Back to School // Perfect Little Lunch Bag Sewing Pattern

Oh my goodness, this summer seems to have flown by.  We've got a couple weeks left and I've been making new lunch bags for both my kids and my etsy shop.  I got a great tip from my friend Roselee of Jane of All Trades that makes sewing the handles much easier.

Instead of sewing the handles to the exterior fabric a few inches down from the top, she lined up the raw edges of the handles (3 inches in from each side) with the top raw edge and then sewed the zipper right on top.

  The result is a much neater looking front and this technique saves a lot of time!  Genius!  Thanks Roselee!

  Last year, I had my kids lunch bags embroidered at a local shop.  This time around I decided to use my Silhouette Portrait and black and white heat transfer vinyl instead.  I really like how it looks and this way and they definitely won't get mixed up with other kids lunch bags.

You can find the instant download of my sewing pattern HERE in my shop.

 Don't want to sew your own?  I've got a couple of lunch bags listed in my shop and I'm also taking a few custom orders.

 

My favorite thing about my lunch bags is the fact that they are totally machine washable.  My kids used theirs for a full school year and I'm sure they got washed a least a dozen times.  The fabric color faded, but other than that, they held up great.  Something about a dirty, smelly, lunch box really grosses me out.  I'm never going back to store bought!

 

In the Clutch - Pretty Bags and a Giveaway

My Girl's Night Out pattern has only been out a few weeks, and already it's popping up.  Here's a beautiful version that showed up in the Flickr group belonging to Jill at Homemade by Jill.  A-maze-ing to have such a great sewist and blogger make one of MY patterns.

This version comes from my local friend Sarah.  Teacher extraordinaire and mommy to 2 beautiful girls.  

And if you aren't a follower of Roselee at Jane of All Trades (why aren't you a follower?) now's the time.  She's my dear friend, busy super-mom of 2, Daisy leader, blogger, and oh yeah, she tested my pattern and made 5, yes 5 clutches! 

She'll be posting them, each with a twist, with a pattern giveaway at the end.  Check out this super springy version. 

I've been super grumpy this week because it just doesn't feel very Spring-like.  Looking at this bag cheers me right up.  Hard to feel blue with such a pretty bag tucked under your arm.

Girls Night Out Clutch - New Pattern!

 After putting together my first PDF pattern for the Mirabelle Messegner Bag, I didn't think I'd have it in me to do another pattern.  Then one night, I went out with some girlfriends and realized all my purses are big, kid snack toting, former diaper bags.  With both kids out of diapers, it was time for a cute little, going out bag. 

So I came up with this pattern, and made a few.  Well, 5 to be exact.  The thing is, the pattern requires so little fabric and hadware that making 5 is pretty easy.  You could easily make one for every outfit!

 The size is big enough to fit your wallet, keys, phone, even some tissues, yet small enough to tuck under your arm or carry on your wrist.  The side strap attaches at the top so you can just tuck it into the purse if you don't want to use it. 

 There are so many possibilities for this bag.  I show you how to add some pretty piping along the flap.

 You can keep is simple with a beautiful print.

 You can add a chunky button to the flap.

Want to make your own?  You can buy it here, from my shop,

$7

Or if you'd rather buy it through etsy, they now offer an instant download feature as well.  Get the pattern HERE.

Add your finished bags to my Flickr group.  I love seeing what you come up with!