Quilted Laptop Bag

Last summer my sister asked me if I might be able to make her a carrying case/totebag for her new laptop computer. She had seen some beautiful Vera Bradley quilted bags that she liked a lot and I didn't see a problem at all to replicate a Vera Bradley knock-off design using some lovely floral quilted fabric. So Mary Kathryn went to JoAnn's and found this GORGEOUS floral striped quilted fabric. The reverse side of the fabric is solid purple floral (no stripes) and that is the inside of the case. I didn't think this should be a difficult tote to make but since she lives in the U.S.A. and I'm in Canada, I didn't want to guestimate sizes and construction because we aren't close geographically to "fit" or make adjustments once I began cutting and sewing. I did, however, find this wonderful Simplicity Pattern # 3889 for a variety of sizes and styles for laptop computer bags and decided to use it. The inside of the computer bag has pockets for pens and pencils as well as a pocket to slip cords or the mouse into. I just love the purple floral inside of the case just as much as the striped outside. This laptop totebag closes with two zippers that run from the center top around to the bottom. The outside has a large pocket on both sides to drop a notepad, tablet or books.

This was a lot of fun to make. It wasn't terribly difficult, though I would not recommend this for a beginner to sewing. Some of the instructions on the pattern rely on the needleperson to intuitively, or through experience, know how to apply binding, zippers in an inconventional useage and manner. Also, I wouldn't recommend this project for a sewing machine that wasn't, shall we say, substantial. There are a lot of layers, cord and fabric that needs to go through the machine. The layers where one is sewing through the front, inside and pocket layers gave my machine some groans. All in all, though, it went together fairly easily and I would love to make another one. In fact, I'm considering the envelope style pouch for my KOBO e-reader. Now I'm off to mail the bag to my sister. I've put this off for so long and she's not complained once that I haven't gotten it mailed to her.

And because I am so late in mailing this to her, I'm tucking in an apology card. My sister knits beautifully so I thought she might forgive me if I apologized for my tardiness with this "sorry to be such a Knit Wit" card.
Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers!

Jennifer