I bought this issue of Making while I was traveling over the holiday. Look at the bags on the cover. Don't you want one? I do! This is my third issue of Making, after two generously passed on from Hadley as extra goodies in a swap. I really like this magazine: lots of fun little projects, eye candy and colors to inspire. I tend to go back 2-3 times to re-read ensuring I catch it all. So, I thought I would actually try the cover project for this month's issue. I wanted to make two shoulder-sized Japanese knot bags.
Bags of fun it says. Well, who can resist? I cut out my fabric and started stitching. I was bold enough to cut fabric for two bags. Ahh, my high hopes. I'm always shocked at how much fabric it takes to make a bag and this time was no exception. For the first bag, I chose a green apple print for the exterior and a little sunny lemon print for the lining.
Now, here is where the trouble began. I could start piecing and get through the first page of the pattern just fine, but when I turned to the second page and read the instructions I was lost. Some where between page 1 and page 2 I was supposed to have flipped the bag right sides together, then wrong sides together, then right sides together...but I can't find that point. So, at the top of page 2 where I should be right sides together (as in the helpful pattern photo) I was wrong sides together and stuck.
So, I did what I could to stitch together this little pathetic knot bag and called it a day.
It is kind of right, but wrong in so many ways. But the real issue is even after a day away, I still can not figure out where I went wrong...which makes me flustered and want to walk away again. It was supposed to be fun :( And I hope it is....for someone else.
Wow - I've just realized this post is a real downer. Sorry! I have happiness to post tomorrow, honest!
I am therefore offering the worst giveaway ever. To the first person who wants it, I am happy to send on this knot bag (that just makes me cringe with memories when I see it), the fabric I cut for a second knot bag (lovely Monaluna happiness) and the magazine pattern with templates for 2 sizes of bag. I can not give you tips, or even a pattern that works (for me...) but I will give you a chance to make it work for yourself. Anyone want it?
41 comments:
Cor yes lovely! I would have a go! Not sure what is 'wrong' with your bag - looks right to me!
i will take it off your hands cindy ,i know i have seen a pattern on the net for this ..........thanks
looks like we were posting it together nicky :)))
Well I know I am not the first to respond but I think it looks lovely, and I love the apple print you have used!
just found this if it helps !! with the instructions :))))
http://showyourworkings.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/knotbaginstructions2.pdf
What a shame, I hate it when something like that happens. I googled Japanese Knot Bag and there seems to be a few patterns, maybe you could compare them and see what went wrong? I would be so annoyed too.
dxx
Looks lovely to me so can't see where it went wrong. But Nicky obviously got back from the school run before I did! I am sure she will love it.
Nothing goes wrong :) still a lovely bag.. I want it!
It looks great to me. I know you think your post was a bit sad, but it was quite funny the way you wrote it. So, cheer up and maybe, just maybe, you want to give a second go to the pattern tonight!!!!:)
I think it looks Fab ... I totally lose it with bag making!!
It may not have worked but well done for sharing your failure! Sometimes it's so much easier to pretend it never happened and not share it with the world! You deserve a medal@
Well, it may be wrong but it is also right in so many ways! Love that apple fabric and from here it looks totally functional, so there's that...
Good for you for admitting sometimes things don't work! Maybe the pattern was missing some instructions? Have you been in touch with the mag editors or onto their website? It could be THEIR fault, not yours! I love the green apple fabric BTW!
It looks great to me. Have you ever considered that maybe the pattern was put in the magazine with out proper proof reading and maybe it's not your skill but their poor instruction - or lack of. I've got a couple of popular sewing books and whilst for the experienced person you can work out what to do, I get really frustrated that whole steps seem to get skipped as they just assume you've known what to do. Or the writer suddenly starts talking gibberish. In the writers head it probably made perfect sense...
Oh dear! Was there no contact details for the magazine or the designer where you could ask for assistance?
Do not automatically think that you are the problem! Between the pattern writers and the published magazine there are a LOT of steps that patterns go through. One mistake anywhere along that line could cause a problem with the end result.
If there is a website for the magazine you could check for an errata section. If it's not there check with the magazine directly. . .you are probably not the only one having a problem.
On the other hand. . . I think your bag is lovely!
I have something that might help. I f I read this post right, you cut two of these out. Well, it just so happens I downloaded this pattern the other day. Maybe having it written by someone else will help. Would you like me to email you the pattern? I think it is lovely but I can understand how something can frustrate you and you never see it as lovely again, your table runner is a prime example of that!!! BTW what color is your new kitchen?
Oh I just reread it and see you are giving the whole lot away. OOPs missed that the first time. I guess I should offer that to Nicky. LOL Still need to know what color your kitchen is.
Just walk away. Not worth the stress... For what its worth, I think it looks cute!
Patterns are difficult things to follow (& write!). But your wee apples bag looks v.cute from here! Well done on getting to the finish! Jxo
hihi, you made me lough!!! I have never ever met someone who had success on that japan knot bag! I remember an other posting and she horrible failed. It took her ages to figure out how it should be made the right way .. So I told myself to leave this bad as far away as possible!!
Anyway the bag doesn't look so bad and at least the apples look nice!
I think it looks lovely but I totally get what you mean, sometimes I can't even look at stuff I've made...bah! Sorry for your pain!
Late to the party!! but what's wrong with the bag????
I think I've seen a pattern at allpeoplequilt.com
i think the bag is great! maybe it just looks different set by itself, rather than with a couple of others on the magazine cover.
Oh, what I shame! I love this magazine and I have found great things in it, but more than once I've realised that instructions aren't that clear either... Lovely fabric though...!
Your bag looks great to me. Perhaps there was some kind of printing error.
I think it looks cute! Sometimes all that frustration can make things look a lot worse than they are!
The bag looks fine in the photo. are you sure you got it wrong? - if it looks right it very often is right.
Anyway, someone gets something good out of it! A ready to sew bag with instructions
oh what a shame! it's so dissapointing when something like that happens. Although your finished result looks good to me
hahaa i was waiting for this post - waiting to see what could have gone so tragically wrong! cindy, you're WAY too hard on yourself, its sweet and cute!
It looks good to me!
Are you sure it's wrong, it looks right in so many ways.
It looks great from here but it's such a shame that the pattern wasn't written clearly...I hope you have more luck with the next bag you make!
Oh man! I was going to give that pattern a go, but now I'm not so sure... Actually, no, I've just tried to read the instructions in my copy of the mag - they're crap! I might just use one of the other patterns I've found for them!
I think the bag looks good, unless you are hiding something behind those handles. Chances are that because you are an experienced sewer you MADE it work.
Can I make a confession?
If I am using a pattern to make something and don't understand an instruction or get my hands to do what is required then I just do what I think they mean or what logically is needed for that step. Its like an automatic adjuster in my mind, I don't even realise I am doing it sometimes.
Sorry it was frustrating but be assured there are other bag patterns out there that you will understand so don't let this put you off bags altogether.
Oh Cindy so sorry it makes you feel bad :( I think it looks great and clearly it's all the pattern's fault. Naughty pattern!
Obviously the bag and pattern have long since gone to their new owner. but good luck to them. The bag actually looks OK, but as I (and probably lots of other people) don't know what it SHOULD look like, you're not likely to get anyone telling you how bad it is!
I liked the bag with the cheerful apple fabric. Sorry that you were so disappointed, but I bet that someone will be quite delighted with it!
Oh NO! I've had 2 such experiences with patterns this week! Sucks big time.
I so saw myself in this post. I decide to try a new project, go to the store and look and think, maybe I should buy enough for a few so I don't have to come right back......who knows whether I will even enjoy doing it!!!!
Loved this post...thank you
I did exactly the same except in front of a class of 13 year olds. Easiest part of the project was handing it to one of them to see if they could figure it out.
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