Purse!
Backpack!
This project started with a fellow NeedleChaser guild member who showed her purse during “show and tell”. I thought it would be very handy to have a bag this summer that could also be worn hands free on my back. I bought the pattern and recruited a few friends to make it with me. This seems to be the best way for me to get something done these days.
Pattern and labels!
Boy, did I need those friends to get this done! The pattern is 12 pages long. There are a few variations you can chose which affect how and what you cut out. There are a lot of pieces and the very BEST thing about the pattern is the premade label sheet that you can see above. Most of the pieces are given as simple dimensions rather than pattern pieces and these labels made the chore of cutting everything properly much less daunting.
All of the pieces.
Of course, the reason there are a lot of pieces is the reason we like the bag – lots of pockets and a chance to use a couple (or more) coordinated fabrics for the outside.
My fabric: Anna Maria Horner Pretty Potent
I used this pretty AMH fabric for the outside but found that Tula Pink’s fabric went well with it for the inside.
Mix of fabrics
The four of us met one morning at 10 AM with our pieces all cut out and ready to sew. At 5 PM we had them almost done.
Nearly complete
Who would have guessed it would take that long? I ALWAYS underestimate how long it is going to take for me to sew something. Do you?
We had to each finish up individually and a week later, we have all done it!
I love my bag!
I think that I will use this bag a lot this summer.
Out and about
Notes:
1. To begin, I found it helpful to highlight the cutting diagrams I was going to use, once I decided on the options given.
2. When the outside and the lining are both made, the directions tell you to iron in a 1/4″ fold and then topstitch the two together. Lynne chose to leave an opening in her lining and sew the two parts together inside out which seemed to give a much cleaner finish. It still needed to be topstitched, but the bags are already sewn together when you do this.
I Finally Have Time 
Really cute bag! Looks like they all came out great!
Thanks Jan. It was a fun project but I won’t be making another 10 of them! Definitely not a “boutique” sale item.
very nice Linda, it looks super useful! I love that coneflower print 🙂
I love your choice of fabrics! Great job! I have made a few if these. I found it easier to make a poster board pattern and trace it each time. That part takes a bit of time and effort but saves time in the long run.