Why I Chose This Pattern:
I wanted to try something a little different, and I liked the look of the Mail Sack by Pink Chalk Studio. Once again, you'll notice that this is a large bag (of course), but believe it or not, I chose to make the mini version of the pattern, which is more of a medium-size bag. Hey, I can't ALWAYS carry around huge bags!
Difficulty Level: Beginner - This is a very easy bag to make and the directions are very simple to follow along. The only tricky bit could be in getting the strap the right size - you have to play around with the pattern a bit to get the fit right. (Make sure you do this BEFORE cutting out the strap pieces)!
What I Loved:
As I mentioned, the directions were very easy to follow. I love that! It makes the construction so much faster. I also like that the pattern has two size bag options. I think the larger size may be a bit too big for some, and although the pattern says the smaller one is "kid-size", I think it's a perfect mid-size bag for any adult. As I said before, you'll just have to lengthen the straps to fit.
I also loved that since the pattern suggested using a heavier weight fabric (I used a home decor fabric for this bag) you don't need to cut and iron tons of interfacing. Ugh....although I love the look and feel of interfaced bags, it adds a lot of work to the process. This was easy peasy with only having to interface the lining.
What I Didn't Love:
I think that the fabric layout for cutting wastes a lot of fabric. I rearranged the pieces to save as much fabric as possible.
Suggested Changes:
Add a closure! As you can see, I put a magnetic snap in this one. I really don't get why so many patterns omit this step - purses need to have a little security! I suppose if you are making the larger version of this just as a market bag, you may not want to put in a closure, but I think it would be a must for the smaller bag.
Would I Recommend It? Absolutely! If you like the shape of this bag, invest in the pattern. It's versatile and cute to boot!
thanks for the review of the pattern it looks so cute! your fabric choices are wonderful too! I agree that the bag needs some kind of closer. Magnetic snaps are my new best friend right now. :)
ReplyDeleteI also made this bag - both the large size which is too big, and the mini size which is just right. I agree...a closure makes a lot of difference! I think next time I will also add a pocket to the exterior.
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