A vision in neutrals, and a refinement of certain elements as we place more (Fa)Bricks in the Wall.
There are a few stack bond variations I am hesitant to attempt in fabric for fear of monotony, but with a metallic spin on the choices, even the most neutral palette can become eye-catching.
The combination bond (Stretcher Courses and Sailor Courses in alternating rows) was one I had doubts about due to its simplicity, but it turned out correctly with the interior side panels being a gold and silver alternating pattern and the interior runner being a steelier grey and suede lean. There are two to three more patterns I am going to attempt at this size, but this was one of the (Fa)Brick laying instances that I enjoyed for a few reasons. Of the bags I have done, this is one of the first in which the exterior color scheme paralleled the interior rather well, with silvery curtain fabric on the thinner sides, and a darker grey-white for the main panels, connected by white straps. Similarly to the Checkerboard pattern, the integration of interior zipper pockets was also nearly seamless, and a feature that, while not compatible with every brick layout, is appreciated when executed correctly. I am improving with my embroidery skill regarding the “MHD 1/1” Production Tag. More to come and another collection potentially on the way with new (old) stock arriving.
My Trusty Quality Control Manager
This is my assistant and all around inspector Baron, but he is affectionately referred to as “Cream Cheese” and he is the litmus test for whether or not a bag is decent, as he will hop into it upon completion if he approves of its construction. Since it is wintertime as I am making many of these bags, his inclination to be close to me also comes into contrast with my working mindset and methodology as I bend over him to reach my machine. Occasionally he will do something hilarious, like what is seen on the left, as I was pinning the interior panels for construction, he climbed into the hole that was left open and camped out there. In those instances, I know I’ve got a hit on my hands, because if he’s willing to hop into the bag when it’s still in process, that means he’d have no problem with the finished product. Rest assured that he has had more attention given to him and has correspondingly given so much attention to every piece of every bag in this project, to the point that I would gladly name him as a collaborator on this entire experiment.