I'm starting to gather materials & ideas for some hand made by me holiday gifts. I'd like to do some bags for some of the ladies on my list, so I was thrilled when I found this pattern (New Look 6574). It has 5 great bags of various styles & sizes so you get a lot of bang for the buck. I decided to try out my favorite one and see if it would work out and I'm pleased to say it's on the list! I'd never made a bag before (wet bags don't count), so I wasn't sure how easy it would be or how well it would turn out. This was really straightforward and doesn't use a lot of fabric. I was really drawn to this Alexander Henry print because it was so vibrant and can go with a lot because of all the colors and I like how finished the lining looks too. This bag can work as an oversize purse or a funky tote.
The only thing was to brace the bottom they said to cut a piece of cardboard and just stick it in the bottom of the bag. That seemed kind of ghetto to me (especially if you give one as a gift), so I sandwiched the cardboard in the lining & bottom, which was a bit tricky to work with. Next time I'll slipcover the cardboard in the fabrics as a separate piece and just slip it in the bottom rather than try to have it stitched into the base.
Plastic canvas makes a nice bottom liner (covered, of course). And have you thought of saving the big clear pieces of plastic that everything you buy comes packaged in? some of them are quite large pieces. Just curve the corners so they aren't sharp. Or the sides of large laundry detergent and other bottles can be big enough for some bags. Just a few thoughts for you.
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