Wednesday 27 March 2013

Contrary

I was asked by Daughter No.1 if I could make a 'cool flag cushion' for a birthday party she is going to tomorrow.

So I made a bag instead.



The thought of which made her anxious as I wouldn't let her see it until I'd finished it.



'But what if I don't like it or I think XXXXX won't like it? Will I have to pretend to like it because I know how much time you spent on it but secretly I'll be wishing you'd listened to me in the first place?'



'I mean no offence Mum or anything but your idea of 'cool' is not quite the same as mine, let's face it.'




'I mean, a cushion would be sooo much cooler.'



'Wow, Mum, that is cool!'



Things I learnt:


  • Using the quilt as you go method as describe here means you are highly unlikely to finish the bag with the same needle in the machine that you started with. The combined layers of cotton duck canvas (I bought mine here), batting, regular cotton as well as laminate fabric was heavy going at times. It does make for a lovely sturdy bag at the end though 

  • In an ideal world I would like to have used 2" wide webbing for the handles but all I had to hand was 1 1/2" and I felt it was a bit flimsy in comparison to the robustness of the bag. I therefore strengthened it by sewing some tape measure webbing to it and in the process, I hope, made the handles a bit more interesting

  • Clover Wonder Clips (bought mine here) really are the solution to working with laminate fabric in place of pins

  • That it's still possible to wing it on the amount of fabric needed for the lining and yet make the two fabrics used look like an intentional design choice

  • That sometimes it's OK to be contrary

  • That I can still gauge what 'cool' is

  • Just.

32 comments:

  1. great lookin bag

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  2. Haha this made me laugh -- a true coup for moms everywhere ;)

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  3. Ha ha, lovely post and gorgeous bag!!

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  4. Please can you be my mum?? Fabulous bag and very funny post :)

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  5. Total one of a kind and very cool.

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  6. Always thought you were cool? Are you just pretending?

    Lucky XXXXX ! You may be allowed to make more then....?

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  7. It is very cool! I use the bag you sent mr EVERY day and still get compliments on it ; )

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  8. I think it's cool if her friend doesn't like it!

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  9. My 14 year old daughter and I both agree its very cool.!

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  10. Wow! This is definitely cool. I am in love with this!

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  11. Very, very cool! Love the mini fabric.

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  12. wow! what a very cool bag . You're a really cool mum! I. love the fabrics.

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  13. hahahahaha! your daughter sounds suspiciously familiar! The bag is VERY cool :-D

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  14. Oh I love it and there is some seriously cool fabric scraps used in there. Lucky friend!

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  15. I'm glad to hear it passed muster. I think it's very cool, but then, I could be considered older than dirt. LOL

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  16. It is excellent! Maybe it is time to get that girl to sew her own presents. Her way cool mom might be able to give her a tip or two.

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  17. You are seriously cool!! This is amazing.

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  18. Wow, what a wonderful present! I trust it was the most popular present at the party?!

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  19. This bag is super fierce. Love it!

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  20. Yep, you are the coolest mom on Little Island. Now, I want to know...what did XXXX think about it? ;-)

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  21. Ha ha on the daughter thing...yup I can see how cool it really is! Wonderful job.

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  23. Fantastic and certainly cool! That's a tightrope that one tho', the daughter cool thing...Nice to have found your blog.

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  24. Wow, that's a great bag! Yeah, I would definitely say you still know what cool is ;)

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