Small Oriole Bag in Cat Print

This is the Oriole Bag in size small, a free pdf from Sew Sweetness. I made the large Oriole a few years ago and had wanted to make the small for a long time. The large was a bit too big, but I really like this small size. It's actually not that small as it measures 12" wide x 8" high x 2" deep.

Sew Sweetness is having a challenge this month on her blog. The challenge is to make any Sew Sweetness bag with an animal theme. So I chose a couple of cat prints. The winner will be randomly chosen, so this is not about making the best looking bag. I made a few changes of course and added a vertical zipper pocket inside the bag, and a strap with 2 fabrics, added rivets, and an accent strip on the center flap too.

I wanted a zipper pocket on the bag, but because of the darts, I had to add the zipper pocket vertically. I sewed the pocket to the dart within the seam allowance on both to keep the pocket in place.

A small slip pocket here and you might be wondering what that brown square is, well I will tell you. It is a piece of Ultra Suede that I glued there to cover up the metal prongs of the magnetic snap. I had added a magnetic snap in the construction of the bag, however I placed it on the front of the bag incorrectly and the flap sat up too high. I needed to do something to make it workable and even if I could rip out the magnetic snap I installed it would leave holes and look a mess. So I decided to add another female snap to the front of the bag in the proper position and I had to cover up the prongs inside the bag, so Ultra Suede and glue the the rescue. It works, but then I had an extra female snap on the front and in order to avoid confusion as to which snap was the correct snap to use, I glued a cat button over the mistake snap. I didn't get a photo of the button though. I did such a good job with the bag, I cannot believe I screwed up the snap. I guess I was reading about where to place the twist lock (that the pattern directions call for, although she did also mention using a magnetic snap, but failed to point out where on the front to place the snap, only the twist lock). Well I won't make that mistake again! I did save this bag to make it functional and all works well with it, so I just need to explain it to whoever might buy the bag what happened and sell it for less because of my goof. I will wait to sell this one whenever I can do craft shows again. I don't want to list this on on Etsy, unless someone see this and contacts me they want to buy it and then I can do a custom listing on Etsy for just them.

Another sweet kitty print on the lining flap. I also used this print a bit on the strap and the slip pocket inside the bag.

Back of the bag.

Back of the bag.

Okay another confession of why I added the accent strip here is because I didn't have enough of the cat fabric to make the flap. I had 2 pieces of this cat fabric instead of one larger piece that need to be placed on the fold. So I thought if I could add a piece of fabric and sew the cat print to either side of a strip of fabric it would be wide enough to then cut out the flap. But you know it was a happy accident and I think it gives the bag a bit more pizzazz! I may just purposely add an accent strip of fabric on other bag that have flaps too. The brown is the same fabric I used for most of the strap, so it coordinates well.

So you see sometimes you need to get creative when things aren't working your way or you make a mistake. All's well that ends well.
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Large Oriole Bag

I made this Large Oriole Bag (a Sew Sweetness free pattern) late last year. Sara shows you how to sew this bag in her video, so it is easy to follow along. Videos are great for beginner bag makers, but for me they slow me down. I so much prefer a pdf pattern that I can skip ahead, and go at my own pace, make my own changes and not be put to sleep by watching a video. Don't get me wrong, videos are great and Sara and others make great videos, but for some reason watching them makes me want to take a nap. It's not that they are not informative or are boring, no not at all, but maybe because I already know how to sew bags and don't need a lesson in how to do every step, so for me a pdf instruction is all I need. But if you a video class kind of gal or guy, then by all means do what works for you. 

Back to the bag here. The pdf template has both a small and large size. The large is a bit larger than I had expected it to be, but still it's a nice size if you have a bit more to carry. The cross body adjustable strap makes it nice to wear across your body or shorten it to wear as a shoulder bag. You can close the bag with a magnetic snap or turn lock closure. I chose a magnetic snap for this bag.

A variegated stripe print I chose for the bag and strap and a gecko print for the flap.

Sewing darts give the bag front and back some depth.

This is the back of the bag.

Gecko print flap and my handmade label.

A bright happy yellow gingham for the lining with a slip pocket. Pretty roomy inside too.  Because of the sewn darts in this bag, it made it a bit harder to make some changes, like adding a zippered pocket inside or outside. I could have added a zipper pocket vertically, but then I wasn't sure if that would be very convenient to use?

Later this month I will be selling bags at my quilt group's annual outdoor quilt show in the park and this will be one of the bags I will have to sell there.
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