Designing and Making a New Textiles Bag

Sewing a New Bag

Opposite: A close up of the detail on the front of my old bag.

I've had my current bag for about 6 years now and I feel like it's time for a change.

I'm about to become a new parent so I think I want something bigger and with pockets but I also want it to look fabulous and artsy too. I'm also not sure I want to be lugging around a bag with a heavily pregnant figure on it when I'm heavily pregnant.

I'm probably going to come up with my old original pattern but in the lens below I've also collected links to a lot of free bag patterns on the Internet.

My Hand Crafted Bags and Purses

This lens features some of the bags and purses that I've made over the years. Mostly they're tiny glamourous bags - not really the everyday feel I'm looking for in a new bag.

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My Old Bag

This is the bag I've had for years and it's lasted a lot longer than I thought it would. It's really very simply made - it's just a lined rectangle of textiles with a recycled zip closure at the top, no pockets and very simple straps.

I want my new bag to be bigger, have pockets so I don't have to fumble about for my keys or pens and to have proper comfy straps.

Above: My Old Bag.

Bag Patterns

Free Patterns for Fabulous Bags

It can be pretty hard knowing where to start so it's useful to have a look at what is out there.

If you're decorating and making your own fabric for your bag you might not want to design your own pattern too so I've collected together some free bag patterns below.

Threadbanger
Weekly DIY Roundup: Backpacks and Messenger Bags! A range of links to different bag tutorials. I love the Oilcloth backpack and the little birdie drawstring bag.
Purse Patterns
A huge list of free bag patterns on the net.
Free Diaper Bag Pattern
This is a diaper bag but I think it would work pretty well as an all purpose bag too.
How to Make a Tote Bag
Making a tote bag from an old pair of jeans.
How To Make A Bag
A cute tote bag with button detail.
How to: Make a fabric shopping bag
Make a reusuable fabric tote bag.
How to make a felt shoulder bag
Make a shoulder bag out of a felted wool sweater.
HOW TO - Make a Bag in Under One Hour
A fast and cute bag tutorial.

Making Handbags and Purses

Making Handbags & Purses: 50 Patterns & Designs from Casual to Corporate

Amazon Price: $8.50 (as of 05/31/2012)Buy Now

This is a book I've had for a few years with a great range of cute bag patterns ranging from tiny bags to backpacks.

What I Want in a Bag

I'd like a pocket for all my important things - keys, wallet etc.

I'll probably need a bigger space for baby stuff.

I'd like it to be big enough to also fit an A4 sized sketchbook or notebook.

I'd also like a space to fit in a paperback.

I do like having a backpack-style bag but I'm willing to look at other styles.

Design Inspiration

The lens below is a textiles and craft challenge which I set in November 2010.

Since then I've been thinking about revisiting this project as I fell in love with creating maps for imaginary places.

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Below and opposite are images of the textiles map I made.

The one thing that annoys me about my current bag is that I melted the textiles (on purpose!), to create a distressed look. The problem with that is all the little bits of fabric that catch on my clothing - by this point - 6 years later - the bag is completely soft again but it's now trailing little pieces of fibre.

If I make a textiles map for my new bag then I'm going to sandwish it under a sheer layer of fabric to stop any melted bits from catching on anything.

I'm also thinking that I might just use plain canvas for the body of the bag and just have a textiles map panel at the front.

Textiles Map

Above: A melted textiles map made for a craft challenge.

My Design

I'm not sure that a backpack is going to be feasible for what I want. I'm thinking more and more about designing some sort of messenger bag or shoulder bag.

I've collected together some initial doodled ideas of what I want this bag to look like. My ideas are fairly simple at this point. I'd like to keep the textiles piece at the front and use plain fabric for the rest of the bag.

Finally... Some Progress!

I finally made some progress on this bag, possibly a month or more after making this lens - oops!

As you can see, I haven't gone with the map idea this time. I love my maps but I just wanted to jump right in with a patchy shabby chic bag.

I started with some fabric cut from some old combat trousers - I'm planning to use the parts with the pockets on the inside of the bag - that way I get some cool pockets and I don't have to worry about making them!

I started sewing a really patchy piece of fabric which I'm planning to use as a large outside pocket - not sure what I'm going to use as a closure - perhaps I can find a button loop from an old pair of trousers to make a easy/lazy closure!

Not sure what I'm going to do for the sides or handle yet but I'm sure it'll come to me!

I was inspired to just throw myself into making this bag after watching the video linked below.

Suziblu - Gypsy Tote
A cute blog post including a video showing how Suzi modified a canvas bag into a gorgeous gypsy tote bag.

Learn How to Sew Bags

The Bag Making Bible: The Complete Guide to Sewing and Customizing Your Own Unique Bags by Lisa Lam

The Bag Making Bible: The Complete Guide to Sewing and Customizing Your Own Unique Bags by Lisa Lam

"The Bag Making Bible" is the first book more...0 points

Making Vintage Bags: 20 Original Sewing Patterns for Vintage Bags and Purses by Emma Brennan

Making Vintage Bags: 20 Original Sewing Patterns for Vintage Bags and Purses by Emma Brennan

Fashion-conscious ladies love their purses-and vin more...0 points

Bag Boutique: Making Fabulous Purses And Totes (That Patchwork Place) by Amy Barickman

Bag Boutique: Making Fabulous Purses And Totes (That Patchwork Place) by Amy Barickman

Whip up a beautiful bag or pretty purse-now it's easy more...0 points

21 Terrific Patchwork Bags: Making Bags to Suit Your Every Need by Susan Briscoe

21 Terrific Patchwork Bags: Making Bags to Suit Your Every Need by Susan Briscoe

No woman would be without one - a bag is the acces more...0 points

Carry Me: 20 Boutique Bags to Sew by Yuka Koshizen

Carry Me: 20 Boutique Bags to Sew by Yuka Koshizen

Highlighting the extraordinary influence Japanese craft more...0 points

The New Handmade: Simple Sewing for Contemporary Style (That Patchwork Place) by Cassie Barden

The New Handmade: Simple Sewing for Contemporary Style (That Patchwork Place) by Cassie Barden

In an age of mass-produced fashion, express your individual more...0 points

Lunch Bags!: 25 Handmade Sacks & Wraps to Sew Today (Design Collective) by Design Collective

Lunch Bags!: 25 Handmade Sacks & Wraps to Sew Today (Design Collective) by Design Collective

Today's hottest designers share their sewing savvy more...0 points

Simply Sublime Bags: 30 No-Sew, Low-Sew Projects by Jodi Kahn

Simply Sublime Bags: 30 No-Sew, Low-Sew Projects by Jodi Kahn

You'll tire of hearing "Where did you get that more...0 points

Quilted Bags & Totes by Denise Clason

Quilted Bags & Totes by Denise Clason

Bags and totes are THE hip accessory for a new generation more...0 points

Sew What! Bags by Lexie Barnes

Sew What! Bags by Lexie Barnes

As the plastic bag is increasingly banished from stores, more...0 points

Chic Bags: 22 Handbags, Purses, Totes, and Accessories to Make by Marie Enderlen-Debuisson, Caroline Laisne

Chic Bags: 22 Handbags, Purses, Totes, and Accessories to Make by Marie Enderlen-Debuisson, Caroline Laisne

Bags are without a doubt the fashion acessory of the more...0 points

Sewing Terrific Totes & Carryalls: 40 Bags for Shopping, Working, Hiking, Biking & More by Carol Parks

Sewing Terrific Totes & Carryalls: 40 Bags for Shopping, Working, Hiking, Biking & More by Carol Parks

It's brimming with bags of every shape and size for more...0 points

Bag Boutique: Making Fabulous Purses And Totes (That Patchwork Place) by Amy Barickman

Bag Boutique: Making Fabulous Purses And Totes (That Patchwork Place) by Amy Barickman

Whip up a beautiful bag or pretty purse-now it's easy more...0 points

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Reader Feedback

  • caffimages May 14, 2011 @ 9:41 am | delete
    What lovely bag ideas I've found on here. If only I had the time. Now where did I put all my fabric remnants....
  • MeltedRachel May 15, 2011 @ 9:57 am | delete
    If you find any time can I borrow some too? :) Thanks for visiting!

About MeltedRachel

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This So Crafty page written by

MeltedRachel

I'm Rachel, a textiles artist from the southwest of England.
I love using recycled materials to create one-of-a-kind:
textiles art pieces,
handbags,...
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