Making an evening bag to hold a walking stick

[elettaria]

I'm going to a wedding next month, and I've just realised that there will be a walking stick problem. There will doubtless be lots of times when I don't want to have the walking stick around, for instance in the synagogue, during the meal and so on. In my experience, if you park it on the back of a chair it falls off with a loud clatter, and if you slide it right under a table it sneaks out and bites the ankles of people six feet away. I do have a foldable walking stick (third from bottom), provided I can strip and revarnish the handle, which is sadly chipped. When folded, it's about 40 cm long by 14 wide (for the handle), although if I bother to make it shorter before folding (I'm assuming it'll be set to fairly high as I'll be wearing heels) it will only be 31 cm long; bit of a hassle but manageable if I'm really desperate. It tends to spring open if given a chance, so either you put something on it to keep it together (like a big hairband) or put it in the bag in such a way that it won't leap out at you.

The problem is that my bag is lovely but it really won't do for a black tie event. So I need an evening bag which will hold a walking stick. I doubt I'll find anything big enough, so I'm considering making one. I do a certain amount of sewing, I've made a couple of basic sundresses and embroider away happily, plus I'm good at inventing my own designs, but I don't have a sewing machine and I'm not wildly experienced. I think it would need a special pocket for the stick, so that I could fold it up, put it in there, button/zip/popper it shut and not have to worry about its attacking me every time I opened the bag. Perhaps another pocket for keys and wallet? I've never done linings before, help!

What shape should it be, and what's the best sort of handle? Fastenings? I'm currently eyeing this bag at Accessorize, though I'd originally envisaged the folded up stick sitting upright within the bag instead. What about fabrics? I'm very happy to embroider or bead whatever I concoct to make it more eveningy. Black would probably be best.

Here is my stick, folded up on the second-lowest height (think I might need the next height up for high heels), sitting on a piece of purple linen on the cutting board (which is in cm if you want to look at the measurements).



I'm considering getting this black damask fabric for making the bag: it looks dressy, it should be moderately sturdy and also easy to bead.

Cross-posted to my journal, sew_hip and chroniccrafters, and edited to add a picture of my stick.

Comments

[sam-t.livejournal.com]

Wow, that sounds like quite a project. I think what I'd do myself is to make a little satin or velvet drawstring bag for the stick, buy a plain black bag that is big enough to fit the stick and everything else, and then dress the bought bag up if necessary - maybe with beaded charms or something. You're far more ambitious! Let us know how it goes...

[elfbystarlight.livejournal.com]

I'd go for a fairly simple drawstring, myself. They're probably the easiest!

[elettaria.livejournal.com]

Good point, and something I could actually make. One of the women at the local fabric shop makes little bags, so I'm going to wander in there later on this week and see what she could do me, and maybe bead it before she puts the interfacing on. I found a fairly hideous bag in John Lewis which was the right size and shape, so I trotted down to Haberdashery (where they have water-soluble marker pens in WHITE!) and measured it. Somewhere between this (http://store.monsoon.co.uk/catalog/Welcome?pid=11323) and this (http://store.monsoon.co.uk/catalog/Welcome?pid=11323) in shape. Because the bottom is wider than the neck, the stick pretty much stays put without unfolding itself. A fold-over flap would probably be the easiest thing, I think, considering that she makes fairly simple bags fastened with a popper/snap thing.

[garpu.livejournal.com]

What about beaded knitting? I've seen some patterns that are gorgeous.

[elettaria.livejournal.com]

Alas, I cannot knit. I'm getting some useful ideas on my cross-post here (http://community.livejournal.com/sew_hip/1033459.html).