Hello everyone,
I am wanting to make a set of soft (yet strong) luggage for my holiday, and was wondering if any of you experts had some good advice for a sewing dabbler like me?
Basically, I was planning on making a couple of straightforward rectangular suitcase-type bags with side handles, a round vanity case-type bag with top handle, and maybe a simple holdall (sports bag type with top zip and two side compartments?). I say 'soft' luggage as it is to be stowed in the boot, yet I would like it with a reasonable degree of stiffness to hold its own shape (when empty, for example.)
My hesitations arise from which material to use, and how best to stitch these items together - I havent got a big industrial machine, only a home machine (another reason for the 'soft' luggage!) And how do you stiffen such items - with cardboard or something more waterproof?
I was thinking of using a leatherette fabric, is this easy to stitch and how resilient will it be to travelling? Or would a waterproof nylon be a wiser choice?
All advice gratefully appreciated, and if anyone has any patterns or good links, I would be even more grateful!!
Jo. (off on holiday in less than 2 weeks, so she'd better get her skates on...)