Latest Sewing Project: Chevron Bag using ChrisWDesigns Pattern

I feel like it has been forever since I have posted a new creation on here!  I am so excited to share with you a bag that I have been working on all this week.  I purchased the pattern for my Cheveron Bag from Chris, who blogs over at ChrisWDesigns.  At her site you can purchase her awesome bag patterns, bag hardware or just read her great blog.  This is the first pattern of hers that I have purchased and I was very satisfied.  It is an easy PDF download, so you can have it in your hands in minutes.  I loved all the pictures and little tips she gave along the way. 

Why did I choose this style of bag?

*Love the style.
*Love the elastic side pockets.
*A new challenge!
*The number one reason.....My sister wants me to convert this into a Conceal and Carry bag for her. 

What new techniques did I learn while creating this bag?

*I learned how to add a gusset- I did not even know what a gusset was!  Wikipedia told me...

GUSSET: it is the long, wide piece which connects the front piece and back piece. By becoming the sides and bottom of the bag, the gusset opens the bag up beyond what simply attaching the front to the back would do. 

The pattern called for snaps to be put into the sides of the gusset, but I have not purchased those yet and I don't know that I will add them to this bag.

Gusset w/ pocket attached

*I learned a new way to add an interior zipper with an added pocket behind the zipper.  I'm pretty sure this zipper is backwards.  Is there a right and wrong direction for the zipper to start and stop?  Seems to me that most open to the right and close to the left.

 Challenges?

*I realized with this bag that I still have trouble sewing in a straight line. 

*I am totally done sewing straps on bags...

Chris's pattern actually calls for grommets/eyelets to be inserted on the bag body.  I had a hard time deciding where to get my grommets, so I decided that I would not insert them into this bag.  To be honest, I also did not want to spend the money for a grommet tool (or the snap tool, for that matter). 

Even though this is probably the best stitching I have done on a handle/tab, it still looks too homemade for me.  Also, if you look at the back of the tab it does not look neat at all.  My goal is to make a bag that looks like it came from a store.  This just isn't doing it for me.  I will probably take out this stitching and add a grommet. 

Oh-and my tabs need to be bigger.  I only had the 1 1/2" D-rings on hand.  I made 1" tabs, so I really need a 1" D-ring.

WHAT MAKES ME SMILE?

*I love my fabric choice!  My goal is to have bags that make you smile when you open them.  My 2 favorite colors right now are pink and gray...pretty obvious!  You can see in the picture below that I have white thread for the lining top stitching, which I liked, but when I was top stitching the outer part of the bag the gray thread shows up on the back.  I meant to use a pink thread (or at least a white thread), for the bobbin so it would blend in better.

You can see where I attached the closing tab how my thread got all bunched up where I backstitched.  This is where it would have been nice to have a pink thread in my bobbin so you could not see that.  I'm thinking a nice Gina's Craft Corner label would look nice over this! :)

*I love the hardware!  Hardware on a bag just takes it to another level.  On my next bags I'll be adding feet and the grommets, as I mentioned before.  I also want to do tutorials on how to add all those things, because it is SO easy and all of you should be adding them to your bags!

 

*This zipper!  I was not smiling while I was putting this in, but I just love it now.  My line around this zipper was just TERRIBLE!  The only way to fix it was to add the zig-zag.  That's my tip of the day...if it looks ugly-zig-zag it!!  Sorry this photo is so blurry!

SUM IT UP...

 To sum it up...I LOVE MY NEW BAG!  

WHAT IS NEXT?

*Next, I will be working hard on figuring out how in the heck to turn this into a conceal and carry bag for my gun tote'n sis.  I have already been hard at work for the last month trying out different ideas.  Maybe I'll write a post showing you what I have come up with so far and some of the challenges I am facing.  There really is not a whole lot of help on the internet.  There are a lot of people who are selling conceal and carry bags, but no one is talking!  

I am excited about exploring the conceal and carry bag.  As some of you know I really want to open an online shop someday selling my creations.  I am hoping the conceal and carry bag will make it in that dream shop. 

Better get back to work.  Don't forget to come back tomorrow for my TIPS AND TRICKS LINKY PARTY!  

Have a great week!

Blessings,

Gina

Interested in purchasing Chris's AMAZING patterns? Click on the link below to enter her shop!
(I will receive a commission for any products you purchase at ChrisWDesigns)

I will be linking this bag up to THESE great parties!

And here is a new party for you!  Allie has a great blog and a great party every Wednesday's, so don't miss it!

 

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