One of my treats to myself this holiday season was a copy of Sara Lawson's Big-City Bags book. I've been a follower of Sara and Sew Sweetness for quite some time, so I knew it would be a good read and full of helpful tips. I have a bit of a confession about bags. I've hoarded quite a few bag patterns, but never actually made any of them. I leapt in fully committed this time though and decided to start with Sara's Fireside Bowl Bag. While it's not perfect, I am really pleased with how it came together.
This bag is my first strongly structured bag, designed to stand upright on its own. Since I'm a novice with interfacing types, I relied heavily on the descriptions in the book to work out what each kind does and what the best Australian substitutes were when I couldn't find the recommended brands.
While I enjoyed sewing my bag, I'll confess I have little patience for the ironing time involved with structured interfacing. That won't put me off making more bags in the future though. I feel like it worked out well and the only thing I'd do differently next time is a bit more clipping and smoothing in the curves. I clipped a bit, but not enough.
I first sewed a fabric strap as described in the book, but it didn't feel quite my style. I wanted to turn to cotton bag strapping, but the color choices here were limited. In the end, I opted for a cotton tape. To make it sturdier, I edgestitched two layers together.
The outer fabric is a lightweight linen-cotton Echino picked up at Pink Chalk Fabrics during a Seattle visit. The inner lining is a Japanese calendar print. If you'd like to get into making bags, I'd highly recommend Sara's book, Big-City Bags. Along with this gem, you'll find all sorts of scrunchy clutches, laptop bags and carry-alls. The introductory pages about bag making techniques helped alleviate some of my fears when it came to bag patterns.
And now I've got a pretty awesome personalized bag. Are you a closet bag pattern hoarder too?
Oh my, such a SUPERB bag! Well done :D! Oh yeah, definitely a bag pattern hoarder here! Like you, I have also purchased numerous bag patterns and sewn up nary a one. However, I am in the midst of making my first bag, which coincidentally is also one of Sara's designs (pattern #1 from the Bag-of-the-Month pattern club) --- hope it turns out looking as fabulous as yours!
ReplyDeleteStunning! Like you I have patterns I haven't made (yet?!) the couple of bags I have made I have struggled a bit with the interfacing translation process in the antipodes, so any insight you have there would be much appreciated -might be easier to get over the hurdle to the next bag?!
ReplyDeleteGORGEOUS! I cannot see anywhere that needs improvement! I actually thought it looked very professional and polished! excellent fabric choices as well!
ReplyDeleteI too just finished this bag........really like it ! Did you find that the lining was too long on the inside ?....for the sides ?.....I had to shorten it quite a bit and it is still rather long. I think I will make another one and use soft and stable for the sides and bottom...I think it will have more body to it.
ReplyDeleteMy lining seems to fit, but I wouldn't call it a perfect fit. If I were making it again, I'd probably take a faint bit out of side seams where the zipper panels meet the bottom for the lining. It wouldn't be much though. Have you posted photos of yours? I'd love to see.
DeleteI took a bag making class (specifically on zippers and different ways to include them in bags) with Nicole Mallalieu of You Sew Girl. She is a font of knowledge when it comes to interfacings and bag making tips. She has a few posts on her blog comparing interfacings and Aussie equivelents and her patterns are really detailed with lots of tips. Really looking forward to her new book coming out. I really like the look of Sara's bags and always here good reviews of her patterns so Big-City Bags is going on my list now.
ReplyDeleteMy friend, Carmel, also took one of Nikki's zipper classes and raved about it. I was following along with a few gals as they posted shots on the web. When we move to Melbourne (notice we've changed the if to when!), I'll try to enroll in one of Nikki's classes.
DeleteYour bag looks stunning! So cheerful, enjoy using it.
ReplyDeleteIt looks absolutely gorgeous! I sometimes am put off making bags because I just wouldn't use them everyday for work etc, but I'd be happy bringing this anywhere. I do find it a pain trying to source alternative interfacings though, I usually have to order from the UK, can't get stuff locally.
ReplyDeleteThat bag looks so well constructed it could survive any number of bag-related mishaps. A wild fabric spree, check! An enthusiastic, yet messy toddler, check! A last minute bank heist, check! That is quite a bag!
ReplyDeleteLove your fabric choices. I hoard bag patterns on Pintrest. Cheaper that way because I haven't made many bags myself. But your bag is so great, I might just need to buy that book and give it a try.
ReplyDeleteLove this bag! I've made a couple of Sara's bags, and they always turn out very nicely. Now that I've seen your bag, I really want the book!
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge fan of Sara's patterns, your fabric choice is awesome, good job!
ReplyDeleteI have so many bag patterns, and haven't had the guts to make any of them. They all look so intimidating. I love this bag. Perhaps now is the time to try one.....thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe bag is great. I recommend spraying it with Scotchguard--that will keep it great looking for years and you will be able to sponge off dirt and stains. Be warned when buying downloadable patterns--you really need the coloured photos to make it clear--and some times this means 20 to 30 page of colour printing. Pattern designers should cut down on the coloured illustrations.
ReplyDeleteOh I love it! That rhino print is superb. Like you, I have a few bag patterns in my stash but have never made one...I think you may have just given me inspiration :)
ReplyDeleteWell done!! That is one awesome bag and that fabric is great :O) Cindy
ReplyDeletegreat bag and I love the red zipper. makes for a little 'pop'.
ReplyDeleteLooks fab!
ReplyDeleteYour bag looks great - I like the fabric combination, but then that's what we all expect from you! I not only hoard patterns of all kinds, but got so tired of my bad "Oh, I could do that" non-making stance, that I set myself a challenge to make all the bags in Lisa Lam's Bag Making Bible. Now, of course, I have to go look at another book and second guess myself. Then, I'm going to put that aside and make bags!
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