The Road Trip bag captured my imagination right away. I love how the floral lining peeks out. I love the simple leather straps. I love it all. My mom and my aunt make an annual pilgrimage to the famed Round Top Antiques and Flea Market in Texas and I just knew my aunt would love a Texas road trip bag. I mean what Texan doesn't love to flaunt their state?
To add my own flair, I lovingly created a tablecloth inspired map of Texas and embroidered it. Then I sewed it into the dimensions of the bag as directed by the pattern. My pathetic spacial skills did not alert me along the way, so I was quite surprised to discover what a narrow little bag this is.
Oh, sure the book completely tells the finished dimensions of 10 1/2" X 15 3/4".
The picture shows the magazine sticking out with just a bit of space on the side.
And really, how big can a bag with such sweet leather straps really be?
But, all those clues meant nothing to me until I went to sew the lining in and felt how narrow it was. I imagined trying to dig out sunglasses or a ringing cell phone at the bottom when it's such a tight fit. It's certainly not a rummage through bag.
I'm so sad to say it feels wrong to me. I know bags are such a personal thing. I guess I just tend to like a roomier bag being a pack rat and all. So, I am back to the drawing board.
I have thought of two remedies...let me know what you think.
Choice A: Take out the side seam on the canvas part and add side gusset. This would make the top roomier without having to redo the whole thing.
Choice B: Cut out the Texas and make it into a patch on another bag altogether. I don't have enough canvas to remake the bag as is. I could fringe the edges of the patch. It could be cute.
In the meantime, here is an awesome take on the road trip bag (also modified to another size) on flickr.
9 comments:
B, B, B! That way you really show off, frame Texas. Your embroidery is adorable!
My first thought was to cut it out and make a patch too. Maybe on a denim bag?? Sometimes scale is so hard to tell from a photo but it's a really cute bag!
It's a really cute bag Jane. Too bad the size isn't right. The embroidery is wonderful. Using it as a patch with fringed edges would be really cute. What about something like Lotta's All Day Tote with the canvas/embroidery as the front pocket?
Whatever you end up doing, I'm sure you're Aunt will love it!
I'm voting for the gusset. That's what I was thinking as I read your dilemma.I'm sure the patch would be fine, but I can't imagine it, at least not as cute as doing the gusset.
I vote B too, and I think it would be really cute--like you intended it to be that way all along! The embroidery you did is so cool.
Hi! I have been reading for a while but have not commented. I think gussets sound like a great idea. The bag is very cute and your aunt will hardly be able to shop what with people stopping her to ask about her bag.
I cringe when I have to toss a whole project- my vote is for the gusset! That way you can save the bag you spent so much time on and make it work. Dive into your stash and find some cute fabric that brings out the colors in your embroidery- I think it will look great- like you had planned it that way all along! :)
That is adorable!
Oh man, I HATE having to redo a project. Hence my large pile of project rejects lol. But I think I'm for the gusset! You could add more ricrac maybe? And that's always cute, right? But a patch would really highlight your sweet embroidery.
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