Knitting Bag with Sheep Print

I made a bag with a sheep print that would make a great knitting bag. I did a lot of modifications on the basic Retreat Bag. One modification was to make the bag taller, so as to be able to fit more inside of it. 

This bag measures 13" high x 12" wide x 5 3/4" deep at sides.

The front has a slip pocket.

The back has a zipper pocket. The bag handle can be dropped for easy access to the zipper pocket.

For a fun bit of bling, I added a skein of yarn charm and a button that I sewed to the zipper tab end.

Another button sewn to the other zipper tab end. Both red buttons, this one in a polka dot and the button above is a gingham check.

Say ahhh. This bag opens so nice and wide and stays open due to the internal frame. There is a slip pocket one one side with a pen pocket. And another divided slip pocket on the opposite side as you can see closer in the next 2 photos below.

Purse on the bottom.

Let me know if you are interested in purchasing this bag and I will email you back with a price. Payment through PayPal. Email me and include your zip code, so that I can determine the shipping cost to your location. Thanks for looking. This bag has SOLD.

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Zippered Bag in Wool Look Applique Print

I bought this beautiful fabric print several years ago after seeing Liz make her Lombard Street Bag with it when we both were testing that bag for ChrisW Designs. I fell in love with it. Liz lives in Germany and I knew I hadn't seen anything like that here. So I did a search online and found it and emailed back and forth to see if I could buy metre of of it. I got the fabric and because with the cost of postage from Germany, it was rather expensive fabric, so I was afraid to cut into it for years. I wanted to make sure I made a bag that I knew was a good design first as well, because I didn't want to waste any of it. I only used a small amount of that fabric to make this bag, so I have enough left to make some more bags too.

I used the floral section of the bag only. There are birds and some dots too that I didn't cut into, so when I use that part of the fabric, it will look totally different. I also needed to use this fabric so that I was featuring the fabric to it's best. I didn't want half a bird showing just to use it. So I decided to make the small size retreat bag (Emmaline Bags), but without a frame in the bag and I made the bag taller and added strap tabs and straps too. The dark base of the bag is real wool material. I love how this one looks and yes I am keeping this one for myself.

I decided to take my bag on a location shoot around my yard, lol!

I sewed some flower buttons on both zipper tab ends.

The back of the bag showing other faux wool flowers.

I made the inside fun by using 2 fabrics for the lining. A zippered pocket and a slip pocket too.

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Large Retreat Bags in Blue Patchwork

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.

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.

Here is the same front side without the frame inserted. It looks wider at the top, but I like this look too.

Side view with no frame.

Back of bag without the frame.

Inside divided slip pocket.

Bag with the frame shows how wide it can open up. Like a nice big box.

Inside zippered pocket.

Without the frame, the bag still opens up nice and wide, but doesn't retain that box look.

Front of bag with the frame. The sides fold down and the zipper pulls don't stick out as much with the frame.

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.

Here they both are with frames inserted.

I made this second bag with blues and touches of green and aqua too. Here with the frame inserted into the bag.

Without the frame here.

The back of the bag without the frame.

Side of the bag without the frame.

Inside divided slip pocket.

Inside zipper pocket.

Bag wide open with the frame.

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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3 Large Retreat Bags with Handles & Pockets

I made 3 Retreat bags that I added handles to and exterior slip pockets between the handles, and a zippered pocket inside of each bag too. None of those pockets or handles were part of the instructions. This is a free pattern from Emmaline Bags, and includes instructions for both a small retreat bag and a large bag. These are the large bags that I made. Small ones are on my to-do list.

I ordered 5 large internal frames that are used inside the bags, from Emmaline Bags. Janelle of Emmaline Bags is located in Canada, so it took a few weeks to arrive and the shipping wasn't as bad as I thought it might be, but I did order 5 sets of frames, so maybe the cost to mail one might have cost as much as all 5?

Anyhow, I really love this pattern and the bags too!!! Easy to make and I love the looks with the handles better than without handles as per the instructions. It looks more like a Dopp Bag without handles. With handles it makes a great purse or project bag too as it opens up so nice and wide!

I made this one for me to use as a purse. I love it! I accented the exterior with purple. Batik exterior fabrics. I used a foam stabilizer instead of the fusible fleece the pattern called for (I think foam wasn't as available when Janelle wrote this pattern a few years ago). I also quilted it. The foam makes the bag stand up, whereas the fleece would flop more unless you had the bag full of stuff!

Side view, you can see there is some depth to this bag.

Another change was that instead of fabric zipper ends, I appliqued felt flowers onto another piece of felt and hand sewed the zipper ends in place. I had seen something similar on Pinterest and thought what a great idea! I really love this look better too. Another way to use up some of my felt scraps too, lol!

Bright lime green lining!!! Unzipped and opened up this bag is quite large and boxy. The internal frame keeps it open wide. The pattern calls for a slip pocket, which I made, but divided it in half with a pen pocket in the middle.

I added a zippered pocket inside, which wasn't in the instructions. Instead the instructions called for another slip pocket.

All my crap, um I mean essential stuff fits easily inside.

Side view of bag opened to show how wide it is.

 Onto the second Retreat Bag:

I love this fabric print with medium blue, orange, coral, purple and dark blue colors. So I accented it with orange and coral.

Again I made zipper ends out of felt.

My signature beaded zipper pull with a charm and the felt zipper end.

Coral fabric for the lining with an accent of a purple zipper.

Retreat Bag #3:

I wanted to show how this bag would look without the internal metal frame. So I took a photo before adding the frame. It gives the bag a different look. Still a nice looking bag and so you could make this bag without the internal frame. In fact, that is the last thing you add is the frame, so you could try making one and then if you wanted to add a frame later, you could.

The bag will still open up nice and wide without the frame too. Oh and in case you are wondering why I have strips of the exterior fabric on the sides  of the bag, well my goof! I cut the lining a bit too small and didn't have enough lining fabric left, so had to sew a little extra fabric to the sides. It gives it character, right?

Here she is with the internal frame added. Which do you prefer? With the frame or without?

Zipper pull and felt zipper end.

Here she is opened wide with the internal frame inside.

I have 2 more frames, so I will be making 2 more of these bags another time.

I am participating in Elm Street Quilts Bag it 2017 and entered one of these retreat bags.

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