Bags: under my eyes? Always. Emotional baggage? Who doesn’t. Getting the bag? Not so much. Bags in the traditional sense of pieces of material sewn together to help you carry your belongings – always needed, and you can never have too many.
What’s even better is that making your own bag is a great way to use up scrap fabric and are usually super quick and simple to whip up, especially with beautiful patterns taking us through it step-by-step – it’s never been easier!
1. Slouch Tote
More recently, we’re seeing small businesses selling both product and sewing patterns (genius!), and that’s exactly what Mina Zhao has done with the Atlas Bag, a very cool, slouch tote style bag with knot detail. This is the perfect pattern for a beginner sewist with a follow-along YouTube video, and can be whipped up in just a few hours. I’d love to see this in suede or a faux leather as we move into the Autumn months, it’s the perfect grab and go, everyday bag.
And of course, if you’d prefer to skip straight to the finished product, you can purchase the Atlas Bag direct from their website in both regular or mini size – so cute!
2. Shoulder Bag (and it’s free!)
Stay calm everybody – we have a FREE pattern and it’s so, so great. This is simply called Free Bag Pattern by the Assembly Line, and it’s such a beautiful design for a dressier occasion where you just need to carry a few essentials with you. The pattern is a small shoulder bag, with drawstring sides so you can change the shape based on your preference and you can, of course, also change the length of strap if you prefer a smaller bag.
You don’t need much fabric at all, so it’s perfect for using up any scraps you have. To get the pattern, all you have to do is join The Assembly Line’s Sewing Club (which is free) and you’ll find the pattern on your account page – perfect! The example and review pictures have this pattern in a faux leather (very sophisticated), but ever since I saw it, I can’t stop picturing it in a sparkly fabric. Either way – perfect pattern, perfect bag, and shout out to The Assembly Line for your services to sewists far and wide x
3. The Cross Body
The Le Sac Banane by Atelier Brunette is a fun take on the cross body bag we’ve been seeing everywhere over the past few years (looking at you, original Uniqlo bag). The bag is super cute, with a rounded base and panels split across the front, meaning you can experiment with different colours and textures. It is kept secured with a zip across the front, and also has a back zip pocket for items needing to be kept extra secure.
This is pitched for the intermediate sewist, and would be a great bag to start with if you want to branch out using different sewing notions: zips, buckles and snap buttons! The bag itself is definitely roomy, making it perfect for a full day out and about, packing everything including maybe even the kitchen sink if you gave it a good go.
4. Cosy Quilted Tote
The one problem with most large tote bags is that they are way too wide open at the top, which if you’re using the bag for travelling, is a risky choice. Well fear no more, Rosie Caldwell has answered our prayers with the Quilted Tote Bag – a structured rectangular tote with an inner drawstring closure and a double strap design for ease of carrying.
The pattern comes as a pdf to print at home, and has a follow-along YouTube video tutorial. It’s a great introduction to quilting if you haven’t already given this a go, and with Autumn around the corner, I have a feeling getting the hang of quilting will be a very useful string to add to your bow! The quilted tote in a gingham would be a dream, or you could experiment with contrasting the outer bag colour with the inner drawstring closure – so cute!
5. Just the Essentials Bag
The love affair with bows continues, and so what better way to embrace this than with the Pisa Bag, the first pattern by Kate Eva Designs and the perfect accessory for a special occasion. I’m picturing a Pisa Bag to match my next wedding guest dress make, a day trip to a French vineyard (wishful thinking?) or, with the right fabric, a night-out with the girls.
You only need a small amount of fabric, so it’s also a great way to use up leftovers from other projects. The pattern does recommend a heavier weight fabric to make sure it has the desired shape, so if any fabric is a tad too lightweight, add an interfacing for extra stability! The pattern itself comes as a PDF, is super affordable and simple to follow. You’ll have a whole collection in no time!
That concludes the first bags post here at The Moderniste, and if, like me, you’ve needed the push to hang up that one (probably battered and worn) bag you grab for every single occasion, hopefully this has done the job. Now to pick which one to start with…
