It's always exciting to work with our group of testers. Their attention to detail, honest opinions, and efforts during launch to share their bags and the pattern information is invaluable to us. This article is our chance to share all the details and cyber-brag on the tester group.
Donna Dickerson's classic beauty is faux leather from Joann's (purchased long ago!) The ticking cotton also came from Joann's. The brushed bronze hardware is from Craftmemore on Amazon. She used a Juki 18QVP - industrial machine.
Doesn't that strap just make the bag? It's gorgeous!
Long-time tester group member Becca Olson made a striking white vinyl (from Amazon) bag with black hardware. The lining came from her fabric hoard (stash). She gathered her hardware from three Etsy stores: 2Minutes2Stitch (one of my favorites!), Bagmaker Supply, and SewManyCreationsNY. She highly recommends all three.
Using a faux snakeskin for the exterior along with marine vinyl from BigZFabrics, Kellie Toles made a very sophisticated-looking bag. The "surprise" cotton lining is from Joann's, and all hardware from Emmaline Bags. The placement of the snakeskin makes this a classic beauty sure to be noticed!
Another long-time tester for us is Ulrike Puckering. Her raspberry colored linen-look upholstery fabric with waterproof backing and a printed cotton on the flap are such a fun combination. The lining is also cotton and the interfacings used are G700, Decovil 1, hat stiffener, and foam. Adding a plastic chopping board to the bottom helps hold her heavy laptop. Not receiving the buckles in time, she used strap sliders instead. The side connectors were widened to 1 1/2" in order to use the fun triangle rings. This bag was sewn on a domestic machine - a Singer 201K.
Leslie Anthony joined the team earlier this year, and as a new bagmaker we are super impressed with her skills. The exterior vinyl is from Philmore Upholstery Supply and the interior is cotton. Interfacings used are Decovil, Geekyfuse poly soft, and Pellon Foam. She sourced her buckles from 2Minutes2Stitch and the turn-lock from Siah Swag Bags. The gray vinyl and the rose gold hardware are a beautiful combination.
Sue Reed's soft-colored bag is gorgeous. The body is vinyl from Fabricland and the faux leather flap is from BoDeeOh. (Notice the two fabrics used on the strap!). The lining is quilting cotton and she used waterproof canvas for the padded laptop strap.
As always, a HUGE THANK YOU to our tester group. We so much appreciate you and your invaluable assistance in getting a quality pattern to our fellow bagmakers.
Ready to make your laptop bag?
Whether you are a beginner or an expert bag maker, we'd love to have you join our Facebook Pattern Group. Ask questions, give guidance and encouragement, share your makes. We'd love to see your first vinyl projects and read all the details!
Please feel free to comment, but be aware that Shopify doesn't offer a way for us to respond. If you have any questions, please PM through Facebook, or email us at kayapapayadesign@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you!