Tag: Kelly Waist Bag

Create Card Slots in the Kelly Waist Bag

When wearing a waist (belt, bum, fanny pack) bag, space is incredibly limited. There is already a nice built-in slip pocket to the Kelly Waist Bag (a FREE pattern you can find here.) But I thought I could kick it up a notch and add some card pockets — perfect for just that ID and credit card for a night out. The smaller slots keeps your cards more secure, yet easily accessible.

Make the Card Pockets

This is a very quick and simple add-on to the pockets. You will need the pattern which you can find here, plus an additional 6″ x 2 1/2″” piece of leather which I’ll refer to as the Card Pockets.

With the 6″ x 3″ Card Pocket, mark a line down the center with right side facing up. Take the Front Pocket piece and lay it right side up and then lay the Card Pockets with right side facing up aligning the bottom edge and corners. Clip into place.

Sew on top of the Card Pockets on the marking attaching the Card Pockets to the Front Pocket and also dividing it into two.

Continue to Step #6 to finish assembling the rest of the pocket.

Project Summary

I hope you enjoyed this simple tutorial to add card pockets to your Kelly Waist Bag!  You now have an extra layer of storage while being hands-free.  Head to the Pattern Resources page for all Love You Sew pattern hacks!

 

Hugs and Stitches,

Cristy

 

This post may contain affiliate links which helps keep this website going.  You can read all the info regarding these links in my Disclosures.

Holly Jumpsuit by Love You Sew

Holly Jumpsuit Review

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Holly Jumpsuit by Love You Sew

When I sew my own clothes, I like to know they will last for awhile.  So when the jumpsuit and romper trend came out, I was very hesitant to make one.  I wasn’t sure the one-piece look would be right on me.  Oh, and there IS that issue of completely undressing when using the restroom! But alas, after a couple of years seeing so many different versions of a romper, I finally took the plunge with the By Hand London Holly Jumpsuit.

Holly Jumpsuit by Love You Sew

With many of the RTW rompers I’ve seen, they either have a very loose low v-neck wrap (probably for easier bathroom breaks) or the bottoms are way too short for my age bracket.  I fell for the Holly Jumpsuit with the nice open scoop neck (while still being modest,) the tailored waist and the 4″ inseam which is long enough for me, but could be a little too short for all of you  over 5’3″.

Holly Jumpsuit by Love You Sew

I initially bought the Holly Jumpsuit for the trouser view to help make a traditional Vietnamese Áo Dài.  I loved the wide leg, high rise, and the clean waistband which was perfect. However, it’s now been a few years and the Áo Dà has yet to be sewn…I know, I know…it will eventually happen!  However, I have made a pair of culottes using some rayon twill seen above.  These are such a great summer make.

Holly Jumpsuit by Love You Sew

I know what you’re thinking….The big question with all rompers and jumpsuits is always, “How do you pee?”  There is a nice long invisible zipper which extends from the side dart down to the hip.  This allows you to slip the romper on and off in combination with unbuttoning the placket.  I wish I had a blue zipper to match my Holly when I was making this in time for a party, but I went with the only invisible zipper I had on-hand — black.  With the smart placement of the zipper, you can only see the pull when I have my arm up…and it’s still very discreet.

Holly Jumpsuit by Love You Sew

Fabric

When I was looking for fabric, I wanted something light enough to wear during warm weather, but structured enough to hold it’s shape and not wrinkle easily. Since this was my first romper, I also was looking for a simple print that could help camouflage any imperfections.

Holly Jumpsuit by Love You Sew

I was happy to find this great Vintage Chambray Stripes at Imagine Gnats. It’s a classic micro stripe with that railroad-esque feel.  I love the blue and how neutral it is for any occasion.  I can just switch up accessories to give it a different feel.  At 4.5 oz this is still light enough with a soft hand and the 100% cotton content makes it breathable for the summer.

Pattern

Holly Jumpsuit by Love You Sew

For the romper, I used view A and made a size UK10/US12 for both the bodice and bottoms based on my measurements. Since I already made the culottes, I knew I wouldn’t need any adjustments on the bottoms, but I did forget to take into account that I shortened the rise on them previously.  So, my romper ended up being too short! *Cue head-slap* Fortunately, I had enough fabric (thanks to the extra wide WOF) left to remake the bottoms.  Since there is no fly, it wasn’t too much of a set-back.  I’ll turn the first set with the lower rise into shorts by adding on the waistband found in View C.  Phew!

Holly Jumpsuit by Love You Sew

These are the additional modifications I made to the Holly:

  • Added lightweight woven interfacing in the placket to hold the snaps, but I would add it even if I used buttons for more stability
  • Used metal snaps instead of buttons for faster bathroom breaks 😉
  • Added slash pockets by drafting a pocket and the facing  (the one thing missing with the pattern)
  • Decreased the seam allowance for the sleeve and increased the armscye to match
  • Reduced seam allowance to 3/8″ between the bodice and shorts for more crotch room

Holly Jumpsuit by Love You Sew

When I make this again, I would consider the following modifications:

  • Slight broadback adjustment – There is a little bit of tightness across my shoulder blades.
  • Bicep adjustment for even more ease – After wearing this to an event (with lots of sweating!) I think adding in more arm ease would allow more air flow and an easier time getting the romper off and on.
  • Increase the bodice length by 1/2″ – I’m only 5’3″ but if I raise my arms all the way up, I get some cameltoe, which is surprising. Most patterns are drafted for 5’5″-5’8″ that I’ve seen, and usually I have to shorten the bodice on a pattern.
  • Lower the side darts by ~1/2″ – Everything looked good when I was finished, but after an additional washing, the darts look a little too high.

Holly Jumpsuit by Love You Sew

Final Thoughts:

For my first romper, I am SO pleased with this make. I love the slim fit around the waist and the ample ease around the buttocks and thighs.  This is a great pattern for my fellow pear shapes! But it is certainly still great for other body shapes as well with just simple changes to the darts. This fabric was great for the pattern but I may use a woven with just a little stretch next time and probably won’t need those broadback and bicep adjustments.

Holly Jumpsuit by Love You Sew

Project Summary:

Now that I’m done with my very first romper, I think I’m ready for another.  Do you have any good romper/jumpsuit patterns to recommend?  Let me know in the comments.  I would love to hear your thoughts!

 

Happy Sewing,

Cristy

 

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Abbey Convertible Backpack DIY Sewing Pattern

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I’ve been on a long pattern writing break and look at me….I have two out in less than a month!  It might be all the inspiration I’m feeling or maybe it’s the fact that I’ve learned quite a bit more about designing now 🙂  It really is a combination of all the above along with clearing my plate of other sewing commitments so I can focus!  You can check out the FREE Kelly Waist Bag pattern  just released a few weeks ago here and keep on reading for the long awaited Abbey Convertible Backpack…

Abbey Backpack by Love You Sew

At the end of 2017,  I was looking for a fun bag idea for my toddler niece.  But since she’s a little fashionista, I wanted to make her a “non-kid bag” and more of an “adult-bag”….just in a miniature size. With boho style hot at that minute, I remember seeing so many hiker style backpacks around with southwestern prints.  I had this great canvas fabric in my stash from April Rhodes and knew it would be perfect for my niece.

I made this little backpack just thinking it would be a one-off project — that was until I posted it on my Instagram.  That’s when all the comments and inquiries flooded in.  I had at least half a dozen people wanting to buy it.  But no, it was only for my niece. <3  Although I didn’t want to sell the actual bag, I knew I had a great design…especially as a kid-size bag that’s modern and something an adult might like….

Fast forward a year after learning to use some proper drafting software and I was set to tackle the longest and most involved bag I’ve written to date.  From the first design, much has changed.  The body is slightly larger and more pockets have been added inside and on the back. The most significant change is the additional hardware to make the Abbey a completely convertible adult bag too!

Abbey Crossbody by Love You Sew

With a quick switch of the swivel clasps from the lower connectors up to the top ones, the backpack changes to a cross-body!  This allows the Abbey to be such a versatile bag and can change with you depending on the situation.  ‘Sometimes you just want your bag out of the way and sometimes you need all the access to it — I get it!  Additionally, the Abbey also has these features:

  • Convenient front zipper pocket for keys, chapstick or change
  • Magnetic snap tab closure for easy access to the main compartment
  • Back slip pocket – perfect for your phone, boarding passes or concert tickets
  • Interior zipper pocket to keep valuables safe
  • A generously sized adjustable strap which can be used for the backpack or crossbody

As a bag-maker, you will love having this unique design which you can (of course) keep, but also gift to friends and family, both young and mature.  I’m thinking some mommy and me versions would be so cute!  You will also learn some great techniques such as:

  • Installing magnetic snaps (with my tips to prevent the prongs from wearing through your fabric!)
  • Using three different types of interfacing for a structured, yet pliable bag
  • Creating zipper welt pockets
  • Making an adjustable strap
  • Construction style which leaves a clean and seamless base.
  • And I’m already working on some hacks to leave you with more options and ways to customize each bag you make 😉

Sonata Abbey Backpack

For some inspiration, you can check out my Sonata Fabric Showcase Tour here.  These were both prototypes as I was testing out interfacing combinations and still checking out which features to keep in the pattern.

  • The blue bag used foam interfacing which I thought was just too much.  The bag was not able to fold very well.  However, it uses leather accents which I do include in the cutting table.  (I will write a blog post for the zipper frame soon!)
  • For the pink bag, this was a test to see how quilt cotton would hold versus the recommended canvas.  It still had great shape and pliability, but some structure is lost.  Once the bag is filled up, it’s not that noticeable though.  This version is the lightest weight and great for using all of those cute quilt cotton prints for little ones.

If you need even more inspiration, you have to check out all of these amazing creations from my tester group.  These ladies are absolutely amazing and I could not make this pattern without all of their help!  You can click through each image below to direct you to the maker.

Pattern Summary:

I hope you enjoy this pattern as much I do!  Happy Sewing!

 

Cristy

 

 

Kelly Waist Bag and Clutch

Introducing the FREE Kelly Waist Bag Pattern

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It’s such an incredible feeling when inspiration hits at the right time and the creative juices are just flowing.  That’s what happened when I paired this beautiful leather from Measure Fabric with  my idea for a simple and sleek waist bag.  I was able to quickly design, prototype, tweak and write a full pattern within 48 hrs (muuuuch different from my usual practice of taking months to write a pattern!)

 

Whatever you call them – waist bag, fanny pack, belt bag, hip bag….wearing a bag around your torso is the hottest bag trend right now.  Although the classic 80’s throwback style is probably the most popular, I wanted to have something with cleaner lines to match my fashion tastes.   I also wanted to make sure if I’m making a bag (especially in leather,) it can last beyond the current trend.  So I designed a minimalist raw edge leather bag which can convert to a clutch, simply by removing the belt.

Leather

Initially, I thought I would make an envelope style clutch when I first saw this leather on Measure Fabric’s website.  I thought the leather might be a little too difficult to sew on my machine.  I figured I could use a bunch of rivets to origami it altogether since I already fell in love with the top-grain texture and beautiful neutral navy color.

Thanks to the miracle of videos on Instagram, the shop ladies were able to show me the leather’s softer hand.  The hide is approximately 2mm thick, but is still pliable enough to shape and can hold some weight.  You can check out their entire selection here. Get ready to drool over all the beautiful hides!

Bag Features

Named after one of my awesome nieces, this waist bag is all about having some freedom.  Whether you want hands-free options to wrangle the kids like me, or to attend the latest festival concert like Kelly (oh to be in my twenties again,) this is your bag!  It’s small but mighty with plenty of great features:

  • Slip pocket – Perfect to stowe away cash, ID and/or a Shuffle Cardholder
  • Simple screw on button stud – There is no need for fancy hardware or tools.  But feel free to make this your own!  You can find them on Amazon here or here and on Etsy here. (aff links)
  • Adjustable belt design – Whether you wear this with just a tee or over a bulky sweater, the belt can change with you.
  • Convertible to clutch – Simply remove the belt and you have a perfect leather clutch for a night out or use it as a pouch in a larger tote.
  • Able to use any belt – The belt guide is generously sized to accommodate most belt widths.  You can use your own belts to mix and match, creating different looks.
  • Fits many arena and public venue bag guidelines – With finished dimensions of 8″ x 5″ x 1″, the Kelly conforms to many stadium and concert bag regulations.  It’s the right size for your phone, ID, cash, with room to spare for keys.

Sewing Tips:

  • Leather and some vinyl are not self-healing.  Needle holes will be permanent, so work slowly and use clips instead of pins.
  • Use a leather needle with leather or a heavy duty (16 or 18) needle with cork or vinyl to handle the extra thickness.  Machines vary, so don’t forget to TEST before making the bag!
  • With thicker substrates, leave long thread tails to manually tie off with double and even triple knots.  Don’t try to back-stitch because your machine may not like the bulk.
  • A walking foot is great to get even stitches without sticking and a Teflon foot prevents sticking as well
  • Use a stiletto tool like this or carefully notch into the gusset 1/8″ to help maneuver around the curves. (aff link)
  • For punching the holes, I love this tool with a softer plastic bed vs a metal bed.  You get a cleaner cut through the leather. (aff link)

|| Click Here for the Kelly Waist Bag + Clutch Pattern by Love You Sew ||

#kellywaistbag #loveyousewpatterns 

Print at 100% or Actual size

Please share your projects on social media with the #kellywaistbag and #loveyousewpatterns tags.  I would LOVE to see what you do with the pattern.  Don’t forget to give me a follow and tag me @loveyousew_ so I don’t miss it!

Enjoy!!!

 

Leather for this project was provided by Measure Fabric.  All thoughts and opinions are always my own.  There are also affiliate links in the post for which I would receive a small commission only if you decide to make a purchase.