Zip-tastic Pouches

Now that Halloween is nearly here and I forgot to share these bags with you, I figured that I better show it now, lol! This is the Zip-tastic Pouch (Moments by Liz Design). The orange bag is the large size, and the other one is the small size. The pdf includes a small and a large size.

This is the only Halloween fabric I had (both inside and outside), so I thought I would make this bag using these 2 fabrics. It's a cute pouch and useful for a lot of things. You can even add a strap and turn it into a simple purse.

The pouches feature a zipper closure on top and a zippered pocket in front.

The small measures  6 1/2" H x 8 1/2" W

The large measures 8" H x 11" W

You have to look closely to see that this is a Halloween fabric. See the pumpkin with bat wings, spiders with one in a web and dragons?

Inside is a cute Winnie-the-Pooh Halloween print.

This is the small size Zip-tastic pouch. I had a small piece of this computer fabric and thought it was cute and would make a fun place to store those computer cords, chargers, earphones, and such.

The small pouch can fit inside of the large pouch.

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Zippy Cross Body Bag

This is the Zippy Cross Body Bag that I made on commission last year for a quilt friend. It was a kit that had the pattern and some fabric with it. The problem was there was no indication as to what fabric went to what piece, so I had to do my best at figuring it out and I also wanted to place the fabrics in a pleasing way. I did have to use my own fabric inside the zippered pocket on the inside pocket as I didn't have enough of any of the fabrics left to use. It came out rather patchwork looking, which I like, but also because I had to use what was available of the fabrics given to me. The strap was made from all the leftover pieces that I sewed together in order to make the strap.

2 zippered pockets on the front of the bag.

The back of the bag.

The recessed zipper I used 2 different fabrics.

A divided slip pocket and a zippered pocket inside.

This bag turned out nicely. I can make more because she gave me the pattern to keep.

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Large Tote in Wildflower Fabric

I was commissioned to make a few bags from a friend in my quilt guild last year. (Can't believe I forgot to post the bags!) She had purchased some patterns and fabric, but never made the bags (she attempted to start one of them) and that's when she asked me to make them for her. So I did. I will post about the others in the next few days.

I made a lot of changes to the bag pattern she had. I knew I would add more pockets and hardware that the pattern didn't call for, so I mostly made this one up myself. She had given the wildflower fabric to me to make this bag, but I used the blue print that I had to add to the wildflower print. I also used fabric I had for the lining. 

I made a slip pocket on the front and the back of the bag looks the same with a pocket too.

The longer zipper allows the bag to be opened up fully.

Here is the inside with a divided slip pocket and a zippered pocket.

I used interfacing and foam stabilizer so the bag stands up nicely. I think I also added purse feet, but since I didn't take a photo and I made this last year, I am not certain, lol!
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Bag Straps

Do you have a favorite bag strap style? Do you prefer a single adjustable cross body strap, or 2 handles that can be grabbed or worn on the shoulder, or a waist/hip style of bag, a wristlet with a strap that goes over the wrist, or a clutch with no strap to tuck under your arm? (The last 2 mentioned are not pictured). What is your favorite strap style? And why?

For me I sometimes like a cross body style because depending on where I am going I can wear the bag hands free across my body or I can shorten the strap and wear on my shoulder. I prefer a single strap also because 2 handles if worn on the shoulder can slip off too easily. However, I do like the 2 handled bags because they tend to be larger and hold more of my stuff, even though I may not carry a lot of belongings, mine are larger, like 2 eyeglasses cases (one for readers and one for sunglasses), keys, a large wallet and a folded tote bag for shopping. So those 2 are my favorite style of strap/handles. Tell my your favorite strap style? Next time I will ask about bag style, but today is just straps.

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Batik Scraps Dish Drying Mat

This a a scrappy batik drying mat I made for placing my washed dishes on. I made one in different fabrics quite a while ago and we needed another one. We don't have a dishwasher, so 2 drying mats were better than one. The first one I made scrappy in a different way and used commercial cotton fabrics. This one is batik and I like it better. It is holding up and looking better than the other one. Both were made using foam stabilizer inside instead of batting. The foam doesn't absorb the water as much a cotton batting would, so it dries faster. I also notice that the ones that are sold in the stores felt like foam was inside. It's a great way to use up scraps of fabric for a useful project.

I quilted it in a wavy grid.

This is the back side. You can see the wavy quilted grid better.

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Wayfarer Sling

I made this Wayfarer Sling (pdf from A Quaint Stitch) back in February and forgot to post it. So here it is. 

I had wanted to try making a sling bag and looked at a few of the styles out there from different designers. I really liked the look of this sling. It had 2 versions, one that had an extra zip around pocket. I made the version with one zip around pocket. 

The instructions were very good and someone even made a video tutorial for this bag, so you could follow along with the video too.

I love the look of this bag, but the stuff I tend to carry has dimension to it like sunglasses case and reading glasses case, and a large wallet are the main large items I carry. I carry smaller items too, but it appears that a sling like this is mainly made for lots of small, or somewhat flat items to be carried. If you put glasses and large wallets, the larger items will bulge a bit in the bag. Maybe that is something that won't bother you, maybe it will bother you? A phone or a tablet is flat and would fit fine in the pockets. But it got me wondering what do people carry in a sling? Do they even use all the pockets? I know I could have left off some of the pockets, but never having made or used a sling like this before I was uncertain as to how it was going to go together and which pockets would be more useful, so I added them all. I figure that whoever wants to buy this bag can choose which pockets to use and which not to, or use them all. Anyhow, I am curious if any of you have ever used a sling similar to this and how you liked it and what you carried in it?

I was thinking that I might want to use this sling myself. I like the idea of slinging it over my shoulder like a backpack or wearing it in front for easier access and safety (because as a backpack could get pickpocketed too easily). But my stuff didn't fit inside as nicely as I would have liked.

 

I used cotton to make this bag. That is faux cork on the bottom and the strap.

The hook can be attached to either the right or left side of the bag, depending on if you would wear on your right or left shoulder. The strap is adjustable too.

A zippered pocket in the front is handy for a phone.

The back side of the sling has a zippered pocket. This is the side that is worn against your body on either the front or back of your body. Perfect for carrying your wallet.

When you unhook the hook you have access to the slip pocket and the zippered curved pocket behind it.

The slip pocket has even more slip pockets on each side. 

Unzip the curved pocket and inside are more pockets! A zippered pocket, a mesh slip pocket, a padded slip pocket (good for holding a small tablet).

A better view of the mesh divided slip pocket and the zippered pocket.

I have made fanny/bum/waist bags that can be worn as a sling too and I think I prefer that style of bag to this one. My daughter bought a sling bag just before I made this one and she likes her sling. I think the only way this sling would have worked for me is to not add all those slip pockets and zippered pocket inside and just use the front and back zippered pocket and the curved zippered pocket with no pockets inside it. Then maybe my larger items would have fit inside.

It is not a bag I would make again, unless I did eliminate the inside pockets and perhaps gave it more depth at the sides to hold larger items.

This bag has SOLD.

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Drawstring Duffel Bucket Tote

This is a drawstring bucket bag from Sew 4 Home and it was a free tutorial. It is quite roomy inside and even has quite a few pockets inside and one on the outside too. It's not a bag I would make again because it used a lot of fabric, interfacing and fleece, etc. and I don't know if it would sell? But time will tell if anyone wants to buy it at the craft shows (once they happen again that is). In the meanwhile, it will be with the other bags awaiting to be sold, so it won't be lonely, lol!

Here is a slip pocket on the back of the bag.

Lots of inside pockets inside the bag.

This bag was donated to raise funds for Alzheimer's Disease 2022.

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