A bag not for pickpockets!

[Ellabella]

Yes please @Marniesews , I’ve done a few bags but tend to stick with the designers I know.

I do see bags by other designers but am reluctant to spend on a pattern unless I can be confident that the instructions are good.

With a garment I can usually muddle through with sparse instructions but bag making is a whole different ballgame.

[Ohsewsimple]

What a good idea @Marniesews.  I’ve made various bags but things like interfacing and the order of work can be a real challenge.  Like @Ellabella garment sewing is no problem for me.  I don’t have to think too hard but bag sewing can be a real headache. 

[realale]

@Marniesews I'd be interested in your bag resources also. My bags are very rough and ready but they do their job but any hints and tips on improvement would be welcome. 

[Lachica]

I've made some simple totes and a couple of denim bags but would like to know about resources. I'd be up for a sewalong with this pattern if anyone is interested, I have some blue leather & recycled denim which are earmarked for a small backpack type bag.

[HenriettaMaria]

Great bag, and however much it costs, it's bound to be a lot cheaper than this one!

https://www.maxwellscottbags.com/products/carli-leather-backpack-handbag-for-ladies.html

[Marniesews]

Great bag, and however much it costs, it's bound to be a lot cheaper than this one!

You're not wrong there @HenriettaMaria  but that one's great value in comparison to the Prada inspired bag I'm planning to make for my DGD's uni Christmas ball so I'll be saying that a lot then I dare say. Little bag made in nylon but half the price of the one in raffia!!! 

[Ohsewsimple]

You're not wrong there @HenriettaMaria  but that one's great value in comparison to the Prada inspired bag I'm planning to make for my DGD's uni Christmas ball so I'll be saying that a lot then I dare say. Little bag made in nylon but half the price of the one in raffia!!! 

Oh blast @Marniesews they don’t have it in a colour I like!

[Kenora]

I'd be interested in your idea of a tutorial too @Marniesews . I was given a bag-making book for Christmas in 2020 and a box of assorted D-rings and other strange shaped objects. So far, I haven't done anything with any of it. 

[Marniesews]

Very happy to share some of the things I've picked up so far… and some of the things I struggle with because forewarned is forearmed!

I've got two deadline projects on the go right now but I'll think about what might be helpful while I'm sewing.

Probably fabrics, interfacing & stabilisers first as they're the building blocks and may influence construction (and budget!). They're also not the type we generally use in garment making that often or at all.

This is going be interesting to do and hopefully interesting & useful for you too.

[Celia]

Yes please @Marniesews i have made a few bags but only simple ones, I do love that little Prada bag but price wow.

[HenriettaMaria]

Empress Mills specialise in craft fabrics and supplies and have an entire section dedicated to bag-making:

https://www.empressmills.co.uk/haberdashery/bag-making-supplies

[Marniesews]

There are so many suppliers I'll include a list and comments on quality and range in the guide but just for now...

Hardware: Lots of places sell Prym (Empress Mills has a good selection as per Henrietta Maria's comment) and it's more economic for delivery charges if you can find hardware, fabrics and interfacing etc together. I started with Prym but they work out pretty expensive because it's nearly all packed singly and many things are always bought in pairs or more. Fortunately I've found some really good places subsequently that are usually my first stop now.

The best quality hardware by far that I've come across are by Emmaline. They're a Canadian company but Sew Hot have a good selection of Emmaline  and hardware by others too - all good quality. I think they probably have the biggest range of everything bagmaking in the UK including fabrics. Not bargain prices but all good stuff and not as expensive as Etsy. I really like their continuous zips by Serial Bagmakers and the matching SB sliders. The Serial Bagmakers home company site in Belgium has even more gorgeous stuff online but the delivery prices put it out of reach for me now as I obviously don't buy in bulk. Sew Hot also sell cork, the darling of bag makers these days but beware, they have lots of different types and what my hubby bought me for Christmas was not what either of us expected.

For budget hardware and zips which are reliable products that I often use myself and find perfectly satisfactory are from Bags of Difference and MeMadeMakes. The latter also has off brand interfacing and stabilisers which are worth a try too.

I also use Little Stitcher Sews for:

• her thread (the only UK stockist I know of Amann Saba Tex 40 - stronger and thicker so a good aesthetic look on a bag which my domestic machine absolutely loves). I've used it in all my bags but many others use Moon quite happily.
• lightweight waterproof canvas which is a big thing for linings just now and
• her StittchFuse medium woven interfacing - not as smooth as the Vlieselene but I really like it, it's never exposed of course and it's cheaper! NB currently sold out but she's expecting more this month. I guess I'm not the only one who likes it.

She's recently changed to free delivery for everything which really suits me as I hated buying one new thread colour and then always hunting for something else to offset the delivery. That wasn't always easy as I've only put a small dent in my Immanuel's furnishing fabric and she has some very tempting fabrics too.  NB She's closed for Easter until the 20th so you've lots of time to browse.

I'll stop there though as there are so many places I could list and concentrate on trying to provide more detailed info in the guide.

[Ellabella]

Thanks for that, lots of places to drool at, must be good at the mo though.

[Ohsewsimple]

So agree about the Emmaline hardware.   Very  nice quality and let’s not forget her patterns. 

[William]

First of all - great bag! The colours are fav and it looks both comfortable and sturdy. Wish i had one when i was doing more of the country hopping a decade ago...

Second - thanks for the resources listings. There is alot there and more than enough to drool over!

Thirdly - yes. your suggestions in form of a guide would be more than welcomed!

WD