purplefiend

Make sure that you have the straps go all the way around the bag, from top to bottom.
That way the straps cannot tear loose from the bag.
Sharon in Texas

ArchaicArcane

Thanks Janey, yes - my neck and shoulder are a little better today. I will be taking Ronnie out again tonight to another sewing group so we'll see how load-bearing the shoulder feels like being. Since we don't have snow yet, I might load her onto a rolling cart I have to save some wear and tear.

The lid looks like it's still attached at the back of the tote. I haven't really hit on a full design yet, it's still marinating. I find if I don't bug it too much for the first day or so, it often pretty much hops into the pan by itself when it's ready. I may do it with the straps outside anyway. Thinking about it, even the mesh bag my cousin suggested would be strong, since the load carrying capacity is coming from the straps and the rest of the bag is mostly stabilization. Hiding the straps was partially for aesthetics in general and partly so that if I chose to embroider it, it was irrelevant where the straps were. That's mainly because my patterns often evolve as I'm building them and if I've embroidered a panel already, I'm a little stuck.

I was thinking of stiffening the bottom, and either a single seam or a perimeter seam. I hadn't really decided yet but was thinking on the same lines as you are. I probably also wouldn't bother with the plastic bottom that the etsy bag uses. The straps that bag uses look like cotton - moisture would just wick up the straps.

I feel like the further apart the straps are, the better the weight distribution would be or seem anyway - of course also paying attention to where the latch mechanism is too. I considered putting the straps on the sides instead of the front and back but I like the stability that comes from pulling the bag into you, instead of creating a fulcrum with the bag. I have a cooler bag that hangs with the straps on the sides and it always feels like it's tipping one way or the other.

I have to drive past the Walmart tonight and will have Ronnie in the car with me. I might just stop and try out a few bags.

Flat Felled -like jeans if I recall my stitches? I agree. I know someone with a patcher and may be able to talk him into doing some of the webbing seams if I get into trouble. I think with the webbing stitched all the way up the bag though, it should hold pretty well, especially if the seams aren't in line with the bottom seam (another selling point for a perimeter seamed bottom)

I see that you mean but I figure it this way: When I take her sewing - everyone already knows what she is and I'm always with her. The groups I tend to go to, I know the ladies quite well too. I suppose if I were going to a class where I didn't know anyone, it might be different. I was thinking though, that I might embroider a design I like on it or put some of my long arm quilting on it with a variegated thread. Like a whole cloth made functional.

I was gonna watch the video again and type it out but Google saved me. Someone else already typed it out.
Here is the process he suggests: https://m.facebook.com/notes/singer-...4015585316683/


Definitely a good idea to hold it underneath. I've had one of those boxes pop open when I thought I'd latched it tightly but hadn't. You can also use that double sided velcro and wrap a strap or two under the bottom of the box and do it up on top. I do that when I carry a case without a bag around it.

Just the old standbys for cardboard - activated charcoal, kitty litter, newspaper, baking soda, etc. Some say setting it outside will do it but that introduces your UV problems again.

You can also wipe the cardboard down with a weak bleach solution. That might kill any bacteria or mold contributing to the stench. I'm guilty of throwing the boxes out if they smell really bad.

I would be concerned about the newspaper gathering moisture and compounding the problem. I'd love to know if Dave's solution works for you.

This is exactly what I usually tell anyone who I see with a vintage case. I don't trust them either. I've seen the aftermath of a machine coming out the bottom too. Yep, I've carried those boxes on a motorcycle, and I have had Ronnie on a motorcycle too - she was in a soft bag inside my hard luggage on the back of the bike at that time.

Well, I think you could decoupage that plastic case and no one would bat an eye at you for doing it.

Definitely. That's what got me into this situation to begin with. I should have looked harder at that bag but it was built for motorcycle gear - I thought it would be more than strong enough. I assumed and it bit me in the rear.

Mickey2

Yes, those used on jeans. I've noticed they are standard on work clothes that need the extra strength, any type of shirt, and finer evening wear made in chiffon, organza and similar fabrics where extra enforcement of the frabric and shaping is an advantage. I've seen it used on unusual fabrics like silk-acetat blends too. Lately I have developed a fascination for different seam types, but I've never heard of perimeter seams? I picture googeled it but nothing useful turned up. There's serveral ways about it though, I'm sure you find something that suits the pattern.

If you use handles of webbing, sturdy seams and clever construction it should hold plenty. Single minimal seams look nicer, but where it needs the streangth, I have gone for stitching a square with a cross inside, or just a lot of forward and reverse in places. Top stitch thread or extra strength can be a must.

Best of luck :- )

ArchaicArcane

Sorry, that's the way I think of the seams. I'm sure most of the terms I use are my own - I am largely self-taught after all.

Perimeter seams - seams that join the 4 sides of the "box" to the base - as opposed to the main seam down the center of the bottom like a box you fold out from flat.

I've seen some people stitch a seam then press it open and then top stitch on both sides. That seems to me to be decorative - one set of threads to hold the seam. I was thinking I could do a sort of "cheater's" flat felled seam by pressing to one side and top stitching both sides of the seam. The stitches on the one side would be decorative, but the stitches on the seam side would be extra strength.

I plan to match my thread to the webbing really well and stitch the crap out of it! As best I can tell, it's a lot like uh,.. women's foundation wear. The band(s) on the bottom does 85% - 90% of the work, the rest is for stability.

kay carlson

I purchased one of the canvas bags from Land's End when they had a sale and free shipping. I don't recall the size, but I do know that the construction and materials will wear like iron.

In the interim, you might consider making a slip-over quilted cover to protect the case. Someone on Etsy made mine in a beautiful Amy Butler print. The cover slips over the top (think toaster cover) and case handle is exposed for carrying. Good luck!

ube quilting

I bought a bag on wheels to cart my sewing machine around in. It is low to the ground and will fit a FW and many accessories. Joann Fabric sells them and with a coupon I spent a paltry $35 for it and there are several other storage bags that come with them. It is about twelve years old and still wonderful. I got my moneys worth.
peace

ArchaicArcane

Hey Kay, I did see those covers. The problem I have with them is that vintage handles and cases should really not be trusted for carrying. I've seen the aftermath of a machine coming out of the bottom and have had several cases where the handle was either punched through the top or the surrounding area was so damaged from the weight that it wasn't possible to perform an attractive fix at all. I have seen a couple of totes in very attractive fabrics that are basically that cover turned upside down - that I'm all over.

I so wish I could live somewhere that I could use something like that year round. I just do too much damage to them in the winter trying to drag them through snow.

Sewnoma

That's sensible - for me, when I take my machine places I'm usually taking it along on work trips or vacations so it's passing through hotels and the hands of hotel staff. I recently had to check my baggage early at a hotel and I was nervous the whole time because my FW was just sitting there in its case in some room...I didn't have a key for the lock at that point (I do now) and I was worried someone would see it and know what it was and help themselves to some of the more expensive parts. Probably not a necessary worry as it was a nice hotel (and nothing did happen to it) but even in nice hotels, sometimes people aren't honest. So if I can make it look like something boring I would feel better about it! Those little black cases are SO distinctive if you are in the sewing machine world.

I would want to embroider something like "C-Pap" on the outside. Nope, not a cute little FW in here, just a boring breathing machine...nothing to see here, move along...

carslo

I too, have an inexpensive roller bag from Michael's that was on sale. I think it was for scrap booking but fits my Annie just fine.

ArchaicArcane

Yes, that totally makes sense. You could take the bobbin case with you if you have to leave it somewhere.

The other thing I'd like to mention is that these machines - even in their boxes - are small enough to just take the whole thing. If they want it, they'll take it. The only thing I really lock mine for (again, knowing where mine goes) - is to help ensure that the latches won't pop open while I'm transporting her either to a bag or into both hands. Sure throws DH for a loop when he tries to help set her up and the latches won't pop.