Bagmaking: Mermaid Maisie - Swoon Patterns

So this is my Maisie. She was one of the 'blood, sweat, tears' variety.

I had the 'Drift Away' fabric at the ready for this bag. I'd been hoping to get the mermaids with the blue background, but some things are just impossible to get hold of when you want them in the UK, so I settled for this beigey background.

I used linen for the contrast. The piping and zips actually looked like they matched when I did this. They clearly don't in the picture. You'll have to ovelook that. My dining room is very dark and in hindsight I should have double checked the match in daylight.

I started cutting this bag out at bag camp. After a few too many. This was a gross mistake. When I got home I realised I hadn't cut out the contrasting linen panels for the back, and I'd run out of this particular linen - and so had every shop in the UK apparently.

I tried to get hold of some similar, but it didn't cut the mustard, so I worked with what I had. I'd already cut out a strap, so I used part of that to make those panels. They aren't cut on the grainline, and they didn't exactly have the correct amount of seam allowance, but honestly I don't think anyone will notice unless I point it out.

See how different those greens are - how could I ever have thought they were similar?!!

I love the bright lining. Its like when you open the bag - the sun comes out!

So the hardest bit could have been anticipated - this bag uses foam on both sides and stabiliser on the bottom. Trying to sew smallish curves with those factors - well lets just say it took a lot of passes. 

I'm pretty happy with the result though. Love a Swoon :)

Hardware from Emmaline Bags

Zips from Jaycotts

Drift Away fabrics and Kaufman Brussels washer linen in Charcoal from Billow Fabrics

Piping from Sew Hot

Outer Fabric

Pocket Fabric

Lining fabric

Strap and contrast fabric

Pinup Girl Ellory Bag: Pattern Test

I was contacted by Sarah from http://www.cozynestdesign.com/ a couple of weeks ago to see if I wanted to participate in some bag testing.

I should have said no, because I have a lot of commissions to get through, and I know from the last pattern test from Sarah that her designs are wonderful, but fairly advanced.

I couldn't say no though. When I saw her test bag, I just really really wanted to give it a go. Its very bowling bag style i.e. a bit retro, a great roomy size, with three pockets.

This is a downloadable pattern. You do have to tape quite a few bits of paper together, then cut out the pattern pieces. If you aren't a big fan of doing that, then this is the worst bit (it was for me)

After that, it was relatively plain sailing. Sarahs patterns are clear and she provides checkboxes to tick off what you've done as you go!

I bought the fabric yonks ago - my first bag sale on Etsy was in this fabric ( it wasn't very good - see below - I didn't take fabric placement into consideration at all, but I'm improving all the time!)

I figured it needed using up. Plus the retro styling called for some retro fabric.

There are 3 pockets on this bag - one large inner pocket, and the sides also zip away to reveal pockets. Its roomy and perfect for a day out as you can fit a picnic in there! I added some D-rings on the side to add a shoulder strap if its needed.

Used a little gingham on the inside pocket to carry on that retro feel. Piping - who doesn't love piping? I'm fairly confident with adding this now, although it often takes a few passes of the needle to get it right!

This is quite a time consuming project. Slow and steady wins the race!

Which is the front and which is the back? Either or. Totally interchangeable!

Overall I'm moderately happy with my work this time. Its not as neat as I'd like because I didn't do the side pocket zips properly ( I folded the ends over - don't do that - just overlap them), so I won't be selling it as I hate to sell something not perfect. Its adorable though and I love it. 

As I said previously, Sarahs patterns are clear and well written. This is an advanced bag design, but a beginner can do it as long as they take it slow. 

The pattern is available from her site http://www.cozynestdesign.com/shop/ or from craftsy

Betty Bowler complete!

A post dedicated to one topic only this week: my Betty Bowler (Swoon Patterns), which I have named 'Love Leopard'

I really love most of the Swoon Patterns. Theres just something about the shape which is aesthetically pleasing to me. Maybe its the proportions. I dunno. I just like them  :)

I knew I wanted a bowling bag, so this was the pattern I chose. Instead of stripes down the front, I decided to have a little heart detail instead. Then I went one further and decided it would be a kind of patch pocket (and then I decided I had to have one on the back too) 

The pockets are big enough to fit a phone or a travel card wallet. 

There's also a zipped pocket on the front, which is where I'd stash my keys.

Overall this came together well, although I won't say it wasn't hard work - it was. The bit I hate about making stuff is cutting out fabric. I just really don't enjoy that. Its so tedious. And it needs ironing. And. Yeugh!

But I think it was all worth it. Piping is my favourite trim and of course its used in this pattern.

I also added a little zipper pull as its so tiny (the zip that is) You can't really tell from the pic - I just used a mini lobster clasp then added some charms. Ideally it would have been silver to match the other hardware, but I didn't have any. TBH I wish I'd used bronze hardware, but its way too late now!

I'm so thrilled I got to the end of this. The hardest part was trying to sew the external parts together as the layers were quite thick. My trusty machine handled it though!