Box Bag!
I’m going to preface this by saying I’m not a great seamstress by any means. I know enough to get by. You know, if the apocalypse hit and there were no more Targets and I had to make myself a shirt.
Or, and this is something I’m increasingly worried about, if I’m sized out of regular stores. Old Navy’s XS is too big for me, which is stupid because I think I’m a normal sized, healthy woman. Will some day I have to make my clothes because my only options are stores I can’t afford?
… um, so I sewed this bag! It’s a box bag, and I’ve been seeing them everywhere. A few of my students use them as knitting project bags because you can keep your yarn in there, just throw the short strap around your arm and knit on the go.
I happened across this Box Bag Tutorial from Stacy Sews and thought I could probably patch one together.
Box Bag with Plaid Lining
Stacy’s tutorial was great. Lots of pictures and I’m sure it would have been even easier if I knew anything about sewing. She described a great way to sew in the button that it took me FOREVER to figure out. But once I did it was a cinch!
Problems:
1. Didn’t have a 12″ zipper, so I used a 7″ one. I’ve got a million 7″ zippers because those are skirt sized.
Zipper Issues
2. Sewed the bottom of the zipper into the seam I had to make because my zipper wasn’t long enough. And fixed it by cutting it.
Strap Issues
3. I don’t like to pin things. I didn’t pin the strap in before I sewed it so the fabric wasn’t matched up correctly. And I left it.
Box Bag with Long Strap
Not a problem? The sweet long strap I put on it!
I hate bags with just short straps. I always have to put it in another bag with a long strap to bring it anywhere. So I cut out a long strip of fabric, sewed it up, and attached it to a bottom corner and a top corner.
Now this box bag is not only a hot knitting project bag, but a biking bag and a dance party bag! It’s like a clutch with a shoulder strap.
I used it Sunday when I went over to a friend’s outdoor birthday party. All I needed were keys, chapstick, my phone, and my knitting.
Can you tell I’m in love? And how perfect is that color? I picked this fabric up at that Portland estate sale. This was the leftover fabric she used to make her curtains out of. Kinda cool, right?
I can’t wait to rock this bag all summer long!
Now you’re just showing off!
I avoid sewing at all costs…nothing makes me feel like a failure quicker than my machine (and yes I do have one) but we are not friends.
I don’t understand the verbiage on most patterns, and when I try and get help at say fabric stores I get looks from other women and store clerks like I am from Mars.
I thought I would be smart and a few years ago asked my Mom to help me sew a few pairs of easy pj’s. Instead she made them for me.
grrr
their cute! but I didn’t learna thing.
your bag is ADORABLE…even if you cut your face off! haha
I’ll stick with knitting for now sheez.
Comment by Cindy — April 22, 2010 @ 11:45 am
you did a great job with this! i love the cheerful color, and the shape of the bag is really cool- i like how unusual it is. i’m going to check out that pattern myself. ~joelle
.-= joelle van dyne´s last blog ..joelle van dyne: the bride wore black =-.
Comment by joelle van dyne — April 26, 2010 @ 11:00 am