I was able to finish the Andalusian Pouch over the weekend.
It went together amazingly well. I barely used my seam ripper at all.
Andalusian Pouch- open/side view
This pouch started because I had a fat quarter, cut a few pieces then put them away for later. I got more of the Anna Maria poppy fabric and decided to make the pouch for a friend who has been super helpful at work. I used one of the new True Colors fabrics for the accent fabric.
This pouch has rounded corners and those rounded corners made it so easy to put together! It was really a dream, which makes me want to make another one TODAY.
Andalusian Pouch- open/top view
The pattern is from the Minikins 3 series by Sara Lawson of Sew Sweetness. It comes out looking more like a man’s shaving kit when closed, but when open, it would be great to carry sewing supplies (one track mind, I know, I know!) to Sew Day.
The man’s shaving kit shape is a little weird, but I really like the open wide mouth that the frame provides. I like being able to see all of my stuff.
I am super proud of the way the zipper came out. Both ends of the zipper look like they are supposed to look.
Andalusian Pouch – zipper start
Andalusian Pouch – zipper end
The start of the zipper had the ends sewn at 90 degrees and it looks so finished. I really like it.
The end of the zipper required veering at the end. I think, after much practicing, I have finally gotten the hang of veering the zipper. I have to admit that I did watch that part of the video and followed the directions multiple times. I am still a little unclear on the exact purpose of veering the zipper. I plan to keep practicing so it will become second nature.
Andalusian Pouch – side zipper
My careful fussy cutting didn’t work 100%. I have never made this bag before so that was part of the problem/issue. The accents covered up some of the flowers. I knew there were accents were part of the bag; I just couldn’t judge where the flowers would end up. Still, I think it looks nice. I hope that my friend likes it.
I think if I make this again (and I do have another frame) I would use a fabric with an all over pattern, then use cork or vinyl for the bottom accents and the bottom of the bag. Sara has some turquoise cork that I have had my eye on.
I am making good progress on the pouch. I think I overestimated the time it would take to finish in a recent post. I made good progress, but the last parts seem to take longer than I usually anticipate.
I had to put the Zipper Panel pieces that hold the frame and the zipper panel together. These were a bit fiddly, but not too bad. I was in a good place when I decided to work on this project and it wasn’t too late in the day so I wasn’t tired.
I also ended up putting the grab handle on. I hope the thinness of the handle doesn’t prevent it from being useful.
I feel like I am making good progress and will be done soon.
Some weeks ago, I cut a few pieces of the Andalusian Pouch out of a fat quarter of Anna Maria Horner’s Meadow Bossy Poppy. I got the fabric from one of the Quilty boxes.
I was cutting something else out and decided just to use up the fabric. Of course, that was a boondoggle as I didn’t have quite enough to finish cutting out the exterior of the pouch so I ended up buying more.
Andalusian Pouch start
Over the weekend, I decided to make that pouch for a friend and I got to work finishing the cutting. If I hadn’t had to cut all of the pieces out, I would have finished the whole pouch. As it was I was just able to get a solid start.
I was able to get the pouch’s four sides sewn together as well as the side zipper installed.
I had some trouble with keeping the zipper in place and really should have used some washaway tape**. I was just lazy.
Andalusian Pouch with side accents
This pouch, one of Minikins Season 3, has some trim on it, which I think would be better in cork or leather or something heavier. As it happens, I didn’t think to use the faux alligator I used on Mom’s UCAB, so I just used some of the True Colors I received the other day. I think it looks good, but I wouldn’t add the side accents again If I have carefully fussy cut some great fabrics, because the motifs get covered up.
I hope I don’t jinx myself, but this is going together really well and I would consider making it again.
**Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops. However, I use affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.
This was a great pouch. I can’t say I didn’t rip, but it still went together really well.
In a number of the FB groups in which I share my pouches and drool over others’ pouches and bags, people tend to point out the flaws. I always tell them their work is great and not to point to the flaws. Now I know how hard that is. All I want to do is point out the flaws in my work. What is that about people? Is that a way to add to the life’s drama?
As I said before, one reason I made this particular pouch was to use the zippers Julie got me for my birthday. There are three different colors of zippers and two different kinds of zipper heads, so I tried to make the most of them.
Friesan Pouch center / inside
A lot of the fabric (maybe all) was purchased on my trip to Portland. I used two different fabrics for the outside to give myself a visual cue as to where something was. I also wanted to use my new fabrics right away.
I used book fabric (from Windham) for the lining as an homage to my librarian roots. It is hard to see, but I can see it when I use the pouch. The book fabric makes me happy.
I like the stiffness of the bag. The center has foam to help it stand up while the sides have foam** and Decovil**. The bag stands up really well. I want to try something with more Decovil**, but I haven’t found the right pattern yet.
Friesan Pouch – sides down
One thing that makes this an interesting pouch, is that the sides fold down. I was inspired to use the AGF solid pink after using it to good effect in Gerre’s Retreat pouch. I wouldn’t use a solid again on the inside pocket. It just looks too stark even though I like that fabric. A print would give the viewer something to look at.
Also, I would probably put something to hold pens – elastic or mesh – to make those folding down sides more useful. It is hard for me to see what might be better for me in the design when I make a pattern the first time. As I have said before, I like to make things a few times before I get the true hang of them.
Overall I feel like this pouch came out really well. I am pleased. I made it for me. I am not sure how I will use it, but I will find some way to use it, I am sure.
**Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops. However, I use affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.
What I wanted to do at Sew Day, since all of my La Pass month 9 pieces were basted, was cut out a bag. I had been thinking about the Friesan Pouch for awhile and I chose to cut the pieces for that pouch out.
As I have said, cutting out large-ish projects at Sew Day is great. The larger cutting table and space to spread out are very helpful.
I prepared everything I could at Sew Day, so I was ready to sew when I had time on Sunday.
I basted all the pieces like Sara says to do instead of being lazy and wanting to get to the finished product. It took forever to get through the basting and making the zipper panel, but I had everything ready so it went very smoothly.
Friesan Pouch zipper panel
I used the zippers Julie got me for my birthday. I was able to put the zipper heads on (using my zipper head tutorial) with the zipper heads that Julie included in my gift and I think they look really good. I am ridiculously pleased with how the zipper panel came out.
I used two different fabrics (from my trip to Portland), one for each side of the zipper, because I used on fabric for each side of the pouch. I hope it comes out like I imagine it.
I am in the process of installing the zippers on the outside pockets.
I bought the templates to make this pouch and is coming up fast on my list.
Sometimes I buy a pattern and it languishes for awhile, then all of a sudden I have a bug in my ear to make it. This happens all the time with Sara’s patterns since buying a Minikins set means that I get 12-13 patterns at once. That is what is going on here.
Fun Pink Zippers
This is an interesting pouch because of the way the two sides flap down when you unzip them. As shown in the photo, the front and back of the pouch would be a good place for fussy cutting some great fabric. In my case, I want to make one for myself and, possibly, use those fun pink zippers Julie gave me.There are some black zippers, too, so, maybe a pink and black theme? I thought of pink and turquoise to go with the A Place for Everything Bag, but I am not sure that Philip Jacobs fabric would go with the black zippers. I think I would really like those zippers to pop since they are so awesome.
This makes me think of the Pink Kaffe Quilt. That uses a lot of his fabrics and they go with the pink sashing. Perhaps solid pink for the center and some of the Philip Jacobs fabric for the outsides?
I might make two of these at a time – one for a friend who has been super kind to me lately. I could make few and get gifts ready for later in the year. We’ll have to see.
The pouch is from Sara Lawson’s Minikins Season 3 group of patterns. Sara Lawson owns the Sew Sweetness website and pattern company. She was kind enough to allow me to use her photo while I muse on fabric choices for this pouch.
I know that you know how much I like her patterns. You can see how many of the Minikins patterns I have made. They even have their own page!
After writing the Hello Pouch pattern review, I couldn’t stop thinking about these pouches. The pattern has a lot of potential and by that I mean the design is good. I think the execution could be better. Regardless, I didn’t want to toss out these pouches even if they aren’t my best work.
Hello Pouch Vinyl Edge
I looked at them and decided that the problem was the vinyl edge. The vinyl edge also included the zipper end, which was fraying like crazy. I didn’t like other parts, but I could live with them. That meant that I needed to get busy on the vinyl edge.
For the zipper edge, a little bit of glue (that dries clear) or Fray Check would be a big help. I cut some fabric strips and installed them over the zipper and down the side of the pouch to cover the vinyl. This did the job, but was a lot of extra work and I wouldn’t want to do it again.
Hello Pouch Vinyl Edge – annotated
If I made this again, I would try to allieviate the things to which the arrows are pointing.
The top arrow points to the edge of the bottom that I quilted. It is much too thick and hard to sew through.
The second arrow points to the vinyl edge and I just dislike the look of uncovered vinyl (naked vinyl).
The edge of the zipper is shown by the third zipper. See how it is fraying? Blech! That looks so terrible. Also, I’m afraid that the zipper would be frayed and falling apart.
Covering the vinyl zipper
What I did was cover the edge with a strip of fabric. This picture shows the vinyl edge covered by the fabric strips. It isn’t a very good picture and you can see the zipper folded down, which I don’t like. While I do like the way they use the zipper, I don’t like the ending. It also inteferes with the way the pouch closes. the only thing I could figure out was for it to fold down on the inside. I think I would rather have the tail of the zipper hanging down like in the Inside Outside Pouch.
Inside of Hello Pouch
There are a lot of good reasons why the design is the way it is. I understand that. I just found the bottom really hard to sew through. You can see how thick and runscheled the inside looks. If I tried this pouch again, I think I would sew a lining to cover the edges instead of using a binding.
The design of this pattern is great. I just think some of the techniques used were unnecessary and overkill.
**Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops. However, I use affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.
After finishing the A Place for Everything bag, I decided to work on something fast. Angela and I had been discussing various pouches, including the Hello Pouches from Knot and Thread Design. I bought this pattern at Ocean Waves quilt shop a few weeks before the coronavirus lockdown.
The website and the model I saw in a shop really excited me. I love the look and the way the vinyl is combined with the fabric.
I haven’t made anything from their patterns before, so it was an adventure and an opportunity to find a new designer.
Hello Pouch for me
Sadly, I do not like the pattern. You may have a different experience and I urge you to keep an open min. Remember: I am *bad* at reading directions and that could have affected my experience. All that being said, the two I made look ok.
First, I thought the pattern was incomplete. One of the first things I noticed is that the finished size wasn’t anywhere on the pattern. There are yardage requirements and then a second section of yardage requirements if you are using ombre fabric. This is where finished sizes should be.
The pattern doesn’t say anything about finishing the side seam with fabric. It talks about sewing it closed, but that looks unfinished in my opinion. You can see what I mean by looking at an IG photo. It also affects the way the end of the zipper sits on the bag. I faithfully followed the directions for covering the top and bottom of the vinyl and could have easily done something with the sides at the same time. I didn’t think of it. I am thinking about whether or not to cover it with a piece of binding or some straight of grain fabric.
Also, the pattern does not say how to finish the end of the zipper beyond stitching. Mine is fraying so I have to do something. Since I still have to finish the side seam, I can include the zipper. The pattern doesn’t show a clear picture of the side seam or zipper, so I can’t really see what they have done.
Second, I didn’t like the way it was put together. I felt there was too much work to get a pouch done and some parts made the pouch hard to put together.
One of the first instructions is to quilt the panel that will eventually bottom. The pieces are necessarily cut larger, but 2 inches larger seemed like a waste of fabric and Soft & Stable. Next, the designer has you bind the quilted bottom. This creates a later problem with super thick pieces that need to be sewn and cut. I think a lining could have been created for the bottom and the quilting could have been omitted.
Hello Pouch flaps
The method they use requires sewing over existing lines of stitching. It probably something I need to practice, but this technique never looks good on my bags. Also, binding most of the pieces means that there are flaps of fabric everywhere waiting to get caught on some of the contents at some point.
I could have stitched them down, but that means going over other stitching. See above.
Boxing corners 🙁
The pattern requires boxing corners. The placement of the sewing line across the flattened corner is difficult to get precise, because of the thickness. If I make this pouch again, I would keep the pouch flat, cut a square out of the corner, then sew. The Jane Market Tote is put together this way and it makes more sense.
I made two at once. One was supposed to be a gift. I am not sure I want to give it as a gift, though I will send it regardless. I’ll get some feedback and have a good discussion.
I want to say some good things about this pattern, so I won’t just be a negative Nellie:
I like the half vinyl, half fabric of the design
They have a clever technique for the zipper. You can get two pouches out of one zipper
The pouch will stand up nicely (if I could get the corners to box properly)
I did look for corrections on the website, but didn’t see any. After analyzing my perceived deficiencies of the pattern in this review, I am tempted to try making this pouch again using some of my experience and thoughts on how it could be different. I looked on Instagram and most of the pouches there look a lot better than mine, which means I could have not understood the directions properly. They do show the pouches from the best angle, of course, and I do see that some of them have the zipper problem that I have.
I forgot to take pictures of Carrie’s pouch, but she kindly took some and sent them to me. You’ll get a different view from the ones I usually provide. Perhaps it will shake up my photographing a little bit.
Carries pouch
In the pouch I put one of the color wheel pins I bought for gifts. I also put in one of the small Altoid tin sewing kits I made for the officers earlier this year. (see above)
I tried something different with these based on my desire to cover the ends of the zipper tape on the Inside Outside pouch. This is, however, a different bag and I ended up ripping out a lot of work when I realized it wouldn’t work. My idea of zipper tabs will work on the Inside Outside pouch, if I make it again.
Carries pouch end
Carrie was really happy with it and sent me a lovely thank you note. Don’t you love a good thank you note? I can’t wait to see how she uses it.
I finished another Boxy Clear Pouch right before Christmas. This one is for Tim and I gave it to him when we had an after Christmas Sew Day. It is the same pattern as the ones I made for my students. The difference is that I used fabric that will coordinate with the Sew Together Bag I made him last year.
The Bernard
Inside I put a point turner from Modern American Vintage. Remember I talked about them in a recent Various & Sundry post? (Ignore the pink pocket in the photo; that is from an unrelated project.) The company have some beautiful tools. They make wooden point turners, seam rippers and Hera markers. Often wooden tools are over the top, but these are simple, gorgeous and amazingly functional. Tim is a great friend and my bagmaking buddy, though he makes fun of me for the complicated bags that I make. Every bagmaker needs a good point turner. I have several different ones and this is the best. I know Tim would like it as well.
Tim’s Boxy Clear Pouch – back
Aneela Hoey’s patterns are pretty well written. The thing I don’t like about this pattern is the binding on the ends. It looks great in the end, but is a hassle to hand sew down at the end of the project.
I think this is a useful bag, because you can see what’s in it.
I used the Boxy Clear Pouch pattern from Aneela Hoey. It is related to the Inside Outside Pouch I made for myself. The difference is fewer zippers. I think I like the Inside Outside pouch better, though this is in no way a terrible pouch. It would be great for a small knitting project.
Color Wheel Boxy Clear Pouch – back
I am pleased with the fabric I used. It is Carrie Bloomston fabric. I am constantly referring to the color wheel when we are in class. Sue will have a color wheel with her if she keeps this pouch around.
Cutting out pieces for bags is the hardest part. It is also, for me, the worst part. I often make two of a pouch or bag at the same time. Cutting out two of each piece at one time doesn’t seem to be that much harder than cutting out one. That is how I made this pouch. I decided on the spur of the moment to make the same pouch for Lil Sissy for Christmas that I was making for myself. I didn’t think really hard about the fabric. I grabbed this Alison Glass fabric, which is super cheerful, IMO, and for which I hadn’t yet found a use.
Lil Sissy’s Inside Outside Pouch – 3/4s view
I am on the fence about whether I should have used a different fabric for the zipper plackets. I have trouble figuring out where pieces are going to go and most independent pattern makers don’t really tell you beyond naming the piece. I think using the same fabric on this pouch looks fine. If I used fabric like the Dripping Rose again, I would probably use different fabric. The motifs get broken up too much.
Lil Sissy’s Inside Outside Pouch – interior
I picked a specific inside for this pouch, because it is for my sister. She is an artist, thus the splatter print. She seems to like the bags I make for her, though I have always used Paris related prints for her. This fabric is a departure.
I finished the Percheron Pouch over the Thanksgiving Weekend, which was a great relief. I couldn’t show it because it was a gift for my mom and she reads this blog.
I gave it to her on Christmas and she really liked it. She filled it up with all of the other gifts she received.
I really liked the look of this bag, which is why I decided to make it for my mom. I like making her bags I think are interesting. She always seems to appreciate them.
Percheron Pouch top zipper area
I really struggled with this bag. As I said before, I cut this bag out in June. Then it languished for all the same reasons that other projects languished: workroom upgrade and work.
I worked on it a little, but was frustrated with all of the sewing and ripping that I had to do. I don’t know what the issue was with this bag, but I struggled with the pattern and the video.
Percheron Pouch bottom zipper area
Finally, over Thanksgiving, I decided to work on it in earnest. Yes, I still ripped and sewed and ripped some more, but I was able to finish it.
I thought it looked good enough to give away even if it isn’t perfect.
I gave Julie this Large Retreat Pouch for her birthday the other day. This is the bag I made over Halloween weekend, but couldn’t show you since she reads this blog.
The Retreat Bag is a free pattern from Emmaline Bags. It requires a frame and the frame is not free, but also not very expensive. The frame allows it to open all the way, providing easy access to the contents.
Large Retreat pouch -aerial view
I realized around that time that I needed to get busy and start making any gifts that I wanted to make for the holidays. That weekend, this was one of two Large Retreat Pouches that I made. As I mentioned then, it was the first time I had made the large version of this pouch. I added a leash to this one, because I thought it would make the bag more useful.
Large Retreat pouch open -aerial view
This is a pretty large bag. It would be great for a few balls of yarn and knitting needles as well as some EPP. I think it could also be used for a sponge bag or makeup kit.
The lining actually fits pretty snugly though it looks baggy in the photo.
I used some of my favorite purple fabrics since this was going to one of my favorite people.
This was the other Large Retreat Pouch I completed over the Halloween weekend. I sent it off to Gerre for Christmas and am assuming she liked it.
The Retreat Bag is a free pattern from Emmaline Bags that requires a frame. The frame is not free, but also not very expensive. The frame allows it to open all the way, providing easy access to the contents.
I ran out of the ice cream fabric I used for her other gifts. I bought this, because I thought it was fabric she would like. I made some pillowcases out of the fabric and she told me she really liked them. I don’t really like it, however. I only had a yard of it, so I will use the rest of it for smaller gifts and then find something else that will work for future gifts.
Sugar Skulls Retreat Pouch open
I didn’t use the Sugar Skulls for the inside, because I always like a light inside for bags. As I have said a million times, it makes it easier for me (and people) to find things at the bottom of the bag.
I used a Joel Dewberry Notting Hill poppy print. I have had this laying around for a few years and am so glad I used it. The inside is so pretty!
Sugar Skulls Retreat Pouch zipper pocket open
Sugar Skulls Retreat Pouch zipper pocket open detail
As mentioned, this is the pouch in which I put an inside zipper pocket and needed to consult with Tim as well as watch the video. I also made a slip pocket, which is included in the pattern, but I don’t like it as much in this iteration. It will be fine, but I’ll do it differently, if I made this size again.
Sugar Skulls Retreat Pouch closed detail
I had some zipper pulls and decided to use one on this bag. I got these on sale at Michael’s, I think, and always forget I have them. I have been going through my hardware bag regularly. I remembered and thought one would be a great addition.
