Oops...
So, the second generation of my convertable purse is almost done (just needs a zipper and handles at the top of the tote part--finishing touches I never got to on the first generation), and I have already discovered a problem with it. You see, between when I started working on the second generation and now, I started carrying a half-sized notebook around in my purse. It was just on a whim at first, but I've found that I really like having it there so I can put down thoughts about my sewing projects as I have them, no matter where I am. Well, the new purse is almost like the old one and almost the same size... but just a bit smaller and it's quite a tight squeeze to get the notebook in, which then makes it hard to fit everything else because the fabric is all stretched so tight to fit the notebook! Ugh! Hopefully with time the fabric will stretch out and relax just a tad.
Oh, I also figured out what was wrong with my sewing machine. Well, nothing was wrong with my sewing machine actually--something was wrong with the spool of thread, I exchanged it with a new spool of thread and the problem is solved. Yay for not needing to give up my sewing machine or pay a lot of money for someone to fix it!
My zip offs are unfortunately not done yet. I ran out of thread. I tried to pick up thread on my way home from D&D, but it seems that Hancock Fabrics closes at 5-6pm on Saturday, and Michaels didn't have remotely the right color. I've also decided that as the pattern stands (and the pieces I've cut stand), the legs are not quite big enough around at the top (as in at the zipper), and are way to big around down at the cuff! The best way to fix this would involve cutting them out again, but I don't think I purchased enough fabric for that. I'm thinking perhaps I can cut replacement fronts out of the backs (because the backs were bigger), and perhaps there is enough leftover fabric to cut new backs. Or I could order more fabric, or make due with them being a little tight there... it's only a matter of like an inch anyway.
My separating zipper technology is also not quite so good as I might hope. I'm confident I could make great separating zippers if I could have plastic parts molded to my specifications... but of course I can't. The whole thing makes me horribly angry that no one is making and selling such little plastic parts. However, in all my research I have found that I can order separating zippers that will work for the zip offs for only about $2.00 to $2.50 each (times 4 zippers per pair of zip offs). I may consider doing that for my future pairs, depending on how much more angst my home made zippers cause me on this pair. But I'll give these a chance this way for now... I can still be hopeful that I will decide that the home made separating zippers are good enough.
My knee has been feeling a lot better. I got some twinges from it as we were finishing up the grocery shopping today, but other than that I've pretty much not noticed. I'd go back to the train (and the walk) tomorrow, except that I need to buy thread tomorrow, and that trip would get me pretty much all the way to work by itself.
I'm hopeful that I will be posting photos of both projects soon. So you can all just pretend you can't wait to see them.
And now to disconnect my husband from Civ III so we can go to bed...
Oh, I also figured out what was wrong with my sewing machine. Well, nothing was wrong with my sewing machine actually--something was wrong with the spool of thread, I exchanged it with a new spool of thread and the problem is solved. Yay for not needing to give up my sewing machine or pay a lot of money for someone to fix it!
My zip offs are unfortunately not done yet. I ran out of thread. I tried to pick up thread on my way home from D&D, but it seems that Hancock Fabrics closes at 5-6pm on Saturday, and Michaels didn't have remotely the right color. I've also decided that as the pattern stands (and the pieces I've cut stand), the legs are not quite big enough around at the top (as in at the zipper), and are way to big around down at the cuff! The best way to fix this would involve cutting them out again, but I don't think I purchased enough fabric for that. I'm thinking perhaps I can cut replacement fronts out of the backs (because the backs were bigger), and perhaps there is enough leftover fabric to cut new backs. Or I could order more fabric, or make due with them being a little tight there... it's only a matter of like an inch anyway.
My separating zipper technology is also not quite so good as I might hope. I'm confident I could make great separating zippers if I could have plastic parts molded to my specifications... but of course I can't. The whole thing makes me horribly angry that no one is making and selling such little plastic parts. However, in all my research I have found that I can order separating zippers that will work for the zip offs for only about $2.00 to $2.50 each (times 4 zippers per pair of zip offs). I may consider doing that for my future pairs, depending on how much more angst my home made zippers cause me on this pair. But I'll give these a chance this way for now... I can still be hopeful that I will decide that the home made separating zippers are good enough.
My knee has been feeling a lot better. I got some twinges from it as we were finishing up the grocery shopping today, but other than that I've pretty much not noticed. I'd go back to the train (and the walk) tomorrow, except that I need to buy thread tomorrow, and that trip would get me pretty much all the way to work by itself.
I'm hopeful that I will be posting photos of both projects soon. So you can all just pretend you can't wait to see them.
And now to disconnect my husband from Civ III so we can go to bed...