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Friday 12 April 2013

Aeroplane Bag - I did it my way!

As soon as I saw Sara's Aeroplane Bags, I knew that I would be having a go sooner or later. 

I had expressed an interest in making a Weekender when they were all the pre-Sewing Summit craze; but to be honest, all the 'oh yes it is', 'oh no it isn't' complexity-chatter kind of got on my nerves, and for the time and aggro, perceived or real, my heart wasn't really in it.

Then in waltzes Sara with a big old holdall, which held endless possibilities in my head!

So here is how I made mine, just in case you are interested; what I will say before you decide, is that this came entirely from my stash except for the 99p zipper.  If I was going to mess it up, I didn't want it to have cost a small fortune, and if the more casual finish of mine is not to your taste, that is purely me and not the pattern!

I bought 2 meters of Amy Butler wide home dec on sale for about £5 about 3 years ago; having realised pretty quickly this was not going to make a cosy quilt backing, it sat in the bottom of my fabric box, neglected waiting... until last week!

Front and back.
The pattern calls for all sorts of interfacing and things of which I have no knowledge.  I am sure they, or suitable substitutes, are all available in the UK, but I decided to get on and simply use cotton wadding offcuts and an extra layer of thick cotton, the excess from some of my parent's curtains; kind of a linen feel, which frays like a bugger, but easily zig-zagged.

I cut panels slighter larger than required in the pattern, layered the home dec, wadding and curtain fabric, quilted parallel lines c.1" apart, and then cut out the pattern pieces. 

Not the best photo, but shows the quilting on the panels quite well.
In the original pattern the bottom section is cut straight, and once the corners are boxed the bag tapers in; I wanted mine to go straight, and because I did not decide this until after I had cut and quilted, I reduced the top section by an inch (well 2, as it is cut on the fold),  and then extended the angle of the top section down across the bottom panel.  If you have the pattern, this will make more sense, I hope.

I also decided, in an ode to the Weekender, that piping would be a nice touch, especially as I was using one fabric for both the top and bottom panels, and because I had a pink zip and orange fabric, I wanted something to unite it all.

Thinking that a pocket between the two handles would also be a good idea, I used this to practice my piping skills, because I basically had none.  I found a tutorial online that suggested using bindaweb, you know the trouser hem stuff, to seal the folded fabric and squeeze the piping against the edge with your iron, but I can't for the life of me find it again, sorry.  I then trimmed the flat edge, and used Lisa Lam's tute.

It worked at treat.

So I added piping between the main panels; some AMH flannel, which matched perfectly.

My 16 layers were literally only where my bottom panel, piping, top panel, pocket and handles met; so for all those who envisaged a nightmare of sewing, honestly, it may have busted a needle, because I was going too fast, but it was fine when the thickness was not a surprise!


I didn't measure the placement of my handles, I think they have come out slightly closer together than the pattern, but somebody didn't think of that when they made the pocket!

I only inserted one internal zipper, part laziness, part balance with the one outside pocket, and Sara's method is excellent and turned out perfectly.

I didn't add interfacing to the lining; I didn't have enough.

Luckily for me, the main zip I bought was for a jacket, and therefore it unzipped and separated into two, like they do, which made inserting it onto both side panels really easy.  My second needle catastrophe happened when joining the two panels and all my own fault!

The only areas for improvement are my top stitching along the zip where it crosses over the darts, as I should have trimmed them better, so the second side faired better, and the zip ends are not perfect.  I managed to hand stitch up to the zip far more neatly and snugly than I could with the sewing machine.

Although it might look like I made lots of changes to Sara's pattern, they really are superficial, and I followed her clear and logical instructions step by step, and I was able to just pop in my taste and fancy at the appropriate places.  I would definitely not have been able to make it without Sara's guidance.

That's my 72" Scrappy Trip Along in there for scale.
I love it!  This is the large version, and easily big enough for a weekend away... oooh like Fat Quarterly Retreat!

If you haven't bought the pattern, I can highly recommend it.  And as you may have noticed, it didn't take long at all.  I was originally tempted to use quilt-as-you-go to make the panels, but that would have taken me days and days of indecisiveness, which I didn't have the patience for, and as it goes, I really like the effect of using the same print for the whole bag.

I would definitely make another one, and probably use the same construction, because I am cheap frugal like that!

Bonus: whilst people are still linking up their FAL plans for Q2, I have my first tick!!  And I got another today, but I'll show you that tomorrow!

41 comments:

  1. Looks brilliant. Can you make one for me now, please? I love these. Bags but know my limitations plus my ability to get totally stressed by stuff like this.

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  2. Oh it looks lovely - well done, thanks for the comprehensive review too - although I'm now at the zip stage so too late for alterations on this one...

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  3. Great job! If we're bagsying bags - yes please over here too! And hey - stop finishing your projects in the first week! You'll have nothing to rush at the end like the rest of us! lol. :o)

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  4. FANTASTIC! I love your bag!! And I think it's so great that you added your own touches to it, like the piping...that makes me so happy! Yay! :)

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  5. Looks delightful! On my to do list! Thanks for all your process bits...

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  6. So now you've got a posh bag for your machine for FQR, we're ALL going to need one...

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  7. Its beautiful! I love that print! Well done you!

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  8. Gorgeous bag, Frank! Di x

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  9. I love it Hadley. The pocket on the front is genius!!

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  10. Really inspired by the bag! Went to a quilt show today, and a bag is definately on my list of to-dos!

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  11. It is lovely! The addition of the outside pocket is brilliant, well done!!!

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  12. Think you need to get into the bag making business - seems like everyone would like one now - including me :-)

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  13. This has turned out so well - and thank you for the great tips regarding the pattern too !

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  14. I love that you used what you had on hand- that makes for much less stress! Great job!

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  15. This is wonderful, I really want to make one too. And congratulations on a finish already!

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  16. by changing the patern you make it truely your own... and as long as you are happy with it you will use it xx Winner all round x

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  17. love the piping, and the outside pocket is a great idea. I am totally copying you when I make mine.

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  18. It's fabulous - you are almost inspiring but will have to find some fabric to play with first. Still chuckling at the thought of home decor fabric, Amy Butler or not, for the back of a quilt!

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  19. Total triumph, I am awaiting supplies but I am so much encouraged by your great result!

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  20. Looks loverly! Gorgeous fabric. x

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  21. It turned out beautifully ~ love your fabric choice too! Now ~ where are you going with your Aeroplane bag?

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  22. It looks fab. Having spent ages (and some money including for the pattern) cutting out duck cloth etc for the Weekender bag I completely fell out of love with it once I started the QAYG. I'd love a hand made bag for the FQ retreat but may just concentrate my efforts on a show stopping shoulder bag!

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  23. How nice to have the perfect fabric for this project. I would probably never attempt the Weekender but you have inspired me with this pattern. Lovely!

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  24. It's beautiful and I will refer to your little changes when I make mine.

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  25. This is brilliant...well done. I love bags!

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  26. I love that your skills at sewing made this bag work for you.
    Sometimes all the (expensive) interfacing makes the bag weigh 10#. I want my bags to stand up but not cost the earth.
    Your bag will be much admired at your next sewing retreat.

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  27. This looks gorgeous - love the print and the structure that the quilted lines give it.

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  28. Hmmmm very tempted!! Felt like you bout the weekender, want one, but not the massive hassle involved in making one! You reckon this is our fix? Yours certainly looks fab.

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  29. This is lovely!!! The weekender's always been on my "i really like, but I"m really not sure?' list so this could be a really fabulous alternative! I love the pocket that you've added. Can't wait to check it out at FQR :) x

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  30. I look forward to seeing this in July. Its amazing, well done!

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  31. Looks great and the changes made it really your own :)

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  32. It's fabo Hadley. I have bought am Amy Butler pattern to make on but it scares me! You have done a corking job.

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  33. Great job - and if you fancy making another one you could always send it my way!

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  34. Loooks like you are ready for a test drive trip somewhere! It is sumptuous in its orangeness! Well done!

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  35. It looks great. I didn't realise it was so huge. I've seen a few of these on blogs the last couple of weeks, but I'm still not sure I will try it. Bags give me the shits! Something always ends up being fiddly, and I really don't like fiddly!

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  36. I read this when you first posted it but wasn't tempted, now I've read Katy's post linking to your method and think it's the way forward for me too so thanks for sharing.

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