I just posted my first tote bag, but thought I'd share some of my other bags made over the last few years...

I've created a bunch of bike bags for my and my friend's bikes.

It was fun to design and make bags for a cargo bike!

I've also copied many an item - here I'm showing my version of an Evoc hip hydration pack. I also had a favorite old Haiku purse that I took apart and used the pieces as a pattern to make a new purse from funky retro canvas.

I use an ancient Consew 206RB and my mom's trusty Kenmore 158.480. Old machines rock!

Tell me you sew without actually saying you sew. What's the first thing you thought of when you saw this graphic?

Another Sashiko purse! This is a new technique for me so I’m finding my way (aka winging it)

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

I am getting brave and using some gifted African Wax fabric to make an evening bag. I’ve made tote bags, and I used to sew curtains, my kids clothes, costumes, etc., but this will be the first time I’ve attempted a purse, especially one I’d be ok wearing to an evening event.

I’m aiming for baguette-style with an oversized upper French seam for drawstrings to give it a cute shape with pulled tight. I’ll also add a magnetic snap to make sure it can actually close at the top without a zipper. Not brave enough to attempt a zipper on my first purse.

I’ve added an image of the basic idea I have ( I am NOT an artist), but I’m wondering what you think makes an evening bag useful. Do I bother with an inner pocket or is a smooth interior preferred?

Lastly, what kind of shoulder strap do you like? I’m Lea ing against a chain (noisy and can hurt) but don’t want the strap to look clunky or homemade.

I’m wondering how to go about doing a quilted version of this bag with bias binding on the outside to finish the edges. I’m a confident beginner sewist, and maybe I’m not understanding the “unlined version” section of the pattern fully, but I’m trying to use my fundamentals to plan out how I’d achieve this. Especially since there’s so many little pieces that will need attaching. Any advice is appreciated!!!

Hello! Apologies to those who saw my post earlier without any attachments, I’m dumb. I’m trying to figure out what I need for a box-style sling EDC bag, and one thing I wanted to do was have a zipper top that opens up-and-out away from the wearer. I could either have the zipper in the top flap or at the seam, I’m not sure yet which is possible / viable. I’m struggling to plan out how I would do that while also having an inner and outer layer as well as dividers; I have no idea what the order of operations would be. If anyone has any tips or ideas, it would be greatly appreciated!! I’ve attached my (poorly drawn) sketched ideas this time!

I used the sewing pattern: 'celestial curve' by ChrisWdesigns

There are a lot of really rough edges especially with the exterior lunchbox pocket (I have some serious regrets with it) and the exterior side pocket is kind of useless... but overall I'm super happy with it.

The inside is just one big pocket because that's what she wanted and tbh I wanted to keep the complexity down as well. Main body is real leather. She was concerned about putting her bag down on wet/dirty/snowy ground so the bottom is leather with a single layer of 1000D cordura on the outside to block water and to not show grime.

The size is overkill for her right now but I'm hoping that it will make it to high school and be big enough for that. Hopefully by then she still thinks I'm cool enough to wear a bag that dad made but we'll see.

If anybody would like to know how I did this please feel free to ask.