Why I HATE sewing...[DVD Case]

[rebecnik]

So I don't do a whole lot of sewing. Just basic stuff like hemming. I decided yesterday to sew a case for my portable DVD player. I was all worried about this project, being the first time I've done anything with a zipper. And when I got done sewing the zipper and two sides, I was super proud! The player fit perfectly!!!...through the back. The zipper needed to be about a freakin' half inch longer. And now I don't even have enough fabric to make a separate case for it. So now I need to know what to do with this. It's really not wide enough for pencils or my clay tools or anything. Ugh. I hate this. In every sewing project I do, no matter how hard I try to get everything perfect, I do some major, stupid mistake. Sorry for the rant. I worked really hard on this!  

[BeaG]

Aw, I understand your frustration. Knowing it isn't your strongest point, yet you dedicated yourself to it and then it turns out just a little too small.
It does look pretty though!
Perhaps you could use it as a jewelry travel pouch.
Or keep beads in it.
Or use it as a snack bag.

[MareMare]

Aw, I'm sorry! You could hem the other side and put in a button and buttonhole to still use it for your player.

[graced]

rebecknik, most of what I've learned about sewing has been like this...by learning what NOT to do. I joke that I have to do everything twice (and never on fragile/delicate material) to end up with one useable project. Hang in there, and get to be really good friends with your seam ripper! It's totally worth it.

You get brownie points for being fearless, too. Jump in there and try it, and let your skills catch up with your desires, I say!

If it were mine, I'd probably do one of two things:

--finish the bag and put it aside for another use (gift bag? personal supplies like pads, etc?) Then I'd grab a piece of clothing I felt I could do without, and try it again using it for fabric/zipper.

--rip out the zipper and one long side. set the zipper in the long side, sewing right up to the base of the zipper and leaving an inch or so open on the top. Your dvd player won't slip out that little bit of a hole.

Best of luck!

[rebecnik]

Well, thanks everyone for all the advice! I guess I'm going to sew up the end and use it for something or other. I just don't know what yet. But good news is here- I made one in which the DVD player will fit! (see "completed projects"). Thanks much for all the advice, praise, and encouragement. Crafting can be so rewarding yet so frustrating!

[CraftyChef]

Got any other fabric? You could cut off 1/3 of the existing bag, cut a couple panels from different fabric for the bottom (er, longer than the stuff you cut off, since it was too short and extra long because you'll need some seam room where the two fabrics meet), sew it and use it for what you intended. If money's the problem, you can get tons of cheap-a-rooty fabric from your local thrift store. Use the blue stuff you cut off for something else. Heck, you could probaby make a small handle with it.

[AshtonagoL]

Iron a cute patch or applique on it, sew a piece of ribbon on for a handle and you have a cute purse!

[AshtonagoL]

Oh, and don't feel bad.  Making things without a pattern is a pain.  I know for me it's all trial and error which usually means my first version doesn't turn out either.

[HomemadeSunshine]

Sometimes you just need to make, adjust and remake. It looks good over all though, keep going. Learning any new skill takes some time and mistakes to really figure it out.

[little me]

I've been there before & it's frustrating. What I've learned to do w/anything that needs to be fitted is to do a mock up 1st. Take some cheapie muslin & make just the outside, no lining. You can test fit it & see if it will work, if not then adjust & make the real thing - I have made up to 3 mock ups before making the real thing, but it fit perfectly. This was a pain to do at 1st, but it really saves a lot of frustration (& time) by doing it this way. What I do w/the mock up is save it for making smaller mock ups or if it's a completed piece, make a lining, then dye it.