Category: Sewing Bags

Guest Sewist: Who Let the Cat Out of the Bag?

This project was an amazing beginning and a bittersweet end at the same time.

One of my favourite pattern companies is oliver + s. They have the cutest children’s patterns and each one is like a mini sewing lesson. I have sewn these patterns for my kids for years, but the last kid just grew out of the largest children’s size. But before packing all those patterns up (at least for a while), I used one to help my youngest with one of her first sewing projects – a bag.

The oliver + s messenger bag in the small size.

The pattern is the messenger bag by oliver + s. I have the book, little things to sew, which includes the pattern, but you can also buy it as a stand alone pattern.

This is a really cute pattern, for a lined bag with two cargo-style pockets in the front, each with a flap, and two small pockets on each side. Of course, you can always add more features, but this was a beginning sewist project.

There are small pockets on each side. Just the right size for a bus pass, or a couple of pens.

This is the small size, which is meant to be a child’s messenger bag, but works well as a cross-body bag for a tween. It carries a notebook, a water bottle, and a card game, or a heap of cuddly friends.

There is lots of room inside.

The outer fabric is the Wilo utility cotton twill in sienna rose from the Fabric Club. The inside is quilting cotton in Bears by Crissie Rodda for Paintbrush Studio Fabrics. The pattern calls for a half-yard of each, but there will be almost enough left over to make another bag.

The outer fabric is a cotton twill, and the inner lining fabric is quilting cotton.

We used cream bias tape throughout. The strapping is matching cream-coloured cotton webbing. There are chrome strap adjusters. The final touch is one of the badges that The Fabric Club sells, in the shape of a cat.

My tween did all the tracing, cutting, ironing, hardware installation, and most of the sewing. I helped with the bias binding. There is quite a bit and it’s a little tricky to get right when you are small, and just learning to sew.

It’s pretty easy to customize the bag, just by choosing the right fabrics.

This project took a bit of time, but the results are definitely worth it. It’s an excellent design, and the instructions are amazing (as usual with oliver + s). And best of all, it gets a lot of use. I would strongly recommend the pattern, especially for beginning bag-makers looking to make something really unique.

Summary

Pattern Review: The messenger bag by oliver + s.
Fabric: Wilo utility cotton twill in sienna rose from the Fabric Club. The inside is quilting cotton in Bears by Crissie Rodda for Paintbrush Studio Fabrics.
Notions and Equipment: Bias binding, metal strap adjusters and a patch.

Size: small.
Cost: Book: This was a gift, but the book little things to sew retails for about $30. Fabric and hardware: About $20.
Sewing Level: Intermediate according to the pattern-maker, and I’d agree.
Modifications: None.
Results: Purrrrfect!

A patch adds a little something extra.

Make It Smaller: Noodlehead Sandhill Sling

One day a loved one might look at your sewing project, and say “Hey, can you make one for me too? Except smaller, and in a very uncompromising fabric?”

And it might look something like this. Lol!


This is a mini-version of the Noodlehead Patterns’ Sandhill Sling.

The pattern normally makes a bag that is 7” wide by 3” deep and 11” tall (17.8 cm x 7.6 cm x 28 cm). For this version, I made a bag that is about 6” wide by 3” deep and 9” tall. The pattern doesn’t come with this size. I just did a little math.

I sourced most of the materials from Our Social Fabric, a non-profit fabric store that sells headstock.

The outside is some sort of mystery water-resistant (water-proof?) technical fabric. It has no give whatsoever, making sewing around those corners tough! Pressing was also extra tricky – this fabric melts easily.

I used iron-on interfacing, but if I had to do it again with technical fabric, I’d use sew-in interfacing.

The striped webbing is also from Our Social Fabric.

I made a few adjustments. Just like last time, I added two d-rings so that the bag can be worn on either shoulder.

I added an internal pocket again, but this time I added a layer of quilt batting to both sides of the pocket. This gives gadgets a bit of extra protection. The batting was left over from a quilting project. This bag fits an iPhone Pro Max with room to spare.

I also added an inner zipper pocket on the opposite side. It’s about the right size for a couple of credit cards. The inside of the bag is made with quilting cotton.

There is a key leash as well. It’s made of grosgrain elastic with a swivel hook. And all the zippers have zipper pulls made of elastic cord.

I sourced the zippers and metal hardware from Wawak.

As a little extra, I included an earbud case. This is the Circle Zip Earbud Pouch from Dog Under my Desk. I used some leftovers from my scrap bin for this.

I also made a matching key fob, to make it a matching set.

I hope it’s a hit!

Summary

Pattern Review: Digital Sandhill Sling by Noodlehead Patterns, available in just the one size. 
Fabric: Mystery fabrics from Our Social Fabric. 
Notions and Equipment: Needle: universal 11/80. Zippers in “galena grey” and bag hardware in “nickel” from Wawak. I also used some grosgrain ribbon and elastic cording from Our Social Fabric.
Size: One size – miniaturized here.
Cost: Pattern: $10 USD (this is the second bag I’ve made with the pattern). Fabric: About $20. Webbing: $3. Hardware: About $15. Although there is enough of the hardware for a second bag, and enough fabric for two.
Sewing Level: Advanced, if using technical fabric with no stretch! lol. Average, otherwise.
Modifications: I added a swivel cord attachment for my keys, padding, and an extra inner pocket, and a carry handle.
Results: Amazing!

Something Small

Sometimes, it’s nice to sew something that is quick and easy and almost guaranteed to succeed. This is one of those projects.

It’s a small drawstring bag I made in between other projects. It was a gift.

The pattern is the Lined Drawstring Bag from Jeni Baker Patterns. It comes in eight sizes and this is the smallest. My finished bag is about 4.5″ by 3.25″ by 1.5″(or 11.5 cm by 8 cm by 4 cm).

This really is tiny – just the right size for a handful of dice. It’s not the first time I’ve used the pattern. You can see some other examples in an older post.

I used quilting cotton left over from a quilt I made. The flat cord is from Our Social Fabric, a non-profit fabric store selling donated deadstock fabric and supplies.

This pattern is pretty foolproof and I’d highly recommend it.

Summary

Pattern Review: Lined Drawstring Bag from Jeni Baker Patterns.
Fabric: Quilting cotton (from my stash).
Sizes: Available in eight sizes. This is the “Tiny” size.
Cost: Pattern: $9 (but made four times). Fabric: 0$.
Sewing Level: Easy.
Modifications: I used cord instead of fabric ties.
Results: Great!

Mama’s Got a Brand New Bag

I have been looking for the perfect sling bag, but they are always never quite right. Good thing I know how to sew!

My needs are pretty simple. I just want to be able to carry the basics without a lot of extra weight, keep everything zipped up for security, and keep everything dry on the occasional hike in the woods.

I chose the Sandhill Sling pattern by Noodlehead Patterns. It’s just the right size. It can carry all my daily basics, and then some. It also can fit an iPad mini (or an e-reader)!

The pattern is excellent in every way. The instructions are incredibly clear, and there is a sew-along with YouTube videos, photos, blog posts, and illustrations. It even has links/QR codes at key points that lead you right to those videos.

The bag comes with an outer zip pocket, and a main compartment with an inside pouch pocket. But if you are making the bag, you can always add extras. I added a swivel cord attachment for my keys, and a carry handle.

The outside fabric is black waxed cotton canvas, which is “cotton impregnated with a paraffin or natural beeswax based wax”. It’s water-resistant, but it feels dry and not at all sticky. Over time, it develops a distinctive worn-in appearance and patina.

This is my first time sewing with cotton canvas. It’s very odd fabric to sew with. In some ways it’s extra easy to work with, because it folds almost like cardboard and stays put. That’s good, because you can’t iron it.

It’s also a 441 gsm (13 oz/yard), which is really heavy fabric. There is one point where I needed to sew through 8 layers of it, and my sewing machine needed a tiny bit of encouragement, but she pulled through! I used a 16/100 jeans needle and that was about right.

The pattern calls for 0.53m of fabric for the outer bag, so I bought 1m which was wider than quilting cotton, and there is so much left! If you cut this carefully, with the accuracy you would cut fabric for a quilting project, there will probably be some extra for another project.

I chose black because I wanted a black bag, because that’s the colour of my soul! It also coordinates with my wardrobe really well. If I used a different colour the waxed cotton look would be a bit more visible.

I’ve used hardware in a colour called gunmetal because there was no black. But I’ve brightened it up with electric blue zippers.

If there is one thing I hate, it’s a black bag interior (how can anyone find anything in there?). So, I’ve used bright lime green quilting cotton for the interior. This was in my deep, deep stash.

There is also a bit of bright blue grosgrain ribbon I used to make the swivel cord attachment for my keys, and a tag on the front of the bag. This came from a deadstock non-profit fabric shop.

I am super happy about how this turned out. It’s a pretty heavy-duty bag but it doesn’t feel heavy when you wear it.

If I had to make it again, I might add an interior zipper pocket. I didn’t think the iPad mini would fit, but now that I do, I would add padding to the interior pouch pocket. I’d add a bit more topstitching, because it will produce a bit more of that crumply waxed canvas look over time. I’d also use a smoother, seatbelt-style webbing, and use that for the handle as well as the strap. But these are very small changes. This bag is amazing. I really love it.

I like the results so much, that I’m thinking about making another, which is good because there are already people at my house asking me when they can have a bag like mine.

Summary

Pattern Review: Digital Sandhill Sling by Noodlehead Patterns, available in just the one size.
Fabric: Waxed cotton canvas in black from Blackbird Fabrics for the outside. The inside is made with quilting cotton. The print is from the Jack & Jenny collection by Laurie Wisburn for Robert Kaufman from my deep stash.
Notions and Equipment: Needle: jeans 16/100. Zippers and bag hardware in “gunmetal” colour from Wawak. I also used some grosgrain ribbon from Our Social Fabric. The smaller swivel hook was left over from a previous project. I didn’t use interfacing.

Size: One size.
Cost: Pattern: $10 USD. Fabric: About $40. Webbing: $3. Hardware: About $15. Although there is enough of the hardware for a second bag, and enough fabric for three.
Sewing Level: Advanced, if using waxed cotton canvas. Average, otherwise.
Modifications: I added a swivel cord attachment for my keys, and a carry handle.
Results: Amazing!

An in-process photo of the bag.

Roll the Dice: Lined Drawstring Bags

My kids have gotten into Dungeons & Dragons, so I made them tiny bags to hold their dice.

The pattern is the Lined Drawstring Bag from Jeni Baker Patterns. It comes in eight sizes and this is the smallest. My finished bags are about 4.5″ by 3.25″ by 1.5″(or 11.5 cm by 8 cm by 4 cm).

They really are tiny – just the right size for a handful of dice.

These were really fast to sew up. The pattern is very clear and this would be a great pattern for a beginner. The pattern maker has also done a sewalong with this pattern and there is an expansion pack.

The larger sizes would make a good replacement for wrapping paper, but here the bag is the gift. These were Christmas gifts, but I have a bit of a blogging backlog, so I’m just posting to these photos now.

The fabric is all from my scrap bin. You can use any quilting cotton, and buy fat quarters of course. But this is also a great stash-busting project if you do any quilting.

Each bag uses three different fabrics, so there is a lot of room for making these really unique. Each bag I made matches the personality and preferences of each of my four kids.

The only change I made was to use cording instead of sewing ties for the bags. That made the project a little quicker and I like the look. The cording was leftover from making gym bags.

Summary

Pattern Review: Lined Drawstring Bag from Jeni Baker Patterns.
Fabric: Quilting cotton (from my stash).
Sizes: Available in eight sizes. This is the “Tiny” size.
Cost: Pattern: $9. Fabric: 0$.
Sewing Level: Easy.
Modifications: I used cord instead of fabric ties.
Results: Great!

Guest Sewist: In The Bag

The latest project from my junior apprentice, Kid No. 1, is a bag.

This is Burda 8235, Bag & Case, View A, which has languished in my pattern stash for so long I can’t remember when I got it. It’s part of the Burda Young series and great for beginners.

We made it a bit more complicated. For the exterior, we used a two-colour combo in twill.

Then, instead of a fabric strap, we used webbing, a rectangular ring and adjustable slider. This looks great, but honestly, I think it’s just easier and quicker to make the bag this way.

This bag is lined, and we used quilting cotton with a fun crab pattern. So cute! The pattern is Water Babies Crab Stripe by Sugarly Designs.

We also added pockets to the interior using some of the extra twill. One side has two larger pockets you can use for a phone, and the other side has smaller ones that are better for pens and smaller items.

The bag is just large enough to hold a standard notebook (US letter sized/A4).

For the front, we added two magnetic purse snaps following the directions in the excellent video, How To Install Magnetic Snaps, by Janelle MacKay of emmalinebags.com.

The bag pattern doesn’t call for interfacing, but the twill is pretty hefty and the bag design is not that structured. Still, we added some to both panels where the snaps are located, for long-term durability.

Everything got two rows of topstitching. For the record, Kid No 1 did all the stitching. I mostly helped getting the modifications organized.

This bag looks great and is super practical. I have some nice complex bags patterns, but this was fast and the results were great.

As a bonus, Kid No. 1 made a pin cushion using the Hedgie Pin Cushion pattern from Sam Hunter and Janome. This is a free pattern and it makes a cute mouse, or a hedgehog, depending on how many pins you have. lol.

Summary

Pattern Review: Burda 8235, Bag & Case, View A. Hedgie Pin Cushion from Sam Hunter and Janome (free).
Fabric: Twill in two colours and quilting cotton (Water Babies Crab Stripe by Sugarly Designs) all from The Fabric Club.
Size: N/A
Cost: Pattern: ??? Materials: About $30.
Sewing Level: Beginner. Very Easy.
Modifications: Added bag magnets, pockets, and used webbing with a rectangular ring and adjustable slider for the strap.
Results: Great!

Bungalow Bag

I have a great diaper bag. The only problem with it is that it is full of diapers. And crayons. And a couple of snacks. And hand sanitizer. And a baby sling.

But lately, with my youngest now two years old, I have begun to imagine a magical, mythical future where my bag has things like lipstick (I think I still have some somewhere),  money (I wish I still had some) and empty space (I want some!).

Two Zip Hipster bag sewing pattern by Dog Under My Desk, sewn by The Finished Garment.
Check out that pattern matching.

Do I decided to sew an anti-diaper bag. It will not be waterproof to keep the messes in. It will not be black so that I can ask my husband to carry it for me. It will not attach conveniently to my stroller. It will be small and pretty  and not have room to carry a menagerie of toy animals.

Two Zip Hipster bag sewing pattern by Dog Under My Desk, sewn by The Finished Garment.
Yes, there is another bird on the back. I promise the bag really isn’t crooked – it’s just a trick of the camera.

I used the Two Zip Hipster by Dog Under My Desk. It’s a great pattern that makes a real, professionally finished bag.

Two Zip Hipster bag sewing pattern by Dog Under My Desk, sewn by The Finished Garment.
I used green fabric for the lining. I love that there is such a good contrast.

Two Zip Hipster bag sewing pattern by Dog Under My Desk, sewn by The Finished Garment.
The front pocket is also lined in green.

I would rate the pattern as intermediate to advanced. Nothing is particularly difficult, but it’s a very detailed pattern. This pattern uses 11 pattern pieces for the exterior, 7 for the lining, 15 of interfacing, plus hardware. There are 15 pages of really great instructions.

Two Zip Hipster bag sewing pattern by Dog Under My Desk, sewn by The Finished Garment.
The pattern has an adjustable strap with real metal hardware.

Two Zip Hipster bag sewing pattern by Dog Under My Desk, sewn by The Finished Garment.
The zipper has a matching pull tab.

I also think that to do a really good job, you need a quarter-inch presser foot, a stitch-in-the-ditch foot and a good quilting ruler. These are all basic quilting tools, but not necessarily what an apparel sewist might have on hand. Everything needs to be done in a very precise manner to get good results, and these tools help a lot.

I used fabric from the Bungalow collection by Joel Dewberry. I love the colours – so vibrant! So hard to find thread to match. And the birds are really cute. Yes, I put a bird on it!

Two Zip Hipster bag sewing pattern by Dog Under My Desk, sewn by The Finished Garment.
There is an inner pocket that you can customize for what you need to carry with you.

This is not a quick project, but the results are so, so great. I will definitely be making another (probably without birds).

Project Summary

Pattern Review: Two Zip Hipster by Dog Under My Desk.
Fabric: Swallow Study in Lavender, Empress in Grassland, and Stripes in Lavender from the Bungalow collection by Joel Dewberry for Free Spirit, courtesy Warp & Weft (now closed).
Finished size: 11” tall, 9” wide, 1.5” deep.
Cost: Pattern: 12$.
Project Sewing Level: Intermediate to advanced.
Modifications: None.
Results: Great.

Two Zip Hipster bag sewing pattern by Dog Under My Desk, sewn by The Finished Garment.
I love the colours, but it did make it especially hard to match the thread and zippers.

Forest Birds – A Wildwood Blog Hop

The air is crisp and the leaves are falling. So it’s the perfect time for a fall blog hop.

Fabric from the Wildwood collection, sewing by The Finished Garment.
Ready for the world.

Fabric from the Wildwood collection, sewing by The Finished Garment.
The whole look.

The Warp & Weft Sewing Society have all pitched in to showcase the latest fabric collection by Canadian surface designer Elizabeth Owen. The collection is called Wildwood, and it’s a really quite pretty. The inspiration for the collection was the wild woods of story books, so I was excited to see what would be in my Warp & Weft delivery.

I decided to start with the story of Hansel and Gretel for inspiration, and so I made an outfit for my own “Gretel”, Kid No 1.

Fabric from the Wildwood collection, sewing by The Finished Garment.
I really like this colour combo.

I made a simple panel skirt in Essex linen. The pattern is from Collection privée filles & garçons by Atsuko Maruyama and Noriko Onoda (a French translation of the Japanese pattern book シンプル＆デサイン　おんなの子服　おとこの子服 ). The book contains 27 patterns available in sizes 90-140 cm. I made the “#12 Jupe à panneaux” (panel skirt) in size 120. Then I used the Wildwood print to make a matching blouse, McCall’s 6388, using some blue solid for contrast.

Fabric from the Wildwood collection, sewing by The Finished Garment.
I really like the buttons on the blouse.

Fabric from the Wildwood collection, sewing by The Finished Garment.
The skirt is a simple panel skirt, and linen has just the right weight.

And of course Gretel needs a bag to carry her breadcrumbs, so I added a small satchel, the “#7 Sac tube” (tube bag), also from Collection privée filles & garçons. The bag is made in linen and lined with the Wildwood print.

A simple bag from a Japanese pattern book, sewn by The Finished Garment
I love the simplicity of the bag.

A simple bag from a Japanese pattern book, sewn by The Finished Garment
Hey, what’s in here?

Bird ornaments, from Last Minute Patchwork Gifts, sewn by The Finished Garment
Look what I found!

That meant that only one thing was missing – birds! I couldn’t count on the local wildlife to pop in for my photo shoot, so I made three little birds using the pattern from Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts, and the leftover scraps from the other pieces.

Bird ornaments, from Last Minute Patchwork Gifts, sewn by The Finished Garment
I like the blue bird best.

Bird ornaments, from Last Minute Patchwork Gifts, sewn by The Finished Garment
These are quite small, and the pattern is quick, but a little finicky.

Thanks for stopping by, and be sure to visit the other amazing sewists on our blog hop!

Warp & Weft Sewing Society
A Warp & Weft Sewing Society project

Warp & Weft Wildwood Blog Hop

September 26 – Carla from My 1/2 Dozen Daily
September 27 – Cynthia from Cynthiaf
September 28 – Lysa from Lysa Flower
September 29 – Cathy from Blueberry Patch
September 30 – Esmari from Warp & Weft
October 1 – Me!
October 2 – Heidi from Elegance & Elephants
October 3 – Sherri from Thread Riding Hood

Bird ornaments, from Last Minute Patchwork Gifts, sewn by The Finished Garment
So small!

Summary

Patterns:

  • Blouse: McCall’s 6388 available in sizes 2-8, but now out-of-print. I made the size 6.
  • Skirt and bag: From Collection privée filles & garçons by Atsuko Maruyama and Noriko Onoda (a French translation of the Japanese pattern book シンプル＆デサイン　おんなの子服　おとこの子服 ). The book contains 27 patterns available in sizes 90-140 cm. I made the “#12 Jupe à panneaux” (panel skirt) in size 120, and the “#7 Sac tube” (tube bag).
  • Bird ornament: From Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson.

Fabric: 

Sewing Level: Confident beginner.
Modifications: I shortened the skirt, by 2″.
Results: Great!

Back to School Stashbusting

I have two kids in school this year and both needed new pencil cases. I had great success with the Perfect Zip Bag pattern by Elizabeth Hartman of Oh Fransson!, so I decided to use it again. Why mess with a good thing?

Perfect Zip Bag sewing pattern by Elizabeth Hartman of Oh Fransson!, as sewn by The Finished Garment.
This bag was made using the Seven Seas collection by Cloud 9.

The first bag was made using leftover scraps from the Seven Seas gym bag I made last year. Now it’s a matching set! Kid No 2 helped pick out exactly which creatures needed to show on the outside.

Perfect Zip Bag sewing pattern by Elizabeth Hartman of Oh Fransson!, as sewn by The Finished Garment.
This bag was made using leftover fabric from my latest pj sewing project.

The second bag was made with leftover fabric from my latest pyjama sewing project, and from a quilt I made ages ago. Kid No 1 picked all the fabrics. Even the interlining is from scraps from another project.

All scrapbusting, all the time!

This project was part of the Sewcialist Scraptember Sew Along and the Stashbusting Sew Along Kid Challenge.

Summary

Pattern Review: Perfect Zip Bag pattern by Elizabeth Hartman of Oh Fransson!
Fabric:

  • Laddies and Poppets, Sea Critters, and The Fleet in Grey from the Seven Seas collection by Michéle Brummer Everett for Cloud9 Fabrics, courtesy Warp & Weft Exquisite Textiles.
  • Rainbow in Purple, from the Angry Birds collection and licensed to David Textiles by Rovio Entertainment, LTD.
  • Ta Dot in Mustard, from Michael Miller fabrics.
  • Flannel scraps for the interlining.

Size: Large (View A), with inner pocket and wrist strap.
Cost: 0$
Sewing Level: Beginner.
Modifications: None.
Results: Great. I would strongly recommend this pattern and would make it again.

Just to be clear: The Angry Birds name is trademarked by Rovio Entertainment, LTD and used by the fabric manufacturer under licence. The bags shown here are not official licensed products and are not available for sale. But you can always buy some fabric and make your own!

Ocean Waves Zip Bag

This is something I made a while ago, but never blogged. This is a gift I made for my mother, a little zip bag. It’s actually part of a set I made. There is also a coin purse and a larger tote. But I was sewing these up the week before Christmas and had no time for a photo session.

I used the Perfect Zip Bag pattern by Elizabeth Hartman of Oh Fransson! It’s great pattern that I’ve used before with great results. I colour-blocked this version, using black chambray and a Japanese-inspired print that I picked up as a fat quarter at a nearby quilt shop.

Perfect Zip Bag sewing pattern by Oh, Fransson!, as sewn by The Finished Garment.
This is the Perfect Zip Bag sewing pattern by Oh, Fransson!

Perfect Zip Bag sewing pattern by Oh, Fransson!, as sewn by The Finished Garment.
The bag has a cute little wrist strap.

Perfect Zip Bag sewing pattern by Oh, Fransson!, as sewn by The Finished Garment.
I used a black chambray and a print I picked up as a fat quarter at a local quilt shop.

Perfect Zip Bag sewing pattern by Oh, Fransson!, as sewn by The Finished Garment.
This bag is currently being used to hold a portable knitting kit.

Perfect Zip Bag sewing pattern by Oh, Fransson!, as sewn by The Finished Garment.
I used Anne Keelle’s Argyle in Steel to line the bag. It’s one of my favourite prints.

Perfect Zip Bag sewing pattern by Oh, Fransson!, as sewn by The Finished Garment.
I love how the zipper is finished in this pattern. So tidy!

Summary

Pattern Review: Perfect Zip Bag pattern by Elizabeth Hartman of Oh Fransson!

Fabric: Black chambray, unknown wave print. The lining is Argyle in Steel from the Remix Collection by Anne Kelle for Robert Kaufman. The interlining is canvas.

Size: Small (View A)

Sewing Level: Beginner.

Modifications: I colour-blocked the exterior.

Results: Great. I would strongly recommend this pattern and would make it again.