next in the gifting line up, the thing i was most excited to make – a portside duffle!
when Jen of Grainline Studio released her Portside Travel Set pattern a few months ago, i really wanted to get it for a “someday in the future” project (the pattern includes a duffle, dopp kit, and small zippered pouch – awesome value, really, and would make a great wedding/father’s day/graduation gift!). i exercised restraint and held off on buying the pattern, though – until i drew my brother-in-law’s name for our family gift exchange and i knew it would make a great gift for him.
he’s a tall guy (it’s a huge bag!), he’s a musician (needs to haul stuff around!), and he’s a creative person (appreciates handmade!). plus i feel like i have a good sense of his taste. it just seemed like the perfect thing. when he opened it he seemed to really like it, and didn’t even realize i made it until he saw his initials inside (see below), so it paid off for sure!
i’ve been interested in sewing with heavier materials lately. i bought a beckel tote for my mother in law for Christmas and the thick canvas and the heavy duty topstitching was fascinating – i bought it at this awesome bazaar in town where i could talk to the woman that sewed it (on an industrial Juki, she said), so this was sort of my chance to put my Bernina 380 to the test and see if i could make something similar in style.
i bought heavy thread, cotton webbing, and a bunch of metal zippers at JoAnn, plus natural and camel colored canvas duck in the outdoor section there. some of the hardware was harder to find and i had to get it at Mill End. the bag is lined with yarn dyed essex in leather, which i got as a remnant at Bolt.
my husband said the machine sounded different as i sewed this bag – i honestly don’t think my old machine could have handled the super heavy material! walking foot, size 16 needle, i pulled out all the tricks to keep it running smoothly.
i quilted the bottom with a layer of batting to help it sit upright if he set it down.
and skipped the dopp kit, but made the little pouch…easy and quick:
i ran into just a couple snags – i think there was a missing pattern mark on the end pieces as to where i should place the straps, and i found the lining a bit too large for the bag, which may have been due to the fact that it’s linen and stretchy versus the decidedly non-stretchy nature of the outer. not sure, i’d have to make it again to find out. and my husband has requested one, so it’s on the horizon once he figures out the colors he wants!
pretty fun making such a heavy duty, masculine bag though! it just feels so LEGIT, you know? when you finish a project and have that sense of “wow, i actually made that!”, it’s always fun.