I made a backpack.

First off, yes, this about my SIL.

Ok now that we got that out of the way. This is the only proof I have that she drives me absolutely bonkers. So this time I took photos to "prove" that she drives me crazy. Is it really bad bad? No....but it is enough to irk me.

Ok so around March 1st, my SIL sent me a picture of a backpack she wanted made for her daughter.

This one's design




With a free pattern too! If I wanted to use it.

So I made sure I was straight and to the point so we would both work together well. I put her on what I thought was a short enough leash, with enough rules, so she didn't go over board.

Apparently, it wasn't "short" enough. She emailed me and said she wanted a few receiving blankets made for her baby due in June. No big deal, cut and serge. And a few is usually like 3 or 4, I could do that easy!

So we set a date, I told her to sketch out what she wanted, and she would come over for a consult.

Well she didn't show, and it started to stress me out. She finally calls and says she'll be late, and she is. I don't know what I expected her to be on time but that's ok.

She shows up and starts telling me everything she's brought. Here's the pile, with the detailed sketch that she drew out for me. And it's NOTHING like the original agreement on a design for a back pack
And a picture of how she laid the fabric together for the back pack to fall.

So now she has just dropped enough fabric on me to make 7 receiving blankets, a back pack. Possibly a bonnet if I have time, and as many nursing pads out of the left over flannel from the blankets.

Yes I'm serious.....
So I finish the bonnet and the receiving blankets first, they're the easiest.

Then I finish the backpack and it's a total FLOP. It has no structure no support, her design is to big and it just folds in on itself.

Disappointed she agrees to come back for another consult to figure out how to make it work.

When she gets her. She says she has a surprise for me. And pulls out MORE fabric. Says of course I can do it when I have time. But I mean I hate seeing that I have an "order" out that I can do whenever I want. I now have to make a cloche for her older daughter for summer. She makes her changes to the backpack. Many of which I take into consideration, and this takes a super long time as we're testing out the old backpack, before I jot down all her notes and toss the old backpack only saving the flap.

I then find a pattern on line for a cloche, that's the style she wants. And the pattern is no good and it turns out like this.

It works but it's raised in areas it shouldn't be. So I offer to make her another one if she has any more fabric.

Then I finish the backpack. Which all of my ideas WORKED! It has structure, and support and it looks super good and I love it. Well except for the harness. But that's because I don't harness my kids and I think it looks weird but it's full functional now. With 2 elastic pockets high on the front, 2 high elastic pockets on the back. Snaps on the side to draw it in for smaller object, open for larger items. (Like the box of cereal I put in the backpack for pictures).

Now I'm not sure how this is going to fit on her daughter, because well, her daughter is 2, and really petite, and it fits my 3 year old really well and she's chunky!, but this is what her momma wanted.
Then my SIL decided she wanted a matching cloche with this fabric to match the backpack.

So I did that too.
And FINALLY finished up 4 pairs of small nursing pads. Which I probably didn't make right, she wanted them contoured and they didn't turn out contoured at all.

And now I'm finally done.

This is why I don't do business with my SIL often. This experience was 100% better than past experience. And I just love what my MIL said when I showed her, "Well you know her, she has lots of ideas."

So there I did it.

How 1 backpack turned into 1 elaborate backpack, 7 receiving blankets, 1 bonnet, 2 cloches, and 4 sets of nursing pads.

At least that is all done!

And ETA: Yes I designed the backpack with a pattern I made myself, it's completely 100% my design. I still am amazed I did that.

And I can also add, she was "nice" to a point through the whole thing. Trying to say that she understands she has lots of ideas, and that she doesn't want to give me a project that will take up a lot of time. She just wanted lots of small items that didn't take a lot of time. Like I said, it's 100% better than we've ever worked together before.

Love the backpack! Too cute.

God bless you for having the patience for your SIL. I'd be drove nuts and just give up  

First, you're SIL sounds crazy  

Second, you are really talented!!

I think you did a fantastic job! I wish I had creative talent to do this kind of stuff.
I can't even really sew a button on anything. I mean I have in the past, but I suck.

I want a backpack lol how much do you charge?

And she seems to think you're only around for her benefit... she can suck it lol

That's beautiful, I want one! Haha. I can I end you 300 different fabrics and have each spot be a different one   I'm glad it wasn't as bad of an experience as the past and she was satisfied.

Please tell me she paid you for your time!!! That's a lot of stuff

I love the back pack and bonnett! Not really her choice of fabrics together but it turned out great!

Wow, I was skeptical b/c I remember previous posts about this chick.

But, the end results are hella-cute! And if the experience with her was 100% better, than I'd say it was a win! And you got experience making a new bag that you've been able to tailor & get the bugs out --- and it's totally your property!

Congrats  

So in response to everyone(we had company today).

The backpack I would market and sell wouldn't have a flap, as that is to hard for me to make properly. I'm looking around 30-35 to sell them, they should be on my Etsy site by June, and will have 1-2 elastic pockets on them.

No she hasn't paid me for it yet, but then I haven't given it to her yet either. I only gave her the receiving blankets and bonnet.

I'm asking between 20 and 25 for my time for everything.

And as far as patience? It wears thin with her, I don't talk to her often and when I do, it's because she wants something from me. Like I HAVE to go to her house for Easter(which I got out of), I have to crochet something for her, I have to sew something for her....etc.

It's never just, "Let's hang out and let the kids play"

<blockquote><b>Quoting TheCoopersKnitWitch:</b>" So in response to everyone(we had company today). The backpack I would market and sell wouldn't have ... [snip!] ... to crochet something for her, I have to sew something for her....etc. It's never just, "Let's hang out and let the kids play""</blockquote>

What would be at the top to keep it closed then? Velcro or zipper?

I'll apologize for you SIL, b/c I think I'm a lot like her.  
I do pay well and nothing anyone does for me goes unappreciated.

your SIL seems like a loon.

i LOVE that backpack. you are so creative! i keep telling tim i can't wait to meet you, haha i probably sound like a weirdo/creeper!

I love it! You did a good job! I think the ruffle pattern is cute too! Are you going to add this to your store as a set item people can buy?

Quoting Destinite:" I'll apologize for you SIL, b/c I think I'm a lot like her.   I do pay well and nothing anyone does for me goes unappreciated."

See her husband is a cheap-o, there's no denying that at all.

If I charge to much, he'll refuse to pay. So I have to set it as low as possible.

And I don't mind doing work for clients that are difficult if I get paid almost full price. I just did an order for a woman who was constantly changing her mind. In the end she took them because she felt bad because she kept changing her mind! And we had to leave it at that.

Quoting wyatt.earp.:" your SIL seems like a loon. i LOVE that backpack. you are so creative! i keep telling tim i can't wait to meet you, haha i probably sound like a weirdo/creeper!"

She's just full of "creative ideas" and like she said, "I could do it but I have no time."

I don't understand why she thinks I HAVE time to do what she wants. I'm just lucky the kids nap between 12 and 4 and one is in school, or I wouldn't complete anything at all!

And I'm excited to meet you too, I'm just a little bummed that you'll be so far away!