Woo hoo!!!!! After a months of work, help from Claire my digitising mastermind and a small army of amazing testers, the Anya shoulder bag pattern is now available to purchase here! Just in time to help you make lovely handmade gifts for your friends and loved ones... And for yourself of course.
Named after my daughter's favourite cousin, the Anya shoulder bag pattern is a deceptively voluminous, lined shoulder bag with an optional button tab closure which measures up at 38cm (15") wide and 27cm (10½") high without the straps. It can be made in a variety of woven fabric, from heavier quilting cottons to upholstery fabric and curtaining. I requires just 80cm (32") of outer fabric and 65cm (26") of lining (or less), so it is an excellent stash buster as well as a great show case for prints and solids alike.
The pattern is sold as two PDF files. The first contains the pattern itself and is formed of only four pages that require printing out. The second file is a detailed 23-page instructions document explaining everything you need to know about preparing the pattern and making this bag. It includes clearly conveyed construction steps large colour photos. You may prefer not to print out the instructions, instead following them directly from your computer/laptop/tablet screen. However, the last page of the instructions document is a condensed text-only version of the constructions steps which you can print out to keep by your sewing machine. This may be useful for more experienced sewers, or for when you have already made the bag before and just need a little jog for your memory.
In my next blog post, I'll share with you some of the fabulous versions that the pattern's testers created. You'll see just how cool or cute or pretty or vintage-y it can look when made in different prints, patterns and textures of fabric. Also in the next post, l'll launch a giveaway to give ten review copies of the Anya shoulder bag pattern to sewists who are happy to make it and write an honest review and post it on their blog and/or instagram. However, there's no need to wait to purchase your Anya shoulder bag pattern! If you buy it, you can still enter the giveaway; if you win I will refund your previous payment so you'll still get it for free.
If you have any questions about the Anya bag pattern that hasn't been covered here, please email me at sozoblog (at) gmail (dot) com. If this pattern looks like it might be up your street, then please head over here to purchase it!
10 comments:
Ohh this looks interesting. I can't wait to see some of the other versions that people have come up with. :)
Bought this straight away. Looking forward to trying different fabrics for different people (plus one for me!!) Good luck K xXx
Hi! I've been looking for a bag to make with some soft, perforated leather. Do you think that would work with your pattern?
Yay! It's so exciting to see your hard work!
@Lilihmartin I'd say that you could make this bag in your perforated leather - but it would depend upon how thick the leather is. If it is very thick - you may find it tricky to get a flat finish at seams where you would usually press standard woven fabrics. Also, if the fabric is thin or particularly drapey - it might lack enough "body" and substance to it to hold the distinctive shape that you can see in Zoe's pics - you don't want it to go too floppy on you for instance. However, as the fabric is perforated - you could take advantage of this and underline it with a medium-weight woven fabric in a contrasting colour - so that it shows through as a neat design effect through the little holes!
Don't forget that pins and needles will leave permanent holes in Leather (& Faux Leather too) - so it might be worth making a practice version first in some spare woven fabric - to help familiarise yourself with the construction process.
Good luck with your bag if you do decide to go ahead! Here's some handy links for sewing with leather :-)
Tips for sewing with leather
How to sew leather... a few tips
sewing 101 // 6 tips for sewing with leather + where to buy it!
@Lilihmartin I forgot to say... underlining with another fabric does not replace still using a standard lining. Rather, the added, extra layer of the underlining (behind the leather, and separate from the "lining") would add extra thickness, weight and "body" to a thin leather fabric for you :-) I hope that helps?
Thanks everyone for your comments!
@Lilhmartin, I totally agree with everything Claire said in her responses. I ADORE perforated leather, I can't wait to see it if you do go ahead! Thanks for your question.
xxx
This looks great. I am thinking it would work well with some tartan wool that I have. Perfect for winter x
I still think that this is such a cute bag and very versatile as it would suit so many different fabrics. Congratulations on releasing the pattern. Xx
All I want to know is if it'll fit an A4 notebook? I've always got mine with me so I need to wear a backpack, but that slowly pulls up my skirt. :-P
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