Jumpin’ on the Bag Bandwagon

Bag and purse patterns seem to have exploded upon the quilters and home sewers the last few years.  I watched from the side lines, as people all over sewed bag after bag.

I read blog posts of people showing the 30 bags that they had made the previous year.

I wondered what all the fuss was about and what did people do with all these bags when they are finished?

In the meantime, I had been collecting large-scale print fabrics.   Most were made into quilts, but I would catch myself thinking, “That print would be perfect for a bag.”  So, eventually I decided to try making a bag myself.   I have to say I had fun making it and was pleased to have a finished product by the end of the evening.   I then set out to tweak the pattern, and after 7 or 8 prototypes, here is what I’ve come up with:

I ended up with so many options in the pattern, that I had to have lots of pictures on the pattern front.  The options include:

1. Three sizes

2.  Four interior pocket options

3.  Multiple handle options and lengths

4.  Grommet and button details that give an up-scale look.

After finally settling on the details for this pattern, I put off publishing it because it would require people on the front cover.  I was used to photographing quilts and props.  That was hard enough for me, but quilts are so much easier to arrange than people.  Plus, what people would willingly volunteer to be on the cover?

I love featuring my nieces and nephews on pattern covers, so I asked if my niece Isabella would be one of my models.  I then begged my sister to hold one of the other bags.  There are three size bags in the pattern, so that left me as the other “model”.  Bella’s momma was left to take the picture for us.

We started with trying to pose, smile for the camera and make Isabella laugh.

This picture would have worked, but why is my hand behind Bella’s head?

Oops.

I liked this photo, where we look a little less posed – more natural.

I shows the three sizes of the bag well.

The large size works well as a knitting bag or large purse.

The medium is the size purse I would run around with while running errands or something.

The small purse works as a clutch size for an adult or as a girl’s purse.

What this picture doesn’t show well enough is the handles and the finishing details.  So, I snapped a few more pictures to show more of the details.

With this shot of the large purse, you can see the chic shaping of the purse, the pleats at the bottom that will give you some space inside the purse, the two long handles, large grommets, and the buttons that attach the straps.  You could also do two short handles, instead of the two long ones.  You can also do four short handles, like this:

But wait, there is yet another handle option –

Here’s another shot of the small purse, showing the convertible handle option.   It can be held like this:

Or thrown over your shoulder like this.  I love this because you don’t have to decide between making a short handle or a long handle – You get them both!!!

By the way, I have an easy technique for making those cute pointed ends on the handle.  And a simple method for making those grommets stay put.

Of all the shots taken that day, I think this is my favorite shot.   Isabella is now six, and though I would like to, she has outgrown the age where I get to pick her up and hold her.  Just for a few minutes that day, I picked her up and we snapped a few pictures.

Her expression soon changed – and I recognized that expression because my kid brother (her dad) spent the first 10 years of his life wearing that mischievous expression.  Before I knew it, I was getting a zerbert.

Let’s just say the “photo shoot” went down hill from there.

So there you have it.  The Bella Bag.

Bella in Italian means beautiful.

Beautiful Bella, Beautiful bag.

So, as usual, I want to share a little of the Bella Bag with you.  I’ll keep the Bella and you can win the Bag pattern.

How does that sound?

Just leave a comment if you want to be entered to win and I’ll draw a few names next Wednesday when the pattern inserts arrive.

~ Ciao Baby!  ~

(please note that this drawing is now closed)