@sewmuchmore I think you'll get on with it well. I made life much more difficult adding the extra zipped section and lots of work enlarging and redrawing all the pieces.

Without that there's no birthing process, just the binding. I used foam in the back of this bag but I plan to get some 3D spacer for the back of my next back pack. Not as in the image but using it for the entire back panel. It's lightweight and breathable and really good looking when used that way.

Well this took over 2 months to make with rather a lot of time when I wasn't up to sewing but it's finally here.

It's a sling bag style (Retro Sling by Kandou Patterns) for my cat lady DGD to use at uni to carry her MS Surface, Kindle, notepad and other stuff. She likes something a bit smaller and sleeker than a full backpack and loved the pretty fabric I used for her mum's bag so hopefully those things met each other succcesfully here.

There were three distinct areas of change from the pattern which was perhaps a bit adventurous for such a complex bag (my third bag but only second pattern) so I suspect being ill and having more time to surf/ponder/plan proved very useful.

1] A fair bit extra width & height to get the mini laptop in. It changed the proportions to get the bulk of extra space in the centre and extra zip length for access but hopefully it's not lost the original vibe entirely.


2] Another clone of this style had two zipped compartments which I liked but the finish of the samples wasn't the best and I often have printing issues with non UK patterns so I decided I'd draft my own onto the simpler Retro Sling. I couldn't find any tutorials that covered the construction technique on that extra zipped compartment so I used my non-sewing time to work out the construction so the main compartment stuck with a bound finish inside (for extra support and very much easier to turn out) while the front compartments and flap were birthed through the zipper pocket.


3] The sling strap/backpack strap conversion has worked so nicely - I'm really pleased with that. I stole the idea from my lovely Italian leather mini sling/backpack which I've shamelessly used and abused and one of the main reasons I decided to take up bag making properly. I doubt I'll get to that until I've made a few more things for other people though.
   

Some pictures of the inside with a variety of pockets. The wooden block is my compact clapper just to keep the bag open while taking the shot. They'll lie flatter after the bag has been stuffed for a few days to open up the seams fully - can't do too much pressing of the outer fabric.

   
Main compartment, foam padded back and laptop pocket. I hacked on a last minute little 'catcher' pocket for accidental ink marks below the pen loops. Fingers crossed it works. DH surprised me by suggesting I used the fold-over elastic from the mesh pockets for the binding when I admitted I was rather dreading it and it worked brilliantly. We'll see how it stands up to use but not too bad to replace if necessary.

   
Middle compartment, mesh pocket for Kindle opposite zipped pocket containing 6 card slots.


Front flap

Mother of Pearl & lapis lazuli -  (in the best possible way)! Oh my word.

Thank you @SunnyWave - he did, turns out that fabric is cool after all! 

Can you tell what it is?



Yes, a dopp kit (only came across the name about 6 months ago) but I meant the fabric. I was making it for my 15 year-old DGS so it had to be 'cool'. Definitely not from my ballroom stash nor the stuff for doll's clothes but I'll give you a clue - it's stretchy. Or it was before I interfaced the heck out of it. Probably the last thing most people would use it for...so, second clue, I bought it years ago for a mini skirt for my DGD which never got made.

I did think using this stretchy fabric might give me some problems but the truth is that was about the only thing that didn't. Only a basic item but I followed entirely the wrong YouTube tutorial. An interesting construction but really only suited for fabrics without too much depth and no interfacing. This had both plus medium woven interfacing and sew-in fleece! I just couldn't resist the pattern with one pattern piece not considering it meant there was no allowance for a tighter lining, badly needed with all that thickness.

The internal seams were bound, a new bag making experience so not spectacularly neat but acceptable. The baggy waterproof canvas lining, however, was a silent recrimination with every glimpse but the zip was an absolute nightmare and I was just glad I hadn't melted it with a home bodged adapted gadget like he did. With my luck I might have burned the house down! To add insult to injury that zip cost me £2.96 from Doughty's and was described as suitable for upholstery, duvet covers etc but it was actually fragile, scratchy and sticky with a mean temperament. I was practising how to tell him he had to press the front of the slider with his thumb, open it gently and move it slowly to stop it jamming an inch further along... but that was never going to work, was it?!

So he didn't get it for Christmas. I started to unpick it on Boxing Day and it took a long time to take it apart entirely without damage (that fabric!). I reused all the pieces except for the end tabs and that damned zip which got replaced with the only other blue one I had, a £1 #3 nylon zip from Little T's Haberdashery. Doesn't sound like a step up but it really was. Stronger, smoother and with excellent manners. I sewed it with as little waste as I could, trimmed the box corners as minimally as I could to realign them but forgot to put the pull tabs into the seams at the ends of the zip before I sewed them up. What the heck, I wasn't going back now! Instead I made a couple of handles to go from the vertical box seams still unsewn before I aligned all the internal seams of both outer and lining and overstitched them altogether. Bit of wriggle to get it turned out through the lining gap that I'd graded from 1/4" in the corners to 3/4" and back to reduce the bagginess.

   
Not too bad this time, do you know what it is yet?

Just a simple dopp kit but what a test. It's wrapped up now as well as some jumbo Biscoffs (just in case) and we're off to see them again on Sunday. Now I just have to hope that fabric is cool enough. 

If anything they were a bit over zealous in cancelling mine.

I emailed several weeks ahead (just in case it took a while to take) and they cancelled it at least two weeks before it was due!  Not complaining though and I'm actually thinking of applying for another year at the $2.49 offer.  I've at least 8 months to catch up on when I'd forgotten I had it last year.

I really like those blue bags. That cute little pouch especially. I particularly like the effect on embroidery when the thread is a close colour to the fabric. 

This is where I got mine @Ellabella . They're certainly strong and in a wide range of sizes and colours including rainbow which rather surprised me.