It's Monday, for a few more hours.

Just checking in to say a) I'm sick, and b) my assignment is done.

How are you feeling?  Is your assignment done?  Hmmmm?

I tried out the Buttercup Bag from Made by Rae.  It requred a total of 3 inches, squared, of interfacing, so I figured it qualified as an appropriate project.

and thank you, Picassa, for refusing to rotate this picture.

I made it a lot bigger.  I think probably about 50% bigger or so.  Or maybe more.  The last time I did real  math was in 1996.  I'm not sad about that.  All I did to increase the size was tape the cut out pattern to some tissue paper and then mark 2.5 inches all the way around. 

I think it's the perfect size for a basic diaper bag, which is what I was going for.  So yay!  However I didn't think I would care if the top banding was increased by the height, so left it the same.  I really wish I had increased it a little, though.  That feature is nearly lost with the body being so big. 

I added a second pocket on the other side of the lining, and then sewed down to seperate it into three slots.

and a more true shot of the interior color  Or as true as it can be, taken at 7:30 p.m. in my dark kitchen:

 I'm really glad that I went with a "home" fabric, because the bag is really lacking in solid structure.  Even with a more sturdy outside fabric, though, it still feels floppy.   Someone else had mentioned using interfacing throughout, and I think if I were to do it again, I would do just that:  a nice, thick interfacing through the body of the bag, in addition to thick fabric.  Broken needles be damned. 

Another thing I did was make the strap longer and wider.  Then I took the strap at both ends and folded it over, after it was attatched to the bag, and then topstitched it towards the middle, leaving about a 7-9 inch area where the strap remained wide. 

I like the look of a thinner strap, but the comfort of a thicker one.  So, it is wide at the point it's sewn to the bag, narrows, and then widens across my shoulder before thinning again.  Does that make sense?

And here is some picture fun.  I told my husband to just take a picture of the bag, not my face.  I'm sick.  I'm tired.  I haven't even showered today.  Just the bag, please.  After he took the picture he said, "Maybe we should try one with you smiling?"  He doesn't listen very well. 

so I cheesed it up for him and got this beaute

And now I'm going to take a shower, at 8p.m.  A really hot one with no kids to interrupt me. And then I'm drugging myself and going to bed. Good night.

You Told Me:  Holy P said,  "If you want the bag to have more structure but not be stiff, you can line it with fleece or quilted lining."