I'm delighted at last to let you in on something I've been working on for a couple of months now. Several members of the pattern testing team and on the sewing chat group have suggested I should bring you a new pattern and arrange a ‘sew-along' for it.
Have you taken part in a sew-along before? It's a first time for me. Starting on Sunday next week, I'll be launching the Conference Tote Bag pattern, a bag I designed to take to Sewing Holiday with me that could take my notebook for all the new sewing tips I was going to learn (and carry all my sewing goodies).
The Sew-Along will last for 10 days, with new lessons being released each day, comprising the pattern, materials list, tips on interfacing and then step by step sewing instructions each day with photos and a video.
It's been a TON of work to put together, but I've enjoyed it and I hope you will too.
All throughout we'll be sharing what we make at each stage, showing off our fabric choices, asking questions and sharing advice over in the Sewing Chat Group and I am really looking forward to it so much. I want to see what fabrics you'll be using, ask us if you aren't sure which combo works best, and following along with your progress each day until we all share our finished bags there at the end. So if you aren't already a member, come and join us now.
Sewing Chat Group
I explain all about it here
If you want to start getting prepared ahead of time, here are all the things you'll need.
Materials list:
- 1 yard of your ‘featured fabric' (more if you have a large scale print to center)
- 3/4 yard total for the contrast and lining fabric
- 1 x 14 inch zipper
- 1 x 8 inch zipper or longer
- 1/2 yard of 1/4 inch wide elastic
- 4 x 1.25 inch rectangle rings
- 1.75 yards Interfacing such as Shape Flex 101
- 1/2 yard low loft Fusible Fleece
- 1 yard Stabiliser such as a foam for bags (Soft & Stable, Bosal, Pellon FF-77, headliner, etc) or you can substitute with interfacing teamed up with fusible fleece
- Threads to match
- Optional – 4 bag feet
- Optional – plastic canvas or foam board for the base of the bag
Equipment list:
- Printer
- Cutting mat, quilting ruler and rotary cutter
- Fabric markers such as these Frixion Pens
- Optional – 2 inches of Wonder Tape
- Optional – Wonder Clips
Hello ! I cannot see the sign up link announced for today, Sunday on 9th August. Can you help me ? Thanks.
It’s right on the top of the site today, the very first article on the front page Hemiole. This is the direct link to the sign up https://so-sew-easy.com/conference-tote-bag-pattern/
Sorry, I was too impatient… Here, it’s already 7:35 pm ! Thanks for the first day of this sew-along.
Hello,
I’m really looking forward to working on the sew-a-long bag pattern.
I live in Cincinnati, Ohio,USA
I’m so excited for this new “Sew Along”. I’m signing up. Thank you Deby!!
Deby, what day does this sew-along start?? I have all my supplies ready to start so excited!! I love both your bags!
You’ll be able to sign up and get started from Sunday 9th. There will be a few days at the start for printing the pattern, getting materials and cutting the pieces and then we begin sewing a few days later. I’m excited to see so many people are interested!
I am in love with this bag! I am wondering however if this will be available as a pattern in the near future. I really appreciate that your tutorials and pattern instructions are always easy to follow. There was no mention, however, of how much this sew-along might cost. Is it the same as a Craftsy class?
Once the sew-along is over and all the late joiners have finished too, then I may release it as a pattern later on, or simply change the schedule of the sewalong so that all parts are accessible at once for those who just want to get the pattern and sew right away. The Sewalong and pattern will be on a ‘pay what you can afford’ basis – so participants can pay anywhere from nothing to $10.
Wonderful idea. I want to join in on the fun.
I’ll be looking forward to seeing what fabrics you pick.
Thanks Deb for all you do. Love your patterns and am looking forward to this one
Really looking forward to this Deby, being part of a group project is great. Thank you for all your hard work.
I want to be included, please. How do I sign up? Is it live, i.e. do I have to get up at 2 am to watch.
No its not live, you’ll have access at any time that you want, and it will be there permanently so you don’t need to stay on schedule either. You can sew at your own pace.
That is wonderful. I am not really at my best at 2 am. I spent yesterday hunting for appropriate fabric. I think I have nailed it. Looking forward to the tute.
I want to join in, too. I’ll be looking for just the right fabric and getting supplies ready before the official start date.
This is a fabulous idea. I already have some fabric I picked out for another bag that didn’t work out. I will be gathering my supplies. Thanks!
What fun! I so hope I can join along! Thank you for doing this, Deby!
Thanks Debbie. I’m looking forward to learning how to put in the two zippers! You went to a lot of trouble for us! You are a sweetheart.
Sign me up from busy1needle@yahoo.com
Official sign up is when it starts next Sunday, the 9th and there will be a link on the site then. Looking forward to seeing what you sew 🙂
I’m a senior citizen and my hearing isn’t so good. Can you please speak a little louder. I have map lap top at the highest volume. Thank you
I’m sorry but once its recorded and published there isn’t anything I can do afterwards to increase the volume. I use a pair of special headphones on the computer because I’m a little hard of hearing myself, and it has a volume control that turns it up higher than the computer speakers. Sorry, that’s all I can offer now.
Sara, just a helpful tip, not trying to sound rude, but you should try to put on some headphones. I find that helps me a great deal when I’m trying to hear videos that aren’t very loud. It also cancels out alot of your own background noise so you can hear the video better. I’m also on a laptop right now and I am playing Debbie’s video at only 35% volume and it’s loud. If I turn my volume up to 100% I can hear her on the other side of the house. Also, try looking in your settings to see if you can turn your internal volume speakers/settings up 🙂 Hope you get some better volume coming out of your laptop.
Sara, I have to have a special speaker that goes louder than the computer speaker. When there are people here, I plug in my headphone…The things we do to compensate, eh? (pun intended 🙂 )
count me in
How do I sign up? Sorry I can’t find a link.
Sorry for the confusion. The sew-along isn’t quite ready yet. I’m just putting the finishing touches to it now, and it launches officially next Sunday on 9th August. But you can get your supplies together now so you have things ready for when we start. You’ll get a sign up link next Sunday, so watch out for that then.
This is a wonderful bag! I’ll be out of town for several of the lessons, will they be available later for replay? Thanks for all you do for the sewing community!
Absolutely Donna, it will be there as long as the site is running, so you can watch or re-watch at any time.
Count me in!
It’s a good idea, this bag… Please, could you speak more, more, more slowly. Thanks !
Where do you sign up for the sew-along? I don’t see the link to click on. Thanks!
Sounds like loads of fun!! Sure hope my schedule will allow me to participate….
That sounds like so much fun! I hope it will be a success and that you will do more after this – I’ll be on holiday so sadly will miss this one.
Happy sewing!
And then she watched the video and realised she’d still be able to do it later… Doh! So I’ll definitely signup when I’m back!
Hi Deby, I would love to Join the sew along, what must I do?
I ‘ll be out of home on holidays next Sunday but I’ll join and start the tote bag on August the 16th
I’m already on the map. Do I have to give you my address charosgd@gmail.com
Thanks for your help
Sorry for the confusion. The sew-along isn’t quite ready yet. I’m just putting the finishing touches to it now, and it launches officially next Sunday on 9th August. But you can get your supplies together now so you have things ready for when we start. You’ll get a sign up link next Sunday, so watch out for that then. You can start it at any time, it just means you’ll be a few days behind us, but I’m sure others will be in the same position too Charo.
Hi Deby,
I would love to be apart of this, however, I am not on Facebook. Is this the only way to join in?
Hi Alicia, you can take part in the sew-along without Facebook no problem, the group is just there for us to chat and share pictures. But you can still follow along on the site.
Great! Can’t wait to start!
Love it. Can’t wait to start
I think this sounds like a great idea. Nice bag Debbie!! It looks great 🙂
Only problem I would have is waiting 10 days to sew the bag, I’m too impatient lol But I’m sure everyone is going to love it. Sorry for sending 2 messages, I wanted to edit my comment but couldn’t so I just made 2. Anyways, that was a really great video. Nice to see you 🙂