Some frequently asked questions:
How long will I have to wait until my bag is shipped?
Sarah's Violin Bags is a one-woman boutique shop run by a professional violinist. Because of the variability of fabric arrivals, concert schedules, and other factors, I can not promise bags will be shipped on a specific timeline. Bags will ship out as quickly as I can make them: but please note, this timeline may vary! I do make every bag, myself, in my workshop, and unlike Amazon, I'm a team of one. Please know your order is important, and I'm delighted to share my bags with you... I hope you'll find they're worth the wait!
What is the difference between the silk brocades and silk charmeuse?
The brocade bags are the a kind of smooth, slippery-feeling fabric, but woven into a brocade, with several threads woven together (like a miniature tapestry) instead of just one texture. These threads make the pattern in the fabric, instead of the fabric being a dyed print.
The silk charmeuse fabric is smooth, and slippery-feeling. My current design (first conceived by Anne Akiko Meyers) puts this smooth side on the inside, so your instrument is surrounded by the smoothest part of the fabric. This type of fabric feels the most like a stereotypical wedding dress-- supple and soft.
The natural fiber offers the most protection for your instrument from temperature and humidity changes, and are the most recommended by luthiers. It's hard to describe these things in words, so I'm happy to send you fabric samples if you would like to compare!
Here's a link to a Strings Magazine article explaining the benefits of a silk bag:
How to Winterize Your Instrument
And another about winter protection:
How to Protect Your Instrument Against Winter Chill
How long will a cello or viola bag take?
Once you've chosen a fabric that is available, I can give you a more exact time estimate for your bag. Current wait time for a custom project is now around two months.
How do I order a cello or viola bag?
First, pick a print or a color. Second, message me at [email protected]. (Measuring instructions for viola bags found here.) Viola bags vary slightly depending on the viola's size, between $65 and $75, cello bags are all $155.
What if I have an unusually high chinrest?
Since Sarah's violin bags close at the scroll, your chinrest affects how your bag fits! If you have an especially high model (such as an SAS or similar), send me a message before ordering to be sure your new bag will fit.
How often do you get new prints in?
New prints come in on average every four weeks during September-May, somewhat longer during the summer months... This can change due to customer interest, new local fabric discoveries, or special request bags. If you have a particular color or pattern in mind, please send me a message and I can see what is available.
Why does silk cost so much more than the other fabrics?
Silk is a beautiful, magnificent fabric! The silk brocade is imported from China and Japan, made through a centuries-old process, out of natural threads from silk worms, then dyed and woven into beautiful patterns. Because of this, silk brocade costs 2 to 2 1/2 times more than the satin brocades. The price difference in the violin bags reflects the cost difference in the materials.
How long will I have to wait until my bag is shipped?
Sarah's Violin Bags is a one-woman boutique shop run by a professional violinist. Because of the variability of fabric arrivals, concert schedules, and other factors, I can not promise bags will be shipped on a specific timeline. Bags will ship out as quickly as I can make them: but please note, this timeline may vary! I do make every bag, myself, in my workshop, and unlike Amazon, I'm a team of one. Please know your order is important, and I'm delighted to share my bags with you... I hope you'll find they're worth the wait!
What is the difference between the silk brocades and silk charmeuse?
The brocade bags are the a kind of smooth, slippery-feeling fabric, but woven into a brocade, with several threads woven together (like a miniature tapestry) instead of just one texture. These threads make the pattern in the fabric, instead of the fabric being a dyed print.
The silk charmeuse fabric is smooth, and slippery-feeling. My current design (first conceived by Anne Akiko Meyers) puts this smooth side on the inside, so your instrument is surrounded by the smoothest part of the fabric. This type of fabric feels the most like a stereotypical wedding dress-- supple and soft.
The natural fiber offers the most protection for your instrument from temperature and humidity changes, and are the most recommended by luthiers. It's hard to describe these things in words, so I'm happy to send you fabric samples if you would like to compare!
Here's a link to a Strings Magazine article explaining the benefits of a silk bag:
How to Winterize Your Instrument
And another about winter protection:
How to Protect Your Instrument Against Winter Chill
How long will a cello or viola bag take?
Once you've chosen a fabric that is available, I can give you a more exact time estimate for your bag. Current wait time for a custom project is now around two months.
How do I order a cello or viola bag?
First, pick a print or a color. Second, message me at [email protected]. (Measuring instructions for viola bags found here.) Viola bags vary slightly depending on the viola's size, between $65 and $75, cello bags are all $155.
What if I have an unusually high chinrest?
Since Sarah's violin bags close at the scroll, your chinrest affects how your bag fits! If you have an especially high model (such as an SAS or similar), send me a message before ordering to be sure your new bag will fit.
How often do you get new prints in?
New prints come in on average every four weeks during September-May, somewhat longer during the summer months... This can change due to customer interest, new local fabric discoveries, or special request bags. If you have a particular color or pattern in mind, please send me a message and I can see what is available.
Why does silk cost so much more than the other fabrics?
Silk is a beautiful, magnificent fabric! The silk brocade is imported from China and Japan, made through a centuries-old process, out of natural threads from silk worms, then dyed and woven into beautiful patterns. Because of this, silk brocade costs 2 to 2 1/2 times more than the satin brocades. The price difference in the violin bags reflects the cost difference in the materials.