I love this bag, the pattern is brilliant, in fact drop by any blog where the bag has appeared, you will hear the same thing. I don't really 'do' patterns, too impatient, bits either look too easy to bother reading properly, or too difficult, so corners can be cut. Well not this one. It all worked out pretty perfectly, even top-stitching the awkward curved side seams, which I was convinced was impossible.
OK, so my execution still leaves a little to be desired, but I have surprised myself with how good it looks.
I have an A side, the safe side...
This is the middle section of the Ruby Star Spring Buzz print, and the pockets are fussy cut from the same.
And a Bee side...
I had to increase the pattern size to 105% to fit the star of the show on better; due to the luck of the cut of my half meter of Bee, the optimum cutting angle of the actual Bee couldn't quite be achieved, however I think I pulled it off.
I have won round Twin1 with my Bee love, but as my 'top insect' (OK, not like I actually have a list or anything!) is the dragonfly, I am so happy to have one of those on there too.
The sides and handle are the Bloom print; I added the selvedge to the underside of the strap, just because I could! I was considering adding it to the top of the inner pocket, then, oh so timely I read this... decision made! I also extended the length by a couple of inches, just as a bit of taste and fancy.
The whole bag is lined with the pale lilac Kona that works really well, no darkness to eat my keys and wallet here.
The cotton-linen Kokka is so lovely to work with, I have never used interfacing on such large expanses of fabric, nor magnetic snaps or lined anything before, and it is not as difficult as I had feared - no stopping me now! Maybe I will try the zipper version too!
I also found out yesterday that I am through to the second stage of brilliant Pings' Japanese Scrap Bag Challenge! Now don't get too excited saying I can have your vote, as my, and probably your friend Sarah is now a rival, along with 8 others including Ali from Very Berry Handmade! So join up to the flickr group to follow our progress, and see what we get up to over the next month or so.
Oh it's fantastic. The stitching is really cool, i love overstitching or "stitch like you mean it" as i call it. I bet you can't wait to use it. Love Posie
ReplyDeleteI love this bag, I want to buy this pattern too but how big is it? can we see you wearing it please??
ReplyDeleteLove love love your bag! Its so cool, it looks like you've fussy cut each and every pattern piece! glad you were able to fit the whole bee on the front panel :-)
ReplyDeleteLooks fantastic with great fussy cutting to make the most of the pretty fabrics!
ReplyDeletelove the bag you have done a great job ,i was thinking of sending for her new one that i saw yesterday
ReplyDeleteI have joined the Flickr group because the competition is going to be fun to watch! hehehe
ReplyDeleteOh and btw I love the bag. What pattern is that? I didn't see a link.
Love those fussy cut insects. Great bag!
ReplyDeleteSuper impressed - that`s one lovely bag!
ReplyDeleteYeay! It's brilliant! and all those new skills too... :) might have to borrow the scrappy strap idea one day x
ReplyDeleteFabulous bag! I came sooo close to buying this pattern yesterday, but saw she was coming out with another in the next few days so I decided to wait. I think I may just go ahead and get it now. Yours is great. Love the bugs!
ReplyDeleteHadley it looks wonderful! Such a great bag. Love the fussy cuts and the bee looks perfect!
ReplyDeleteI love your bag. I like the bee at this angle because it looks like it casually settled on your bag centre like it's a giant petla. Fussy cutting great on the pockets too! Can't wait to make my next one either!
ReplyDeleteI love the bag (the bee? Not so much but I'm not keen on any insects except, perhaps, butterflies...but only if they don't have big, squishy, hairy bodies!! Ugh!) but I do like the angle the bee is at, casually lying there, waiting to catch some poor soul off guard and scare the wits out of them!! The selvedge strap is inspired - can't wait to see your next bag, you could definitely sell them!
ReplyDeleteFantastic. I did see you had your name on the list of ten finalists...Well done
ReplyDeleteThis bag is beautiful! I'm here visiting from the Goodie Swap and I'm so glad I did! Such a great blog with wonderful things to see and try!
ReplyDeleteYour bag is stunning! V.well done! A* from me! Jxo
ReplyDeleteIt love it!!! You did the bee just perfectly! It is a beautiful bag. Great job!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the 241 club - I have been using mine constantly all "summer" - I love it, makes me feel young..lol......I added a key fob just inside the top rim, an absolute godsend, saves all that scrabbling about for keys.
ReplyDeleteI am def going to make more.
Oh, that came out great, and I think you pulled the bee off just fine :o)
ReplyDeleteLooks absolutely fab !!!I haven'd had th corouge to cut into my stash of Rubr Star yet.....
ReplyDeletedid you see that "film in the fridge had made pj bottoms the same fabric as your pocket !!! great minds :))
ReplyDeleteFantastic tote...how do you manage to get through so many jobs?? Also where do you buy the magnetic snaps?
ReplyDeleteThat may be the best bag I've seen to date...can't say more than that - except I WANT ONE!
ReplyDeleteGreat bag, and golly what a lot of comments :-)
ReplyDeleteOk, here's my full frontal shots. Stunning!!!!
ReplyDeleteFAB-ulous bag!! I probably need to make one of those!
ReplyDeleteUm, yeh what they all said :)
ReplyDeleteI need a cool bag like that.
My blogger is playing up and I keep missing blog posts. Your bag is just gorgeous! I thought I wasn't too keen on patterened fabric bags but I think you've converted me!
ReplyDeleteIt's going on my to-do list :)
Gorgeous bag - you have made such a good job of working with that fabric and using it to its full. Brilliant. Looking forward to the Pings and Needles comp very much, although slightly scared!!
ReplyDeletetotally love it.
ReplyDeleteLOVE how this turned out!! The bee looks per.fect.
ReplyDeleteLove how you did this especially the side pockets.
ReplyDeletegood lord, this is a fantastic bag! I just love it:)
ReplyDeleteFab Bee Bag! So fab I had to go buy the pattern too :-) & some Echino :-)
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