It’s no secret I love to make bags I will use. It’s been a few years since I made my first Sew Together Bags
Once the bag was finished, I immediately realized that I am going to need a few more. There are three ways that I want to use this little bag so here are my ideas on how I want to put my new creation to use:
As a portable office. It seems like little people are constantly borrowing pens, pencils, scissors, phone chargers & all sorts of other things I spend a lot of time looking for. I currently keep these items in drawers in my desk but I rarely work there. It would be amazing to keep this little pouch stocked with what I need and be able to carry it around with me wherever I’m working whether inside or out! With the sun shining, it would be great to be able to take what I need to the park and have it just ready to go.
A little, mobile workstation. We have a few trips coming up this year and I’d love to be able to have one portable and organized workstation. With three small zipper pockets & the open space between them this bag holds all of the necessary supplies for small projects without getting them all mixed up. It will be amazing to use this and not have thread getting all wrapped around who knows what and even keeping different sized scraps apart from each other.
On my bathroom counter as a makeup pouch. I only wish that I had lined it with a bit of vinyl for easy clean up! (Do you remember my tip about how to upcycle vinyl from here?) This sweet little sunshine should be somewhere I will see it every day. I would love to keep my lip pencils, lipsticks, eye shadows & face products all separate and never again dig around for what I’m looking for in my current pouch!
So there you have it! I think the solution is that I need to make a few more of these little bags!
I did make a few changes to the pattern:
1: I switched out the interfacing for the exterior to peltex. I like stiff bags and this definitely gives it a stiffer feel. I also used shape-flex to interface the interior pockets. Again, this was a personal choice because I want my bag to keep its shape.
2: The exterior is pieced, and I love it! I used 2″ squares and my little 3-1/4″ dresden pattern I recently shared here. The dresden blades are actually raw edge appliqued to the linen. Since I’m not planning on washing this bag, it should be ok.
3: I hand stitched down the binding. This makes a HUGE difference in the appearance of the finished good. I machine bound my first two and i’m still embarrassed about how they looked. This one I am terribly proud of.
I have a few ideas of tweaks I would make to the pattern in the future. These would be customized to how I’d use future bags:
make interior pockets of clear vinyl so I can see what’s inside at a glance
add zipper pulls to interior & exterior pockets
add a little pocket on the outside to slip things in on the go
And here are the previous two sew together bags I’ve gifted. Would anyone want to be a part of a sew together bag swap? I think that would be such a fun gift to make & receive! Let me know in the comments if you’ve made one and what you thought of the pattern!
And if you are looking for bag ideas, here are a few more that I’ve made & truly loved!
Black & White Weekender Bag
Bright & Happy Weekender Bag
Patchwork Weekender Bag < — lots of great bag making tips here!
Linen Purse
You can find the Sew Together Bag Pattern
(Dress is old, similar polka dot dress here if you are interested (and another one here for under $40)
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so cute! this has been on my to-make list for a long time. i would LOVE to do a swap!
Love it! Thanks for the tips on interfacing. I hand stitched the binding also and was very happy. Although I did machine sew the zipper binding. Did you hand stitch this also?
Just finished my STB and I did the same changes as you did. The additional change I wish I had made was to use a 20″ zip not an 18″. I would have to change the length of the binding as well. I just find the stiffer bag needs more length. I have not joined the ends to the base for this reason. Would love to do a swap but depending on when and deadlines.
I’ve made many sew together bags and several of the mini version. I would LOVE to be in a swap!
I just made my first one a few weeks ago and I love love love it! I’d be thrilled to be in a bag swap!!!
Sweet little bag. Good tips for use & making. Not sure about a swap because I’ve never made one and it looks really hard.
I have made one and gave it away! I love the pattern but that binding is rough! I machined mine but I think I would do it by hand next time. I think a swap would be super fun and I would love to join in depending on time frame.
Hi Amanda,
I’ve made at least a dozen of these bags, but yours is the CUTEST!! That little Dresden!! Each time I make the bag I learn something new. I hand stitched the binding on my first few bags, then switched to machine stitching. The first few were not a thing of beauty. A new walking foot helped, but the handstitching really does look better 🙂 A swap would be fun. Keep us posted!
xoxo
I would love to be on a swap. I made more than 6, and only keep for me the first one. The one I machine stitch the binding and didn’t like it, so the following were hand stitched. The vinyl idea is great.
I have made a few of these! I use Soft and Stable to line the exterior and SF 101 on the rest. I also finish the binding by hand, don’t even want to think about doing it by machine! I use one for hand sewing items, another as a make up bag, another with my notions with my travel machine. They work great but I have also thought about using clear vinyl so I don’t have to unzip every pocket to view the contents. There was a mini sew together tutorial that showed a simple vinyl insert to keep bag clean from markers.i haven’t tried it yet. The mini bag is cute and smaller but too small for what I made it for. A swap would be fun!
I have made two and loved it! I thought the side panels too small so I sewed the pockets first and then lengthened the side panel to what I thought was best to be able to store stuff in the open pockets without falling out…
I have made one. It’s my first bag! I want to make another soon to get the process solidified in my mind. I used a longer zipper for the outside so it would open up flatter for a hand sewing desk in my lap in the car. I love the clear vinal idea for the inside pockets especially for a makeup bag to easily see what is inside. Would love to swap!
I would love to join a STB swap and have made a few, Please post on IG if you host a swap please! Sometimes I forget to check blogs until I see something on IG. Also how/ do you have a tutorial on how to make those small swoon blocks on the front of the STB? I would be very interested in a sew along too with different versions and tutorials of this bag.
Your bags are adorable, I have 2 cut out now!!! A swap might be soooo much fun!!!!
I’ve been meaning to make one for myself for over a year! I made an embroidered panel for the front, picked out all my fabrics and zippers and there it sits. You’ve inspired me to move my bag higher on my to-do list!
I made a few of these a couple years ago but gave them away. Lately I’ve been thinking about making one for myself. I’ve never participated in a swap, but it sounds like fun!
I have made 5 STBS and love every one of them. I would do a swap. I would like to do a center block like you did. The pattern is vague in some places so some may need some help.
Finishing up my first ever Sew Together Bag that I started at The Stash Bash. I love it! Would enjoy swapping
I have made six of these and have three in process. The pattern is wonderful, one of my favorites. I put the bindings on by machine (first pass) and hand (second pass).
Another variation popped back into my consciousness. When possible I use a 20″ separating zipper for the outside. I can mark the zipper center and the center top of the bag and separate the two halves, making it much easier to work with while finishing the binding. I have lots of separating zippers from a factory outlet, so this strategy came about when I was looking for a zipper in my stash.
I have made two STB for gifts with one in the works now. A swap would be loads of fun. I havnt made myself one yet but I think I need at least 4 🙂 These bags are great. Love your notes above and of course your finished bag. So fun.
I love making Sew Togwther Bags!
One thing I changes was that I sewed the main zipper/binding first, then sewed the end tabs on and then sewed them onto the ends when I was seeing the binding onto the ends.
I have made one and would love to swap!! I will keep an eye out on your blog and IG for an announcement.
Great pattern very easy to follow. I really like your design changes and my use the ideas. I made 15 of them before Christmas to give to quilting buddies. Not interested in a swap even though it would be great fun.
I’ve made two, but had to watch tutorials as the pattern isn’t very clear on attaching the binding, which is a nightmare to handle on a machine, so many bulky seams.
Love the idea of clear vinyl. I put a small pocket on the inside of the second one, for small items like thimbles
I have asked Craftsy to do a class on this. I have the pattern; cut it out and got so far till I wasn’t sure. Don’t remember what was the hang up but never did finish. I love the the whole concept of this bag. Would love to make one with just one internal pocket or no pockets.
Love the sew together bags you’ve made! I’ve made about 7 of them as gifts and finally made myself one recently for all my knitting notions. I’ve also made the smaller version and I love it too! I also sew the binding by hand, I think it just makes the bag look so much better!
I might consider a swap ~
I recently bought the pattern, but have not yet made a bag. I’ve loved this pattern for years; in fact, this pattern has led to fairly close blogging/IG/internet friendships. And I just learned that I am being gifted with a mini sew-together bag. I would love to participate in a swap. I think it would be just the impetus I need to start sewing multiples of this bag myself!
Love your hints! I have this pattern so now I will actually go try and make it!!
I learned from pinksuedeshoe on IG to hammer the side binding. It helps the binding to lay flat and not bunch the pockets. Loved how well that tip worked! And I added an inset pocket to the last one I made as well as a needle minder landing area inside. I find I’m constantly jabbing my needle into the pockets and then losing it!
I’ve made four of these bags and do something a little different each time. Like you I think of something that would make it nicer for my purposes. My daughter was thrilled to receive this for a birthday gift last Fall.
I would love to participate in a swap! Please let me know if you decide to do it.
Marsha
quilterinmotion@gmail.com
quilterinmotion.net
Amanda, I currently have this pattern in my cart on craftsy, but then saw a link to the bionic bag. It looks quite similar, and now I can’t decide. I’ve seen hundreds of sew together bags…all of them awesome and people seem to love to make them. But I’ve never known many people to make the bionic bag. Do you know if there are any differences? I’d really like to make a couple bags this weekend, but don’t want to buy 2 patterns (that’s 3 fat quarters I could have instead!!) Thanks!!
I have made two and I love them! Inthink answap is a great idea!!! if you plan it, just tell me how I can help!
I have made 5 of these. I think the pattern is a stroke of genious. It may be vague in some areas, but once you figure it out it becomes an obsession. I would love to do a swap. I really like your piecing on all the bags you pictured in this post. It makes me want to make another one, of course. Email me if you organize a swap. Thank you for the imformative post.
Not sure how I missed this post. Did you ever do the swap? If not, it might be something to keep the winter doldrums away. ?