Mar 5, 2013

Finished Object! Mommy Poppins Bag

One project done on the new-to-me Singer Featherweight, and I'm already thinking of all the garments I could attempt now that I would never have been able to do on my anemic contemporary Singer. Jeans? A leather jacket? 

I digress. The new machine, on loan from the Peter Lappin Singer Sewing Machine Museum, Chelsea Annex, came just in time; I don't think the Mommy Poppins Bag I made this weekend would have turned out half as great without it: 


I was so thrilled to test out Jodi Bonjour's newest bag pattern. It's actually a diaper bag, but I think it does just fine as an NYC-sized handbag.



Just look how stiff those straps are (my old machine would never have managed feeding that thickness over its feeble dogs):


The daunting thing about sewing a handbag was all the fabric, notions and hardware required. But it's details like these that make a handbag look professionally done:


I even installed a magnetic snap! (Which was not at all hard-to-do. Still, it was new to me):


I used a strip of suede as an accent along one of the outer pockets. It matches the branches in the print perfectly, and is my favorite detail:


Speaking of the print, do any of you remember this Marimekko fabric? It used to hang above my bed:

Monkey, jumping on the bed

I'm so happy it found new life in this bag, which I will be using often this summer in NYC: 




I know what you're thinking: But can it hold a houseplant and floor lamp?


The always inspiring Mary Poppins
While the vertical height may not fit an entire houseplant or a floor lamp (a cactus and a nightlight, maybe), it has a lot of real estate. The Mommy Poppins bag can carry all my essentials, plus snacks and water for kid, extra hats, a book, and even my DSLR camera — all important items to carry along on daytrips this summer with my daughter.

And if you actually use this bag as a diaper bag, the carpet-bag-style opening is a super handy feature; snap it open and it stays like that, which means you'll have an easy time reaching over with one hand to grab the wipes while you keep your kid from rolling off the change table with the other hand. And all those interior pockets let you keep things separate so they're easy to find:


This pattern is still in the testing phase, so I don't want to say too much about it other than that I had no problems. The only place I slipped up was in matching up the corner and side patches, but it was clearly my own failure to be accurate in folding and pressing over seam allowances. By the time I realized this, I weighed it out and decided it didn't bother me enough to unpick seven seams. (Have I mentioned how much I hate unpicking?). See my error:

Meh. I can live with that.
This bag actually has me kind of excited for summer, which I had been dreading due to the extreme heat and the lack of subsidized childcare. I can carry plenty of cold drinks and sunscreen (and probably even a beach towel) in my Mommy Poppins bag.


Jodi just had another baby this week, so I'm guessing the official launch of this new pattern may be on hold while she recovers and bonds with the wee one. When she does launch and the Mommy Poppins Bag pattern is available to buy, I'll post a link to it for anyone who's interested. What fabrics would you use?

30 comments:

  1. OMG, I love it.
    What fabrics I would use? Much like what you did -- something graphic and a complementary plain one.

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  2. Such a great bag! Excited for the pattern. I'm intimidated by the thought if all those hardwares esp the huge carpet style opening. Where do we find it, what is it called, and is it easy to sew (the instructions) with them? Lol, so many questions! Lovely lovely bag!

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    1. Jodi has said she may be teaming up with an Etsy seller to offer a complete package: the pattern plus hardware. That's a pretty convenient option for people who may not have easy access to handbag supplies.

      The instructions were thorough. More like a sew-along than your regular pattern instructions. Every step was illustrated with photos. It was very easy.

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  3. Beautiful! I love the way the fabrics and leather you used all fit together and I could see this being a great bag to take to work/meetings, too. I'd probably look for a nice Orla Keily-esque print to work with.

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    1. Just looked up Orla Keily. LOVE this so much it hurts: http://www.orlakiely.com/usa.cfm/clothing/pre-spring%202013/13SWLGA851/22743/Midnight/

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  4. I hear you on the anemic sewing machine. Mine has trouble going over seam intersections in a lining fabric. "can't climb... This mountain...must use hand wheel...gasp..."

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    1. Yes, I hate it when your stitches end up uneven because any thickness makes it get all backed up. No more!

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  5. What a great first project for your featherweight! Very professional-looking.

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    1. Oh my, I totally read your comment as "What a great project for your FIRST FEATHERWEIGHT." Is that my brain telling me I need more vintage machines? Peter is rubbing off on me.

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  6. Fantastic job on your bag - its looks so pro! I was so glad when I saw your last post about borrowing peter's machine. The only thing that made it possible for me to make bags was my industrial machine. Straps especially can be so bulky when you fold them.

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  7. I love this bag. I'm looking for the perfect bus bag something to carry my pumps, lunch, knitting and purse items. Would this be big enough? Oh and not end up too heavy!

    Your bag is lovely. I'm sure you'll both have many great adventures. g

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    1. Yes, it's huge. And not heavy because it's not leather (or faux leather).

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  8. I think it's awesome. And I really love the fact that it stay open. I think that's a feature that other bags (not just those for diapers) should have.

    -Ryan

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    1. Thanks, Ryan. You can use it whenever you like!

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  9. I think you did an excellent job on this bag. Also, I live a LONG way from you, but I have some fabric that needs a new home and you seem very creative with such. If you'd care to have it, let me know at yvonne_bennett@hotmail.com and I will send it along as soon as I can. I love seeing what young folks dream up! LOL

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    Replies
    1. So sweet of you! I emailed you already. I never turn down fabric!

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  10. love the bag, it looks so great with all the hardware! i'd be tempted to use leather for the handle and patches, doubt my sewing machine would agree though...

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    1. I know! Leather would look great. I think the patches would be fine...but those handles might be hard to sew.

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  11. I love love love this! I'm the type of person that packs a purse like someone leaving the Titanic. Lots and lots of stuff. You never know when someone needs a fold up potty seat or a fresh pair of undies or a sandwich or a handful of Lincoln logs. That fabric made a sensational bag. The brown trim was just perfect!

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  12. Really nice! I just find bag making so dang impressive. Well done! :D

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  13. Wow! Very very well done, it totally does not look like you made it AT ALL. Wow, and I definitely don't blame you, I wouldn't have unpicked 7 seams either. It totally doesn't even look bad anyways so ya that'd definitely wouldn't have been worth it.

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  14. I am very impressed -- that looks totally professional. So glad the FW helped make it happen!

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  15. Ah, I want one. No, I NEED one. Looks so complicated with all the hardware involved. You did an awesome job. And this is random, but I really like your haircut, too.

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    1. It's totally not complicated. Like any pattern you're attempting for the first time, it's important to read the directions carefully. But you've made complicated garments...you don't have to set a sleeve into a bag!

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  16. I like how your new bag turned out, and the fact that you repurposed a wall hanging!

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  17. This looks great! It really looks pro! Love the fabric you used!

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  18. Awesome bag! Love the fabric you used.. I'm in the midst of testing it too.. hope to finish of tonight or tomorrow morning.. it's a fun bag.

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