Multi Pocket Bag

Keyka Lou Pattern

Multi Pocket Bag

I was given a pattern for a  Keyka Lou  multi pocket bag (thank you K. x), which looked fairly easy. I thought it would only take an hour and be ready for a friend's birthday tomorrow. How wrong can you be? The pattern is called "Lots Of Pockets Tote" and can be found at Michelle Patterns. It sure has lots of pockets - each as fiddly as the last!

The pattern and fabrics

After finding some pretty fabrics from my stash I settled on these lovely Japanese prints by Echino. 

This is to be the lining/pockets/flap

The materials needed were -

3/4 yard exterior fabric

3/4 yard lining fabric

1 yard fuseable interfacing

Magnetic snap or button

Trying to make sense of the pieces!

I then had to cut twenty one fiddly pieces and try and make sense of them all, which could have been much easier if I had carefully chosen the fabrics and not used some of the lining fabric for the pockets and tab and handles. A thinner, more distinct lining fabric would also have worked much better. I also had no fuseable stiffener and choose a rather thick wadding, which made for difficulties when sewing the bag together. I also had no magnetic catch so decided to use a button and a buttonhole. After the second attempt at a buttonhole and a second waste of pretty fabric (I am really rubbish at buttonholes even with my friend Janome!) I decided to use a snap closure instead and put a pretty button on the outside. Ah! well -  I shall know next time.

The cut fabric

The first pocket went well

The second pocket also went well

The lining fabric looked great

After a bit of a struggle it began to look like a bag

Now for the mammoth sew

Beginning to go together
Do you like the button?

Working on the pockets in the colourful interior

An almost finished bag - needs some tidying up and the button/clasp sewn on

Pansy from The Button Lady

I must just give you a closer glimpse of the button. Isn't it cute? It came from  The Button Lady whose amazing buttons I just cannot resist.