Mum sewed me a travel bag! | How About Orange

May 26, 2011

Mum sewed me a travel bag!

Look what arrived in the mail yesterday! I'd begged my mom to sew me an Amy Butler Weekender Travel Bag made from the gray Tulip print in my new fabric line. I wanted the bag quite badly, but there was no way I was going to attempt that job myself. I'd read it's a doozy, and Mum concurred. But of course she did a flawless job. Look at that perfectly matched pattern on the front pocket. Oh my goodness. I'm in love.

The lining is the yellow Skiff print. She added three extra inches to the handles to make sure it would fit easily over the shoulder, which is perfect for me.

Now I just need to go somewhere.

141 comments:

stephanie said...

that bag is so cool! your mum is awesome.

Paula said...

Grandma G, you're a genious.

Celeste said...

Wow, now that is a skill to be seriously proud of! It looks beautiful in your fabric!!

angie said...

does your mom own a bags shop? because it looks like she did an impeccable job of sewing this one for you! woww!! :-)

lgaumond said...

I've always wanted a Weekender Bag. They do sound impossible to make. I commend your mom for her amazing work (and you for your gorgeous fabric)!

Jessica Jones said...

Angie, she used to sew some bags for my Etsy shop, but we closed it up. Now she sews for me. :) I'm a lucky girl.

Gina said...

omigosh...so lovely. would your mom make one for me??? Please???

Grandma G said...

You could come visit us this weekend! ;)

Mum

h said...

This is truly an amazing piece. Amazing craftsmanship!

Jessica Jones said...

Mum, er, um, well, we hadn't planned to... um, now I feel guilty... you DID sew me a bag, after all!

Kelli said...

What a gorgeous bag! Your fabric looks stunning, and your mom has some killer sewing skills.

Bego said...

wow, beautiful!
your mum is an artist

Rie said...

It's awesome!!!!!!

acandiedapple said...

I LOVE my weekender bag. It was such a pain to make but seriously so worth it. Great work Grandma G. :) Oh and I love your little banter back and forth here in the comment section. You guys are both adorable.

Marisa said...

It's gorgeous! Would make a great camera bag, too. Grandma G, you should consider reopening the Etsy shop!

Live a Colorful Life said...

Your Mum and I have been texting back and forth throughout this whole process because I'm starting on the very same project with the other colorway. I'm glad she has forged ahead of me and I have excellent pointers from her as I start my own Weekender.

Jessica Jones said...

Good luck, Cindy! I can tell you it's SUPER sturdy and completely awesome when it's done. You'll love it.

Niki said...

GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!

The Luedtke Family said...

My first thought was a trip to MN!

Meg said...

that is the COOLEST thing ever! go mom!

mandy said...

Bag looks awesome! Big thumbs up for your mum doing such a wonderful job!

Grandma G said...

Thank you for all the lovely things you're saying, everyone! I hate to disappoint you, but it says right on the pattern that sewers are NOT allowed to sell the bags they make from it. (They can only GIVE them to their daughters or people they think VERY highly of!)

Besides, considering how many hours go into making it, not to mention the blood, sweat, and almost-tears, you couldn't afford what I'd charge! ;)

Jessica Jones said...

Thanks for bleeding only in the seam allowances and not on the front of my bag.

Grandma G said...

(Shhhhh! You're welcome.) And you may NOT come here for the weekend! I'd have to go into a cleaning frenzy to catch up on everything I neglected while sewing that bag... and I'd rather sew something else instead. ;)

Love you anyway,
Mum

The Hojnackes said...

How nice of your mom! I made the bag and it was harder than I had anticipated. That was before she changed the pattern to make it slightly easier, too! It is a great bag, though and it is especially wonderful in your fabrics!

susaninfrance/texas said...

wow, your mom is quite a sewist! that is the best example of the AB bag I've ever seen and your fabric looks amazing!

Em said...

Aww! I bought the pattern a few months ago and after looking it, I'm so scared! Any helpful hint or pointers Grandma G?

Emily said...

What a perfect bag! Your fabric is showcased beautifully!

jojoebi-designs said...

wow t is lovely, lucky you having a mom with such great sewing skills!

Grandma G said...

Em, what I did first was a Google search for the bag. There are lots of blogs with helpful tips.

My best advice: Just dig in and get started. :) The instructions are very clear; just read them carefully and follow them to the letter. It WILL take a long time. One of the best pieces of advice I read was "take breaks" (I'm so good at that!)... if it gets frustrating, go do something else for a while. Just be sure to come back. ;)

Feel free to email me if you need help.

Eleanor said...

What a beautiful fabric! And bag! Perfect for a spring weekend away. I've been lurking on your blog for a while, just thought I'd finally say hello :) Hello.

Erin said...

your mom rocks! that bag looks amazing!!

Anonymous said...

This is beautiful! I have made this bag before. I am an experience seamstress and this pattern in challenging! She did a great job! I want one!

Felicity said...

Oh lordy!
Amy Butler + your fabric = sublime divine!
Lucky you to have such a clever mother - obviously runs in the family.

xx Felicity

kim said...

what an awesome collaboration. the apple never falls far from the tree, does it?

Jessica Jones said...

This apple would rather use a computer than a sewing machine, though. :)

Amy said...

y'all are cracking me up. Live a colorful life mentioned that mum/grandma g has some pointers - will you share?? Love the bag. it's beautiful and you're so awesome grandma g@

east of hudson said...

It looks awesome - how amazing is your mum?? The fabric is lovely too. I want one..

Miki said...

Your mom rocks! :D What an amazing job she's done!

Hope you're having a fun week! :D

Miki.

LiEr said...

Now THAT is a gorgeous bag! I LOVE it. LOVE. I've sewn many bags in my lifetime, some of them quite ridiculous, and they are harder than they look, especially if a person wants raw edges hidden away, all while working with interfacing. The fact that Grandma G ALSO centered and matched the print at the pockets AND the zipper testify to her amazingness and obvious devotion to her daughter, because those are details that only a er.. mother would love. Hurrah for Grandma G for a beautiful piece of work, and hurrah for Jess for making that delicious fabric! Bravo!

Leanne said...

That fabric is gorgeous and I love your bag. What an awesome mum!

Anonymous said...

your mom is too too good! what skills. you can come to derby and see me!!x

Linda said...

Wow, that is awesome! I love the bag! (and the fabric!!)

jeanne e. said...

that is awesome. :)

Shauna said...

I think I found a new love! Your fabric and this bag pattern go so perfectly together! I only wish I was a skilled sewer, or had someone who had enough time and love to make one for me :) *sigh* .... maybe one day!

Michele said...

Dang, and I thought my mom was cool for her potato salad. Your mom rocks!

Unknown said...

That is the perfect bag for your fabric. I am too scared to attempt that pattern at my present skill level, but I can dream....

Katrina said...

WOW! You are one lucky duck!

Andi @ udandi / Lunch It Punch It said...

WOAH! you're mom is awesome, unfortch I can't show this to my mom or she'll feel terrible about her sewing skills - haha!

hello. said...

holy smokes, what a cool bag!!

Grandma G said...

Hey, Michele... I don't make potato salad. I buy it! ;)

i am pam said...

Stunning...you are very lucky!

This American Wife said...

Gorg! I want one super bad now!

InMyOwnStyle said...

Now I know where your creative talent comes from. I wish I could sew like that.

Poppyprint said...

My fabrics arrived from Marmalade Fabrics today! I've already suffered through one Amy Butler bag, so I won't be doing another (your mom did a stellar job!!), but I do have plans for a simpler bag this weekend.

Hope you get to go somewhere.

emily said...

that is so gorgeous! it's the fabric that really makes it!

Scissors and Spice said...

Seriously, how lucky are you?

Seriously Moses said...

Much love to the bag AND the fabric!

Sarah said...

Oh my gosh, your mom is incredible! What a great bag. Yep, definitely a good enough reason to schedule yourself a little weekend excursion. :)

SewTara said...

Oooooh it's amazing!!
As if a bag you get to pick the fabric for yourself isn't cool enough, now you have one where you MADE the fabric!! She did an amazing job!
Guess that whole apple tree thing is going on in your family eh? ;)

Anonymous said...

Your mum rocks!

Laura said...

Wow! That is the cutest bag! Your mom is making me wanna sew so bad. So is your fabric line. I LOVE it.

Vibeke said...

WOW - great work! Your mom is really talented!

Naturally Carol said...

Stunning bag! I think your mum has great advice too when she says to take breaks in your work...I do that when I'm unsure of something and go back to it when I've got my head around it!

tinajo said...

That is a STUNNING bag - great! :-)

At Home with Kim Vallee said...

Lucky you! Your bag is gorgeous.

Gill said...

Wow! congratulations to your mum! and lucky you!!

Happy in red said...

Wow, that's fantastic. I LOVE your fabric. And the hab is great, I wouldn't know how to put in the piping.
Esther.

bethrecordcollector said...

Great fabric. You're talented.

Linda Ruel Flynn said...

Your mom said what I was going to say....Go visit her! haha Just perfect. You are a lucky girl. Happy traveling.

Jane said...

Your mum rocks!!!!!

Anonymous said...

You can put your overnighter things in there. Even if you sleep at home. Just tote it around the neighborhood first for bragging rights.

Louise, Raspberries In Winter said...

Your Mum must be so awesome and talented making you this! It's perfect, I sure wish I had one.

Rose Clearfield said...

Gorgeous! It's wonderful having a mom who is awesome at sewing!

Emily said...

WOW! Beautiful work, even matching the print! I bought the weekender pattern years ago and haven't mustered up the courage to attempt it yet. But this might be the inspiration I needed!

Grandma G said...

Oh, WOW! You guys are just SO nice! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

To Amy, regarding pointers... please see my comment to Em above.

To Esther (Happy in red)... believe it or not, this was my first experience using piping! It's actually quite easy, and the instructions are very clear.

To Emily... if you have the pattern, go for it! You'll never know what you can do until you start! ;) You probably have the older version of the pattern, so check the Amy Butler site for updates to it before you begin. (The pattern that Jess linked to with the green bag on it is the newer version.)

Again, thanks, everyone! You've given me such yummy warm feelings inside!! :)

Memphis Urban Sketchers said...

Beautiful!

Anonymous said...

that is amazing. i would of never thought it was "handmade" and even better, made with love by mom. it's absolutely gorgeous.

enjoy

lynda in ca

kate said...

I've had that pattern and the coolest fabric to make it with sitting in my sewing room for...about 2 years. After reading all the horror stories, I know that it is way, way over my head and at this point I'm ready to pay someone to make it for me!

Grandma G, yours is STUNNING!! And Jessica your fabric is perfect for this!

Renee said...

I made that bag two summers ago and swore that 'never again'.
But, this is so gorgeous, and if the instructions are updated - I may have to do it.
Your mom did a beautiful job! And the fabric is perfect.

Bek said...

Wow.

Just wow.

I'm mostly amazed at the pattern lining up - it's things like that where I say, "I do not have the skills or patience to even try" because if it was ever so slightly off it'd bug me to no end.

Well done, Grandma G!

melissa said...

Wow you are INCREDIBLY lucky. I don't know if you're aware, but that bag is infamous in sewing circles as the Pattern Most Likely To Break Your Soul. Honestly, go read through Pattern Review on it, that things is a beast (and we're talking advanced sewers, here!). Your mom is a saint to not only suffer through that bag, but then to give it away!!

Wendy said...

Okay, this brought me out of lurkdom. That is an amazingly gorgeous bag, Grandma G is a rock star as a sewist and a mom. Love your blog, Jessica, thanks so much for all the ideas and inspiration!

Michelle Morgan said...

Umm... can your mom make me one. I will pay for it!! I love it!

Lisa said...

I am in serious envy over this lovely bag! I want one too :) Wish I had a mum who could sew this for me. I'm just going to have to get some mad ninja sewing skills to make one of these myself.

MrSnuffleupagus said...

excellent matching pocket patterness - "if a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well, so ask your mum"
The Artful Bodger

Sally said...

WOW!! What a great mum, she deserves a great big hug. She's made me think seriously about making this bag. I guess you don't know what your skills are until you try something more challenging. Hope she continues to keep giving pointers. Thanks for the inspiration.

Kristin said...

Beautiful! I've made a few Weekender Bags, and yes, it's a doozy. But now I want to make another one!!!

The Needle Shop said...

I'm just going to ditto what Lier said. Mega impressed over here!

Anonymous said...

What an awesome Mom! My Mom can't sew a button, but that's OK I do it for her. Great job Mom!!

Danielle said...

What a gorgeous bag! The fabric is adorable!

kansasgirl1 said...

Wow this is beautiful! Your mum is amazing! With a bag like that, I'd be hittin' the road this weekend. Green with envy! (loving that liner fabric)

tracy_a said...

Oh my - it is lovely!

rohanknitter said...

You are a VERY lucky girl!!!! I love that pattern but no way would I dare attempt it.

Susan said...

You've got one sweet mom! I hope you give her something extra special for makin' you that. Lovely, lovely bag!

Grandma G said...

She did, Susan... she gave me some of her extra-special fabric! ;)

Anna said...

that is so beautiful! lucky you and way to go grandma g! :)

Britney said...

I seriously can't stop looking at the picture! Ahhh so beautiful... the fabric and the bag. Good work ladies!

Prisca said...

Hi Jessica, I'm a big fan of your designs and fabrics, I follow your blog silently but I just love the things you do. Hope you'll keep creating amazing things as you use to do! :)

Mona said...

Webshop???

Jessica Jones said...

Hi Prisca! Thanks. Mona, well—been there, done that. It actually doesn't make any money and adds a lot of hassle, so there probably won't be a shop in the foreseeable future. Thanks for the compliment of suggesting it, though!

Kathryn SK said...

Wow! That is gorgeous! I want one.

Anonymous said...

unbelievable. could you please sell that on etsy or dawanda???

Caroline said...

Oh my ...now I want that bag , in the same fabric ! Haha :D Just a question; How much lining fabric did you use? Since you didn't use it for the piping of handles

Grandma G said...

Caroline... you'll need 1-1/4 yards, because the top/end panel is all one long piece (= about 42"). You'll have a lot of fabric left, though.

Sharon said...

So AWESOME! I've been dreaming for a couple years of making that bag for myself. I love it.

Becky (My Fabric Obsession) said...

oh my goodness! It's gorgeous! i'm in the middle of cutting the million pieces for it and afraid already because I didn't use home-dec and I think some of my pieces will be too short!!

Caroline said...

Ah thanks, so 1 1/4 yards for inside at 54", so how much would you recommend for piping and handles? (Sorry for all the questions!)

Grandma G said...

Caroline... you'll need at least 48" for the straps (I lengthened them to 51"). If you use 54" or wider fabric, you can cut them on the crosswise grain (I did... not sure if that's the correct thing to do or not, but that's the only way I could do it with what I had), so a yard (of 54" fabric) is plenty for the straps and bias strips for the piping.

Caroline said...

Thanks very much for the info! Its half-term holidays so fingers crossed I can get started on it !

Marianne said...

Where did you find this pattern? I love it! Good job!

Marianne said...

Wait...never mind! I figured it out! It's early!

Tina's Creations said...

Ur mom is supercool...she did an amazing job

Rae said...

Wish I knew someone with those skills! I'd love one of those bags, but I know i'm not ready to tackle that pattern yet. :)

claire said...

woooow it does look reaaaaaaaaally wonderful!!! congrats to your mum: lucky you!!!

Swiss Ms. said...

oh man, is this the only reason you're coming?

lp said...

OK, your mom is amazing!

Amy said...

Wow! Your mom really has some amazing sewing skills! The bag is lovely. :)

Anonymous said...

Great job Mom!!
The bag is gorgeous!

Cary said...

She did a beautiful job!

Bouboulette said...

So beautiful !!

shopgirl said...

Your mom sounds just awesome and this bag is gorgeous! Love Amy Butler's designs.

p.s. you have a beautiful blog.

Michelle said...

Wow, that stunning. Your mom is really talented!

Unknown said...

how lucky are you?! I need to get my sewing machine out and start using it! So many great projects I want to complete. This bag is one!

emily b said...

Oh, I love it! Your fabric is absolutely perfect for that bag. Yay!

Malin said...

OMG I Love it! I'm gonna try and persuade my mom to make one... Tough job, but maybe if I offer her cookies... What say you, Grandma G, would it help?

And Jess, do let us know where you've taken it first!

Grandma G said...

Malin... maybe a trip to the Virgin Islands might be more appropriate. Or, if that's not good enough, how about a box of Outside Oslo fabrics for her very own use? ;)

CDN Mummy said...

I'd pay for that bag. If you ever want to sell it, I'll buy it.

Jessica Jones said...

Nope, I'm treasuring it forever. But that's a great compliment to the sewer. :)

Doris said...

Nice! Grandma G knows her way around a sewing machine!! ^_-

Dara Dokas said...

Would your mom want to make another one to sell? I love you fabric and have purchased some at Crafty Planet in Minneapolis.

Grandma G said...

Sorry, Dara, but because of the pattern's copyright, no one is allowed to sell bags made from that pattern. I guess you'll just have to sew one yourself... or get your mum to sew one for you. ;)

Kelly said...

i just discovered your fabric, and when i saw it, my first thought was "this would be PERFECT for the weekender bag!" i'm not ready to start the bag yet, but when i do, this is the fabric i'll use! except i was thinking of the wildflowers print in the same colorway. i really, really love this line!

Jessica Jones said...

Kelly, thanks! You'll love the finished bag. I'm crazy about it. The weight of the fabric and scale of the print is perfect for this bag.

Therese Powers said...

I still keep coming back to this bag and it makes my heart sing!!!

Jessica Jones said...

Me too! I get lots of use out of it, and it's holding up beautifully. I always feel so proud and happy carrying it!

Amy zimmer said...

Are we allowed to say "holy Sh*t!" Cuz that is just crazy amazing!

Jessica Jones said...

Yes, as long as you use the asterisk in the middle. :)

Gennai Henning said...

Question... I bought the same pattern and only now had time to open it and make one for myself. When I began going through the package I realized there are some pattern pieces missing. The bottom, straps... All I got was two sheets; one with directions and one with the main parts patterns. Is this right?

Jessica Jones said...

Hi Gennai, I haven't made this myself or seen the pattern, so I couldn't say. You could contact the place you purchased it from to ask.

Grandma G said...

Gennai... that is correct. The pattern instructions tell you what size to cut the remaining pieces.

You have your work cut out for you, but take your time and it'll be worth your efforts! Good luck!