I have made
Retreat Bags before, both large and small and have added my own changes to the bags. I bought a dozen or so frames last year from Emmaline bags for the large size, but these bags look just as nice without a frame too, they just look different. So I thought I would show you the look both with a frame and without a frame. The frame is the last thing that gets inserted into a bag, so if you prefer without a frame, just don't add it.
I made these two Retreat Bags by sewing strips together and then quilting the bag front and back. I added handles and pockets and a frame to the bag too. The basic bag is a
free pattern from Emmaline Bags, which looks like a Dopp bag (with the frame), but I like to add handles and pockets to make it even nicer looking and more useful.
I used foam stabilizer to help the bag keep it's shape too. Some rings and rivets add to the look and function of the bag as well.
![Patchouli Moon Studio~ Large Retreat Bag in Blue Patchwork](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwriNvdwsfrLocWSexF4odIo4S3ahN6FmuiqR84qawLGYPvmJRR-HvlC81WvesF1ovVDkDmZniKpjVmBqFxTQMKKrDXZqZlKw9mKUMsCepv3_3A6YUjuyJA8LXP_K5sglA-jUTM9_Zrs/s640/LA528A%257E1.JPG) |
Using blues from my scraps bag of blue fabrics, I pulled out strips of all widths to sew together. This is the front side of the bag with the frame inserted. |
![Patchouli Moon Studio~ Large Retreat Bag in Blue Patchwork](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXxU8wUH3A0x1XdDVK1BkBWqTUwol6SCS6TKM2E3jW5mNb7oyGCexCA1plM-0Y7jJGDHHEqlvCXr1K5Lyy_CZ3Fhvg8ylku3UtiIkrCGu1R-hjwZXn2rTReIAdHMGHyYFwxKr97m2BrQ/s640/LARGER%257E1.JPG) |
Here is the same front side without the frame inserted. It looks wider at the top, but I like this look too. |
![Patchouli Moon Studio~ Large Retreat Bag in Blue Patchwork](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyv5ydUoUJHs7F_-4R_wEBerNHX62mTyJ5av4pJbEskjQt48PQyT4hLbKXvKL0Df5wqqo_9dSVyReuyXe6OOjD2DymH9kCmssWCY-EAJWZ15pHoMOx-4ZQV2UNNS-dA_G8o-uvLTaQjlU/s640/LARGER%257E2.JPG) |
Side view with no frame. |
![Patchouli Moon Studio~ Large Retreat Bag in Blue Patchwork](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4GxspFTivqCQBTkjGne8aS3MHPNGplpGfdkRBp0fMf2JG-b1clHEbLmCrCYyJ15Czd0Umcaw0RLaqUrUpUtxBcaaZiI_SWSS-Oo3Wh-WjzLJQJdRVCdKAtJDt0ncfhY95itniOmdGLM/s640/LARGER%257E3.JPG) |
Back of bag without the frame. |
![Patchouli Moon Studio~ Large Retreat Bag in Blue Patchwork](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9ewDkZqt62JsA3MCz6TsO0GdufS8k8PbWM7KB4vOcwzOoWVD1lFYJQg1GtK32wbeRky_zaJmqBbKcyCdyU4pZbEsp8xbGAabkjmQnIsknAcHec8UF7NaRsOSY3_0gANaahafaAEzyDs/s640/LARGER%257E4.JPG) |
Inside divided slip pocket. |
![Patchouli Moon Studio~ Large Retreat Bag in Blue Patchwork](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprtC8WmHCrs_JVE1vWOFbdmHpEaDzMAtraBdT9OYV1jKvdSrlW-HODixLNvsML_282RbhvTJHogYGLdiKRp-CTOwWzcxmYvVKgf4V5gjjQ2tFcBkH9Xws6KeHd8wlekKyKajscPOtXYo/s640/LA8A5F%257E1.JPG) |
Bag with the frame shows how wide it can open up. Like a nice big box. |
![Patchouli Moon Studio~ Large Retreat Bag in Blue Patchwork](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZii98hfbbuqs_2hNagHVF4oRWW2rJ5dTRxfviJwAODnCETycFFN1eG2Mexl16OYGJ49rLvyglCyNk5dduAIQWuVVfXIiTi3-5nR43JWUO6alxA7FiMPppqncHnBV75F0RAL-oWxsAxc/s640/LA55B7%257E1.JPG) |
Inside zippered pocket. |
![Patchouli Moon Studio~ Large Retreat Bag in Blue Patchwork](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aTRbaeLQ3zOmy2oi5D46i0519L6i4_TjCFSIx4wU3heqq1e6jGy4F6hin7faJ0Icv1ZRPbdJZMSbbm8Bhi1yd1ajHG_VWJQZiA8KGbxdV7dCZVsLHI3IVmlJFCrNDSXYyPEGyacYB00/s640/LADE57%257E1.JPG) |
Without the frame, the bag still opens up nice and wide, but doesn't retain that box look. |
![Patchouli Moon Studio~ Large Retreat Bag in Blue Patchwork](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNys1Ugu8wL1LdGZHusiYN_6jdgm_j5Nk3pyZOWmJxsS4wtmnRI-zmUSXzzh3DsykB9smmDNpbqDb3NrUsTJcj9OKqLqttgfK-J_6JB9NLGTtPU3W3p0wpw6AvUya_L53XfI0dEAif4yc/s640/LAD6EC%257E1.JPG) |
Front of bag with the frame. The sides fold down and the zipper pulls don't stick out as much with the frame. |
![Patchouli Moon Studio~ Large Retreat Bag in Blue Patchwork](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWHOl9zqNQ61_V8WP-LehSu5UAeDuYkM7lfsDcuO8UByS9Q2CtJ9rZ6U7TwpU0A2fQIOB4J9raBwrkTtvBPCK-vNEYVXmZoWEpkyYHU9Yh2ptbrEu9M01e2u1Wtl1xMH2WD5Rh5B77n4/s640/LAB82D%257E1.JPG) |
Here are the 2 bags I made. The bag on the right without the frame and the bag on the left with the frame so you can see the difference side-by-side. |
![Patchouli Moon Studio~ Large Retreat Bag in Blue Patchwork](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXPNJgk0NiQUh4Jh3i2RKFyhID6CTqC0e5R0rR5CBYUyI6x64x3JGELy8AQR55JoPTqDfqSSKA8Pf2o_l-Yj4soDC92HKznu3WAB7bcBcCRPBbGk6L3aC2nIrLKKpdMmoNTbQSQfSHbU/s640/LABB95%257E1.JPG) |
Here they both are with frames inserted. |
![Patchouli Moon Studio~ Large Retreat Bag in Blue Patchwork](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtEY_snYhcprGRF8SJDS0RZoys0NthX7EwUchxT8kFpTSHUpOCBuxv7zlQNjjLH44P-3hQLFO33jxK8Kqucub_I65UeLo7AZW85MaqRBDY-ERItVGSaJX1S17no1X3a_jBoPSGv9Iq10/s640/LACA0D%257E1.JPG) |
I made this second bag with blues and touches of green and aqua too. Here with the frame inserted into the bag. |
![Patchouli Moon Studio~ Large Retreat Bag in Blue Patchwork](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jevRm_pi7wWc0gX5ViaeSm0lLWufd1R5X6xpsXxgKqeBPp74-CiVIYZQdNewnEEvl7H0PqwUESSKkdKPURM3QCo43jL12yJTGXj7uhiCvy6wCpPxKAnIV4NiEBx_0csIjLZruiHiyO4/s640/LACBA3%257E1.JPG) |
Without the frame here. |
![Patchouli Moon Studio~ Large Retreat Bag in Blue Patchwork](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGD3TrjCKOGmkplkfwufqcSeyJfVAF2K5L8-Um1aKlg1MbnFQIup5MRa8ap6PnAXdLWjXgI5YrlJuXbypHQtk7P6-GENAxXlkRCACwECzSFH0Lt5ZtJu1U8Hd2M7Ea55B9t29CA6D6wE4/s640/LAAD67%257E1.JPG) |
The back of the bag without the frame. |
![Patchouli Moon Studio~ Large Retreat Bag in Blue Patchwork](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIVyZcBFr4IG1gFi1XA5r3h7zoyOCRU0qz0MTfq6Rkq8tJGsGxckg6hty8pz6LGUuheeCiW45lnVxg9H01HVs6TLrb7BCeuXEbHvOp7t3hJmJ_I2BK2TXc_KHq180gz8okFDdyhbDQ5k/s640/LA686B%257E1.JPG) |
Side of the bag without the frame. |
![Patchouli Moon Studio~ Large Retreat Bag in Blue Patchwork](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArLfAPDXRvtwqKFfHU613_MomMJyxh4Qr0Rhg6HwW6oEkBQxNqlir1GhuODtfTfW5Sf9DGbvU-OB7EZFTILVGKmUkxtCSNm94xlDKtlurBAxzJSGM4C71NR0h1Epg2LkHTbM-oDjwjoE/s640/LA1463%257E1.JPG) |
Inside divided slip pocket. |
![Patchouli Moon Studio~ Large Retreat Bag in Blue Patchwork](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvAS7P8RLkoUVE0x1VRR1cAkt8KlVvYQHDOGwmc-hwuE05OPCvEKupi4nMPjB6iHdz6KOleYX31FremAkkI22Mefp6aER1i2glulXl1zXqlceiNPbk5tLAjI6nX8KFVm7WZLBTXLqh1k/s640/LAF644%257E1.JPG) |
Inside zipper pocket. |
![Patchouli Moon Studio~ Large Retreat Bag in Blue Patchwork](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgMaZAuhqpR7jfYRNAAoJuFkZva7H1wY6spekbPKIhRtj7hWaKg6oAWalz_RKWNkIW6NpKnTyL-Uo9jx_Yc2eiCXWQyp-sDpaDXfhckPm2LYthVTGc7Gmi559LQm_-FDW7czqm56K3Ik/s640/LA7BE1%257E1.JPG) |
Bag wide open with the frame. |
![Patchouli Moon Studio~ Large Retreat Bag in Blue Patchwork](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokyUPWx1GJ42aNLHybEJgsMhFBZ3cxFGydz0VXxu03AxqAp5s4vuF-RQbNAS8C00bz6IMNvrWUOHQb9ml-vQRVJKx78dGJwXGBlnGWEl-VgkkC64W4SuorzzLnTReijuB9Zb-00Fitcg/s640/LA10BB%257E1.JPG) |
Bag wide open without the frame.
Do you have a preference for the bag with the frame or without the frame? I love them both! But when I use up all the frames I have, I will continue to make these bags without a frame. I make the small size without a frame because I didn't buy frames in small.
I have added pockets to the front and back of the retreat bags I made before, but because these are patchwork, I didn't want to cover up the patchwork on these. I like to vary how I make these bags by adding pockets, straps, frames or not, and more. That way all of my bags are truly a one-of-a-kind bag.
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These look so amazing with or without the frame. I thought it was a small bag until I kept scrolling for the other pics. Beautiful job, Daryl!
ReplyDeleteThey are gorgeous! I admire how focused you are on your bags! Wish I could zero in on just one thing like that!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeletelove the bag i'm not sure what i like better although i do think those frames are pretty impressive especially when your bag is open is a like a giant mouth being opened and you can really see whats inside. great job as always.
tara
The way the handles are attached makes these look so professionally done - very nice, both of them!
ReplyDelete