Experiments in Bag Making

 My next bag will be the Pony Express by Ujamaa Bagettes.  This bag is a tribute to the classic Dior Saddle Bag. Vintage versions of the bag have velcro as the closure but the latest versions have a flat magnetic clasp as the closure.

I decided that mine needed a magnetic closure. I have lots of magnetic purse snaps (left over from last summer's hand sanitizer pouch blitz.) but those show and a single snap didn't look like enough . So I started looking for something like the Dior bag has. It is encased in fabric (or leather) so the magnet is invisible. 

After cruising the internet, I found these.

They are intended to be used instead of a pin closure on a name badge. They came in a package of ten, so I have room for experimentation.

They go on either side of the fabric. Without fabric between the magnet and the keeper, they are really hard to get apart. So I started by trying them with denim between the layers.

With 4 layers of denim between them, they hold firm, but the fabric needs to be stiffer.

Bring on the stabilizers.

In my stash I have Fast2Fuse, Stiff Stuff by Lazy Girl, and Fashion Fuse (woven fusible interfacing). The Fast2Fuse and Stiff Stuff proved to be too thick to get a good bond from the magnets. However, the Fashion Fuse was just right. 

Next step was to figure out how to make the fabric holders. I cute two strips the size called for in the pattern for the Velcro. I added the interfacing and ironed them to shape.

If you clip the folded edges while they cool the folds stay in place .

Time to find the rest of the required hardware,

I think this will work. I still need a magnet snap for the exterior pocket, but I have lots of them near the machine.

Now to sew. I tried sewing as close to the edge as possible. I ended up with a mess.

As you can see it is hard to keep the stitching straight. Also, the flat keeper fit into the channel but the magnet half was too thick. So, I will add a half inch to the width of the fabric and try again. 

Meanwhile, I am sure the foster cat fans would like a current picture of Maggie, Foster # 187. 

Here she is, enjoying a nap on a quilt. Cats are so good at that.

A Walk in the Park

 I live in a lovely suburban area with lots of trees and parks. Yesterday, my grandson and I went for a walk in a nearby wooded park.

Trilliums are the provincial emblem for Ontario. The grow in deciduous forests before the trees put on leaf.

The woods were full of them.

There were also Trout Lilies. They aren't as abundant as the trilliums.

Though it is hard to tell from the picture, but in places the path goes nearly straight up and is bare rock. Good exercise for Nana, my fellow adventurer ran straight up.

Oddly, there was a lone little lilac bush next to the path near the edge of the woods.

We walked a total of just over 3 km. I was sore and tired at the end.

But somebody was still going. Only an offer of a snack convinced him that it was time to head home.

Today it is raining. However, I have some apple blossoms to keep me company in the house.

Decisions

 Did you ever start planning a project, with an idea of exactly what you want to do, and completely change your mind, as soon as you get started?

I had decided on a bag pattern for my on-going project of making some of bag patterns I have collected, and even knew which fabrics to I wanted to use.

The bag has piping and a contrast flap, so I was going to use these three fabrics. They look great together, and I had two small problems. The fabrics didn't feel very summery and  I didn't have any gold hardware in my stash. So, I will file this combination, and add gold hardware to a future hardware order. I still like it, but it needs to be a fall bag.

Second idea: If the Laurel Burch wasn't going to work, how about some Tula Pink? 

Definitely more like summer, but I just wasn't feeling this was right, either. The fabric for the piping didn't quite work.

Okay, one more try.

Wow, this suits my mood, exactly. It is bright, summery, and would look great with nickel hardware, which I already have. Now to find a lining.

Yes, that all works. I can see it together as a bright, fun bag, just right for running errands in the warm weather. Now, we just need two more things: Warm weather, and my immediate world to start opening for me, again.