Elliphantom Knits: Finished: Weekender Travel Bag

The bag, it is finished!

The Specs:
-Pattern: Weekender Travel Bag, by Amy Butler
-Start to Finish: April 24 to May 3
-For: me (sewed along with the Sew? I Knit! crowd).

My opinion of the pattern? The pattern was all you could ask it to be: cute, and well written. I was a little surprised at how complicated the whole operation was (lots of shopping, measuring, cutting, basting, pinning, ripping, resewing, and hand stitching involved there) but it was worth the trouble. I’d recommend it for any of you sewey types out there. Just watch out for that piping. It’s a doozie.

How did I do? The finished bag is a bit lumpy, but in a charming way. I'll be the first to admit that it was filled with laundry and pinched and prodded into submission before its photo shoot. In real life it’s a bit more schlumpy and casual. I was right in thinking that the pattern was a little above my skill level, but I learned a lot and I’m really glad I tried it…sometimes you just get lucky and things work out.

Final Verdict: Yes, oh yes, we like it!

And for those of you who want to know...

The Damage:
-Sewing machines required: 2 (sometimes you just need a different zipper foot).
-Number of times I cleaned and oiled one of the above machines hoping that it would magically improve my sewing skills: 3
-Sewing Machine needles sacrificed: 2 broken, 1 bent, 2 blunted.
-Spools of thread: 3.5 (by the end it wasn't even coordinating).
-Number of times I said "Ow!" while making this bag: 2,541 (pins, rotary cutter, needles, iron...sewing is a dangerous sport)!

Comments

Cute bag! I do like it. One of these days I will have to get myself a sewing machine. I've read (and seen) such good stuff!

Posted by: Jessica | May 4, 2006 12:32 AM

This is SO wonderful! It looks so well made, too. Bravo! That piping looks like a bit of a bear to muddle through. Oy.

Posted by: amanda | May 4, 2006 12:42 AM

Your bag is *awesome*!!! I love the colors. Great job, Elli!

Posted by: caitlyn | May 4, 2006 12:54 AM

well done, your a brave women. I love this bag but I'm a little bit too chicken to give it a go!! Thanks for making me think for a split second that maybe I can...

Posted by: Belinda | May 4, 2006 1:00 AM

its definitely worth it! You've done an amazing job (from what I see here at least)...and your colour selection is pretty fab too. Now I want one!

Posted by: lori z | May 4, 2006 1:04 AM

That's a really great bag!

Posted by: Robyn | May 4, 2006 1:18 AM

You did a fantastic job with the bag and it looks great! I especially like your colour scheme, very spring-like and pretty :)

Posted by: lyn | May 4, 2006 2:46 AM

awesome job, lady! I'm working on getting the piping on the main panels right now. It's break time. That damn zipper still got the best of me!

Posted by: Angela | May 4, 2006 3:02 AM

Love your bag! I certainly can identify with your "The Damage" section :D).

Posted by: Siow Chin | May 4, 2006 6:10 AM

Oh my... your new bag is GORGEOUS! I love the fabric, and you've really done a great job. How I wish I would know how to sew...

Posted by: terhi | May 4, 2006 7:03 AM

w-w-w-wow! Thanks for your honesty about the difficulty, otherwise I would be getting ready to make one myself, and I CAN'T sew!

Posted by: Mandy | May 4, 2006 8:52 AM

So cute! I love the fabric you chose; the parrots look retro cool.. maybe like 70s Florida.

Posted by: Diana | May 4, 2006 10:12 AM

That's so cute! I love how the colors compliment each other so well. Perfect for spring. Great job!

Posted by: Kim | May 4, 2006 10:29 AM

Your weekender is beautiful! I love your choice in fabric. So far, I've purchased three of her patterns, but since I'm a newbie to sewing I've been stalling, never mind looking for her fabric is next to impossible.

You had me LOL @ your 2541 ows but from the looks of the bag, it was well worth it.

Posted by: Liz | May 4, 2006 10:47 AM

Your bag looks great! I love how you matched the parrot pattern on the pockets and the main panels - very professional looking. I need to sit down and finish my Weekender one of these days, but I'm a bit frightened of the bulky seams that come next.

Posted by: Cyndi | May 4, 2006 11:42 AM

Oh I love that bag! You did such a good job and I love your fabric choice. I wish I could make one but I am the worst seamstress ever.

Posted by: Erin | May 4, 2006 11:45 AM

Lovely fabric choices...those colors are so complementary. For all of your problems, it looks like you did a very professional job!

Posted by: Jan | May 4, 2006 12:03 PM

I love your bag and I think your choice in fabric and colourings are sooo good:-)

Posted by: Marie-Louise | May 4, 2006 12:20 PM

It looks amazing! Now I can't wait to finish mine. What an accomplishment!

Posted by: Steph | May 4, 2006 12:24 PM

Absolutely amazing... it looks really good!

Posted by: Sharon | May 4, 2006 1:00 PM

what a cutie!!! i'm so envious. i want one. but really, it may be too complicated for me at the moment. but, yours is really an inspiration!

Posted by: blossom | May 4, 2006 1:40 PM

Hi, I just finished this bag too. Do you think you could share some pictures of your lining? Hand sewing this in was the most difficult part for me and I'd love to see other's efforts. Thanks!

Posted by: carolyn | May 4, 2006 3:00 PM

Wow what a fabulous bag! Great job!

Posted by: vanessa | May 4, 2006 6:07 PM

It looks *so* cute, girl! The parakeets are adorable! Isn't it nice that it was worth the pain? I really have to agree with you on the suffering involved in sewing. I made a DPN case like the one you posted about (yes, I'll post about it soon) and every little step had manifold frustrations. Even when you're totally alert and involved, things still come out lopsided. I'm definitely a knitter before I'm a sewer!

Posted by: Julia | May 4, 2006 7:06 PM

Oh Elli, that's just so adorable!!! I want one! Hmm, I think I will need to commission my mother, who is much more talented at the sewing machine than me. Tres chic!

Posted by: Wendie | May 4, 2006 8:21 PM

Whoa. Coolest bag ever. Makes me want to make one. Did it give you that giddy jump up and down feeling when you finished? Because it should have.

Posted by: *karen | May 5, 2006 12:27 AM

Wonderful work. I love Amy Butler's patterns, and you did a fine job with this! The fabric is fabu!

Posted by: Beverly | May 5, 2006 9:32 AM

I loves it! Very pretty work--congrats!

Posted by: KathyMarie | May 5, 2006 12:25 PM

It came out sooo cute--and my two favorite colors together too. I'm impressed!

Posted by: Carolyn | May 5, 2006 3:20 PM

Gor-gee-ous! Very hot.

Posted by: Carine Greene | May 5, 2006 7:07 PM

Gorgeous bag!it looks really good and great job!

Posted by: joujouka | May 6, 2006 12:08 PM

Be still my envious heart. You should be very proud of yourself - no amount of laundry and prodding can detract from your good taste in the excellent fabric and trimming combination, and your perseverence. I love how you've matched the fabric so well so that the design carries on perfectly over the line of pink piping at the top of the outside pocket. straps are. Well done! ;)

Posted by: Philippa | May 6, 2006 2:23 PM

love the bag! love the colors!

Posted by: Allegra | May 6, 2006 3:41 PM

Really really fabulous! I love its shape, the fabric and the finishing color you chose. What can I say after 33 amazing comments? Great seamstress, great knitter, great tasted!

Posted by: elisa | May 7, 2006 1:51 PM

cute bag, love it

Posted by: Pennie | May 9, 2006 10:23 PM

The bag is gorgeous! I want to make one too. I love the bird fabric you chose and the piping - it was worth the effort! It looks perfect to me.

Posted by: Claire | May 10, 2006 9:37 AM

I love it! The fabric you chose is gorgeous!

Posted by: Amber | May 17, 2006 6:38 PM

I love it!

Everytime I see one of these bags it gets pushed higher up my 'to do' list.

I love the fabric. I've never seen that pattern before.

Posted by: oscarcat | May 22, 2006 5:51 AM

that bag is amazing. i wish i had the heart to make it. i drool over each one i see. the fabric you chose is awesome too!