Between Quilts: Review: South Park Bag

Welcome to my stop on the Crafty Traveler Blog Hop Series! I am so excited to share my thoughts with you on the South Park Bag by Jennifer of Ellison Lane. Let me first start off by saying I am not the biggest suck-up because I am reviewing a pattern designed by my friend and the host of this series. Really, I'm not. I truly do love this bag! I had the chance to see the original version of this bag in action during a visit with Jenn last summer, and I was smitten with it's curved lines, ideal size, and structure. When she asked for some pattern testers, I couldn't respond fast enough.

Now, time for true confessions: Prior to this bag, I had NEVER made a bag by myself (and only a couple with some serious hand holding). Patterns scare me. There always seems to be a lot of steps - lots of words to read, seemingly really important steps that I feel sure to mess up. Even with quilting, my true crafty love, I very rarely use a pattern. So I knew this was going to be a challenge for me, and I felt ready to tackle it.

And look - I did it! Whoever left this fantastic Ikea fabric on the Freebie Table at Sew South last year, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. To be sure there is a special spot in heaven for you and I'm guessing you are smart and beautiful and gifted with many talents, such are the ways of a person generous with fabric.

The other side:

My favorite parts about this pattern:

* The steps are clearly written, make sense, and are broken up logically (meaning, there's not really 18 steps in 1).
* It was easy to understand and execute the steps even for a newbie bag maker. Beginner friendly!
* The inside pocket. Oh, the inside pocket!! It is so simple, so polished looking, and the absolute perfect size with a slot for my cell phone and another for my sunglasses. I LOVE that about this bag. In fact, I have thought I would use this pocket in other bags I make (yes - there will be more!) because I am always digging for my phone and glasses with other purses. It is the perfect pocket. Try it - you'll see what I mean!
* The handle. One handle, cleverly attached with rings for a smart look, that is just the right size to always stay on my shoulder. Love.
* As I mentioned earlier - the sloped shape of this bag feels very contemporary to me - it is simple and elegant at once. The single handle complements this shape perfectly.
*The size of this bag is great - roomy enough for what I need without being too big to allow me to carry more than necessary.
*It really went together very quickly. I am not a super fast sewer but was still able to complete this in just a couple of sewing sessions.

The Perfect Pocket

I get compliments on it all the time when I'm out, and people can't believe I made it. I had such a sense of accomplishment when I finished. And just like that, I became a maker of bags.

(You can purchase the South Park Bag pattern here, you'll be glad you did!)

OK, on to some details about the blog hop. Be sure to check out all the stops in the series and link up your own handmade crafty traveler item on ellisonlane.com March 6 for a chance to win some great prizes!

This is the Crafty Traveler Blog Hop Schedule:

2/3: Patchwork Posse & Fabric Mutt

2/6: Random Thoughts Do or Di

2/10: Golden Willow Quilts

2/13: Between Quilts & The Sewing Chick

2/17: May Chappell & Modern Handcraft

2/20: Bryan House Quilts & Love By Hand

2/24: Petit Lyons & Sew Many Possibilities

2/27: Owen’s Olivia

3/3: Old Red Barn Co. & Go Go Kim

3/6: Link-up opens at www.ellisonlane.com

3/13: Winners announced!