Ok, I couldn’t have thought of a better way to open 2008 than with a much loved finished object. I LOVE this bag!!! Love it, love it, love it!! If I could marry it I would. When it was finished I would leave the room and then come back just to look at it. I walked around the house with it for hours with no intention of going anywhere. Even now I get a little gitty just thinking about it. It took all my will power to finish my resolution posts and not inject this FO post in the mix. Does it match my outfit you ask? WHO CARES!! I will wear it anyway. That is how much I love this bag. Excuse me I have to go look at my bag now….
- Beehive by Etsuko Furuya and Uptown by Erin Micheal for Moda Fabrics used for the lining. Both purchased at Purl Soho Warehouse in Tustin, CA
- Red Suede fabric from my stash
Inspiration: Pleatness Bag from Craftster Tutorial (here is the link to the .doc file for the tutorial)
Modifications: Quite a few modifications – dimensions changes, added inside pocket, deleted zipper top, lenghtened straps, added button closure.
Enjoyment Factor: 10++
Time: 1.5 days
The Good:
- You mean the fact that I love this bag isn’t enough? Ok, ok, back to the details…
- The fabric. I finally broke and added the yellow beehive fabric to my stash when I heard that this line was being discontinued. Yes, there will be no more!! I had to get it. And once I had it I had to make something wonderful, which I think I did. The Uptown lining fabric was found on a later visit to Purl and it just complimented everything because I looked at it and at once thought of honeycomb.
- The Red Suede. I had this fabric in my stash for a while and I just love the feel of it. It was a great combination piece to the Etsuko fabric
- Notice the button string? Well that is the selvage of the fabric. I couldn’t find a ribbon or string I liked enough so I used the wonderful purple fabric of the selvage. It was a bear to make bias tape from about 1/4″ of fabric, but I did!
- I really like the side pockets since I always lose my phone in my bag, hopefully the pockets will end the futile “search for the phone before it goes to voicemail” adventures
- I am getting really good at adding those welt zipper pockets to the inside of bags. They are so handy!
- Love the chubbiness of the bag. It was modeled after a $3.00 bag I got from Target that I always use for casual (a.k.a. everyday) use. It can hold a mountain of stuff, including the requisite knitting project and still has room for more.
- Gotta love them pleats. I like how they add dimension to the honeycomb fabric and it really makes the bees pop!
- The tutorial is well written and it was a great gesture on heartasaurus’ part since she sells these bags on her etsy site.
The Bad:
- The straps were originally too short. I complete the outer shell and was so disappointed to find that the straps were just too short. I felt that I had an armpit tumor with the bag right there. So I had to deconstruct the whole bag to get back to the handles and then remake the handles to the proper dimension. Final cut dimensions were 44″L x 4″W cause I like my straps on the long side.
- I love the bag when it was completed but it was a little too gardener bag like when the edges flopped out on the top. So I added some pleated to the sides which kept them in and make the bag look a little more petite. That little addition just made my hear soar.
- The top of the bag could have used a little interfacing. Nothing bad, but it would have given it just a little more structure. I will do that next time.
The Ugly:
- Absolutely, Positively, not…one…thing
Ok, I have been away from my bag long enough. I must get back to oggling it!
38 comments
Comments feed for this article
January 1, 2008 at 5:03 pm
rooknits
Delicious. And exactly the kind of thing I have been looking to make.
January 1, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Melissa
Oh my goodness, this is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen!
January 1, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Mandy
You really did a great job with this bag! I might love it as much as you. Okay, probably not, but I really like it a lot!
January 1, 2008 at 5:42 pm
urbanknitrix
You are really starting the New Year out right!!! Gorgeous bag.
January 1, 2008 at 6:13 pm
cidell
ohmigosh this bag is FANTASTIC!!! I cannot believe you made it! Thank you for introducing me to Purl. What an amazing site. I still can’t get over this bag!! And I do not get excited by people’s purses. Wowser.
January 1, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Olyvia
Gorgeous. I’ve made two of these bags and they look nowhere near as good as yours does. That bag is definitely oggleworthy.
January 1, 2008 at 6:47 pm
margaux
lovely!! my goodness you make the most beautiful things!! i need to get me a sewing machine ;-)! Love the bag!!
January 1, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Emily
I really really like it. Congrats!
January 1, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Kirsten
I don’t blame you, nope not one little bit! I’d be prancing all over the house with it too if I had that bag! Fabulous!! And you did a magnificent job with the craftsmanship!
January 1, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Skylar
OMG, this is gorgeous! Signed up for my sewing class, so pretty bags, here I come!
January 1, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Jessica
It’s BEEutiful! Thanks for the Purl/Tustin info, I might have to run out there one of these days!
January 1, 2008 at 9:20 pm
caitlyn
The bag is simply gorgeous!! Well done!
January 1, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Maud
Wonderful! What an inspiration you are!
January 2, 2008 at 12:42 am
mamazen
I’m new to your blog… but i LOVE THIS BAG! beautiful work!
January 2, 2008 at 3:21 am
Charlie
I want one!! Seriously that is the most beautiful bag I have seen in ages!! You are an inspiration!!!
Happy New Year!
January 2, 2008 at 3:41 am
nihal
gorgeous!
January 2, 2008 at 5:37 am
lasandrou
Hi, I love that bag, its beautifull !
I have to make me one since I saw the tute on crafster. The pleatness bag is very amazing !
January 2, 2008 at 8:37 am
nova
Oh, man. This bag is all kinds of fantastic. I love it, the shape, the fabrics the beads, everything! That is good work. A great way to start of the new year, indeed! Happy New Year!
January 2, 2008 at 11:30 am
Veronique
Wow! I have some of that fabric too, and it’s so pretty that I’m not sure I’ll be able to cut it 🙂 You were very brave to cut your fabric, and the results is amazing!
January 2, 2008 at 11:40 am
nettiec
That bag is awesome! I would stop to admire it too, lol. I have been looking at that tutorial for months and never made it. I think I may have to now.
January 2, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Cindy
OMG – CUTE BAG!! I noticed you are a So Cal resident – You NEED to let me know next time you are heading to Purl in Tustin!! – I want to go!!
January 2, 2008 at 1:12 pm
seedless grape
Wow–this bag is amazing! I LOVE the colors and the shape. You did such a fabulous job!
Happy New Year to you and yours!
January 2, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Debora
I love the bag! You are so talented!!! I can’t wait to see what you will be making in 2008!
January 2, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Judy
So Pretty! You sew beautifully.
January 2, 2008 at 4:00 pm
femiknitter
This bag is just fantastic! I love the yellow wasp fabric, and the red suede compliments it so well. Great work!
January 2, 2008 at 4:31 pm
karine
I have run out of congratulatory exclamations for your project. Seriously gorgeous.
January 2, 2008 at 8:38 pm
angharad
That bag is amazing, and you have to be the most prolific craft I have ever seen. How do you get so much finished??
Happy New Year!
January 2, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Mrs.Hipp
OMG, I had no idea that the Purl Warehouse had fabric too. Now I REALLY want to go. And your new purse looks fantastic! Love love love the fabric. The inside zipper pocket looks hard to do, and your turned out so great. Good work!
January 2, 2008 at 8:53 pm
minivanmomma
love that fabric and the combination — lovely!
January 2, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Kelly
You are good!
January 2, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Erin
Holy cow! That is the cutest bag ever. You MUST marry it.
January 3, 2008 at 5:21 am
crimsonpurl
SUPER KA-UTE!!!!!
I love it!! LOL @ Erin! :oD
Great way to kick off 2008 indeed!
January 3, 2008 at 5:59 am
hope
First of all, Happy New Year. Next, you need to open a store and sell some of these things. Don’t keep them to yourself – share! Plus whatever you do in ‘real’ life can’t be half as much fun as creating these beautiful objects. Congrats.
January 9, 2008 at 6:38 pm
octopusknits
Oh, it’s lovely! Glad you persevered to make it what you wanted…. and happy new year!
February 3, 2008 at 10:30 am
Christy / Not Hip
Simply Stunning!
February 4, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Terri Emmons
I was wondering if I could get the instructions on how to make this bag? I went to where you had the link to get it but it says it is not good. I think this bag is so cute.. I would love to make it was it hard?
Thank you ever so much.
Terri
February 26, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Ellen K.
This bag is insanely gorgeous. I would LOVE to have something like this. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. You should be incredibly proud!
December 28, 2008 at 10:08 am
Julie
This bag is so cute! What inspiration you have given me! I just discovered your blog and love all your stuff! Thanks!