Clematis Pouches with Boxed Corners

I made a lot of Clematis Wristlets (Blue Calla pattern) over a year ago, about 30 of them , but they did not sell very well. So I reduced the price on them and most of them sold. I don't think people here like wristlets. Clematis is a cute looking pouch so I was surprised it didn't sell well.

I got to thinking recently what if I were to box the corners of the bag instead of sewing darts and not add a wristlet strap, so I tried this and the following Clematis's are the results I got.

I love the look and because of the boxed corners, the pouch will stand up on it's own now since it has boxed corners too. I made this one using fleece. After making this I made a couple more that I used foam stabilizer in and I think I prefer the foam.

Inside is a slip pocket.

These next Clematis Pouches are made with foam stabilizer. The one on the right is the size the pattern is, and I enlarged the one on the left with the cactus print to 110%. I like the slightly larger size, but I will make both sizes, depending on the amount of fabric that I have on hand. The black print I only had a small amount of that fabric and it was just enough to make this bag, so this original size was perfect to use up the fabric piece I had. 

As you can see when the bag is sitting on its own the pink bottom gets a bit lost in the center. So the next Clematis pouches I made I increased the bottom accent fabric and made it a bit taller so that it shows more and is more balanced.  It still looks nice like this, but I think I prefer the bottom just a bit taller.

The back of the bag so you can see the rest of the print here.

Inside there is one slip pocket.

Pocket.

Isn't this a cute cactus print?

I added a back zippered pocket to this larger Clematis, which is nice, but I don't think I will add a zippered pocket to any more unless I get a request to add one. 

Inside slip pocket.

Next are the Clematis Pouches that I made where I added a bit more height to the bottom accent piece. I think it looks more balanced and you can really see the bottom accent better in these pouches.

This is the original size with the added height on the accent bottom. 

The back of the bag to see more of the print.

Inside with a slip pocket.

I made this one in the larger (110%) size. I used uncorked fabric for the accent. My hubby likes spacey stuff, so I made this bag for him.

The back of the bag to see more of the print.

Of course it was made with love!

The smaller Clematis and the larger Clematis.

I am so glad I decided to box the corners of this bag, because I love this pouch, but not as a wristlet and not as much with darts in the corners. It is a roomier bag now and so useful to holding all kinds of items.
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Sugar & Spice Bag

I finally made the Sugar & Spice Bag, which is a ChrisW Design bag. This bag pdf is several years old and Christine is working on updating the pdf to add some updated sewing techniques and materials that weren't used several years ago when she designed this bag. But since I make changes to most bags anyhow, I knew I could add my own updates to the bag and I did. I even emailed Christine with all the changes I made and most were changes she was planning on changing too.

This bag style is very eye catching and I have always admired it, so I am glad I finally made one. I used batik fabrics for the exterior and a hand dyed fabric inside.

A zippered closure for the bag.

This is the back of the bag, which is the same as the front of the bag with 2 slip pockets, giving you 4 exterior pockets total.

More pockets inside the bag!

I ran out of the hand dyed fabric, so added a strip of the batik to each pocket, piecing the pocket pieces large enough. I actually love how this looks! Adds a bit of the outside fabric inside.

Just listed in my Etsy Shop. Will be at craft show in October if it doesn't sell on Etsy before then.
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The Allure Bag (reduced in size) in Blue Celestial Print

I made another Allure Bag at 85% size, this time in a celestial blue and gold print with gold uncorked fabric. I just love this bag pattern! It's a ChrisW Design bag so you know it has to be great! I have made a lot of these bags at 85%, I think this is the 6th one (plus one at the original size). I have sold 3 of these bags so far, so I need to make more for my autumn craft shows coming up, plus one for me too!

I had just enough fabric of the blue celestial print to make this bag. Paired with the uncorked fabric, I think this bag is a winning combination!

The phone pocket on the back top of the bag for easy access to your phone or keys.

The back of the bag.

Inside zippered pocket.

Inside slip pocket.

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Large Craft Bag for Sewing-Knitting-Crafts

I bought a paper pattern to make this large craft bag. It is the Crafty Carrier Bag by Ellie Mae Designs. It turned out nice and I wasn't sure if it was a bag I would make again. I used foam stabilizer (even though the pattern didn't call for using it), because for such a large bag, I wanted this bag to be able to stand up on it's own, especially fully loaded with stuff.

This bag sold at a craft show last year. So glad she will be using this one.

The small white dots on black ribbon running horizontally across the bag is to hold tall tools like scissors. You place scissors in the ribbon tab and the bottom of the scissors goes into the pocket below. I used ribbon, but the pattern has you make this from fabric. (See the very last photo showing scissors). The 2 front pockets are pleated so they will hold a lot of  thick or bulging items.

I added extra padding and purse feet on the bottom of the bag.

Inside is nice and wide and I also added a zippered pocket.

The other side of the bag also has a ribbon that is divided to hold long tools (scissors, knitting needles, ruler, etc.)

The side each have a pocket too.

Here is the cover photo on the pattern envelope showing how the scissors fit in the tab:

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B.E.S.T. Shopping Tote & Stow-Away Folding Tote

I made 2 bags from Moments Designs. Both are free pdf's too. I made these bags using ripstop nylon scraps leftover from Hot Air Balloon making. I have made the Stowaway Tote before using the ripstop nylon material, but I wanted to try making the B.E.S.T. Shopping Tote to see how it would turn out. I am pleased with how it looks and it is nice and lightweight and foldable, while still being able to hold quite a bit of stuff.

In order to make the B.E.S.T. bag I had to first piece together the scraps of nylon material and then I topstitched each seam on the front side. Once I had the size I needed then I could construct the bag. This is a wonderful size bag for carrying all kinds of things. I take it to my quilt and knitting meetings to carry stuff and this Saturday it will be with me when I head off shopping at a quilter's destash sale.
I will make more of these bags to use up the ripstop nylon material I still have.

This is the B.E.S.T. Shopping Tote (which by the way stands for Big Easy Shopper Tote)~

One side with pieces ripstop nylon scraps.

The other side pieced.

Side view. I used this hot pink fabric for the sides and bottom and only needed piece it on the bottom of the bag.

Next is the Stow-Away Tote, which folds up in order to stow it away in your purse or glove box of your car. I used Velcro instead of a snap and added a postcard button for decoration over where I sewed the Velcro.

This is the front and how it looks when all folded up.

When the bag is opened there is a pocket and the flap hanging down. Since this bag folds up flat, there are no boxed corners, but the bag can still hold a lot and it quite sturdy.

This is the other side. I had a large piece of the green, so not as much piecing on this side.

The Stow-Away Tote above is a free pdf on Bluprint (formerly Craftsy). You can get this pdf here.

If you would like the B.E.S.T. pdf, you can join Liz's Facebook group and find this pdf in the files.

If you are not on Facebook, contact me and I will forward your email to Liz. Liz is selling her pdf's through her FB group using PayPal too, so whatever is no longer on Bluprint, you can ask Liz to email you the pdf after payment to her for any pdf's that she sells. It used to be so easy when it was Craftsy and they allowed designers to sell their pdf's, but things change and designers have to figure out what works for them now.
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Coco Bag with Boxed Corners & Lots of Changes

This is the Coco Bag, which is a free pdf by ChrisW Designs. This bag and pdf have been around for several years now, but I have never made this bag until now. I think one thing I wasn't wild about is the darts on the bag. I guess darts aren't my thing when it comes to bags. but one day I was looking at some pdf patterns and I saw the Coco and I had one of those aha moments. I could change the things about Coco I didn't like and add things I do like and do a total remake of Coco, so I did, lol!

I made lots and lots of changes to this bag. I added a bit in height to Coco so when I box the corners, I wouldn't lose as much of the bag. I didn't want to use the tubing in the handles, so I made more traditional handles and I made some strap tabs with rings too, instead of grommets and swivel hooks. I used foam instead of fleece. I added a zippered pocket inside and I added a phone pocket on the back of the bag the way Christine does in most of her bags now, but Coco was created before Christine did that. I added Peltex base and purse feet on the bottom of the bag. I added 2 magnetic snaps to close the bag and added them to the top band, rather than the separate tab the pattern called for. I also added foam to the top band instead of using Peltex there.

The basic top shape of the bag is the same as the original Coco, but I changed so much to Coco that I now really love this bag! I am sure the original Coco is loved by a lot of people who make her and it is a great looking bag too, but you know I have learned so much being Christine's bag tester for so many years, that I just applied a lot of my bag making skills to this bag and made changes that I liked (some are strictly sewing changes and doesn't affect the look of the bag). I can certainly credit Christine for all that I have learned in the bag making world. I usually make at least one change to nearly all the bags I make, whether it is a Christine design or a design from another designer. That is the beauty of bag making for me is that I can make changes that I like to see in a bag. I love to see what changes other people make in bags they make too. Sometimes it is those changes I see that sells me on a particular bag pattern that I otherwise might not have given a second look to. And I know some people have told me when they see my bags and the changes I make that they are sold on that particular pattern because of the changes I made.

So don't think you have to make a bag exactly as the instructions tell you to. You can enlarge or reduce the bag to suit the needs of you or a customer. You can add or subtract or change pockets. Of course you need to have the skills in bag making to make changes and for me that took years and years of making bags and taking chances. I have had great results and some clunkers too that I either donated or sold cheap because it didn't work out the way I wanted. But with every bag I make I learn something and can make whatever changes I want to. 

So back to Coco. Here she is with all the changes that I made~

I like this blue and brown print paired with the dark brown.

Side view.

I added a phone pocket on the back top of the bag.

Inside a zippered pocket and 2 magnetic snaps.

A slip pocket with a pen pocket.

I added purse feet and Peltex (inside) to keep Coco's bottom clean and sturdy too.

Oh and so you can compare my updated Coco to the original Coco, here is the photo of Coco from Christine's pdf:

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Retreat Bag with Handles and a Tab Closure

I made this Retreat bag with handles and pockets last year and sold it at a craft show. I tried making this one with a closing tab with a magnetic snap instead of a zipper closure. It works okay, but was tricky to get it just right to keep the bag closed fully.

I quilted the bag to a foam stabilizer so it stand up nicely. I added front and back pockets, handles, the closure tab on the outside and inside are more pockets. I love making patchwork bags, especially out of batik fabric.

Side view.

The other side.

This is the back of the bag. I goofed on adding the rivets and the tab! It looked fine from the front, but somehow (don't ask, I don't remember) I got the placement of the tab and rivets off! So I discounted this bag. A woman bought it and I did point out to her the reason I was discounting the price because of the tabs. She didn't seem bothered by that. I was glad it sold to someone who liked it in spite of it's flaw. It is still a great looking and so useful bag! I think I will stick to the original zipper closure from now on, lol!

Inside there is a zippered pocket and a divided slip pocket. I love how this bag opens and stays open so wide with the internal frame. 

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