pattern testing!

When you’ve got a modest little blog with only a handful of subscribers, it’s majorly exciting when somebody famous notices you. There are those who might consider “famous” a stretch here, but if following sewing and craft blogs is your thing, you know who these people are. And they are indeed famous. So I was giddy beyond belief when Anna from Noodlehead emailed and asked me to be a pattern tester. I’m a huge fan of her blog and was so flattered that she thought of me.

Honestly, I would’ve tested any old pattern she sent me, but as luck would have it, it was her new Go Anywhere bag. Sewing for me! Not that I don’t love sewing for Lila, but I haven’t made anything for myself since this bag back in February, and I could really use something roomier. Something that closes securely. And has lots of pockets. Maybe even pockets with pleats!

Something like this:

Here’s the back of the bag, with a big pocket that closes with a magnetic snap:

The bag has so many pockets and linings that choosing fabrics was really fun – and extra challenging of course, since I have a tendency to treat fabric selection as the biggest decision of my life.

So after a great deal of agonizing, I went with Kaufman Carolina Chambray in black (which ends up looking like a textured gray) for the outer pockets and interior lining. I lined the outer pockets with a turquoise stripe from Moda’s Just Wing It collection, which was leftover from Lila’s Playdate dress. Same fabric for the inner slip pocket, too.

I don’t normally carry that piggy around with me, by the way. Just some filler for the photos. But check out that little pen compartment! And you can customize the slip pocket for whatever you want to hold in there.

The print is Michael Miller’s Spa Scallops in coral. Since it’s quilting weight, I basted canvas to the main bag pieces like Anna suggested, which gave the bag a good, sturdy shape. I added piping to the outer pockets and top stitched everything in aqua.

I made some silly, sleep-deprived mistakes along the way, such as attaching my straps all wrong the first time, and somehow managing to sew my two lining pieces completely shut around the top – not sure how I thought I was going to access the contents of the bag that way.  But nothing a little seam ripping couldn’t undo. And I’d never used magnetic snaps before, so of course I buggered that up and ended up with two little slits in the lining where they didn’t belong. Luckily they’re pretty easy to ignore, being on the inside and all. I’ll do better next time, and there will be a next time!

And there’s a pocket where baby girl can lounge while I make her a special little carrier of her own (next post!)….

I have to say, I’m pretty smitten with my new bag. The size is great – not too big, not too small – I’ve been using it all week for swimming lessons and managed to fit everything we needed in there, all neat and organized and snapped shut!

And I couldn’t get a decent shot of myself wearing it, but there are lots of photos of the bag in use over at Noodlehead, along with some seriously gorgeous versions that Anna’s made. It’s up for sale today, so go check it out and be tempted!

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