen n'avait jamais cousu auparavant et elle est ressortie avec ce joli sac, une version améliorée du cabas en Cuben Fiber que j'ai fait récemment. Gwen est maintenant accro et comme elle a plein d'idées, sa maison est impeccablement décorée, il est possible que j'aie créé un monstre ou que j'aie perdu une cliente potentielle, au choix. Maintenant je comprends pourquoi Gertie aime tant enseigner.
Quoi qu'il en soit, on a passé une super journée.
Vous remarquerez le scotch bleu sur la machine, c'est pour repérer la marge de couture et coudre droit. C'est une super truc pour les débutantes.

Gwen came over to sew the fabric we chose together last Monday.
Gwen had never sewn anything before and she came out of the house with this beautiful bag which is an improved version of the Cuben Fiber tote I made a while ago. I may have created a monster, Gwen has impeccable taste and lots of ideas, you should see her house, or I have lost a potential customer.
Whichever, we spent a great day. I understand why Gertie gets such a kick out of teaching!
Did you notice the blue tape on the machine? It's a great way to give a visual cue to beginner sewers,