I managed to sew a little bag | How About Orange

May 03, 2011

I managed to sew a little bag

I made a little cross-body zippered pouch with a scrap of my Tulip print from Outside Oslo. It's about 9" square. I mimicked the format of a sweet little bag sent to me by Nathalie awhile back (thank you, thank you!)—the size and shape are nice for carrying a wallet and just a couple other goodies while out running around.

I'm still a sewing dabbler and don't expect I'll ever be interested enough to be great at it. The process always makes me impatient and I have to fight the urge to quit halfway through. Usually because I've sewn something shut accidentally or didn't notice I was using basting stitches until halfway through my project. I'll leave the fancy sewing to others, like my mom who has promised to make me a travel bag from this new fabric collection. (See, Mum, I said it on my blog so there's no backing out now.)

Update: The travel bag is awesome.

63 comments:

Theresa (Miss Charlotte) said...

I love it! It's so adorable, and it looks rather uncomplicated. You are so very talented in your dabbling...cheers!

Melanie's Randomness said...

Oh that is really cute and you made it!!! I wish I could make bags. It would save me so much money and I could have alot cuter ones than in the stores!

Jessica said...

that's so cute. I love your new fabric!

Jane said...

looking great!

julie king said...

i think it is just adorable!!! good job!

Dani said...

I'm so intimidated to try something like this out...but it just seems like something so practical to know how to do. :)

Love the print!

Connie said...

Very sweet! I love that fabric.

Laura @ Starting Out Fit said...

Love it!!! :)

Three Birds Jewelry said...

it is so cute! i'm the same, i wont ever be great at sewing, but love that i can make easy projects on my own. where did you get that fabric?

Martha Winger said...

Lovely. Less is more. Amazing how simple rectangles can come together in such a useful way.

Three Birds Jewelry said...

or perhaps the better question is how did you make the fabric?

Jessica Jones said...

Three Birds, I designed this fabric; it's one of the prints from my new Outside Oslo line distributed by The Needle Shop. You can buy it online right here, or it will begin appearing in fabric stores soon.

Happy in red said...

Oh, I am loving this purse. The fabric is just devine. Is it an existing pattern?

amy said...

I love sewing practical items, this is the perfect size.

Jessica Jones said...

Oops, I typed my reply while you clarified your question. I designed the prints in Illustrator; then we sent the files to a fabric printer who had them made into screens and manufactured.

Jessica Jones said...

Happy in Red, I didn't use a pattern. I think you can find any tutorial online for a zipper pouch and then modify it a little bit. I used the zipper pouch instructions in the book "Sew What: Bags" and changed it to add an extra band of fabric at the top and two little tabs at the sides. Next time I'd put those tabs higher up, though. The top tends to sag a little.

melanie @nowaqueen said...

Umm, you are going to make more and sell them, right? Because I would totally buy that! Oh, wait, the point is to make it yourself, yeah I can't do that!

Looks great!

Kayanna said...

Such an adorable little bag! And your fabric is just awesome!!

Grandma G said...

You're a better sewer than you think you are... And I'm probably not as good as you think I am. ;) I'm just more 'experienced' at the seam ripping, etc., thus have developed more patience. ;)

So I really have to make that travel bag now, huh? I WAS going to back out, y'know. Ha! Can't wait to get at it!

Mum

tinajo said...

It´s so cute - and I do LOVE the fabric! :-)

Michele said...

It's darling! Your new fabric is fab!

Angelina Fong Designs said...

I would never have guessed you only dabbled in sewing from seeing that bag. It's so adorable and looks very well-made! Good job!

papelhilo said...

I really love this little bag ! you're too modest ;)

Anonymous said...

What pattern did you pick for your travel bag, or are you making your own? I'm trying to decide on one to (try to) sew.

Jessica Jones said...

Amy Butler's Weekender bag.

Cookie said...

would LOVE to see a pattern for this! i'm trying to teach myself to sew as well & this appeals to me. btw - i like that you said you're tempted to give up because it's not going as fast as you'd like. my exact issue!

christina said...

gosh i love that fabric!

Memphis Urban Sketchers said...

Super duper cute. Good job!

Kathryn Crafts said...

Love it!! Great job!

Laurie said...

I really loved your post title.

( also bag and fabric look great too )

Stephanie said...

Great bag! (And your mom's so right... you are better than you think!)

stephanie said...

wow great job! i'm actually kind of afraid of my sewing machine...and am tempted to sew things by hand instead.

Hena Tayeb said...

That is so cute. Yay for you.

sideoats + scribbles said...

Awesome!!!

I'm a sewing dabbler too -- my problem is that I'm too afraid to cut pretty fabric so I never start! Ha! :)

SG said...

It's great seeing your fabrics in use and what a supercute bag...I too have been getting in touch with my inner sewer lately and I'm loving it.

My mum is a right-handed career machinist and I'm a left-handed make it up as I go along sewer...so I've always had a love hate relationship with a sewing machine as it seemed to always cause tension between us overe the years, now I am sewing what I like how I like and mum is just helping when I ask...I think she's been a little surprised!

nicole said...

That's a sweet little bag, perfect for summer :)

beaufrog said...

That's a sweet little bag, perfect for summer :)

Lisa Clarke said...

Super cute. And your fabric is lovely up against the solid color.

dominique said...

i'd buy one in a minute! love the fabric combination.

Becky said...

Jess - you did a super job. It's a cute baglet.

Pam said...

Very cute! I have to agree with you on the sewing bit. I think I am just in love with the "idea" of sewing, not the real deal. I can design a 3 dimensional sculpture, make a pattern, sew it up, rip it out, sew it up again until I get it right. I try to sew a dress or some other piece of clothing and make a wrong seam...it goes right in the garbage. Go figure....

elle said...

Great fabric and for a "dabbler" it looks pretty good!

Runa said...

The bag looks lovely, the print actually makes all the difference.

maryandpatch.blogspot.com said...

Adorable!

Rie said...

The bag looks so cute - you'll never use a big bag again!

Chelle Y said...

Is your fabric available in the UK?

Jessica Jones said...

I don't know if any shops over there have picked it up yet, but The Needle Shop will do international shipping. It's $13.25 for a flat rate priority envelope that holds up to 4 yards. You can shop for fabric right here.

angie said...

that is such a great bag! I may have to make something similar for myself.

Jen said...

What an adorable bag. Love the gray with that print!

LiPeony said...

oo I love it! The print and the soft grey edge and strap are perfect. =D

mysterymoor said...

aw it's lovely! I wish I could sew

Jennie Bee said...

I love your fabric! so cute and great colors!

Cow Bell said...

Amazing, love the fabric, it has a retro feel to it, and I love retro :)

Live a Colorful Life said...

I'm "sew" excited about your fabric. Some is on its way to me right now and should arrive in the next day or two. Yippee!

Mlle Miracle said...

Oh, it seems that pattern is already out of stock, as I can't find it at the NeedleShop. Do you think it will be available soon? By the way, your blog is amazing!

Jessica Jones said...

Mlle Miracle, check again; there should be lots and maybe they just needed to relist it. I see some in the shop now. Check here.

Unknown said...

hi where can i find this patten

Anonymous said...

Hi any chance you can share the pattern?

Jessica Jones said...

I didn't use one, sorry! It's basically a zipper pouch, just with a taller body. Google "zipper pouch tutorial" and you'll see lots of how-to's, I think.

Mohnalisa said...

Oh, I was just in love. The bag is so beautiful and exactly what I'm looking for. Is there a tutorial and where can I find it? Thanks a lot for your help.

Jessica Jones said...

I didn't use or make a tutorial, but you can adapt any basic zipper pouch tutorial to make this. Just sew an extra band of contrasting fabric on each panel. And add loops with a D ring in them to the side seams before you stitch it up.

Mohnalisa said...

Many thanks for the quick answer. I'll try it, as you described it.
Kindly regards
Mohnalisa

Sewerorsewist said...

love your bag. think you are much more than just ‘a dabbler’ excellent skills thanks for sharing