My new bag

After all the purses and bags I've made this past month, I finally decided to make one for myself.  I've been using my birdie sling for the past year, and it has done its job well.  Sometimes I find it even a little too capacious, so I wanted something a little smaller.  Also I wanted a cross-body strap, as I found the birdie sling tended to slide off my shoulder quite a bit, especially when hauling around a 35-pound boy.

Well, I'm pretty pleased with the result.  This is the Kokka fabric I was talking about in my last post.  I bought it at Cool Cottons.  There's a very good selection of Kokka there, so I plan on going back to get some "boy" type prints for a mail sack for #1's music books (more on this later).  The lining is Moda's Essential Basics dots.  I should have taken a picture of the D-ring I used on the strap, it's pretty cool too (found at Fabric Depot). 

Even after all the trouble I had with this pattern (see my last post), it did not get easier with this bag.  First, I decided to start over and add the 1/4-inch seam allowance.  I had the pieces all cut and thought to use the pattern pieces from the prior Mocca bag for the interfacing.  When I went to do this, I finally figured out that even with adding the 1/4-inch seam allowance, the pieces were off-size because I forgot to turn the "scale" function off on the printer.  UGH!!!

It turned out well, nonetheless.  I changed a couple of things (again).  First, I inverted the pleats as called for in the directions.  I like how this looks better than on the Mocca bag.  Second, I added two buttons, just for decoration.  Finally, I made the inset pocket again, but didn't take a picture of it as it's the same as on the Mocca purse.

I made a matching wallet with a cute little domed button. 

I love this button.

Finally, a close-up of the little red riding hood print.  It's probably a little to young for me, but I've gotten to a point where I no longer care.