Basic Bag from The Better Bag Maker

Yeah, it's just about like me to start a blog and ignore it for three months. I haven't been idle though; I have quite a few projects in the works and even one to show.

This is the Basic Bag Pattern from Nicole Mallalieu's The Better Bag Maker. I needed a new purse as this one I made around three years ago from The Burda Style Sewing Handbook was sadly wearing out. 

This is quilting fabric and I loved how the black and white fabrics worked together. The author's directions were pretty clear for most of the bag. I do have to admit that I had a lot of trouble with the zipper instructions and just ended up not being able to figure out her directions. I ended up following these directions for the zipper. I also put in a LOT of compartment pockets. In fact, there are so many, that most of my stuff is in pockets with just my wallet at the bottom of the purse :-)

I used a light woven cotton interfacing and may use a heavier one if I ever make this particular bag again. 

As for the book, it's an excellent book. Other than the zipper instructions (which I plan to try again at some point), I was very happy with the detailed pictures. I think something that may have helped with the zipper instructions were the pictures. Her pictures for this are all done with white material and it's very hard to tell the difference between the right and wrong side of the fabric.

In the book, Nicole starts with the easiest pattern and each pattern builds on the last. I really do want more than one bag, so I am going to try and do around a bag a month. This was mine for December.

Hopefully, I'll try and be a bit more consistent on my posting. Other projects I've been working on include a corset, a couple of tops, pants, and a jeans-making course from Burda. Hopefully, I'll have more to show soon!

Have a Happy New Year!