Monday, August 1, 2016

A Finish! Bionic Gear Bag

I've been chomping at the bit to make one of these Bionic Gear Bags!  I riled up a few pals to make them too!   I found it because I was looking for a needle book with a grid to make as Goodie Gifts for our Spring Retreat.  I came across this image on Google and trotted off to Craftsy.com to buy the pattern for it!

Bionic Needle Organizer Wallet
Well after that, true to "Jan-Form"....I ended up clicking through links and searching some more.  That's when I realized that the Needle book was actually an ACCESSORY to a much COOLER item!

Bionic Gear Bag, Dumpling Dish & Needle Wallet
Bionic Gear Bag
"Tricked Out" Pockets
Several people in the Facebook group asked for details of what I did to "trick out" my pockets.   The pattern designer has a very unique way of writing patterns.   It's very very long (wordy), but she says early on that she wrote it in this manner so that you can feel like you are sitting along beside her making the project with her!    If you are a thorough instruction reader, you'll love it.   If you are the type of quilter that goes right for the bullet points, cutting list and pictures....you WILL struggle with this pattern. Any way, at the point in building the bag that you can add features to the zipper pockets, she tells you.  And makes some suggestions!   Here's what I did:
  • Added Magnetic Snaps to the bag AND the Dumpling Dish so that I can stand stuff up behind the bowl without the bowl moving.
  • A small pocket for my screwdriver\or thimble.   (Mostly screwdriver - I am the resident "Vintage sewing machine fixing person" at every sewing gathering...so I always need it to rescue a machine from it's owner
  • Small square Vinyl pockets on THREE of the pockets.   The paper tab that is in there was the thing I used to determine size.   I swear I forget what's in zippered pockets, so a label to fill out is really helpful to me!
  • Couple of different small sections of elastic, spaced for specific tools.  I want to be able to stand up and easily grab certain things while I'm working and have a quick place to put them back
  • Vinyl on 4th zipper pouch.   One side is for Index cards (shopping lists, or "put-it-in-the-BGB-list", etc.  and the other is for business cards.(Grin - MY business cards)

Bionic Gear Bag Closed.
I spent a LOT of time making sure the binding was perfect and it was totally worth it.  I can't tell you how many projects I've done where the last step is to "bind" and it makes the entire project look like crap.  It's one of the most valuable things I've learned from the By Annie Classes I'm taking.

GLUE BASTE BINDING!!!   THEN SEW!!


Check out MORE design walls at Patchwork Times or Monday Making or Moving it Forward or Main Crush Monday or even BOMS away Monday!

Here's a few "In Progress" pictures along the way.




16 comments:

  1. Nice job on your bag! How cool that you customized it to your needs. I've made the Sew Together bag, but not this one.

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  2. looks like yoou are ready for just about anything- nice

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  3. Cute little bag with all sorts of potential! I can't imagine making it; it looks a little complicated. I love the fabric -- so cute! (piecefulthoughts@gmail.com)

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  4. Your bag looks really good, that fabic is adorable! All those zippers look a bit intimidating but you did a great job on them! Thanks so much for sharing your bag on MCM!

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  5. Looks fantastic, Jan! I'll take one in a fuschia fabric, please. :-)

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  6. Now THAT's quite a BAG!! Thanks for linking up and all the tips about making it. ;)

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  7. Is there a free pattern for this I can get?

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  8. Where can I get a free pattern of this bag?

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  9. Will anyone make this bag for sale? I don't sew well enough to make it myself but I sure would pay for it. Thanks, Kate

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    1. I make the Bionic gear bag and have done for many years, both in Australia and the UK. Check my Etsy store Simply Happy Sewing UK....previously Simply Happy Sewing. I am happy to help with fabric choices if you can't find one you like. @sylvisews (instagram) #simplyhappysewing (facebook)

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    2. RockBabyScissors is a wonderful shop on Etsy. I knew this gal from Sew Sweetness. She has a deal where you actually design the bag in the manner that you want. Even if you don't buy from her you will find she has
      a wonderful shop full of really bright and unique items for sale.

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  10. Ciao come posso avere il cartamodello della borsa?

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  11. I would like to know where I could get a pattern to make this bag

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