This is my Traveller’s Bag, made from
Merita’s pattern on Burdastyle.
I made it especially for uni, and it turned out to be quite fantastic! Not only does it look cute, but I can fit heaps of stuff in it for uni (plus a drink bottle, I can't believe I left it out of the picture. I love water):
I lined it with calico (I just wasn't in the mood to chase up a better fabric) and added inside pockets to fit keys, mobile, ipod, a notebook & tissues.
I also used herringbone strapping instead of fabric to make the straps. This stuff is just the greatest thing ever - it is so strong and doesn't require stitching, turning, pressing et cetera. I desperately wanted to use chunky metal zipper, but I live in a small town and the fabric store only sells metal zippers in short sizes for jeans. Instead I settled for a slightly-too-long chunky plastic zipper, and I think it looks pretty good. I just had to add a tag at the end, because it extends past the end of the bag.
I salvaged this cotton twill from Red Cross - $2 for about 3 metres. According the label, it had ‘2 small holes along its length’. This provided some amusement at home, because when unfolded there were actually about six rather large rectangles cut right out in the middle.
Weird, but funny! I think I’ll make a yoga bag out of the rest.
Does anyone else have those days where you want to sew something, but can't find the right pattern or fabric in your stash? Or do you constantly say 'I have no fabric' when you have cupboards filled with the stuff? I have this problem all the time, and often ends up producing shirts like this one here.
I used patchwork fabric (bad idea), which is too heavy to drape like the pattern intended. Instead it balloons out from the waistline much like a maternity top :S I also cut the top too short - I like my shirts to hang over the edge of waistbands, not sit just on top. My skin also reacts to the bias binding I used on the arm and neck holes... Weird!
Although this top is going into my I-will-never-wear-that-except-under-a-rather-large-jumper drawer, I'd definitely recommend this pattern to beginners. It's very quick and easy to make, although like most Burda patterns the instructions aren't too flash.
