My Makayla Bag
After watching my old purse gradually fall to pieces, I finally decided it was time for a new every day bag. And why buy one when you can make one?
The Pattern
I knew I wanted a small, simple purse that would just carry the essentials: phone, keys, snacks :) After looking through many patterns were either the wrong size or had a wierd shape I finally found one I loved, and it was free!
I used the Makayla Bag pattern from Deja Designs. The pattern comes with two sizes, I made the smaller one. Instructions for the Makayla bag were very detailed, with lots of pictures. It is definitely a pattern I would make again, and I already have plans for a bag for a friend.
The Materials
Figuring out all the different fabrics, hardware and interfacings for the bag was a little difficult. But I eventually I just decided to pick something and run with it, and it worked! To anyone else making this pattern or another similar bag, if you're having a hard time choosing materials, just know that whatever you choose to use won't be "wrong". Different materials will just give a bag a different feel. There is a wide variety of interfacing and fabric weights that will work for a pattern.
For my bag exterior I used a canvas fabric from Canyon Spring by Cotton + Steel. The bag strap is also cotton canvas, in Londontown from Cloud9. The bag lining is Wild Rose from Ruby and Bee solids. As far as interfacings go, I used my trusty SF101 for the lining and pocket. I used Flex-Foam One Sided Fusible from Pellon for the flap, exterior, and bottom interfacings. For hardware, I decided to use a magnetic closure, a metal tag, and 2 D-rings. I skipped the swivel hook. I got all that from Emmaline Bags. I picked up my pocket zipper and vinyl zipper overlay at Joanns. It seems like a lot of materials but they all come together to create a unique and professional bag.
Regrets
I'm not sure this is healthy, but I'm gonna do it anyway. I wish the lining was a little smaller than it is. It is a little to big for the bag. The topstitching could be better, and I could have used a dark thread when sewing seams with the blue canvas, so that the thread wouldn't show through. Other than those few things I really am happy with how the bag turned out!
Project Overview: Makayla Bag
Cost: about $70
Pattern: Makayla Bag from Deja Designs
Date Finished: 7/27/2023
Size: small
Fabric: Canvas from Canyon Spring by Cotton + Steel, Wild Rose Ruby and Bee Solid, and canvas in Londontown from Cloud9 (All from Hawthorne Supply Co.). Hardware from Emmaline Bags.
