Issue not apparent on this photo: Joining the handles and the rest of the bag was very messy. I tried to clone what is done on the Chicobag, but what is inside, what is outside, etc. was not clear to my befuddled brain last night (jet lag). So, I ended up with unfinished edges on the OUTSIDE of the handles. I fixed all of that by wrapping the edges a few times and hemming them closed, but it was not very elegant, AT ALL.

On the other side of the bag, I had to sew another piece of cloth across a massive rip in the bag. There was a rip in the fabric, and I didn't notice it. (the ripstop was 50 cents as a remnant, for that reason).

The edging on the Chicobag is very neat... I think it's separate edging sewn around the edge of the bag. Mine is just stitching of the material, which is not very neat and not very elegant. #lessons

Lessons:

1. Duct tape and attic insulation (or padded envelope) version is a lot easier to construct. That's what I usually use for this. Also, very repairable (slap more duct tape on it when needed, ha ha). I decided to sew a bag because a big insulating and reflective bag, while great for SOTA/hiking/POTA, not great for possible need to put this on a plane.

2. Figuring out the 3D of a bag with seam allowances is definitely more challenging.

3. Transition between bag and edge, edge and lid are iffy... lack of experience and understanding how those are handled. it's a lot easier to clone things than try to figure it out when you have zero experience in how things are done. I'll get those, eventually.

Probably should scout up some patterns for equipment bags for some of these issues.

The lesson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVG5OYI6mh0 #JustinGuitar #guitar #lessons

#Random lessons:

1. Ran out of thread. Needed to buy more. Substituted a different thread, hopefully will hold up fine.

2. Upholstery thread is much harder to work with than normal thread.

3. End of the spool of thread was near impossible to use, due to change in tension.

4. Should have gotten softer cushions. The firmer cushion was hard to cut even with a electric paring knife. Used the firmness recommended for the Eames, but this was actually softer.

5. Exact shape and size of material is not that important, as long as the material covers the face of the cushion. It's all pulled back and stapled anyway.

6. Vinyl is extremely, extremely, extremely stretchy... must adjust everything to accommodate for that stretch.

7. Bought too much material... Probably an extra yard. Now I need to figure out what to do with that material. Used an estimate for an Eames, vs. the Eames clone I have, and there is no backing on the clone (thus less material)

8. Hardest part of this was the arms, particularly getting the welting evenly sewn around the edges.

9. Snap button didn't work, covering the old buttons and new buttons with fabric by hand was the best way to do this, and looks and works fine.

@TiffanyEAuthor

..hmm .. oh️"empirical" research ... and discovered this 'n' that ... along the way .. coz itza all in "the journey" right ️.. & not .. ya know ... the destination ... [see the 1980s TV series "Monkey" for particulars ..️] ...

#writingcommunity #writing #TVMonkey #journey #zen #1980s #lessons #tales #pennedpossibilities 649