I'd wanted to make a case to use for storing my laptop for simply ages, and when I saw the ByAnnie pattern for the Executive Carryalls II I knew I'd just HAVE to make it! The pattern has instructions for 2 different bags - the Executive Carryall which is slightly larger and has more pockets along with a carry strap, and a Widescreen Laptop case, which is designed to fit inside the larger Executive Carryall and is the one I chose to make. As always with ByAnnie patterns, the instructions are extremely well written. I picked out these bright A Spark of Happiness fabrics that I'd bought back in 2016 from Fiona's Fabrics in Woodbridge. I'd used them to make a Sew Together Bag, and last year I'd used them to make a case for my Samsung tablet so they were the perfect choice for a co-ordinated home office set! As I'd already used a few of these prints for other projects, I didn't have enough to make the front and back with the same fabrics, so I improvised by making the case quite scrappy. The back and front were made with ByAnnie Soft and Stable to give it plenty of structure. The front pocket is also quilted - I used a variegated YLI quilting thread and a very simple quilting design...
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...I chose this bright green continuous zipper tape for this project ( I buy mine forom Zipper Station as they have a great selection of colours) and it didn't take long to get the front pocket completed. The inside pocket is made with ByAnnie mesh, which I bought from Oh Sew Sweet Shop - they have a super range of ByAnnie patterns and products! I absoloutly love this bright pink mesh - I really was mixing up all the bright colours for this bag...
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...the back of the back has a short handle attached and the mesh pocket is attached to the wrong side of the back panel. The front of the bag has a zippered pocket attached to the front...
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...the corners have been rounded off which makes binding and constructing the bag much easier. The zipper strip has also been quilted very simply...
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...the zipper strip is inserted between the front and back of the laptop case, machined in place and then all raw edges are neated with a bias cut double fold binding. All the binding on the zipper tapes are neatly topstitched, and fabric strips are tied on all the zipper pulls...
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...the great instructions make sure that the bag looks fabulous with a very orofessional finish. I couldn't resist sewing a cute Kylie and the Machine label on the front pocket of the bag - there weren't TOO many swear words uttered over making this one although it would've been much easier if I'd sewn the label on before I'd actually constructed the *!&# thing!...
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...there aren't any pockets on the back of the case, although it would be very easy to add a a slip pocket or another zippered pocket to the back if you wanted to. Overall, this has been a great bag to make and is absolutely perfect for storing my laptop and charger...
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...my tablet (in it's matching protective padded case) will also fit inside, so all my electronic devices are neatly stored away together, and all of my "home office" equipment have very smart, co-ordinating covers. There were just enough pieces of fabric left over to make a very scrappy notebook cover too, which I'll share a picture of tomorrow.
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