Samsonite produces portfolio carrying cases for laptops and other fragile items. Although Samsonite produces many kinds of portfolio cases, such as the 20-inch portfolio laptop case and the expandable leather laptop porfolio, they all come with handles. These handles are machine sewn onto the case and the stitching is very small, but the handles can be removed and replaced if your handles have ripped, worn or you just want bigger ones.
Instructions
1. Lay your Samsonite porfolio on your work desk or sewing table. Insert the sharp end of the seam ripper below a seam binding the perimeter of the base of the handle in front of you to the case. Push the ripper forward and upward to rip the seam open.
2. Repeat Step 1 for another seam ten seams away from the first. Turn the seam ripper upside down in your hands. Insert the dull side under a seam between the first seam you ripped and the second. Push forward and pull up. This should pull out the thread that was cut on both ends.
3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 for the entire perimeter of one base of the handle. Continue the procedure for the second base of the handle. Pull the handle off of the Samsonite porfolio when all of the seams are removed.
4. Choose a spool of thread that matches the portfolio and the new handles. Thread the spool through bobbin on the machine. Wind the bobbin until it's full. Set your bobbin into the machine near the needle. Because each sewing machine is different, check the instructions that come with your machine for variations. Thread the spool through the slots on the machine to catch the thread in the bobbing arms. Insert the end of the thread into the eye of the needle. Insert the thread through the presser foot. Hold the thread outward away from the machine. Gently press on the peddle of the machine to move the bobbin through above the presser foot. Pull the thread from the bobbin toward the thread from the spool. Hold them away from the machine. Place the cover over the bobbin.
5. Lay the base of the new handle over the portion of the portfolio where the old handle went. Raise the presser foot on your sewing machine. Lay the portion of the portfolio case that is going to be stitched for the new handle underneath the presser foot. Set the width guide to the smallest available width on your sewing machine. Choose a basic stitch setting. Hold one hand on the portfolio as a guide. Press down on the peddle with your foot. Guide the handle base and portfolio slowly and consistently under the presser foot, which pulls the fabric forward. Stop after 1/2 inch. Press the back stitch button or knob on your machine. Back stitch 1/2 inch, which allows the machine to lock in the stitching by going back and forth on it. Press the peddle again and guide the portfolio and new handle forward until one side of the base is complete. Back stitch half an inch once more. Take the portfolio and new handle out from under the presser foot. Repeat this process for all sides.
Tags: presser foot, base handle, away from, sewing machine, away from machine
