Spencer-Ogg "Sail Sling" back by Linda Theil Diane Spencer-Ogg has just released a new pattern -- her first-ever sling bag, and it is a beaut! The "Sail Sling Bag" is a modest-sized sling with a multitude of feaures including interior and exterior slip pockets, interior and exterior zipped pockets, a strap keeper, and optional strap attachments. S-O creations are always carefully designed to be constructed on a domestic sewing machine. A clever "spine" feature, shown above in coordinating color, strengthens the bag and allows the bag maker to keep much of the construction out of the gussetted seams, which are finished with binding. I made my sling at 95-percent pattern size, which was not recommended by the designer! I also made a very slight modification in the shape of the bag. My sling measures aproximately 11x7x1.5-inches. The interior and binding is cotton from the "Grunge" collection by BasicGrey for Moda. The exterior is cotton from the ...
by Linda Theil Ever since I made Alisa a set of Spencer-Ogg packing pods five years ago, I have wanted to try to make a set out of mesh. Since I had some really nice, fine-weave, non-stretchy, white mesh from a discarded drying rack, I finally put aside my fear of working with mesh, and sewed a set of the large pods for Alisa's birthday present. They worked out great! The pods are so light and compact, they add nothing to luggage weight -- they pack flat when empty, or roll into a ball the size of a small pair of socks. The large-sized Spencer-Ogg packing pod is approximately 12x8x4-inches and can hold, for example: four pairs of underpants four bras four camisoles, and four pairs of lightweight socks! I used cotton in shades of gray from Brigitte Heitland's "Filigree" collection for Moda to make the gusset, hinge, and binding. The directions for the lightweight pods don't require seam-binding; but, I thought binding was a good idea to make the mesh seams as s...