Book Bags.....

[Apple Tree Crafts]

I'm thinking about adding the ever fashionable book bags to my range.
I'm making them in cotton duck, lined with calico.

My query is, in order to strengthen the bottom of the bags should I used a fully enclosed (french) seam, like the seams you have on the inside of jeans' legs?

I don't think just an ordinary seam, or just having the fold (when cutting out) there is going to be good enough with sharp book corners poking about.

Has anyone got any views on this, providing you're still following my train of thought? Any advice appreciated,

Thanks,

Jules

[nattynetty]

As well as book bags how about some bags designed to fit a typical (12" x 12") scrapbook as i know lots of Scrappers go to crops etc and struggle to find something suitable to carry their scrapbooks in. I'm guessing something handcrafted would appeal to them - especially if they had some pockets included too.

If you have them at craft fairs I'm sure you'll get scrappers there and as soon as one brings your fab bag to the crop others will want it too.

Sorry, nothing to do with your original question but it set me thinking and thought I'd share.

[Apple Tree Crafts]

Thanks Natty...I'll get right onto that, well, as soon as I'm properly better.

I've got scrapping stuff for sizes etc......wow, what a hugely fantabulous idea...and I never thought of it (bugger...!)


Yep, got the brains going now, I can make them exactly the same way I make the book bags, just a few more pockets, bigger size, oodles of ideas for appliques to decorate with, too......


Why would scrappers want a bag though? Do you take albums out & about? Or would it be for when you are buying scrapbook stuff? A reinforced 13" by 13" pocket for keeping papers creasefree is a must then......I need to write all this down.....


But thanks ever so much Natty! :b:

Watch this space........


Jules

[swirlyarts]

Do you mean book bags as in the ones that children take to school?? If so I would be very interested in one of these as Anya has just started nursery and I was going to buy one of the plain boring ones but if there is a handcrafted option available then I am all ears!! If thats what you mean by bookbags then you may have your first order.

[Apple Tree Crafts]

........if my bags are what you're looking for. The kind of book bags I mean are just flat shoulderbags, about 35cms by 40cms, with long handles. They wouldn't hold a lunchbag, or be waterproof as they don't close in anyway. Note to self: Apply small rectangles of velcro to bag tops....

Going by the way my children have gone through schoolbags over the years I don't think I could produce anything quite that roughty-toughty......I'll get on with a book bag and a scrapbooker's bag and paste them into the thread for showing off stuff, hopefully by Friday this week, but I'll see how I feel.

Jules

[swirlyarts]

I'll have a look when you post them up - I'm not sure it's what I'm after either!

[indri]

Just looking at this and thought that they could be a great way to carry wedding photo albums, as I found that being rather large it seems a bit of a shame to just chuck it into a Sainsburys carrier bag.

Just a little suggestion :)

[Seahorse]

HI Apple tree, are french seams the one where you sew along the edge then turn it back on itself and sew all the raw edges inside the bit thats folded back(poorly explained but I hope you understand)I think as you say, its used on jeans seams for strength.

I think that would be a ver good idea.If the bags are hard waring you will get customers recomending you to others.

Im not a scrapbooker but if you saw the number of supermarket plastic carrier bags I have with all my craft stuff in(and they are falling apart)you would take on the suggestion of making crafting bags.
Maybe shape them like a box with a solid bottom.

[goldy1]

Scrapbook bags need to be tough as us crafters pack them to the gills. :D A book is heavy on it's own not to mention all the card and other things that are taken to a crop (a scrapbook making meet). I would french seam all seams for extra strengh. Yes a reinforced pocket would be good for papers 12 x 12 papers. The handle would have to be chunky as well to take the weight. Maybe run it under the bag to reinforce it.
I found this one for refrence. It looks to be made of a heavy weight material. http://www.scrapbook101.com/pd_amm.cfm

[Apple Tree Crafts]

Finally got time to sew!

Here's the book bag...this one's got an Easter bunny on it because it's an easter gift for a friend in USA.

The bag is 33 x 38cms, double thickness cotton duck fabric, the inside layer is blue polka dot. The pocket on the front is also lined. No seamwork showing anywhere! Double thickness heavy cotton webbing straps for strength & comfort.

What do you think?

Jules
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y87/appletreecrafts/DSC01963.jpg

[Apple Tree Crafts]

I had thought about gussetting the bags to make them deeper, but to french seam a gussetted bag is a helleva lot of extra work. I'm not sure people would pay the final price. They'd work out at about £20 each, with the extra time, reinforcing & fabric.

Seahorse, french seams are completely enclosed, like the ones on jeans.

Jules

[goldy1]

You don't know your Market do you when it comes to Scrappers. :D just google scrapbook totes and see some of the prices that come up. For an origional I'm sure they would pay a lot more than £20.;)

[Apple Tree Crafts]

I don't...:D

But I'm learning.....

Question about pockets for 12 by 12 inch papers......would it be used? I'm wondering this because, unless the paper is in a plastic wallet or page pocket, it's not going to slide in and out of the fabric bag pocket too well, you'd get foxed corners etc.

Jules

[Apple Tree Crafts]

......Laundry bags or drawstring bags for kids next....might give that a go today.

Jules

[swirlyarts]

If you do go down the route of drawstring bags then read the post on trading standards - I think it's in the can you help section. I'll have a look and post the link in a mo!

http://www.craftsforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3912

Gives some good advice about what trading standards do and don't like!

[Apple Tree Crafts]

....all the Trading Standards stuff. Most of it is just common sense, as Davey said.

I thought about doing drawstring bags for kids, the sort that contain your plimsolls & shorts for PE. And I thought about laundry bags for both children and adults. According to Trading Standards, both are viable as long as there is a label that clearly states 'this bag is not a toy'.

I was concerned about my children's aprons, so I phoned Trading Standards and was told that as long as there are no detachable pieces, sharp bits etc, the aprons were perfectly safe as long as they were clearly labelled to be used under adult supervision.

I wasn't happy with that, there were still issues that bothered me. So, I've put a break in the neck strap of all my children's aprons, which opens/closes with velcro, to prevent asphyxiation accidents. And my aprons/bags are not intended for children under 3 yrs old, and I've put that on the label too.

Jules

[swirlyarts]

It is mainly common sense isn't it? Best to check though I suppose. Meant to say yesterday Jules - love the book bag!!!