Pattern Parcel #7-Betty Bowler by Swoon Sewing Patterns

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by! Today I am very excited to be part of the Pattern Parcel #7; the bag edition.

Parcel # 7 is the final parcel of the year and the first ALL BAG parcel, so it's kind of a big deal.  The list of patterns for this parcel are:

Barcelona Bag and Wallet by Pat Bravo

Butterfly Sling Purse by Emmaline Patterns

Evelyn Hangbag by ChrisW Designs

Midtown Messenger Bag by Betz White

Betty Bowler by Swoon Sewing Patterns

BONUS PATTERN: Daphne Bag by Clover & Violet

Bonus Pattern:

Choose a price of $32 or greater for Parcel #7 and you will automatically also be sent the Bonus Pattern! That's just over $5 a pattern. The Bonus Pattern for this Parcel is the brand new Daphne Bag pattern from Clover & Violet. The Daphne is a slouchy satchel that can be worn cross body or as a shoulder bag. The zip top keeps your gear secure and the internal pockets keep your accessories where you need them. This is a brand new, never been seen before pattern and is an exclusive opportunity for Parcel #7 customers!

How Pattern Parcel Works:

Here at Perfect Pattern Parcel, we believe in supporting independent pattern designers. It’s our opinion that indie patterns are just, well, better than big box patterns, and we’re pretty sure our customers think so too. So, we allow customers to show their support in naming their own price for each Parcel.  We also encourage customers to allocate part of their Parcel price to the charity Donorschoose.org in order to help classrooms in need. Pattern Parcel donates all profits after expenses from Parcel sales to the charity as well. Its our goal to raise over $20,000 for Donors Choose this year.

Ok, so with all of the formalities out of the way, let's talk about my bag :)

I chose the Betty Bowler Bag by Swoon Sewing Patterns because I wanted a really roomy bag. We are taking a Disney Cruise after the first of the year and I thought the Betty would make a great carry along for my trip. And I think I was totally right...

I used a filagree Mickey Mouse fabric that I found at JoAnn Fabric and I think it is a perfectly elegant and Disney Cruise worthy carry along bag.  

The Betty has some great features and I added a few personalized touches to make it exactly what I wanted (because why else do we make things if not to get them exactly how we want them?)

The instructions to make fabric straps are included in the pattern, but I used a pre-made set I also picked up at JoAnns.  I am not great at making handles (or bags for that matter) so I decided to go the easy route.  WRONG! I ended up having to hand sew them onto the bag because I couldn't get them under my presser foot.  There is a possibility I will be striding along the gangway onto the ship and the handles will fall right off the bag due to my inadequate hand sewing, but I think they look adorable and I am so happy I went with them.

I also skipped the center stripe the pattern includes for the front of the bag so I could add a monogram.  Nothing says "special" like a monogram and I am from the South (where we monogram our underwear) so of course I needed one of those.  Since I wanted it big enough for the scale of the bag, it wouldn't fit on the narrower center stripe.  I included the center stripe on the back of the bag in an adorable coordinating Mickey outline print.

I also included 2 extra pocket on the inside, feet on the bottom and a little lobster clasp to hook my keys onto in the inside.  It is something a few of my bags have and I really love it.  

The pattern has instructions and pattern pieces for large pockets on one side of the interior; I added smaller pockets on the opposite side because I like a lot of pockets and I need a smaller pocket for my cell phone. The pattern also has a zippered pocket on one exterior panel. I have those on a few other bags and love them for keeping my headphones and room keys handy and easy to reach without digging in my purse.

The Betty took me several evenings to make. I am not normally a bag maker and I am not fast nor very good at it. The instructions are great and I also followed a sew-along that the fabulous Ali Cat & Co did with Swoon Patterns. Still my bag has a lot of blood, sweat and tears in it (only the tears is not true, lol) and it is far from perfect. Yet, I still love it. It is kind of like me...it tried really hard and isn't quite right, but still very loved.

One thing I struggle with a lot when looking at patterns for bag is the scale. It is really hard for me to translate the finished measurements to how big it will be when it is actually finished. So I took a couple of scale pictures for y'all :)

And this is what you end up with when you rely on the hubs for pictures. Head chopped off, blurry pictures and one almost useable one in the middle. BUT it does the trick to show you what it looks like when you are carrying it (which is about the only way it makes sense to me to think about the size of the bag).

If you are inspired to make your own bag, you can grab the Pattern Parcel here. There are many other great patterns in there, so you will be happily bag making for a while with this set!

You should also check out these fabulous stops on the Pattern Parcel tour for some more serious  bag-speration (I was going to say purse-peration, but...)  On that note, Thanks so much for stopping by!  Like A Mother

Parcel #4 Inspiration Tour Schedule:

Friday, November 7 Stitched || Sew Exhausted

Saturday, November 8 Made by Sara ||Oliver's Fancy || Strawberry Patch Ramblings

Sunday, November 9 from a box || Mia's Creations || MOMENTS

Monday, November 10 owen's olivia || While she was sleeping

Tuesday, November 11 Nutta || Radiant Home Studio || La Pantigana

Wednesday, November 12 Sew Fishsticks || Stacy Sews || Stitching Insane || GnomeAngel

Thursday, November 13 Needle and Ted || Patchouli Moon Studio || Sprouting JubeJube || The Crazy Tailor

Friday, November 14 Casa Crafty || A Jennuine Life || 'So, Zo... What do you know?'

Saturday, November 15 Stitches by Laura || Rebekah Sews || Serger Pepper

Sunday, November 16 Blogs Like A Mother || Vicky Myers creations || Blossom Heart Quilts

Monday, November 17 Shanni Loves || So Sew Easy || GYCT Designs || Tiger In A Tornado

Tuesday, November 18 The Nosy Pepper || Keep Calm and Carrion || There & Back || Sewing Sober

Wednesday, November 19 Sew Like My Mom || Knot Sew Normal || Stacy Sews || sewVery

Thursday, November 20 Mimi's Mom || Our Family Four || shades of BOLD || Modern Handcraft

Friday, November 21 Shawnta Sews || Lulu & Celeste || Amanda Rose || Robin's Fabric Nest || House of Pinheiro