Bags Bags Bags! =)

Here are some new bags to share!

I completed the new style of bag in the grey birdie fabric last night. Here's the designer's photo of her bag.

Here's mine:

I really like this look! The fact that it is grey and black really irks me, but I still like it in the same breath. I tend to like bright colors for bags, as you may know, but sometimes it is good to mix things up.

I really am into adding hardware to bags now. I used to balk at the idea, but now I love the polished look they can give the bag.

Adding the solid black almost killed me (drama queen), but I think it makes it look more put together than if I had added another busy print.

I added two pockets to the inside since the pattern didn't call for anything. I hate trying to find my phone (that seldom rings, but still) and my mints/chapstick. The polka dots make it kind of fun to dig inside.

Here's the way it looks on. I like the size and shape, and how it hangs. It fits my large wallet and some other stuff.

The issues I had with making this bag was that the magnetic snap on the exterior was not in the right position according to the directions on the pattern piece. It was too low, so when you snap it on, it drags part of the upper back piece of the bag down with the flap. Also, the interfacing choice bugged me. It called only for midweight on the outside, but I hate a floppy, pansy bag so I added a interlining of flannel to the interior pieces and then an extra piece of flannel and lightweight interfacing to the top flap. After completing the bag, I realize that fusible fleece would have been the best choice for this hobo style since it has darts and a pliable shape. 

Man, I am a critical chick!! ;P

I also wished it had said to add some structure to the black tap flappy thing. It has nothing so it is very light and floppy. But I used a bottomweight twill so that is sturdier than if I had used a quilting fabric.

Overall, I like the look of this bag and would make some changes next time. I want to make another in a BRIGHT happy fabric and see how that comes out.

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On to the next!

This is the second bag I made of the Simplicity Sweet Pea Tote pattern I posted about earlier.

This is some Kate Spain fabric that I really love. It reminds me of funky blue hydrangeas, a flower I really like.

I didn't add the o-rings to the straps to save time. I like it fine without.

This is the back side with the "handmade" tag I love so much!

Here is a button I added that I think mimics that print closely. It is wood and really fun.

I still love this bag pattern and highly recommend it! I could see making more in the future from this. 

This one is definitely my spring/summer bag for holding more stuff and it makes me smile with how bright and cheery it is.

Sorry to blab my head off! :) Ta!!

Simplicity 2396 - Sweet Pea Tote Review

I finally got this done! I had cut the pieces out back in November, and never got around to finishing the rest. It is kind of good, though, because it gave me time to think about how I really wanted it to look.

The pattern was pretty straightforward and without any weird hitches (like some store-bought patterns), and I think this is a good "Intermediate" sewer project. It has a very trendy handmade look and is a good size for an everyday carryall. I tweaked the design a little bit because I have been wanting to add these silver d-rings to handles on a bag for some time, and I thought these would be great for this size bag.

The things I did not like were that it called for fusible fleece for an interlining. Fusible Fleece makes a great padding for bags, but it is really hard to work with when you are pleating the fabric with the fleece behind it. It is super thick and gets jammed under the presser foot. I think next time I would use heavyweight interfacing on the outside and mediumweight on the inside and ditch the fleece.

Also, I had trouble getting the top of the bag to come out just right. It crinkled up around the curve at the top and I am not sure if I should have trimmed the seam allowance more or if that is just inevitable. It may have been the fleece again, causing it to be puffy.

I wrestled with the last stages of this bag because I chose to insert the d-ring style handles. The loops that hold the d-ring to the bag were doubled over and really thick to sew through along with the rest of the top of the bag. I broke my thread over and over, even with a heavyweight needle.

Another thing I changed is I added a magnetic snap to the inside of the bag at the top so that my stuff would stay secure. I thought the button and loop closure was super cute, so I didn't do away with it, but added this second security feature for when my bag falls over and things threaten to fall out.

One last addition was the fun tag I embroidered on (below).

I was impressed with the modern look of this pattern and think that Simplicity was smart for picking up Sweet Pea Totes. I found mine at JoAnn's fabrics on sale for less than $2, down from $16! You have to watch for the sales. I would love to make another one sometime but without doing the d-ring handles (which can be time consuming). I think one in black or grey could also be a great addition to anyone's handbag collection.

Simplicity #2396 - View A