As you know I completed the Pandora Charisma. It was a learning experience mostly because, if I categorize my thoughts, it was a pattern by a new designer.
One of the things I explored was new substrates. I used the Diamond Quilted vinyl, which feels like leather, as mentioned, for the first time. I had some challenges sewing it, but not as many as I expected. I did buy and start using a Teflon** AKA Ultra Glide foot. It wasn’t as magical as I hoped, but it worked better than the tissue paper I normally use with vinyl. The tissue paper went straight into the holes made by the needle and wouldn’t come out. 🙁
There were lots of eighth inch measurements. I thought it might be because the designer is from Singapore and uses metric measurements to start, but in one place there was an eighth measurement and the metric was x.1, so I think it is just the way the pattern turned out.
I thought the pattern was well written and pretty easy to follow. One of the good things about using a pattern from a new/different designer is that I learn new ways to complete general bagmaking steps, such as sewing the hidden zipper pocket. For an internal/hidden zipper pocket, Jessie (owner of Sewfisticated) only sews along the two long edges rather than all the way around the box. This prevents puckers in the corners, which is something that has always bugged me. The picture of my Sweetbay project shows the box drawn and ready for sewing, so you can see the box. One of the reasons this works is that later in the process the maker top stitches the whole zipper pocket when finishing the zipper pocket.
I was also confused about the internal/hidden zipper pocket directions, mostly how far down from the top the zipper pocket needed to be on one of the steps. I don’t know if I missed or didn’t understand the directions, but I didn’t have quite enough seam allowance at the top. I made it work, but will do the step differently next time.
I loved that the pattern listed the exact pieces I needed for each section. I was able to cut the pieces I needed for just that section as I worked through the pattern. This helped me keep organized and not have a whole bunch of pieces sitting around for a month. I also liked not cutting everything at once, which I find to be the worst part of bagmaking. In general, it broke the pattern down into manageable bites, which helped my brain, but also my hands.
Center points are often marked on a pattern piece when you have to assemble a gusset to a side of a bag. In the video I watched, the maker snipped the center marking then could leave the pattern piece in place (pinned or clipped), lift up one side of the pattern and mark the center line. Genius!!!
I learned about stick-on interfacing. I had never heard of this before I found this pattern as part of the Bag of the Month program in which I participated at the beginning of 2025. When I saw the pattern I knew I had to make it and went looking for the supplies, which led me to the Sewfisticated website. The supplies have been sitting in my workroom and I was pleased to have them on hand so I could use them. I didn’t have all the thicknesses, but I made it work and the stick-on interfacing is awesome. I can’t wait to use up my Decovil** and replace it with this product. It is a lot easier to use than Decovil and works with substrates that cannot be ironed. Genius!
I like the labels for each, which were included with the pattern, piece as well. This is a good feature and I would love to see it as a standard for all bag patterns.
Jessie also tells you where to put the label, which I really appreciate, if for no other reason than I don’t forget to add one.
There were a couple of places I found confusing, but managed. I didn’t understand the use of some language, including the divider pocket. I couldn’t understand what they were trying to achieve, but then I watched one of the videos available and it all became clearer. They were calling the pocket a divider pocket whereas I am used to calling it a divided pocket.
There were somethings I didn’t like. The pattern has a whole section on interfacing, which I found to be really confusing. This is where cutting and interfacing all the pieces upfront works better. I didn’t know whether to interface a piece or not and the pattern didn’t always say. I plan to make this again and have been making notes about where/when I want interfacing.
They pattern suggested making zipper tabs in a way I don’t like because it doesn’t come out well. I have to find my preferred method and make sure I know how to do it without thinking. There are so many methods for everything. The way that works is the best for the bag maker.
The bag requires a lot of hardware, particularly zipper pulls. It makes me think that I need to find a small bag or container to use for all the hardware I need for one bag. All of my hardware goes into the Quilts Illustrated Tool Tote I made years ago. I have it mostly sorted in that bag. I am talking about a smaller bag where I can sort just the hardware and zippers(?) I need for one project. I’ll have to think about the right bag. Maybe a smaller version Sara’s Nuthatch? It’s part of Minikins Season 4.
All in all, this pattern provided me with a huge learning experience. I enjoyed the learning and I am pleased with the way the bag came out.
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