Steadily Working

Last week Libby came into the craft room and asked to make something. I told her if she had a pattern or a good drawing we would see what we could do. Looking around she saw a pattern I had just printed and was getting ready to make. She decided she wanted to make that pattern. It was a Makers bag which you could make in two different sizes. She wanted to make the large one for her dolls' suitcase when we traveled to see Hannah. The pattern was for an experienced seamstress, which she is a long way from being. I informed her it was a hard pattern but she insisted on making the "Mary Poppin's" bag as she called it.

Next we went looking on the shelves for what fabrics she wanted to use. The pattern is set up so you can use several different fabrics or just a couple. Her philosophy was the more the better. So she picked out fabric which matched with her main color. I was very impressed. So on to cutting it out and sewing now. I cut the many pieces out for her since it was just measurement given for each piece.

Now we began the fun. We began putting it together. First she ironed on the interfacings to the different pieces. Then we began sewing. She made a button pocket for one side of the exterior of the bag. Then she made a zipper pocket. I know a lot of seamstress who dislike installing zippers.

Libby did a great job. Next we moved on to making the inside lining. On one side she made three slip pockets. The other side she made two pleated pockets. It was quite a bit of work but she stuck too it. Next came putting the two side together and then making and adding the end pieces. Once this was done, she had another zipper with a binding to add for the bag to close. I actually helped her out for the next step, which was binding the whole outer part. Once that was done she made the handles and sewed them onto the bag. She did a wonderful job. It took her a little over a week working most afternoons for a couple of hours. It looks great and her dolls will be proud to have their things carried in this "Mary Poppin's" bag.

Zipper side and button side.