Thursday, November 30, 2017

That Notion~Gadget Bag with Zippered Pockets

Okay I am purposely not naming this particular bag(s) or the designer(s) because I have seen 4 different, yet similar bag patterns out there and not one got a decent review! These bag patterns cost $10-$12-$13 (2 were the same cost). Each one is a little different, but come on, can't one of these designers write a good pattern with decent diagrams? I am not about to fork over that kind of money for a poorly written pattern! That is the very reason I became a bag pattern tester several years ago because I was darn tired of paying top dollar for a poorly written pattern and then have to re-write the instructions myself! Even the top designers who I test for do not charge as much as these designers are charging for their patterns. Why do they not update the patterns and make their current customers happy? Why don't they update their patterns to get future customers to buy from them? Well I for one will never buy a pattern that has been poorly reviewed and I will never buy from a designer who will not make her pattern better. If these are being tested, then the designers are not listening to the testers or the testers are not giving the designers good enough feed back. Something just isn't right there.

I was all ready to buy one of these patterns too that is until I saw the reviews!
One review I read said to pay for the pattern and then go to such and such tutorial to learn how to make the bag. What? Is the tutorial author getting a cut of the bag profits? If not she should! That is a crazy review to tell you that, but apparently once you have purchased one of these patterns then you must seek out some kind of help elsewhere or throw away your pattern, fabric and time.

So with my bag making background and skills, I decided I would make one of these bags myself and perfect it for myself. I did not need to write an excellent pattern that looks like one of their patterns and then try to sell my own version of this bag (even though that's what they did and other designers do design bags that are very similar to another designer's bag all the time). For my first attempt, I went with 4 zippered pockets, thinking it would be nice to have more pockets, but then the other 4 bags I made I went with 3 zippered pockets as it was easier to do. I played around with the measurements and then on the 2nd attempt got it down better.

They came out great and I gave one to a friend for her birthday. I made 2 for myself, one for my sewing notions and tools and one for my knitting tools.  So here they are:

This is the bag I gave to my friend Tara for her birthday in November. She likes llamas and alpacas. This fabric has the mint background.


I added the zipper tabs on the zippered pockets and of course my zipper pulls that I make. I used a larger #5 zipper for the outside of the bag.


It's fun to use a lot of colors inside the bag. Might be helpful to remember what you put inside each pocket by remembering the pocket color?

Tara likes egg cups, so I found an egg cup and dry needle felted her an egg-shaped pincushion. It fits inside the bag on it's side.

This was my first attempt at trying to make this bag. I made 4 zippered pockets on this one. My measurements were a little different too.

I think it was easier to make 3 zippered pockets, rather than 4. Plus less work and materials too!


I made 2 more llama print bags. These have the pink background (Tara's had the mint). I kept the one with the aqua zipper and binding. The pink zipper and binding one as sold.

My sewing tools fit inside this bag nicely.

The aqua zipper had a large pull already, so I just added a charm. The pink one is made with a #3 zipper and I added the cactus charm on it. 
Inside the bag with the pink binding is mostly pinks and green fabrics.





Side one of the aqua binding bag.

Side two of the aqua binding bag.

Aqua binding bag empty.

Inside the pockets.

This one I made for my knitting tools. I used foam stabilizer on this bag and the others I used fleece that I also quilted, but I didn't quilt this one. I wanted to see the difference. I like them both and they both work well. This foam one just feels a bit squishier.


I chose gray, pink, red fabrics for the inside.


Again with the pull already large, I just added a charm to the pull.


I will only make more of these bags if someone wants one custom made. They are great bags for holding sewing supplies, knitting tools, embroidery floss and tools; and they would be great for a first aid kit, school supply bag to hold pencils and pens and small rulers, paint brushes (dry ones), artist pencils and pens, etc...

Linking to Elm Street Quilts Bag It 2017
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Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Batik Scrappy Companion Carpet Bag

I made another Companion Carpet Bag (Sewing Patterns by Mrs. H). This is the smaller sized bag. I bought a few of these frames when this pattern came out and I made 3 others. I will be making more eventually too, as I have 6 more frames left! I guess I went a bit crazy buying frames at the time, lol!

The first one I made is here. The second one I made for my daughter who never used the bag at all! I may need to give that one away.

This is a fun bag pattern to make and you can make changes as you desire. On this one I made one front pocket. On the 3rd one I made with the decorative stitches, I made a pocket in the front and the back of the bag. You can see the bag here and then click on the link to take you to the tutorial I wrote on how to make the decorative stitched pockets.


I quilted the bag with a variegated thread.


Side view showing the depth of the bag.

Back of the bag.

This is the other side of the bag to show the other fabrics I used.

Zipper pocket inside the bag.

I love how this bag opens so nice and wide!

There is also a divided slip pocket opposite of the zippered pocket. I like to divide a pen pocket down the center of the pocket.
This bag is for sale. If you are interested email me. $65 + shipping. I invoice through PayPal. This bag has SOLD!

Linking to Elm Street Quilts Bag It 2017
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Sunday, November 26, 2017

2 Convertible Totes

I made 2 more Convertible Totes like I made the first one (with my changes). The tutorial is from Sew Can She.

I love how these came out. I sold the first one below at a craft show.

This was the one I sold.


The back of the bag has a zippered pocket. Great for your phone or keys.


Inside I divided the slip pocket with a pen pocket in the center.

This is the inside of the bag below. The slip pocket is also divided with a pen pocket in the center.

The fabric is a different print, but the same colors. I chose a lighter top and strap fabric for this one. This one is for sale (it might go to the local gift shop soon though).


The back of the bag.
This bag above went to the gift shop.

Linking this to Elm Street Quilts Bag It 2017.
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Friday, November 24, 2017

Sunshine Wristlet as a Cross Body Bag

The Sunshine Wristlet is a free bag pattern by Bagstock Patterns. I have never made any Bagstock Patterns before, so I wanted to try this one. The wristlet can be made with a wrist strap or a strap that is sewn into the bottom portion of the bag as a clutch; however I thought this would look better as a cross body bag, so I added an adjustable strap. I didn't even enlarge it as I thought it was a good size bag as is. In fact a bit too large as a wristlet, in my opinion. But that's what is fun about making bags, you can enlarge or reduce them, add things or subtract things as you wish.

This was an easy enough bag to sew too. I got creative with the strap, as I didn't have enough of either fabric to make a long enough strap, so I sewed the fabrics together and I like how it turned out!


This closes with a zipper on top. A lot of women love a zippered closure (I guess so things don't fall out). I like all closures, depending on the bag style.

Inside there is a slip pocket as well as a zippered pocket.
This one is now in the gift shop.

Linking to Elm Street Quilts Bag It 2017
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Thursday, November 23, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving!

I want to wish all my American friends a very Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you  all enjoy this American holiday with your family and friends.


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