Monday, 3 March 2014

My favourite easy bag pattern


It's been so long since I posted anything - where have the weeks gone? OK, one of them was spent away on holiday, and then there's that new job I started in February - but still, time has somehow rushed by without my having sewn anything much at all (I have planned things, traced patterns, even cut out fabric... but it all remains unfinished). So readers, please accept my humble offering of... a bag. I sew a lot of little things like this that I don't often blog about, but this bag is my go-to pattern for an easy-to-sew bag that is great for showing off a special fabric. It's the reversible bag from Very Purple Person (you can find the tutorial and free pattern here), and it has just one pattern piece! The bag is lined, so you cut that one pattern piece out four times. I usually use a thick cotton or drill for both lining and outer, and although this makes the bag difficult to turn out after sewing, it does work... eventually.

I usually make two alterations to this pattern: I add an extra few inches to the strap section as I find it a little short, and I include a little pocket inside.



The bag on the left was made for a friend in Cape Town (I haven't sent it yet, so hopefully she's not reading this!). The fabric is from a Spotlight range featuring linoprint designs by women from Maningrida, a remote aboriginal community in the Northern Territory. This particular design is of waterlily pods - I think. I accidentally threw out the selvedge which had all the info on it. The bag on the right is one I made for a friend, and I liked it so much, I made the same one for my sister, too. I'm so consistent in my taste it's surely only a matter of time before I make someone the same gift twice... or perhaps I've already done it, and they've been too polite to tell me.

Anyone have another simple bag pattern they would recommend?

6 comments:

  1. These are great. Your fabric choices are superb.
    I keep going back to Bag X in one of my Yuki Araki Japanese pattern books. It's just a very simple, square tote but with a cute sash feature.

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    1. You made one of those a while back, right? It looked lovely. I had a look online but couldn't find that book. Where did you get it?

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    2. I bought it here:
      https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/56140004/lets-go-out-girls-clothes-by-yuki-araki?ref=related-2

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    3. Thanks Shelley. I thought you meant a book just of bags - didn't realise it was that one. That etsy seller has a great range... tempting...

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  2. Love the bag. Esp. the blue one on the right. I could do with one right now, and so here I am, going in search of the pattern. Thanks Marisa! (And no, you shouldn't feel bad about unfinished projects. In that department you will *always* have my company :-)

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    1. I'm sure you'll like the pattern Asmita, it's wonderfully easy! I don't have the patience for lots of pockets and zips and things. Maybe one day I'll make a 'real' bag but in the meantime this one is just perfect.

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