Small Messenger Bags

I love these two mini messenger bags I made last month. I already cut interfacings to make a couple more. 

Map Travel Sling Bag

The pattern is The Lilac Mini Messenger from Bluecalla Patterns. It's a free pattern! The pattern is easy to follow and came together quite quickly. 

Disney Crossbody Purse

It's my new fave! I made the map sling bag  first and made it according to the pattern. It has one interior slip pocket which is pretty handy to phone or passports and the main compartment to keep wallet and other stuff. 

The exterior zipper pocket at the back is big enough to keep your smartphone. 

The second one is this Disney theme crossbody bag. Here, instead of slip pocket, I decided to add zipper pocket in the front. I find the pocket is very handy because it's like an additional compartment. 

I can really fit in my wallet, small change purse, passport, 2 phones, power banks & charger cable. 

This is one bag that even though it's small but it packs quite a lot! The bags are padded so you can use it as camera bag as well. 

Both the bags are now available for custom order in my Etsy Shop. 

Bag stats: 

Size : 8.5" H x 9" W x 2" D

Materials:

Fabrics: Cotton fabric  and denim combo

Interfaced and padded for durability

closure : Magnetic snap button

Thank you for stopping by

Happy Crafting!

- Elvira -

Indigo Block Print Denim Bag

Hello, 

Alhamdulillah for a busy January. If you follow me in Instagram, you may noticed that I won't be taking custom orders this month. I like to take a break from custom orders from time to time to give myself a room for new ideas. I have a long list of sewing wishlist and one of them is this Luisa Crossbody bag. A pattern by Sotak Handmade. 

Beautiful Indigo Block Print

I wanted to make with Indigo blue fabrics and took out those three fabrics above. All are just beautiful and it was difficult for me to decide which one to work with first. After asking a few friends, we decided this middle indigo print would be the one and I loved how this turned out. I used dark blue denim as an accent fabric and decided to use ready made PU Leather strap. 

Denim & Block Print Bag

If you've been waiting to make this bag, you really should go ahead. I love the simplicity of Sotak Pattern and as usual it's always thoroughly written. 

Exterior Back Pocket

I made one change with the back exterior. The original pattern, it was two pockets but I found it's too small since I want to keep my phone in it. So I skipped the middle stitch and instead using the snap button to secure the pocket. In the pattern, the rivet was added for decorative purpose only. Now I have spacious exterior pocket for my phone!! Perfect!

Spacious Inside

The interior is very minimalist (which I love!) . The pattern called for interlining, in addition of the interfacing. I used a stiff fleece batting which I mostly used for bags nowadays and the result is sturdy bag that  can stand on its own but the interior is a bit snug. In a way it's good for me since it's quite padded. It's good to carry my camera.  

  

I think I'm quite organized and minimalist here lol. Those are the things that I usually carry everyday. The Doitrei Zipper Pouch is for my power bank, charging cable and headphone. The Zipper Tissue Pouch is for my tissue, lip balm, hand lotion and medicines (my anti allergy and indigestion tablets). Wet tissue packet, notebook and pen, small wallet and a mobile phone. I also keep small chocolates and sweets in the front pocket lol.

So that's my review of my first Luisa bag. I want to make a few more and trying different combination of interfacing/interlining. So excited!! 

Thank you for dropping by!

~ Elvira ~

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Batik Quilted Sling Bag

Hello,

We have  quite stormy weather the last couple of days. Sometimes the sun comes out for a while and suddenly dark cloud with strong wind and rain come. But rainy days are always a good sewing day, right? 

I finally finished this Batik log cabin sling bag. It was sitting near my sewing table for a few weeks waiting to be completed. As usual I got side tracked doing a couple of wallets orders. 

I used this  purple aqua Fat Eighth bundle from the shop. I really love this combo!! 

I started piecing the log cabin  with nothing specially planned. I just trying out a couple of log cabin pattern from the book I bought last January at the Tokyo Quilt Festival. This book is really awesome!

I added a lightweight fusible interfacing before adding a fleece batting. The same way I did the previous sling bag. I liked the sturdy yet soft finish, after the quilting is done. 

This time I did a circle echo quilting using a subtle purple Calypso Thread. It is an embroidery thread which has a silky finished. Mostly used in machine embroidery. 

On the back, I decided to use a plain batik from my stash. The quilting is simple echo quilting in diamond shape inspired by this walking foot quilting by Christina Cameli. 

Instead of zipper closure, I decided to use magnetic snap closure the way I did for the passport covers. It's because the bag is quite small, so I just want it to be simple, no fuss kind of bag. I finished the top with binding. I used 1.5" wide binding strip, sewed it by machine on the lining side and finished it by hand on the exterior side. 

This bag would be perfect to take for your morning walk. It's quite spacious to fit in small water bottle, a phone and maybe a face towel. 

It was a fun satisfying little project, even though I took a little bit long to finish it but I am happy with the outcome. What do you think?

Bag stats:

Finished size : 8"W x 8.5" H

Style: Flat bottom

Closure: Magnetic snap

Fabric: Bali Batik Fat 8 bundle 

Quilting: Walking foot echo quilting

Thank you for stopping by. 

Until then,

Happy Sewing

This blog post is linking up to these wonderful BLOGS

Another Log Cabin Sling Bag

Hello,

And the log cabin sling bag is done and on it's way to the new owner. I took a bit of time to complete this one and happy that I did. 

Quilting taught me to be patient. From cutting the small pieces of fabrics and putting them together and finally make them into a final product is a learning process. 

walking foot quilting

Just like what I learned from one Kdrama Show - Master in The House/Jipsabu

"It's coming from you, it's your style. It's the same with art. When you keep doing it, you start to see your own style. It's all you. You will find your color. When you have the rhythm, you have a wisdom" - Jeon In Kwon

I love making patchwork and quilt, especially small ones and quilted patchwork bag has been on my bucket list for a long time! After I went to the Tokyo International Quilt show last year, I sort of have an "aha" moment!

Don't be afraid to try something new. If anything goes wrong, you only have to unpick the stitches and do it again. 

The best way to learn is by doing. Stop Waiting and bring your ideas to life TODAY! - Tara Gentile

Quilted bag stats:

Fabric - Yuwa Fabric Japan

Half Circle Echo Quilting 

(thanks mbak Belly for the idea!)

Fleece Batting

Leather Strap

Finished Dimension: 9" W x 9.5" H x 1" D

Until then,

Happy Sewing

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The Linen Floral Sling Bag

Hello,

The wifi is not working properly since last week. I think due to the stormy weather. I've been quite busy finishing few orders and also managed to finish my tester bag for Namrata's newly released pattern. I told her, I won't be able to test in the beginning, but I managed to finish my Etsy orders in time and got 2 days before the due date.

The pattern is called Jasmine Sling Bag, the pattern is now available both on Etsy and Craftsy.

And here is my take on the pattern:

  I love making a small bag and have been asking Namrata to make the pattern and I love how she improvised it from the original design. The smart zippered flap is my favorite.

I made a reversed version from what the pattern called. I used solid linen for the main body and accented with floral linen just because I want the flap in floral ^^.

This bag surprisingly quite spacious. Besides the zippered flap, it has a slip pocket which I find it very handy. I also used a cute snap button I got from my recent trip to Japan.

Since the time was short, I decided to use the ready-made leather strap I got from Indonesia.

I've been using this bag a lot and it fits in my wallet, phone and a little notebook that I always carry.  I think I will be adding this bag to the shop after I come back from the holiday next August.

Meanwhile, I have a couple of projects I have to complete before I go for the holiday. Making list helps me to focus. And here's this week list :

1. Finish and send out the London Passport Holder.

2. Cutting few interfacings for Wallet and Crossbody bag for gifts to take back home.

3. Fabric Pull for The Artisan Corina Quilt Swap - I'm late  :(

4. Shop for gifts and souvenirs - this gotta be fun !!

Those I wanted to complete this week. I hope I can finish it !! Ganbatte!! :D

That's all for today, let's go back to the sewing machine now :)

Until then,

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Bags and Wallets

I finished few pouches,bag and wallet the past 2 weeks but didn't get around to blog it. 

First was this Gatherer Crossbody bag from Noodlehead  and wallet from my own pattern. I love  patterns. It's so easy to follow with clear step by step instruction. This is my second bag from Noodlehead

I used Indian linen for the solid and Japanese cotton featuring Sunbonnet Sue {my fave print!} .

I change the closure with this cute flap to match the wallet. 

Now, I need to stock more on that closure. I wish I could get all these cute hardwares supplies in India. 

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The first Noodlehead Bag I made was this Super Tote I made last December. This fastly become my "go" bag. It's roomy and since I like to carry so many things, this bag is perfect size. 

Finally I found a perfect pattern for my ikat fabric. 

the grey fabric is burlap or jute fabric. It's so gorgeous!!

I love ikat, be it handwoven or printed. It's just so pretty.

I even made a matching NCW clutch  from Emmaline Bags.

My bestie, Namrata of Bagstock  encouraged and helped me a lot while making this. She even sent me the rivets since my machine struggle a bit while sewing thick layers. 

And I love how it turned out !!

This one I gifted to my DH's niece. 

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All the bags and wallets are available for purchase in my ETSY shop

I know I'll be making more of these.

Until then,

Happy Sewing