Luisa Crossbody Bag

Ever since last fall when Bee Sewcial met up at International Quilt Festival, I've been using the Vera Slouch Bag I made with our Bee Sewcial fabric. Though it was absolutely perfect for that trip, I really meant to make something smaller for everyday use, and save the Vera for upcoming events. Last weekend I finally got around to it. 

I had had the Luisa Crossbody Bag pattern by Sotak Patterns printed out, with fabric chosen, for literally weeks. But when I finally got down to making it, wouldn't you know, I changed my mind and opted to use the intended lining for the exterior of the bag, and chose a new lining fabric. Like I usually do with bags, I cut out and fused all the fabric on one day, worked on construction the next two days; and in this case, installed hardware on the fourth.

The main exterior is Thatch in Navy, a print from Jen Hewett's Floradora line. The exterior accent is Essex Linen, and the lining is a print from Carolyn Friedlander's Doe.

As usual, Svetlana's zipper installations are pretty straight-forward to execute. This bag has three - the main recessed zipper opening, a zippered pocket inside, and one on the exterior 'hidden' by a flap.

Rather than make a fabric crossbody handle, I ordered a 3/4" leather handle (56" long), and that length allowed me to also cut leather ring tabs. I did have a bit of a snag in attaching the ring tabs, as the design of the Luisa meant that the thickness of the bag was more than I'd experienced making the Vera. So the 3/16" Chicago screws I'd ordered from Anna Graham @noodlehead531 weren't long enough. I quickly ordered some Tandy 1/2" Leather Screws from Amazon and they worked like a charm. They might have been a hair long, but definitely workable. Then I was able to use the original 3/16" screws for the leather strap. Success. Just for the record, I'd also ordered a RedwoodTote Hardware Kit from Anna, and used the swivel clasps; then I repurposed 3/4" d-rings from an older bag.

I find all of Svetlan's patterns so accessible, and the Luisa measures 10" wide x 9" tall x 3" deep, just a bit smaller than the Vera at 11" x 11" x 4". After putting it off for so lone, I'm glad I finally got it made, and I think it will serve my purposes well.

Firefly Tote Finished!

Oh this was a really fun one! As I shared during Week 1 of the Firefly Tote sewalong, the pattern is by Anna Graham/Noodlehead, and I made the Project Size of the tote. Picking up from Week 2, where we made the bag's exterior and drawstring closure, this week we 'put it all together' so to speak, which just went so smoothly. 

The 8mm nickel rivets add stability to the handles plus an added touch I love. I got mine from
MinkusMargo, and I'm finally pretty comfortable installing them. For the ties, I used 3/4" black twill tape I'd ordered from Anna's shop, though I cut mine longer (2 - 30") than the pattern suggested and am glad I did. Finally, for the zipper pull, I used black Waxed Cotton Cord, also from Anna's shop. Love all those little details!

As I mentioned a while back, this bag is destined for my daughter, Rachel/

@snippetsofsweetness, and I really hope she loves it as much as I do. I'm so glad I tried the dry oilskin for the exterior - I'll definitely be looking for ways to use it again. And the tote just has some great features, with that front zippered pocket, and the opportunity to use some special focus fabrics in both that pocket and the drawstring closure. 

Anyway, the sewalong ends this week. Check out the #fireflytote and #fireflytotesewalong hashtags on Instagram to see lots more of these delightful totes.

Linking up with Meadow Mist Designs' Favorite Finish Monthly Linkup!

Gifted Handmade

Last month when I made an On-the-Go Project Bag from Svetlana Sotak's That Handmade Touch, I told you it was my new favorite. So when I needed a handmade gift recently, I happily made another.

For fabric, I was glad to find I still had enough of this floral from Anna Graham's Forage fabric in my stash. I used another Forage print for the contrasting bottom, and one of Carolyn Friedlander's Harriot yarn-dyeds for the lining. Leather handles, once again, were from a 3/4" wide 56" length from Anna Graham's shop. This bag's shape and size (and those handles!) are really a nice combo, and I doubt this will be my last one.

For another handmade gift, I looked to 50 Little Gifts and chose the Fabric Basket designed by Jennifer/@EllisonLane. At 6" x 5" x 4", it's a sweet size, and has a fun and unique construction method. That hand-stitching, which was done with Auriful wool 12wt #8021, is actually what holds the basket together - decorative AND practical.

I liked it well enough that I dug back in my Cotton +Steel collection and found more coordinating prints and drafted a slightly smaller basket.

You'll have to look really closely (I probably should have used contrasting thread) but on the second basket, I hand-stitched X's, which I love.

So once again, it feels good to gift handmade....

Nina Wristlet

When I needed a small bag for a special event recently, I looked to the Nina Wristlet, a pattern by Svetlana of s.o.t.a.k handmade. Half the fun was choosing fabrics, and for the exterior, I chose my favorite floral from Anna Graham/@noodlehead531's Forage fabric. I paired that with a plaid from Carolyn Friedlander's Harriot for the lining.

The version I made was the larger of two offered in the pattern, as I particularly liked the exterior zippered pocket it offered, and wanted my phone to fit in the bag (it did!). The pattern lining includes card slots, which is handy.

The wristlet turned out to be just what I needed. Not too big, not too small, it held the necessities and was cute to boot. Plus it let me squeeze in just a little bit of sewing time in a super busy week, yet wan't too complicated. This one's definitely on my 'remake' list for sure.

Forage Bag

With the handle of my Traverse Bag ready to fall off after months of use, I was looking for a new bag for summer, and impulsively started in on a Forage Bag last Friday night. It's a free bag pattern from Anna of Noodlehead, found on the Robert Kaufman website. I'd actually been thinking of making a different bag, and I still may, but I wanted something right away, and I had yet to decide on fabric and order zips for the other project. And for the Forage Bag, I was able to use supplies I had on hand... Maker Maker fabric which I'd been hoarding for ages - a linen/cotton blend from Sarah Golden - some black Essex yarn dyed, and a print from Carolyn Friedlander's Carkai collection for the lining. Considering I had the right size metal zipper AND the grommets on hand, it seemed like kismet.

It took me a little longer than I expected, but it was straight-forward, and I was able to finish it in one (long) evening. The construction technique is really unique, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, and the zipper was a super easy installation, a step that can sometimes be a bother. Of course I had to consult my own tutorial for installing the grommets [What? You thought I wrote them only for you? grin], but they went in quick and easy, for which I was grateful.



So it felt great to start and finish a project in one sewing session, use supplies totally from stash, and of course, have a new bag to use right away. Seriously, being a maker is the best, isn't it?

Linking up with Meadow Mist Design's Favorite Finish linky.

The Traverse

It's been a few years now that I've been making my own purses, and it was time to make another! I decided on Anna/noodlehead's Traverse Bag, and I gotta say, it went together pretty quickly!



Smitten with Anna's samples, I chose the same Grey Maker Maker cotton/linen blend for my bag exterior, and found it to be such a lovely fabric. For lining, I went with the organic Wink in Marigold by Birch Fabrics. I was really relieved that Anna also stocked a hardware kit for this bag - makes things so much easier.



The version I made - "regular" vs. "mini" - measures 12” W x 9” H x 2” deep, which is pretty roomy for me.



This bag has classic lines that I love, and the little accents just make it.... plenty of top-stitching, the two coordinating zips with leather pulls, a snapped flap on the exterior, and of course that adjustable strap.





Somewhat hardware-challenged myself, I was thrilled how easily I installed the snap using the Dritz Heavy Duty Snap Tool. I'll just go ahead and admit I felt pretty accomplished - ha! And for the record, for those that commented on Instagram liking my little Swiss Style Hammer, it was perfect for the job.



Anna's patterns are always lovely to follow, but an added bonus on this one was a page of printable labels to keep track of the pieces as you cut. I found that really handy!



My only disappointment - and it was my own error - was sewing along the zipper foot on one side of the back zipper, and (correctly) using 1/4" seam on the opposite side. Once I noticed, I just didn't think it was worth redoing, especially as it's on the back. oh well



Anna also gave a tip to make the lining snug, and I appreciated that. In fact there were tips suggested throughout the process, and I thought all were helpful.



So now I'm set for another season, and pretty pleased with my hand-made bag.

This project was on my Q4 Finish-A-Long list!

The Gatherer

It's been about 18 months since I made my Brookfield Bag. The pattern by bag designer Sara/Sew Sweetness, had been offered free on Sew Mama Sew, and boy did I enjoy using that bag every day since. Can't say I've ever gotten so many compliments on a bag as on that one. So I'm sad to retire it, but the sweet thing's getting raw around the edges.

So what's a girl to do but make a new bag? I've had my eye on Anna/Noodlehead's Gatherer Crossbody Bag on the Robert Kaufman website, and didn't need any persuasion to give it a go.

I knew from the start I wanted to use Carolyn Friedlander's Carkai and finally settled on the pairing you see below. With only three pattern pieces, the bag was pretty easy to prep. The one major substitution I made was to use byAnnie's Soft and Stable instead of fusible fleece. It needed to be basted in, but that was easily done.

This was a really straight-forward sew, the pattern so easy to follow. I made my own piping using Noodlehead's tutorial, though mine is slightly smaller than what was suggested as I used cording I had on hand. Since the last time I made piping, I'd purchased a piping foot for my machine, and boy did that make installation a snap.

When it comes to making bags or other projects using hardware, I am always thrilled when online sources are listed, as I hate shopping around town for stuff like that. Thankfully, Anna included that info, so it was easy to procure the button stud closure and the optional swivel/lobster clasps. I forget where I heard about them, but I purchased leather scrap remnants from BuffaloLeatherCo for the bag closure. There weren't very many large pieces in the pack, but I think I'll be able to make good use of the scraps in various pouches, and thankfully I found just the piece needed for this bag. Which makes it in my opinion. And by the way, I sewed the leather on with a jeans needle and 50wt thread, and it seems secure enough.



As hinted above, rather than finishing my bag with tied straps, I went for the swivel clasps. If there's anything I would do different next time, it would be to make the straps a bit wider. Half-inch are pretty skinny for me, and I think I would have been happier with one-inch straps. And I did goof up on one thing, making a rookie mistake and installing the stud closure through both the front pocket and main bag front. Oops. I really don't think it'll be a big deal as it partially divides that pocket, but still. Oh well. Other than that, I'm super pleased.

The Gatherer measures 10″ wide x 9″ tall x 2 1/2″ deep, basically perfect for me! I've been using it for three days now, it's comfortable to wear with easy access, and I'll admit I feel a little snazzy with that leather closure. 

And the fact that this bag was on my Q1 Finish-A-Long list? Perfect.

Linking up with Finish It Up Friday.