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| Welcome to my "August project"... |
A few years ago, I featured a similar question as a blog post title for an entirely different reason.
Nowadays — because it's very much an odd experience to go shopping — I'm wondering if you've been carrying a more "efficient" bag or purse to run your errands.
The crossbody sling bag that you see here was a souvenir from Honolulu. If you know me at all, you'll instantly understand why I was literally drawn to the fabric from way across the marketplace.
Although it's only been used sporadically in the past, it's recently become my "go to" bag whenever I shop for groceries.
I used to grocery shop with my mother. My purse would sit on the child seat and I would leave the shopping cart with her if I needed to venture off anywhere. For her protection, she only makes occasional trips with me these days. For two fairly obvious reasons, I now wouldn't want to leave a purse sitting in the cart. Thus, the need for a crossbody bag that stays on me.
This one has three compartments: an upper one for a (relatively small sized) cell phone, a flap-like zippered pocket on top, and a main zippered compartment that is fairly roomy due to the fact that it has a gusset.
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| Two zippered compartments... |
There are no other pockets or divisions and it's not lined. It is, however, ergonomically designed and drapes against the wearer without being bulky and obtrusive, unlike a lot of — if not most — other crossbody bags. (Trust me, I know this because I own several, have used several, and none of the others have worked as well.)
Today's post is about planning a custom remake of this bag, using my Canadiana Tiled & Mirrored 3D fabric in lightweight cotton twill and some rip stop nylon.
By the way, because of the bound edges, a bag like this is a very forgiving thing to sew. If any edges don't quite match up exactly, you can usually just trim them down.
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| A velcro'd flap that serves no discernible purpose... |
Going back to why I want this, shopping is now a matter of getting in and out as quickly as possible. There is no reason to wander around and browse, therefore no need to carry a purse with "all the fixins". Since I also have a vehicle, many things don't have to be physically with me when I'm in the store.
So it was a matter of deciding what essentials I needed to carry and how I'd like to carry them. Here's my list...
1) plastic bag with disinfecting wipe
2) mask
3) two credit cards
4) receipts & shopping list
5) cell phone
6) car "key"
7) key case
With the current bag, carrying these items is not an issue. They aren't, however, being carried in an optimal fashion, since I only have three places to put things and the two main ones require me to fumble around with a zipper.
I can definitely use more pockets or different pockets.
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| View of the strap ends and connectors... |
But... first things first. Before one can remake something, one needs to have some semblance of a pattern to work from. Since the format and shape of this bag were my main reasons for recreating it, my first step was to trace around it to create a template. (I taped together four standard letter sized sheets of paper for this.)
If you ever try this, remember that when you trace around a finished item like this, you'll need to account for seam allowances when you actually draw templates for specific parts.
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| First step in creating a pattern from scratch is to trace around the item! |
One of my planned changes involved the main interior compartment; I didn't want the same size. I don't need my small items swimming around in a large cavernous space, so my idea was to create just enough depth using two darts at the bottom corners. (The original bag is pleated at the top zippered opening as well.)
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| Sometimes the process of template creation is very much "trial and error"... |
As you can see from the above, I basically crumpled a piece of paper until I got roughly the size that I needed for that part. (Did you perhaps expect an elegant lesson on pattern drafting?)
How else did I want to change this bag in its "remake"?
It's a small thing, but I'd like to have my shopping cart token hanging off the bag for easy access, so I don't have to keep handling my key case. Ditto with the two credit cards that I have to take with me (one being Mom's since she wants her loyalty points applied to her own card).
Do you see in one of the previous pictures the flap pocket that is velcro'd to the main body of the bag? I never could figure out the reason for the velcro being there. For my re-do, it's going to make sense.
I'm going to add function to that area by putting a card slot/slip pocket combo there. My credit card is normally inside my key case. The current process of checking out two separate orders by taking out my key case, pulling out the correct card and then putting everything (including receipts) away isn't ideal.
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| The first change was to add a pocket for essentials... |
While the guaranteed security of a zippered pocket is nice, sometimes efficiency takes precedence. Having these card slots underneath a velcro'd flap will allow me to complete the payment process with one hand if necessary. (The slip pocket that results after sewing this to the main front panel will be for receipts.)
[The sneak peek above shows you the other fabrics involved in this project. The polka dotted card slot material is actually a strip of 2.5" wide ribbon fused onto some interfacing. The red fabric is a Lily & Loom selection from my recent Bluprint order, also to be used for the binding.]
Another planned change is the elimination of the upper cell phone pocket. While my current (five year old) cell fits into it, the pocket is sized for old style flip/bar phones and therefore doesn't have lasting value. (The way it protrudes also detracts from the otherwise sleek looking upper strap.) Instead, I'll hide a small zippered pocket at that location for my car key/proximity fob.
Finally, to address the need to be able to "drop" something into a simple slip pocket, I will add such a pocket to the back of the bag.
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| Pattern drafted and fabrics at the ready... |
It turns out that I measured out the various components of this bag three years ago after I purchased my yard of Canadiana fabric. I found a couple of pages devoted to it in my project planning book... how odd to consider that it took a pandemic to trigger the actual work!
Want to know what's required to undertake a project like this?
Patience, planning, and plenty of note taking. Below are just some of the pages from my project book that I scribbled on to document how to recreate this bag.
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| Copious planning notes... |
It's mostly a matter of mentally taking apart the item and then writing instructions for how to put it back together again... all while accounting for the desired modifications. For instance, I wanted my version of the bag to be lined with rip stop nylon, which required additional work at virtually every turn.
It took just as long to analyze and write out the process as it did to sew the item, but I can't overstate the importance of doing it. While I crossed out a bunch of lines and drew arrows redirecting (missed) steps while I was documenting, when it came time to sew, it was one check mark after another as I made my way through the instructions... no additional notes needed.
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| Can you visualize taking this apart and putting it back together? |
If you were to follow a traditional pattern, you'd normally cut out all of the pieces at once and then get on with the sewing. For something like this, it's usually best to cut and sew each component to allow for adjustments as you go. Luckily, this one turned out rather well. I was half expecting needing to use the completed front side as a template for the back side, but that never happened. My original paper template (flipped over and mirrored, of course) was sufficient.
Do you feel up to the challenge of tackling this project, in this DIY way? If you had just the pattern, would you be able to run with it? I'm currently digitizing the template with the intention of making it free for my readers here, if there's any interest. (It will likely also end up for sale in my Makerist shop.)
Come back in a week and I'll show you how my "remake" turned out.
'Til next...
I thoroughly enjoy reading, how you figure your way through theses projects!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing!
Thank you, thank you! I hope that you'll be inspired to follow my lead in the next couple of weeks and "figure" this one out for yourself.
DeleteYou are so clever!
ReplyDeleteAww, that's so kind of you to say... many thanks!
DeleteFunny your post shows a bag with a Hawaiian print with hibiscus flowers on it, because I just posted a bag I made with hibiscus flowers too, although totally different style and color. I am looking forward to seeing how your new and improved bag turns out. I made one sling bag form a pattern and while it turned out nice, it had so many pockets sections that one could get lost just trying to remember what goes where. Plus, you couldn't put anything inside it with much dimension (like sunglasses case), wallet, etc. It was a bit overkill with so many pockets because if all were filled with something, the sling would bulge so much it would be hard to zip things closed. Picture trying to squeeze into jeans that are a bit too small, lol!
ReplyDeleteWaiting patiently. This is a project that would be worth my effort since my current purse is nearing the shredded lining stage. My cross body strap is thin and unattractively cuts under my left boob. Again, waiting patiently.
ReplyDeleteI can totally see why you chose that bag with the black, white, red combo. I'm not up for sewing anything at the moment, but I enjoyed reading about your thought processes. I've changed my 'going out' bag during the current times - happened to have one that suits. Musts for me - easy access to hand sanitiser, so slip pockets, one handed lift up flap with slots underneath for credit cards mine happens to be magnetic, at least two separate zippered sections, roomy enough for sunnies, mobile, wallet, tissues, keys, etc. My bag happens to be a leather cross body bag - compact, easy to get on and off with one hand, can wear at the front or back depending on the situation, small so it's comfortable standing for a couple of hours visiting hospital. Lucky I had one that fits the bill.
ReplyDeleteLove your bag! I'm cross body bag fan. Currently gathering materials to follow your process. I will post pics when I'm done.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I would love to see one of these bags done up — have not had the pleasure yet despite many people having downloaded or purchased the pattern. BTW, you won't be able to "post" anywhere here, but you can always attach pics to me in an email (addy is in my Blogger profile).
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