Bag lady

 

Yesterday, I spent some quality time with my fabric stash and my sewing machine.

 

I decided to make myself a bright, shove-everything-in-must-be-able-to-carry-it-on-my-shoulder-type bag.  I'm sure you know the type I mean. 

 

After much deliberation I chose these pretty fabrics:

 

 

Top left: Sketchbook Roses by Amy Butler (from her Alchemy collection)

I'm not sure of the print names for the Dandelion print and the purple & grey pattern, but they are from the Pure Style collection by Stof.

Bottom right: Charleston Farmhouse by Felicity Miller.

 

I would have liked to have made the entire outer bag in the Sketchbook Roses print, but sadly I didn't have enough fabric.

 

 

I think I wasted the most amount of time working out the dimensions.

 

I find measuring and cutting out a dream these days, after investing in my rotary cutter, steel ruler and cutting mat.  These 3 simple tools have taken the stress out of sewing for me. 

 

 

For extra strength, after sewing my front and back panels together, I attached interfacing to the back of the fabric. I also made a gusset (is that the right terminology?) at the bottom of the bag, and also lined it with the Charleston Farmhouse fabric.

 

 

 

I've already used my new bag for the school run this morning - it's amazing how much stuff a 5 year old has to take to school.

 

This was such a fun and easy project, that I'm definitely going to make some more.  It may clear out some more of my stash. 

 

I have made a tutorial, mainly for my benefit so that I've got all my measurements to hand, but please feel free to use my notes as a guide should you wish to try and make one for yourself.

 

Will the sunshine make it out from behind the clouds today?

 

Wishing you all a very happy Wednesday.

 

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