Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Oy Vey ~ Bionic Bag Workout

I always say I want to try new things!  Push myself!  Case in point:

Have you heard or seen the Bionic Gear Bag?  Back in October or November, a couple ladies showed their bags at our Guild meeting.  Many of us were amazed and decided we should make one!  With encouragement from our 'Bag Specialist' Jenny and Stefanie, we ordered zippers, picked fabric, bought the patterns and started making the bags together via Facebook.  Stefanie started us out right before Christmas with some great videos, but with the hustle and bustle of the holidays, we put it on hold.

I decided it was time to finish it up.  I can read...I'm sure I can finish it!  I'm not a person who can make bags/purses.  They intimidate me.  Freak the crap out of me!  But I was determined to power through.  



The pattern is available through Craftsy.  Here is the link to the Bionic Gear Bag.

I picked Tula Pink and Anna Maria Horner fabric for my bag.  Love the combination of fabrics together!



The first step was zippers.  Lot's of zippers! This bag has 5 zippers total and I choose 5 different colors.    



Such a pretty combination!  It seems like I never can remember from one zipper project to the next how to put zippers in.  Retention is not my strong suit!



I'm not going to lie.  I had to read some of the direction over and over and over before I figured it out. The step where you put the sides on...I ripped it out three times!  The first time I discovered I didn't sew the two pieces together before attaching them to the pockets! Then I put one side on the wrong way!


This bag is a massive tug of war!  Twisting, turning, pulling and pushing!  I was scared for my machine!!  

Once I got the sides on the right way, it was time to fit the outside together.  Pins are your friend through each and every step of this bag!  


  
With all of the pieces together the final steps are binding.  It was a long and slow process. I have never machine sewn a binding from start to finish.  You thought I used a lot of pins in the previous picture?  You should have seen the binding pins.  I wanted to be sure I actually stitched in the ditch while actually catching the other side of the binding!  For the most part it was a success.  

The part that I was worried about was the big long crazy zipper!  However, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be!  



Look at all the zippers!  I do have a few spots that aren't pretty.  A couple of the inside pockets I missed catching the inside lining by a tiny little bit.  

My take on this bag, my bag...I love it!  It's full of personality, especially with the flaws. In my eyes however, its perfect!  I do want to make another one, one day...soon!  It was a huge struggle.  You almost need to be a bionic woman to make it!  I powered through.  

I tend to jump into things and then second guess myself.  I'm happy I did.  It was a huge confidence builder.  Huge!



Look at the space!  I'm not sure I have enough 'stuff' to fill it up!  I may have to go shopping!

Has anyone made the Bionic Gear bag before?  What did you think of the process? Will you make it again?  I heard there is a smaller version of this kind of bag.  I would love to find that pattern too!


It's too cute not to show it again....

LINKING:

25 comments :

  1. I have that same racoon fabric planned for that same bag. I too find myself a little chicken to get started on it. I am waiting to come across a sew along where I can get some answers and support in attempting it. I am not afraid of zippers but still am postponing this project, not sure why,,,thinking of trying it first in other fabric and giving it to my grand daughter and saving my favorite fabric for my second attempt. I know I will love it when it is finished. Seeing yours and reading about your experience helps give me courage. Cindy

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    1. I love that fabric! It's perfect for this bag! You have to get making this!

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  2. I've been sewing for 40+ years, have made lots of bags and installed countless zips and even I found making this bag a challenge. You did a fantastic job!! I love the fabric you used. When I showed my finished bag to our middle daughter she immediately said she wanted one, so there are more in my future.

    The other smaller version is called the Sew Together Bag by a different designer and it's also available on Craftsy.

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    1. Thank you for the name of the other bag! The bionic gear bag was certainly a challenge!

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  3. I made the smaller bag - its called Sew Together Bag by Sew Demented - if you check out the Quilt Barn Blog - she has a tutorial with lots of pics of each step - that is the only way I could make the bag myself - it was quite an accomplishment. Congrats to you for finishing.

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    1. So happy to know there is a great tutorial for the smaller bag! thank you!

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  4. Jayne, this version of the sew together bag is just absolutely adorable. I love, love, love the fabrics you chosen.

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  5. Wow! your bag redefines "pencil case"! Very, very nice!

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  6. Love your bag. I made one almost identical (Sew Together Bag) recently and came unstuck at exactly the same places you did!. I had to read and re read the instructions several times before the light bulb went off. I think your fabric choices are perfect. Be proud - handmade is not meant to be perfect.

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    1. I agree 100% on handmade not being perfect! One thing for us all to remember!

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  7. It looks awesome! I have never made a bag : )

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    1. It's an awesome and huge bag! Challenging, but worth it!

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  8. Its fantastic! Im going to go check out the pattern, I think I neeeed one of these lol!

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  9. I'm with you. Bags freak me out! But yours is wonderful. You did a fantastic job!

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  10. Congrats on this finish. It has turned out beautifully :)

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  11. What a great bag and your fabric choices and all those zippers look wonderful! Great job.

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  12. Yay for finishing this lovely bag! Definitely worth the difficulties! I haven't made this bag, but have been given two of the similar Sew Together bags.

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  13. I've made the Sew Together Bag several times, but I've been wanting to try this one. The ST Bag is just too shallow for me. Need a little more depth, in my book.

    Yours is lovely. But what did you think of the directions? I've heard they are kind of wordy and chatty and that's not me at all. I prefer clear, straight forward directions.

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    1. It was a challenge for me. The directions were very, very wordy. I ended up reading them over and over until I thought I got it.

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  14. You make all those zippers look way too easy!!! Love the exterior fabric...it's adorable!

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    1. PS I poked around as I found your blog by hosting TGIFF and checkout your sidebar...I'm your newest GFC follower! YAH!!! Looking forward to seeing your work and hope you'll stop by again and follow too!

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  15. It's beautiful! You picked a gorgeous combination of fabrics for yours. I've made 5 Sew Together bags and thankfully they get easier each time. But you're right, the first time is quite a bear! Congrats on the finish!

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    1. Thank you Susan! I plan on making one more...maybe two, but also plan on getting the pattern for the Sew Together Bag too!

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  16. I do love a bag with lots and lots of pockets.

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