{Weekender Bag: Pattern Review}

Hey there! Happy Thursday to you all! TODAY IS THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!! Summer here we come! So excited to slow down and do some fun stuff with my boys!

We have several trips planned for the summer months which prompted me to finally make this Weekender Bag! I've been hoarding the pattern for over a year. Got it at a JoAnn's pattern sale for $1. Sweet deal. This is a great bag. It's big. I mean REALLY BIG.

This is Simplicity Pattern 2274 designed by Studio Cherie. Like I mentioned above, I got mine at JoAnn's during a sale, but it is also available on Amazon. I'm going to show you a few pics of my finished bag and tell you a few things that helped me along the way should you decide to make one of your own! For reference, this is comparable in size to the large Vera Bradley bag.

To construct this bag you need:

*8 ounce polyester quilt batting 1.5 yards
*Muslin (or other desired lining fabric) 44” wide, 1.5 yards
*Feature Fabric 44” wide or 54” wide, 1.5 yards
*Contrasting fabric for handles 44” or 54” wide, one yard
*#5 Nylon Coil Zippers one at least 21” long and one at least 13” long
*Jute Webbing (found in upholstery notions)3.5” wide, 3.5 yards
*Optional Wide Seam Binding 6 yards

Dimensions:
20"(51cm)long
12"(30.5cm)deep
12" (30.5cm)high
Strap Drop 11"(28cm)long enough to wear over your shoulder.

Sew Chatty Notes: I am not of fan of polyester batting. I like the finished look and feel and weight of cotton batting way better so I chose to use cotton. However I didn't get enough! This bag is GIANT! I ended up piecing some scraps together which worked but took a lot of extra time! If you choose to use cotton batting instead of polyester, make sure you get enough! I chose to use a Kona cotton solid for the lining instead of muslin. For the outer fabric, you just can't go wrong with Amy Butler! Her large beautiful prints lend themselves to a beautiful finished bag! I couldn't find the jute webbing so I used 2" wide twill tape instead and it worked out just fine. I just had to narrow the handle strips. NBD. I love how they turned out. I did not bind my seams either. The pattern didn't recommend that, but she does mention it on her shop listing. Anyhow, I did finish all the seams with a zig zag stitch and I'm confident that they'll hold up nicely.

Here is a close up of the outer pocket on the front of the bag. Great for maps, tickets, itineraries, etc...

This is the outer, pleated, zipper pocket. Super handy for chargers and other small items you don't want floating around inside.

A close up of the quilting! I quilted it much heavier than the pattern said to, but I like the quilted look. I made sure to cute my lining and batting pieces an inch wider/longer to account for any shifting during quilting. I quilted straight vertical and horizontal lines and doubled my horizontal lines with an additional stitch line 1/4 below the first. I also did a lot more top-stitching than the pattern said to. I like top-stitching. Pretty and sturdy!

Some additional things you might find helpful: I would consider this an intermediate sewing project. The construction is pretty straight forward of you've made bags, quilted and worked with zippers before. If you want to save yourself A LOT of time...buy pre-quilted fabric from the fabric store and use a pretty print as the pockets, handle, and tab accent. This bag cost about $40-$50 to make and about 15 hours of time total. I am making bags for my husband and son and have already purchased pre-quilted fabric for theirs as well as really fun prints for the accents.  I would probably us a layer of interfacing on the tabs next time because they feel a little flimsy to me. This bag came together really easily with no seam ripping at all!!! Woo hoo! The trickiest part is attaching the side pieces to the body. Make sure you really pay attention to the pattern markings. I found it easiest to stitch the top, then each side, then the bottom.

Hopefully my tips will help you if you decide to make yourself a pretty new bag! If you have any other questions I'll be happy to answer in comments.

See, I told you it was big! ;)

I can't wait to take her on many many summer trips! If you make one, I really want to see it so post the link in the comment section ok??? I wish you all happy and safe summer travels!

{Tunic...Pattern Review}

Hey there! I hope you are all having a great week! Today I'm sharing a top that I made for Snap!

 This was a really fun and easy pattern to sew! I always hit up JoAnn's when they are having their pattern sale and I scored this pattern at the last one for $1. I chose a vintage inspired eyelet with little orange flowers that I ordered at fabric.com.

I shared an Instagram of the pattern before I sewed it up which was great because a friend that has already made this top told me to gather the top instead of pleat it which worked out great! It came together really quickly! Start to finish was about 3 hours. It's a little loose, so it really needs to be belted. 

Here is how I wore it!

A brown leather belt would have been fabulous! Anyhow, I loved making this tunic and I can't wait to make more! I'm going to try it in a knit next time. I think it would drape nicely.

Happy sewing!

{A Birthday & the Simplicity Pattern Sale}

Hi friends! Hope you all have had a fabulous week! The short week has messed me up a bit and I have been forgetting what day it is! Luckily I remembered that yesterday was my husbands birthday!

It was a pretty low key day. I whipped up this fancy balloon wreath {using this tutorial} for the front door and we gave him presents and cards and took him the to new Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner…the ultimate man restaurant.

I think he had a good time! They made him wear a crown! Ha!

Did any of you hit up the Simplicity Pattern sale at JoAnn’s last week? I never buy patterns when they aren't’ on sale. I got some pretty cute ones! I’m excited to get sewing!

I had every intention of making this dress for a wedding we are going to tonight…bought the fabric and everything. But with this week being short and messing with my head…that didn’t happen! I do love it with the little belt though and I have plenty of other things to wear it to so it will get made!

Love this little skirt with the bow and the pockets. I actually like the shorts too! Good for Disneyland days!

Love this bag. I like the little fold-over flap at the top…and I have that Amy Butler fabric too!

Yes, I know it’s summer, but the pattern was 99 cents and this is a cute basic jacket pattern! I haven’t made a jacket. A little intimidated…

My little guy needs jammies in a major way. I like that this pattern came with a shirt pattern too!

Well that’s it for me! I would love to know what patterns you picked up at the sale! Have a great weekend!

Elizabeth

Wardrobe Challenge Reveal and Linky Party!!!

Thank you so much for your kind words on my Farmer’s Market Skirt! You all are so sweet!

Today I am revealing Project #2.

This is my second attempt at this top and I have to say things went much smoother this time! Here it is!

Simple and springy. I love it.

And here is how I wore it on Sunday to a birthday party and to church!

Brown Cardi-Target. Mustard Flower Pin-Made by Me and available in the shop. Rust Tank under top-Target. Skinny Jeans-Target. Flats-Target…I like Target :)

Now it’s your turn! Link up your handmade clothing items and refashions! I can’t wait to see what you all have been working on! Since this is the first Wardrobe Challenge Party…will you help me spread the word via Twitter and FB? I would be ever so grateful! The party will be open for a full week to give lots of people a chance to link up. Make sure to come back on Saturday when I announce Project #3! Have a happy day!

Wardrobe Challenge {Project #2}

Here is the plan for Project 2 of my Wardrobe Challenge.

Cute flowy top in a pretty Spring-like print. You like? It’s Simplicity 3835. I love the poppies in this fabric and the pops of color. I think it will be super cute with skinny jeans and flats…kind of my uniform these days!

I’ve made this top before. You can see it here. This time around I will be making it a size up. Pattern sizing is impossible for me to figure out! I am normally a small or 6-8 in stores. My Farmers Market Skirt is a 14 and this top is going to be a 10…weird. As long as it fits well…I don’t care. I just wish there was more consistency!

Do you want to play along in my Wardrobe Challenge? I am thinking about making Thursday my official reveal day & a link party so you all call link up your new spring wardrobes too! Handmade clothing items, refashions...What do you think? Comment below and let me know if you'd be interested. If I get enough of a response, I will go forward with the party this coming Thursday!

Check back next Thursday for Project #2's big reveal! Happy weekend!