Tuesday, October 16, 2012

the weekender goes to sewing summit


I'm home now from an absolutely fabulous weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah at the second (annual?) Sewing Summit. It was a tremendous experience to finally be able to meet so many kindred sewing spirits in the flesh. So many great classes were offered, I got in lots of knitting time and my first "me" trip  away from my family was a great success. Olivia and Lucy missed me but they were good girls for their papa and I'm pretty sure he missed me too. My mom helped out a lot too so I even got to come home to a clean house with fresh folded laundry. Ahhhhhhhh.

In case you hadn't been bombarded with my spamming of this bag on Instagram or seen me parading it shamelessly around Sewing Summit, I wanted to share my Weekender. I am really quite proud of it. It was of course completely inspired by Elizabeth's magnificent quilt-as-you-go version, which I coveted the moment I lay eyes on it. I'd had the pattern by Amy Butler in my stash for years but had heard all sorts of nasty things about it's difficulty so I avoided it like the plague. But as Sewing Summit approached I started feeling a little lame for not making anything handmade to travel with. Then I saw Amber's awesome version and I decided to take the plunge.

I won't lie. It really was hard. Now that it's done and I love every bit of it, I'm so happy I decided to go through with it. It served me well on the trip and now I think it's going to be the perfect knitting tote, with lots of room for a sweater WIP as well as needles and notions. 


I followed Elizabeth's modifications of using cotton duck and batting instead of all that scary interfacing. The only thing I did differently was to sew together simple patchwork panels and straight-line quilt it all together. That's the simple and fun part. Attaching the piping and zipper wasn't so bad either, even for someone with zipper-phobia like me. But when it came time to sew it all together - that's when the expletives came out. I think I broke about ten needles? I also didn't love the lining assembly.  It seemed like too much extra fabric and other Weekender veterans seemed to have the same issues when we compared notes. But all in all I feel like it was a sort of sewing rite of passage and a completely satisfying project that will get lots of use and love.


The moral of this story is that if you've been contemplating making a Weekender but haven't yet - do it.
And if you're thinking about going to Sewing Summit next year? Do that too.

30 comments:

  1. i am totally going to make one now! i can't say no!

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  2. i totally love your patchwork version! i've had this pattern for a long time too. maybe some day i'll make the other things at the top of my list so i can finally get up the nerve to make this. thanks for the inspiration!!

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  3. I love your bag!! But now I'm even more scared to make my own. LOL

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  4. oh this is one lovely bag! Glad to have met you as well as our bags meeting up!

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  5. Wonderful inspiration! I'll start by adding this pattern to my growing collection and plan for 2013. Love your patchwork version.

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  6. Yeah Megan, I adore your little patchwork squares version! I've made another Amy Butler bag and didn't plan on repeating the process/pain, but I have to admit the Weekenders are tempting me!

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  7. I've got mine traced. I was leaning towards patchwork squares as well. Yours turned out great.

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  8. I think I like your Weekender the best of all the ones I've seen. And WHAT were you knitting? Hello? Knitting photos, please!

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  9. Your bag looks wonderful.
    Your mum is a gem like mine - they know folded laundry is one of the greatest, even though highly under-rated, gifts one can receive!

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  10. I love it - I made a weekender bag and can't imagine all of the extra work involved with piecing and quilting! Bravo!

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  11. It's on my "me" sewing list! I hope to buy the pattern soon!

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  12. So I finally have to tell you how much I loved meeting you!! (And your Weekender.) You are an absolute sweetheart - and you have planted a little, tiny seed in my head that maybe someday I will knit a whole sweater. I think I'm still in my post-SS haze...and can't wait til next year!! :)

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  13. i love your bag so much! and yet i'm still too scared s$*&less to make one.

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  14. Looks great...after seeing SO many fabulous weekenders of recent I've added to my very long to do list!

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  15. I've started the weekender but actually ran out of enthusiasm once I'd cut the duck cloth pieces out. I will do bits to it as and when.

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  16. It's very beautiful, and I can understand why you are proud and happy with it.
    I don't know if I'll ever dare try sewing such a thing, but I will always enjoy seeing other peoples beautiful bags :)

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  17. So colorful, I love it. Probably my fave weekender of the bunch I've seen!

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  18. That is stinking AWESOME!!! SO. JEALOUS.

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  19. I really love it. Really really. And I'm glad you had a good time at Summit!

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  20. oooh yours is like my dream weekender!! I have to make one!

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  21. I love your patchwork version, but the idea of making this bag still scares me! It has been so fun to see all these different weekenders, and hopefully next year I might see them all in person at the Summit myself!

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  22. love your patchwork squares. super adorable - good for you for tackling this beast of a project!

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  23. Oh WOW that is a fabulous bag. Great work!!

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  24. I wrote off wanting to make a weekender a long time ago, but all of these patchwork versions have made me change my mind big time. Yours is beautiful, Megan! I'm also completely jealous that I wasn't able to go to Sewing Summit and meet all of you fabulous sewing peeps. Hopefully I can tuck some money away to go next year!

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  25. the patchwork is so wonderful in your weekender - maybe by next Sewing Summit I will have one on my arm.

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  26. Wow - it looks fantastic! I love your version!

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  27. Your bag is so great!!
    I am working on mine now, also doing it patchwork. I have my side panels all finished and ready to go, but I am torn on my top panel. Was it hard doing the zipper with the patchwork in the top panel?

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  28. Loved your blog, glad I found it :)

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