Sunday, October 2, 2011

Tammy’s New Lunch Bag


It took all day for me to put my new lunch bag together yet not one bit of the construction was difficult. I started after breakfast and had expected to be done well before noon. Somehow cooking, laundry and other chores kept getting in the way.

I found the pattern in a library book: Bag Boutique – Making Fabulous Purses & Totes written by Amy Barickman. This is the Donna Bag. There is only one pattern piece given; the rest are measurements. The shape looks very similar to the In-Style SuitcaseBag pattern by Indygo Junction.

Upholstery weight fabric (preferably an odd color and/or pattern) was my first choice. However, there wasn’t any on the shelf so I ended up choosing from the denim/pocket lining scraps basket. And this time, I think I really am at the end of the cat fabric as I had to piece the bottom gusset. For the interfacing, I was finally able to use up all of the small bits I’d been too frugal to pitch. I found some cotton batting and used that for interlining. I really hoped to use metal rings for the handles but I had only two that matched and needed four. Instead, I cut longer strips, securing them to the bag with topstitching and rivets. Another pattern change: a pocket added to the front.

The bag still needs a piece of plastic to lay in the bottom for support. Since I used things that were already here, it makes sense to avoid having to purchase the plastic. I’m thinking a plastic milk jug just might be the answer – even if it has to be pieced. I could make it a little slip cover and no one would be the wiser. Well, except us…


This is a good, simple bag. One could go a hundred ways with this pattern and they would all be right.


My bag could benefit from binding the interior seams (I serged them) and the use of a heftier interfacing (though this isn't bad). I’m fairly happy with how it turned out and I won’t have any qualms about tossing it into the washer and dryer.

The resized Burda blouse is next.

7 comments:

  1. you must be so relieved to see the last of the denim. I love the bag! it's super cute, nice use of rivets too. Must look that bag out.

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  2. Very chic lunch bag! Much better than an old plastic carrier bag from the grocery store.

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  3. I'm very jealous - I wanted to make myself a lunch bag but decided I really didn't have time to do it so I ended up buying one at Walmart. Yours looks so nice that now I'm rethinking. :-)

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  4. Sorry to disappoint, Mary Nanna, but there are several yards of the denim left! The scrap basket was overflowing and this project incorporated by attempts at control and frugality. I wasn't sure I was going to like the bag style and thought it wise to try it out on scraps. I will sew something non-denim soon. I promise!

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  5. Looks great. Can I have one for Christmas?

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  6. Wow! That's a beautiful bag! How wonderful that you were able to make it from things you already had around the house.

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  7. I love that bag! And the lining. Much cuter than the neoprene bag I got from Target! MUCH cuter.

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