Tonia Mini Moto Cross Body Bag

This is such a sweet bag. It's the Tonia Mini Moto Bag by Swoon Patterns. I wanted to make a small bag for myself and decided on making this one, but as a cross body bag instead of a clip on hip bag. I also wanted to do a decorative machine stitched flap too with added embellishments. I added a back zipper pocket with a zipper overlay instead of the back slip pocket. I added the slip pocket inside the bag and shortened it and I also added the inside zipper pocket too. So my bag has 3 pockets instead of 2. I also made a few more changes I will point out in the photos.

The bag measures 6" wide x 6" high x 2" deep. It's a nice size if you just carry a few items, which I am doing these days more and more. I always have the option of enlarging this bag if I do want a larger size, but I think I will be using this size and see if I need any more space or not.

I had fun making this bag!

I had a fabric that had some of the same colors as the fabric in the body, so I used it to stitch the decorative stitches on so they would show up. I added rickrack, buttons, crystals, French knots by hand, along with the machine decorative stitches. It makes this a one-of-a-kind bag for sure!

I tried something new that I saw on a bag a few years ago and that is to add vinyl across the top and bottom of the strap connectors to cover the raw edge at the bottom of the connector and anchor the connector in place at top and bottom with stitching and rivets. Got a rivet a bit off center there 😁😜! Well this bag is mine, so I can live with that, 😆. The strap, D-rings and adjustable slider are 1/2" wide, which is narrower that I usually make my straps, but I wanted a narrow strap on this bag.

For a small bag the depth of the gusset is nice and ample. I love bags with gussets!!!

I used a magnetic snap closure as my other closures were too large for this small bag. I also riveted a Handmade tag onto a scrap of the rainbow vinyl.

Inside is a larger slip pocket with a pen pocket and a plastic snap to close the larger pocket. Zipper pocket is across as you can see the zipper pull on the right.

Hard to get a good photo inside when the bag is small. Inside the bag showing the slip pocket. I divided for a pen pocket and then added a plastic snap closure for the larger pocket section. Zipper pocket is across from this pocket. The lining even has a gusset too.

Back zipper pocket with a rainbow vinyl overlay.

Unzipped pocket.

Pin It Now!

Dollie Mini Cross Body Bag in Painted Fabric & Cork-Look Fabric

Hello Dollie!!! This is the Mini Dollie Cross Body Bag (from Swoon) and I again used a small piece of painted fabric that I created using textured rubbing plates. I didn't think I would have enough of the painted fabric to make anything large and well this bag is not very large, which is perfect for the last of my painted fabric. I again paired the painted fabric with cotton fabric that looks like cork. 

This is a great bag for a minimalist or a child or teenager. It may be small in size, but it's big in style!

Dollie measures 6" wide x 6" tall x 2.75" deep. Perfect for holding a phone and keys and a few other small items.

A sweet bag with a gusset and a flap.

The back of the bag has a slip pocket, which is the painted fabric here.

The bag closes with the magnetic snap on the flap.

I made my side connectors longer than the pattern instructions and added more rivets.

Here is the back slip pocket.

Inside the bag I added a slip pocket, which wasn't part of the bag instructions.

Better view of the inside slip pocket.

You can make this bag yourself with the free Swoon pdf, or if you want to buy this Dollie that I already made, please go to my PayHip Shop. Click on the PayHip logo on the right side bar. Thanks!

Pin It Now!

Nora Doctor Bag

This is the Nora Doctor Bag by Swoon. It comes in 3 sizes in the pdf and this is the large size (it measures  13.5″ x 10″ x 6″), which is quite roomy; there is also a small and a traveler size in the pdf too.  There are no frames used in this bag. It does use boning to give the top edge of the bag some stiffness though. 

I really love the purple and aqua colors and print combination of this bag, don't you?

I added a triple stacked button as a bit of bling to the flap/tab. It closes with a magnetic snap, so the button is purely decorative. The patterns suggest using a twist or turn lock closure, but a magnetic snap works well too.

I added purse feet on the bottom to keep the bottom cleaner.

The hardest part for me sewing this bag is the sides. It was the thickest part to topstitch too around the curves. Just make sure you use a larger needle like a 16 or even an 18 jeans needle.

I added a slip pocket to the bag between the straps on both the front of the bag and the back of the bag to hold keys (or a phone). It seemed like the perfect place to add a pocket. There is no pocket instructions for this in the pdf, I just added it.

This is the front pocket. The magnetic snap is above the pocket.

To show how roomy the bag is I put my wallet, sunglasses case, folded shopping bag inside. Plus there is a slip pocket and pen pocket that I added (not in the pattern) and zippered pocket inside as well.

Here is the inside without anything inside to show you.

The divided slip pocket that I added to the bag.

I really love this style of bag and may have to make the small one next. If you love this or any of Swoon patterns, please check them all out here. (I am an affiliate of Swoon. It is my only affiliate. 

This bag is also for sale. If you are interested please contact me .  This bag has SOLD.

Pin It Now!

Bonnie Bucket Bag

This is the Bonnie Bucket Bag by Swoon Patterns. I wanted to try making this bag, since I have seen a lot of them online from other people and I liked how it looked. As usual, I made some changes to this bag and after making it, I would make even more changes to the next bag too. I really like how it looks and I think it's a great bag for people who want a large bag.

You can make this bag in all one fabric or a combinations of fabrics. I chose to use this bird print and a faux cork material and blended really well. Highly contrasting fabrics would also look good. I chose a darker fabric for the bottom and straps and strap connectors.

Bonnie Bucket bag measures 14" wide x 12" high x 6" deep. I am selling this bag in my PayHip Shop.

I added my strap connectors to the sides of the bag and riveted them in place, instead of sewing to the top sides of the bag as per the bag instructions. I also made the strap an adjustable strap, rather than a fixed strap, so it can be worn on the shoulder or across the body by adjusting the strap.

The back of the bag has a zippered pocket going across both fabrics. I have seen others sew a shorter zipper to go only on one side, which is an option I might try on another bag.

I quilted the stabilizer first to hold it in place better, and then added purse feet to the bottom of the bag. The purse feet or quilting was not in the instructions.

The strap connectors I thought would look better riveted to the sides of the bag and I also added strap ends as well. It seems sturdier and adds a bit more bling to the bag.

I always make my zipper pulls with beads and a charm to add to the zippers on a bag.

I had some fun with the lining, using 3 lining fabrics that all blended well together. I didn't have enough of any one fabric, so I enjoy making my linings fun and using a few fabrics for the lining. Here are 2 of the lining fabrics. I like zippered closures, but I think I would change the way this one is sewn on a future Bonnie, or use a magnetic snap.

It does unzip wide enough to see inside. I added both a zippered pocket and a slip pocket inside the bag, as neither were in the bag instructions.

I almost forgot to show you the matching Little Wallet I made. Funny how that blue photographed differently here and didn't pick up the green part of the print.

Zippered pocket. It really isn't that dark inside the bag. I think my body was blocking the light when I took these photos.

I added fusible fleece to the exterior pieces because I didn't want too slouchy of a bag. The instructions call this a slouchy style bag and therefore only called for using fusible interfacing.

I think this bag made with a magnetic snap instead of a zipper closure would make for a nice big project knitting or crochet bag, especially if you are traveling, because the adjustable single strap would make it easier to carry. It is also a great day trip bag for carrying a lot of things you might need.

If I reduce this bag, it would be a nice size for someone who prefers a smaller bag to use daily. My mind is already thinking of the possibilities, lol.

In my PayHip Shop.

Pin It Now!

Mabel Vintage Style Bag

This is the Mabel Vintage Style Handbag designed by Swoon Patterns. (It's a free pattern). I thought Betty Boop was a fun choice for a vintage handbag. This is a small bag measuring 9″ wide, 6″ tall, 3.5″ deep. Perfect for carrying a few essentials.

The handle is riveted on the top.

Back of the bag.

A magnetic snap keeps the bag closed.

Fun polka dots for the lining.

This Mabel has sold. If you would like me to make you a Mabel in your choice of colors, please contact me.

Pin It Now!

Annette Satchel in Purple Echinacea (Coneflower) Print

I absolutely love Echinacea (coneflowers) and when I saw this print (long after it came out), I really wanted some, but I resisted. I kept seeing more and more bags and wallets made with this Echinacea Glow fabric from Free Spirit (designed by Anna Marie Horner), that I had to do a search to see if I could find any to buy. I found this colorway on Etsy. I think this print was made in 3 or 4 colorways. This color combo is my favorite.

So after making the Annette Satchel (Swoon Pattern) that I showed yesterday in the black and gold batik, I knew this was the pattern I wanted to make for me using the Echinacea print. I really love how this turned out!

Again, I didn't want to add the U-shaped strap connector because I didn't want to cover up the beautiful print, so I riveted the straps and added strap ends like I did with the black batik Annette Satchel. I also added purse feet and a slip pocket inside, only not a dimensional pocket this time.

The bag measures 13" wide x 9" high x 5" deep.

Purse feet and a quilted bottom. The purple fabric is a variegated fabric with medium to dark purples. I used this fabric for the straps, sides and pockets too, so you can see how the purple shades in this fabric changes. I think it tends to glow too along with the coneflower print.

I bought a few purse charms to add to some zipper pulls.

I added a stacked button on the zipper tab for a bit of bling.

Pull can be placed inside the pocket (or the bag).

Love a zippered closure on a bag too.

See how wide it opens? Zippered pocket and slip pockets inside.

I even added rivets to the top sides of this pocket.

This bag does make me Swoon, lol! Swoon Patterns has a lot of great bag patterns, but for now this is my favorite one.

Hopefully, I will be able to use this bag when I get out again. No place to go, so I have been staying home and sewing. Meanwhile, I can admire the bag and the print and that makes me happy. Oh and I found a couple other colorways of this print and I ordered a couple yards of each, so I will be making other bags in Echinacea Glow to sell hopefully next year if there are any craft shows happening).
Pin It Now!