Is this your project? Can you share instructions or a pattern with the Craftsy community?
Difficulty:
Category: Sewing
Type of item: Accessory
For: Women
Style: Retro / Vintage, Classic, Traditional
Materials
Soft Drab Olive Chenille Upholstery Fabric exterior, with black accents of 1" Black Cotton Grow Grain, Black polyester Cord for Couching, Metal Wristlet Connector and O Ring for Zipper Pull, Black Suede Fringed Charm for Decoration, Fabric Covered Buttons for Trim, Drab Olive Cotton Duck Fabric for Interior, Polar Fleece for Quilt Batting. 22" Double Sports Zipper in Black,
What was your inspiration?
History:
19th Century Carpet Bags were sold for $1-$2 dollars in Dry Good Stores. They were the first inexpensive luggage seen on our American landscape as early as the 1840s--and their popularity continued into the 20th century here, and all over the world.
I am living in a restored 120 year old Queen Anne Victorian house. So, I really like fabric color like this soft drab olive/brown chenille upholstery fabric with subtles hints of black, rose, and dark green--all Victorian era inspired. Check out my old Victorian house at, http://www.1893victorianfarmhouse.blogspot.com/
What are you most proud of?
FABRIC COVERED BUTTONS:
I'm using a vintage handy jr. button maker and dies purchased for a song on craigslist. I tell you it is much much easier to strike heavy fabric covered buttons with this tool than the aluminum button blanks you find in the retail stores.
I made the same 3 button decorative design on both the front and back exterior pockets for this bag. There is a pocket for a pen, and 4 exterior drop pockets. I engineered a smaller pocket inside one of the larger pockets. See photos.
This bag is padded by free motion quilting the duck cotton lining, then adding pockets prior to finish construction.
A zipper pull was fashioned from 1" wide black grown grain and further decorated with a strip of upholstery fabric with a metal wristlet connector and o ring set. A black suede fringe charm added a bit more of flair.
What advice would you give someone starting this project?
PLAN TO MAKE ANOTHER BAG LIKE THIS ONE:
I added long cross body straps is not Victorian, but insist I will build another carpet bag just like this one, this time fitting it with a pair of leather handles, and button closures rather than a double sports zipper.
I bought quite a bit of this fabric, and can see using up every bit of scrap to make smaller accessory cases.
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