Gettin' Crafty

So as we were packing the taiko and equipment up after the school show Janet said we ought to make a bag for the chekere she's been letting me borrow, since the bag it's in is more of a sack than anything. She wanted something with a reinforced bottom and a little more padding. And then of course as we were moving stuff into the cars, someone dropped the chekere (not me! I just heard the thump and was like--CRINGE, there goes the chekere). It didn't get hurt, but just punctuated the need to make a chekere bag even more.

I took a look at Janet's chekere bag, and then looked on the internet for a similar pattern which I modified a bit for size, and added a couple layers of batting, and also changed it so the reinforced bottom could be removed and the bag washed, if desired, ie, if I got so nervous that I vomited on it, or whatever. After most of an afternoon and part of the evening I wound up with this:


Check it out! It's a bag! And this is coming from someone who can barely hem pants. I took one sewing class in high school (to fulfill a requisite, believe me). I wasn't fond of the teacher, but at least I learned how to use a sewing machine.


The chekere fits nice and snug, like a swaddled baby.

If I do this again, I need to figure out how to attach some sort of strap or handle, and maybe add a decoration, and a pocket somewhere inside to stash earplugs. But hey, I'm happy.