I finally finished my Sew Together Bag, and I’m pretty sure I will never make another one.
What a royal pain.
Things to beware:
- I personally don’t think the pattern is worth $12. All you get is one pattern piece for the side panel and dimensions for the other pieces, and then some pretty lackluster instructions with virtually no photos to speak of. You will most likely have to google other guides to supplement those instructions.
- Some instructions conflict between the purchased pattern and the guides you find online. You will most likely get confused. I did.
- Despite everyone raving how much they love it and they have like six of them and their family and friends all want one too, I’m not all that impressed with the final product now that I have it in front of me. In photos, it looks like the most adorable and useful little bag. Adorable, yes. Useful…questionable. I’ll allow that mine may have just turned out flawed, but I would not feel comfortable putting much of anything in the compartments between the zippered pockets because it’s just so gappy above them and along the sides. Give it a good shake or some tipping around and who knows what’s going to fall out. I’m sure I’ll use it for something, but I’m disappointed.
- Between the sad instructions and the overall construction, it’s not easy to put together. The worst parts for me were the bindings. I felt like the pattern should have been more exact with measurements. Instructions like “no more than x inches” and “at least x inches” drive me up the wall, especially because, as the project progresses, getting one thing not quite right has a domino effect on other things. I think that’s what caused the nightmare that became my bindings. I just stopped caring at that point, so they look like they were sewn on by a blind person.
- It’s also worth mentioning that the instructions don’t even suggest you use fabric cut on the bias for the bindings. I should have done that anyway since I know bias-cut fabric stretches and bends around curves (which is what you want when binding), but I assumed it was omitted for a reason. Also, anyone else who doesn’t know about bias-cut fabric will not have a clue. (See? Lackluster instructions.)
Things to smile about:
- Much scrap-busting potential if you choose to make an exterior like I did. Read more about that here.
- It really is super cute.
- Definitely a learning experience.
All in all, the concept is great; I feel like it could be executed differently/more easily/better. I’ll have to brainstorm my own version or workarounds for the trouble spots I ran into, but we’ll save that for another day. I have 2 dresses, at least 3 shirts, and a new and improved nightie on my radar.
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