Monday, January 26, 2009

Kimberly Bag

Sewers talk about fabric stashes a lot, but I don't hear a lot of talk about pattern stashes. Well, ladies and gents, I am a stasher of both fabric and patterns and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Fabric stashes are essential for those spur of the moments when you just must-make-something-right-this-instant. Pattern stashes serve the same purpose with the added bonus of actually giving you a little bit of direction. Call me an enabler of stashing if you must.

After I bought my new machine, I had a must-make-a-bag-with-lots-of-interfacing-and-test-this-baby kind of moment. So I pulled Amy Butler's Kimberly Bag out of my pattern stash and some Nigella out of my fabric stash and got to work. I couldn't have been happier with the results of the Bernina or of the pattern.

I recommend this pattern for intermediate to advanced sewers. Although the pattern pieces are accurate and the instructions are clear, I would not recommend this pattern for beginner sewers. New sewers will probably find the zipper, pleats, and heavy interfacing challenging to sew.

The bag style may not be for everyone, I realize, but I like it. I do feel a little like I'm carrying a clarinet case, but it sure is one cool clarinet case, isn't it?

Pattern: Kimberly Bag by Amy Butler
Fabric: Nigella in Lime Primrose by Amy Butler
Modifications: I glued an extra panel of Timtex at the bottom between the lining and outer pieces after turning the bag inside out. I added purse feet, hoping to protect the bottom panel from dirt. I also added a simple slip pocket to the lining.

17 comments:

  1. beautiful! i love this bag! you did a great job.

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  2. Love the perfectly centered flower!! The bag looks perfect : )

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  3. Oh, I have an obnoxious pattern stash. I think I have more patterns by cubic volume than I do fabric!

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  4. I love the bag! Stephanie, I just nominated you for the Kreativ Blogger Award. Details on my blog! Cindy

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  5. I love the bag! Stephanie, I just nominated you for the Kreativ Blogger Award. Details on my blog! Cindy

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  6. love, love, love the bag!! great job.

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  7. The bag came out great! Nice job centering the flower. I'm a pattern stasher too, and I have that pattern which I want to try some day.

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  8. The bag looks beautiful - much nicer than the old clarinet case under my bed...

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  9. Im diggint the that a lot and yes I have as many patterns stashed as I do fabric or yarn!!! Great job.

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  10. That's a fine bag - congratulations!

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  11. You did a wonderful job on this lovely bag. I have that pattern and the perfect fabric to make it - after reading your review I think I will put it on my list for next month. Thanks.

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  12. I really like the bag. It is so pretty and original. You can put some long knitting needles in there, long licorice sticks, a few rulers, maps, so many long things.
    It's neat. I love the fabric too.

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  13. Such a beautiful bag! I need to make one of these!

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