A Terrible Way To Sew Up A Gusset

[MonicaJacobson]

Yeah, I'm too lazy for careful measuring. Or, let's be honest - I measure and count, and then have to re-do because I miscounted and mis-measured.

Sweet! It looks great, and I'm glad you liked it enough to make your own. In fact, yours looks better because you rounded the corners of the flap. If I can find it, I'd even send you the original artwork. It's not like I can claim credit for it anyway - my designer husband drew it for me.

I've had to learn the same lesson in patience. I tend to be slapdash and careless, so leatherworking helped me a lot. Mostly, this forum has helped me a lot. It's been awesome to see what everyone else makes, and benefit from the generous time and help people are willing to give.

Good luck on your future projects, and I look forward to seeing them!

[tomstas]

thank you for liking it, that means a lot to me.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who struggles from time to time. I'm just glad that there is progress in each new piece I make.

Btw, I still think yours stands out more because of two-tone . That is what caught my eye..

you don't have to send me your design(it's appreciated) as I,m more confident now myself and want to keep making unique stuff that comes from my own mind rather than copying other people's work. It gives me a better feeling when it's finished

p.s. I also found a second pictureof the bag which shows the rivets.

Hope to see more from your stuff as well.

Keep up to good work

[MonicaJacobson]

Yeah, the rivets are actually really cool. I might like it more than the original bag construction. By the way, I looked through your pictures for a minute, and the little tiny bag is hilarious. Also, the knife roll is cool.

[PANTHER]

Monica,

I get that this was painfull for you but I'm having a hard time understanding why. Here is how I do my bags.......if the strap is to be stitched on I do it before the gusset is attached to the body. then I stitch the bottom of the gusset to the body. next starting from the right or left I stitch from where I left off stitching at the bottom and stitch up to the top then do the other side the same way. What helps me some times is to use a thin line of glue on one side to attach the gusset to the body to help the alinement of the holes then the otherside just falls into place as I stitch. Not sure if this helps you but then I'm not sure what your process is.

Panther

[tomstas]

making small things is actually a cheap way of practicing your technique and people always like those cute small things.

I gave this to my son's teacher at the end of the schoolyear. She almost cried when he gave it to her.

Small things also make you do your work more detailed which benefits in your bigger projects to.

[MonicaJacobson]

Panther,

Can I see a picture of your bags?

Glue is a great idea. I have been working with the idea that one should try to use one piece of string, if at all possible. The more pieces, the more doubled stitches show up. However, I can see how your method would really help out this bag construction. Honestly, I hadn't even considered a better way to sew it together, especially one that meant beginning and ending several times. Thanks!

Tomstas, you're not kidding. Watch bands, for instance. I haven't tried one because I haven't got the tools, but before the last six months, I wouldn't have known I needed other tools. That, for me, is progress.

[tomstas]

I didn't use glue 'cause it's always a mess in my case.

I just use an Iron tool with 5 teeth on it (sorry don't know what is called) .

If you used it 20 times on your big piece, than you have to reapeat that amount on your gusset. You check if your correct by placing them next to eachother.

after that you mark your first gusset hole and first hole of your big piece with a needle and a cork or something else that keeps them together. You begin to backstitch 3 holes further and when you come to the first hole you remove the needle with cork

[PANTHER]

Monica, sorry for the delay. life has a way of sending one in other directions. Anyway here are two of my bags....the first is a gift which now resides in Greece and the second one is my computer case. As you can see things like the pockets and the d-ring holder are attached before I lace or sew the body. Have any questions I'll try to answer as best as I can.

Panther

[MonicaJacobson]

Oh yes, I remember the one with the frogs. I like your distinctive tooling style. I usually sew on pockets and d-ring holders first as well.

[PANTHER]

Thanks, so next time just try the way I do it, bottom first then one side at a time. Would like to know if it workes better for you.

Take care

Panther