Fiona's Freeway Cross Body Bag (Enlarged)

I have made 3 Fiona's Freeway bags in the past, but this time I wanted to enlarge it a bit, so I made this one at 115%. I really like this size a lot and I love how this one turned out. After making this one, the wheels started churning in my head about other ideas for this bag too, so one day (hopefully soon) I will make another one in this size with some other changes. I love making bags and putting my own spin on them. Oh and this is a ChrisW Design Bag. If you want to make one check out the pdf here.

This enlarged Fiona measures approximately 10 3/8" wide x 11 1/2" high x 4" deep. I also made a matching Little Wallet to go with this bag too.

Exterior is batik cotton fabric paired with a purple cotton grunge fabric and interior is a hand dyed fabric. For sale in my PayHip Shop.

The bag features a flap with an interesting shape. This one is the small flap. The pattern also includes a large flap and a non-grommet version as well.

The strap tabs and the side accent add a nice touch to the bag too.

While not called for in the pattern, I decided to add purse feet to the bottom of this bag, since it can stand up on its own and it helps to keep the bottom of the bag cleaner.

This is how the back side of the bag looks.

Flip up the flap and you see the drawstrings.

Pull open the drawstrings and you have a lot of nice space inside. A slip pocket plus a zippered pocket too.

I like to divide my slip pockets so they can hold a pen. The Little Wallet fits perfectly in the larger slip pocket section.

The Little Wallet is included with my bags that I make (except my earlier bags I did not make wallets then).

No more of the lining fabric left, so I used the purple grunge fabric and the batik only for this wallet.

The front zip pocket is handy for your phone or keys.

For sale in my PayHip Shop.

Made with love in my smoke free, perfume free, pet free  New Mexico home. 

Pin It Now!

Fiona's Freeway Bag in Purple 2

This is the 3rd Fiona's Freeway Bag that I have made. The first one I sold and the woman who bought it requested I make another Fiona in purple. Well her friend liked the purple Fiona so much that she too wanted a Fiona in purple! They are not 100% identical. I did stitch decorative stitches on the flap like I did with the first 2 Fiona's, but not the exact same stitches or the same thread colors. On the first Fiona in purple I appliqued a cat on the interior slip pocket because I knew she liked cats. That was my little surprise for her. Her friend wanted a butterfly on her slip pocket, so I appliqued a butterfly on her pocket. I also used a different lining fabric on purple #2 Fiona.

Fiona's Freeway Bag pattern is from ChrisW Designs Easy Street Collection. Easy Street doesn't mean they are all beginner easy, but just easier with fewer pattern pieces than Christine's other bag patterns. I would say you need some bag making experience before tackling this one, but Christine's instructions are excellent, so as long as you take it step-by-step, you should have success as long as you have done some sewing before.

I must admit I do love my decorative stitched flaps! I enjoy creating them and love how they turn out. Takes an ordinary flap and turns it into an extraordinary flap, lol!

Inside is a zippered pocket and a slip pocket.

The zippered pocket with zipper pull that I make.

Here is the appliqued butterfly that I appliqued onto the slip pocket. Such a sweet surprise when you look into the bag.

The bag's backside is pretty too, lol!

For comparison, here is Purple Fiona #1 and #2 side-by-side:

Linking to Elm Street Quilts Bag It 2017
Pin It Now!

Fiona's Freeway in Purple

After I tested Fiona's Freeway, (from the Easy Street Collection of bags) for Christine of ChrisW Designs, I decided to sell it and one of my blog followers purchased her. Then after she received Fiona, I got an email from her asking if I could make another Fiona in purples. You see she gave the 1st Fiona to a cat rescue place for them to auction off. How sweet is that?! I hope Fiona fetched a lot of money for the cat rescue.

So here is Fiona in purples. I again machine stitched decorative stitches on the flap and added some French knots by hand and a few buttons too. My favorite part of making this bag was creating the flap and that is not even in the instructions, but my own artistic nature coming out to make this Fiona special. It was hard seeing Fiona go, but she went to a good home and that makes me happy.

I chose a batik print for the body of the bag and a hand dyed dark purple for the accent fabric.

Fiona's backside.

I took this before I added the large bead for the drawstring.

Inside is a slip pocket and a zippered pocket.

This is the slip pocket inside. I added an applique kitty to the pocket.

I used a large bead instead of cord stops for the drawstring.

 

To give you an idea of the size of the bag I put Fiona on my dress form.

Pin It Now!

Fiona's Freeway an Easy Street Bag Pattern

ChrisW Designs has a new bag in her Easy Street Collection of bag patterns, called Fiona's Freeway. Easy Street patterns are faster and easier to sew than her regular patterns and cost a bit less too. Pop over to see all the tester's bag versions too.

I enjoyed making this bag. I got all artsy and sewed decorative stitches on the flap and that was fun! So here is my Fiona's Freeway~

Fiona is a bucket style bag with a drawstring and a flap with a magnetic snap closure. She is a medium sized bag with an adjustable strap so you can wear it across your body. There is a front zippered pocket that is perfect for holding a cell phone.

I had fun using fancy stitches machine stitches as well as making French knots by hand and couching a piece of rickrack in place. I also sewed on a few tiny buttons.

Side view shows the strap tab and the grommets for the drawstring you can see too.

My signature zipper pull on the front zippered pocket.

Fiona's backside is pretty too!

Here you can see the drawstring and magnetic snap closure.

I didn't have a large enough cord stop to use, so I rummaged around my craft stuff and found this large bead which looks nicer than a cord stop and works really well as an alternative to keeping the cord cinched in.

Inside there is a slip pocket on one side and zippered pocket on the other side.

Slip pocket with my label.

Zippered pocket with another zipper pull I made.

To give you an idea of space I put my wallet, reading glasses and sunglasses cases inside. Not a large bag, but not too small either.

Here you an see the entire flap.

Fiona is having fun swinging in the tree!

This one-of-a-kind Fiona is for sale for $54 plus shipping. Email me if you are interested in purchasing her. SOLD!
Pin It Now!