Oh yeah, I have finished all my exams and the summer holiday has officially started! All the time to get started with some projects. First one of them all is the Ladies Bag. You might have seen my Instagram story lately with some sneak peeks, a few months back with the design and last few days with the beginning of the practical part.
New techniques – as always 😉
There are a few new techniques I am gonna try to implement. For example, I will add a complete leather lining in the bag. This will give it a more luxurious feeling and protection. There literally will be ‘more bag’ to it! Besides that, I am gonna try to make it a structured bag. I have never done this before so also for me this will be a challenge. Although I think I will write a post about this because there is so little information on the internet on this subject! So if you have already some tips, please contact me before I screw everything up… Next to those new techniques, am I also getting familiar with edge painting. I don’t have a fileteuse (French heating tool/creaser) or any other heating tool to do it with heat, so I have looked into different kinds of edge paint to apply ‘cold’.
Design of the ladies bag
I have made a custom design which is named the ladies bag because it is designed for a special lady. If you want do design your own handbags, follow these 10 steps in a previous post! It had to be the perfect size between a shopper and a handbag. For those moments, you just need to pop into the supermarket because you have forgotten some crucial items, but not for the weekly groceries. You, ladies, all know exactly what size it should be, isn’t it? So first I made a paper version of it. I kept cutting, glueing and starting all over again until I was satisfied with the result!
Cutting all the pieces
Before I make the first cut into leather, I just have to be in the right state of mind, right setting and with enough confidence. Only then I am sure this piece of leather will be made into the most beautiful bag and won’t be wasted. I always buy a piece large enough to have room for errors but prefer to cut it without … Leather might be a little stretchy here and there so feel before you start cutting how supple this piece is. I have chosen to cut the body of the bag out of one piece. This will give it a more minimalistic and sophisticated look. Besides, it makes it more expensive, since the maker (me) needs a large, piece of leather without any bite marks, holes etc..
Beginning of the lining bag
There are multiple techniques to line a bag but I have chosen for a fully glued pigskin lining with a pocket. In between the lining, I will glue a reinforcement paper to stiffen up the bag. But before I can glue anything, I will have to think it through. First, I sew the pocket wich is already been edge painted and prepared for sewing… Next, all the inside parts are stitched togeather before I can glue the bottom reinforcement, sides (front and back but not the gussets, since I want them to be supple)…
A few pictures for now and of course this project will be continued! Have a lovely holiday and stay tuned for much more posts this summer!
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