Shine Bright Weekend Bag

Last week I put a post on Instagram and had quite a few questions about this bag so I thought I would put all the details in a post so you can know where to source the materials and the FREE pattern! I am naming this bag the Shine Bright Weekend Bag.

This tote came about because my daughter is now doing a contemporary group for a vocal dance group and she needed a bag to take to events, and I wanted to use some Shine Bright Fabric to remind her of how amazing she is!  So I found a free pattern from Sew Mag UK and then made the bag for her. I did make some changes to the pattern and bought the leather handles (I really don’t like making bag handles) and made the bag in two afternoons. The first afternoon I cut everything out and then the next day I sewed it all up.

The pattern for the bag can be found HERE from Sew Mag UK. You do have to have a login to download the template for the bag (just so you are aware) but it is a great size and shape and I highly recommend it. It was easy to put together and the pieces fit perfectly.

There are a few changes I did make to the pattern….

1. I purchased the leather straps for the bag HERE (aff. link) because I am not a big fan of turning tiny bag straps. It’s putzy to me so I usually go for buying them and it saves me lots of time. They are a bit more expensive but the leather has held up great and they already have the holes for stitching them down. I hand-stitched them on because I wanted to use some hot pink embroidery floss but they also work in your machine. You just need to practice setting the machine to the right stitch length.

2. For the interfacing, I used 2 sided flex foam (which I LOVE!) interfacing so I can press it into the lining and the inside will look great. HERE is a picture of the kind I use and know well (aff. link). I love how the flex foam is soft but still holds a great shape to the bag—it’s like miracle interfacing!

3. I also did add some purse feet to the bottom of the bag before inserting the lining. I felt like because it was going to be all over the floor that the purse feet would help it to last longer. I purchased mine HERE (aff.link).

4. I didn’t add the pocket to the pattern because the bag was going to be used mostly for hair and makeup things and then some warm up clothing, but I do want to add the pockets to the next Shine Bright Weekend Bag I make!

And I really do love the way the bag turned out. And so does Hannie! It’s the perfect size and it uses the Shine Bright fabric to remind her to do her best in everything she does….and oh man, I love that girl.

Happy bag making!

~elizabeth