A great way to highlight gorgeous fabric like this Joel Dewberry Herringbone print!

Talk about a productive morning! I got most of my todo list crossed off and I completed sewing this messenger bag, all before lunch!

The New Handmade is a book with a good mix of projects, including many smaller, patchwork items. I like some of the projects, but absolutely hate the way the patterns are written.

For example, this messenger bag is written with instructions like “cut 2 from olive bird print fabric”. Another problem was orientation. There are many pieces and without knowing where they will be placed, it is hard to orient how I should cut them.

I stopped following the instructions after having built the front of the bag, I just couldn’t seem to grasp the concept and figured I could make it work on my own from there. Obviously, that worked out just fine. If I make this again (and I probably will) I would make it a bit bigger and reduce the length of the strap.

Open the messenger bag to reveal my own Innocent Crush!

Book: The New Handmade: Simple Sewing for Contemporary Style (That Patchwork Place)

Project: Bird-Watcher Messenger Bag

Fabric: main fabric is Joel Dewberry Modern Meadow – Herringbone in Berry (from Etsy seller StitchCraftShop) and the lining fabrics are from Anna Maria Horner Innocent Crush line (from Etsy seller PatternCrush)
Notions: Quick release clip and heart button
Thread: Gutermann 100% polyester col:

Difficulty: Some challenges
Sew again: Yes, with changes