Ever since I left for college I’ve been trying to get a sewing machine into my various homes. I mean, I started out as an apparel design major in college, and when I decided I wanted to keep sewing as a hobby I figured I’d need my own machine. However, buying a sewing machine was never in the cards, usually due to space and cost. But mostly space. When you live in box-sized apartments there just won’t be room for a spare project area. Of course, if you’ve looked at the pictures from my newest apartment here in Troy, you’ll see that I do in fact have a ton of space for once. Thanks to my huge spacial expanse, I decided to create a sewing corner in my bedroom. Honestly, the room looked to big and empty without something extra there. It started slowly, still, with just a folding chair that sat lonely in my room. Next I found a reasonably priced desk/table to build. The last, biggest financially draining step, was to get the sewing machine. After some hesitance I decided on a decently priced Singer machine and sucked it up and bought it.
It is so exciting to have a sewing machine again! My first project is a bit silly, but necessary. I’d been using the same cloth bag for my lunch stuff that I got from my Glamour internship in 2007. It was rather beat up, and after the umpteenth time of spilling coffee in it (no spill mugs my ass!), I tossed the poor thing. I decided to try out making my own tote bag, but since I’m scared of getting close to malls in the holiday season I wasn’t feeling a trip to buy fabric. However, I do have a bright blue curtain that ended up not working in my apartment, so I cut the thing apart and started working, while watching “Company” on Netflix. (You guys, Raul Esparza’s voice!)
The result is rather decent. I wasn’t sure at first how hard it would be put in the bottom piece on the tote but it worked out. After pulling dimensions for the tote online I just winged the rest of it. It feels very bright, but I like it. Since lately my temporary plastic bags for lunch fall apart as I try to rush out the door in the morning, this will be a welcome change.
Nice work! My sewing skills are limited to pillows as of right now but you have inspired me to get back in there, as I’ve been saying I would do for months. It’s great how you reused that fabric too! Cute tote!