Companion Carpet Bag

To start off with.....

Let me just say that I am so pleased and proud and happy with my new purse. I mean, just looking at that cute chipmunk does it for me. And as expected, I learned a lot from this first bag making experience.

This bag was my first attempt at making a purse. And other than quilts, of course, I have only made one two other items that were not quilts. I made a quilted jacket for my birthday and then one for my mother's birthday back in 2014.

You can see some in process pics in this post. For this purse, I purchased the Companion Carpet Bag pdf from Sewing Patterns by Mrs.H on Etsy. According to the pattern, I also ordered fabric and doodads and stabilizer and handles.

The pattern is well explained. And you can print the first half of the pattern that includes photos or you can print the second half of the pattern for a text only version. I did not realize that was the case. I printed the entire 24 pages and only realized when I was almost finished making the bag, that the last half of the pattern was the text only version. Oh well....

The pattern calls for a yard of the outer fabric and a yard of the inner fabric. This is enough to make two of these smaller bags. Easily. This bag is a a Small - 12"W x 8"H x 6"D. But the pattern also provides instructions for a Large - 16"W x 10"H x 6"D.

This was also my first time sewing in an inset zipper for the inner pocket. I wish now that I would have chosen a single fabric for the entire lining instead of bits of this and that. The lining ended up being slightly larger than I would have liked and is a wee bit frumpy at the bottom.

I ordered all my fabric from Bobby Lou's Fabric Factory and am so pleased with the Tula Pink Chipper chipmunk. Even though I am not a big fan of purple. I wanted to keep the lining fabric light and had ordered Woodland Critters in White. But when I seen how little fabric is needed for the lining.... I couldn't cut into it. Now I wish I would have. But if I don't use it for a quilt, there just may be another opportunity to use it in a bag.

Woodland Critters in White

Here you can see that I added feet to the bottom of the bag. I was kind of disappointed that they sink in so far due to the fact that the stabilizer is so cushy. The pattern also calls for a rectangle of "plastic bag base" or "plastic grid canvas". This provides a stiffness for the bottom of the bag and keeps it from drooping. I did not have anything like that, so I cut up an old rotary cutting mat and drilled holes for where the feet go through. But I regretted that decision when it came time to turn the bag inside right when finished. That base material was way to stiff, making the birthing process so incredibly life like. Next time I am heading to the dollar store to see if I can get a stiff plastic place mat to cut up instead.

The pattern suggests using piping along the top edge of the outside pocket. I did not. I have never made nor do I own any store bought piping. So I just sewed the lining and outside pocket pieces together. I am really pleased to have managed to get the fabric on the pocket and main face of the bag to match up so well. And if I make this bag again, I would like to press the lining back a little more so it does not show as much along the top.

I got all of the hardware from Janelle at Emmaline Bags and am really pleased with the Barrel Hinge and other doodads I purchased. Especially that "made for me" badge. I LOVE the Barrel Hinge. It is spring loaded so the bag stays closed. But also easily pops open when you pull gently on the handles. She did not have any handbag handles in stock, so I did an Etsy in search for genuine leather purse handles which I found at Purse Making Supply. They are Olive in colour.

What are my overall thoughts? I was dreading the starting of making a bag because I had never done it before. But now that I have had the experience, I would make another. And look forward to sharing more purse and bag making finishes with you again!

Linking up to Finish it up Friday with 

Amanda Jean of Crazy Mom Quilts

when she returns in September.

Keep On Quilting On!

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