Tennis Bag

I finished this tennis bag, the instructions for which I found on Sew Mama Sew.

It's pretty simple, and the instructions are good, but I still managed to screw it up.

First off, I tried to make it up quickly before I went on our RV trip. I had a few hours and really, it could have been completed if things had gone smoothly.

But things never go smoothly.

The first problem was that the interfacing I had (Craft Bond) would. not. stick. So frustrating. I read that maybe my iron wasn't hot enough. I had been using my cordless, which is nice because it's cordless, but otherwise is a pretty worthless POS. I switched to the old-school iron I had picked up at Goodwill for $2. 

It melted the interfacing on to the fabric. 

After buying more interfacing, recutting fabric and interfacing, and turning down the iron, I tried again. It stuck, barely, and was a time-consuming chore.

Then I sewed up the outside and flipped it. Seams broke in a few places because I didn't think ahead and used the recommended 1/4" seam allowance, which is pretty stupid on a bag.

Finally, with the interfacing delaminating in places, the seams poking through in others, I managed to sew the corners together wrong. That's when I gave up.

When I got back from vacation, I tried again. I had cut out extra of some pieces and had interfacing on some. Otherwise, I would have chosen something else for the outside pocket.

This time I used 1/2" seams, trimmed every piece after putting interfacing on or sewing pieces together, and sewed the corners properly.

It all came together well and then I ironed the final seam around the top of the bag only to notice that the handle material can't handle the heat. I melted each handle. I trimmed off the melted bit and resewed the two. 

It's a little garish—I used excess quilting cotton in my stash—but I think I can use it. Maybe. Maybe I'll make another one in some other remnants I have.