Seriously. 10 months. I haven’t a really good excuse for it though. It looks from the file revisions like I started it in November of last year and it’s been in various stages of writing then waiting then editing then waiting since then.
This bag pattern was made by request. Not long after I made the Featherweight tote, I altered that pattern to make a larger bag for carrying full sized machines to workshop days. It wasn’t long before people started seeing and asking for the pattern for the bag. At first, I told people that they could use the featherweight tote pattern and I’d provide the dimension changes. Most people though wanted all the changes incorporated – especially the 2 shops that carry my patterns.
Which reminds me: My cousin has opened her own quilt shop – Solstice Sewing and Crafts – in Cereal, Alberta and here on Facebook. She’s one of the 2 shops carrying paper copies of my patterns. I haven’t been there yet – it’s farther than a day trip for us which is our maximum distance for now – but I know her taste is pretty amazing so I bet it’s great! She’s also participating in the Row by Row this year and I LOVE her row. And you need to ask about her long term plans for the former long term care building the shop is in!
Since the other tote had actually been far more popular than I’d ever guessed it would be, I agreed to do this one too.
The pockets are made using an interfaced accent fabric – making the bag attractive while functional. As an added bonus, the bag will protect the outside of the case from abrasion during travel and make it safer to carry a vintage case without the risk of failure.
Have you heard that it’s not safe to carry a vintage machine by the case handle? It’s true! Always with your hand under the base – or in a bag like this. Handles are only for lifting the lid off a machine that’s on a stable surface.
These bags also double well as shopping bags.
It also fits my Lendrum Folding spinning wheel. I didn’t plan for it to hold my wheel but it works quite well for short distance travel. For longer trips where it’s more likely to be handled by someone else, I prefer my hard-sided suitcase.
The bag is generously sized to fit a Singer Bentwood case and similar sized machines. It’s also easily customized to fit other machines by shortening or lengthening the fabric dimensions.
The pattern itself contains 19 pages of detail with 29 photographs to help you along the way.
As always, proceeds from pattern sales go first to the costs of the site and bringing content to you.
You can find the pattern here: https://shop.archaicarcane.com/
From here on out, I hope that any patterns I decide to write up are far smaller than these. I usually have my head in the ceiling tiles to take the photos!
So far my pattern or tutorial writing list includes the following:
- Ceramic Tile re-enforced mug rugs. These are mug rugs with pockets in them to slide a tile into for heat protection on sensitive surfaces.
- A Spinner’s lap cloth – including pockets and a measuring “gauge” for consistent spinning results.
Have I ever shown anything else that I’ve created on the site or Facebook that you’d like to see a pattern/tutorial for?
Today’s post title:
This lady has the most amazing voice but most people know her for her 80s very pop music. This is nothing like that. It frankly gives me goosebumps to listen to her cover Etta James. Let me know what you think in the comments?
Just found your blog. I should be sewing BUT I love your content. Did not want to say writing because all your content is great.
Necchi BU purchased for the case. Just a beautiful piece of Italian design. I already had one that I restored but wanted the case. Passed on the uncased machine to a young sewer and now had a great project of restoring a new BU. Get it close to perfection (clean, oiled , and quiet). Had to move it to a basement which has steep stairs. My safety was a priority and forgot the golden rule. Never carry a machine by the handle. I was down one step when the handle gave way and I watched as this machine became a bowling ball. Case broken open, and machine on the floor. I was upset more at myself as I knew better. After a little brooding I needed to see if the Necchi was/is indestructible. Plugged it in and ran as well as it did one flight of stairs up. Thanks for all your content.
Oh wow. That’s not a light machine! I’m glad your toes weren’t in the way! I’m amazed that it managed to survive the fall, even though it’s built like a tank!
I’m so happy you’re enjoying my content! I don’t get enough time to write but I have a drafts folder that is pretty unreal. One day, hopefully I’ll get to most of them though.
Love the site! I just had to comment on Cyndi Lauper though. I’ve been a fan since her MTV video days. She’s got perfect pitch. If you’ve not heard it get “The Body Acoustic”. Fantastic!! Keep up the good works. I reference your site often.
I don’t know why I didn’t see this comment earlier! I think that Cyndi Lauper is actually very underrated. The MTV story of or some such that I watched in about 2004 fascinated me and I ended up getting all of her albums. Very impressive. 🙂 I’m glad I’ve been able to help out!
I’m actually pretty impressed if you managed to get anything other than an industrial to go through that many layers! I wondered if anyone would try to quilt a bag or not. I had some trouble with the layers with quilting, which is why I wrote it without. It certainly would be easier on the person doing the carrying if the handles and bag are quilted.
Great job, and wonderful investigative work on the 328. I don’t think they’re as bad as some people think either. Certainly, they’re not as bad as say a 290C – which is what I learned (poorly) on when I was a kid. 🙂
Thanks for the pattern – the instructions work!.
I made a version lengthened by 3″ to fit a Necchi Julia, weight 46lb in its case, with 2″ webbing and plywood base. I used the suggested “Ikea” fabric, but quilted it with batting for extra strength/padding. Really tested the strength of my Singer 328 putting it together, but it just about coped. I’ve added two aluminium tubes in fabric pockets to the inside, level with where the handles join the bag. Without these the bag tended to sag in the middle when not stuffed full, as it’s so long.