Friday, June 15, 2007

Lotta backpack

A chum of mine has the big four-oh coming up in a week or two. She cycles a lot and I have never seen her with a handbag - instead she puts her stuff in a kids' nylon backpack - functional, but not beautiful!

So when I saw the little backpack pattern in Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing, I thought it would be right up her street. She's not into anything too fancy or girlie, so I chose an Amy Butler print, with a solid green background.


The instructions were easy to follow, but if I make it again, I want to add a lining for a slightly more polished look inside. Lotta seems a bit needlessly anti-lining to me. Perhaps she just wanted the patterns to be as simple as possible.

Anyway, I hope Kate likes it. I might even push the boat out and make her a matching tissue holder to go in it. Because show me a mother that doesn't travel with a wad of tissues at various stages of disintegration churning around in the depths of her bag. Time to share... what's the most shameful thing in your bag right now?

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

LOVE the backpack - i'm sure it'll be a hit.

let's see, besides tissues, what's in my bag... lipgloss sans lid (but then i found the lid in there, too - BOYS!), and a ziplock bag with exactly 7 almonds in it.

laura capello said...

cute bag! but no lining? seriously? that seems odd to me for her to intentionally design it like that.

most emabarrassing thing? um, probably a check that should have been deposited a month ago. i clean out my purse everytime i come home, so i'm constantly getting rid of crumbs and what-not.

Suzie Sews At DOTTY RED said...

lovely
Suzie Sews

Katie Jean said...

I'm sure she's going to looove the bag! I love that pattern, it's so easy and simple.

I have smooshed up bunny crackers in my bag, that happened to be discovered when I tried to find change for the cashier. Hope she didn't see that.

Anonymous said...

You're on a Lotta roll, aren't you!? I've noticed a few "quality control" issues with Lotta's book, but all in all, I'm still in love with it!

Anonymous said...

Pretty - I agree that a lining is nice -- and then it can have pockets inside.

Let's see - a crumpled up pair of Bea's shorts that I took off her a week and half ago at the market when she wanted to play in the fountain. It least it was before she played in the fountain.

Sasha said...

Um, in my bag? I usually carry around spare toddler underwear. Then I can feel cool when I am shopping by myself and pull it out whilst digging for the wallet.

Cute bag, love the Amy Butler fabric! I've been thinking of taking a stab at that pattern. I'm sure it will be a well-received gift. I know that I would be thrilled by it.


I have been using French seams on some projects instead of lining for a more finished look, because I'm not very good at fiddly stuff like lining.

julia said...

Love that bag - think I may have to make one for the bike.

Most embarrasing thing in my bag has to be Tampax in various states of disintegration. I invariably end up launching one at an unsuspecting checkout assistant whilst I'm rummaging for my purse, keys etc. The look of disgust (and pity) on their face is hilarious.

Have a great weekend!
Julia x

Anonymous said...

The beautiful back pack sounds like a perfect gift for her.

julie said...

That is a great back pack and sounds like just the right fabric for your friend. I have lots of rubbish in my various bags - half eaten custard creams (thanks Toby), chewed dummies (again Thanks to Toby) and nappies in various states (it's that Toby again) - I did once lug a poohy nappy around for 3 days and it was only when I realised that the stench seemed to be following me around that I remembered - head like a seive!!

julie said...

or even head like a sieve - plus I can't spell!

AC said...

Love the pack pack.
Alison x

Soo said...

What a beautiful backpack!

I still carry around baby wipes, even though my little one is three and a half!

Monique said...

it is VERY cute! Wha ta stylin' gal she will be!
Thanks for the birthday wishes!

dottycookie said...

That backpack is great. I have the Lotta book on order - hopefully it will get here tomorrow!

Until I cleaned it out this morning my bag held (amongst the rest of the junk) an old purse with holes and a new purse I got months ago but haven't got round to transferring everything out of the old one. All the change keeps falling to the bottom of the bag!


Oh, and half a bag of hula hoops from my 2 year old.

Anonymous said...

Oh what a wonderful gift!!!

jennpal said...

pretty bag!
at the bottom of my bag are a couple of dried up raisins, a "to-do" list from April which most is "not-done" and at the way bottom a pack of american spirit cigarettes for which I sneak on occasion. don't tell.

Christie said...

Nice work on the backpack!

My bag is full of screwed up receipts that I promise myself I will sort through when I get a spare moment... that moment is yet to arrive!

joanna said...

That's lovely, Ali - I am sure your friend will love it :) I am very tempted by Lotta's book, I like the 'simple' aspect, which is a must for a novice sewer (seamstress?) such as myself!

nuttnbunny said...

Yum! Agree with Sasha on the french seams. Used them on those japanese lunch bags very happily.

Bag content shame? Cell phone, blackberry and three different headsets for too many conference calls while driving...

Thimbleanna said...

Love that fabric and the colors. Perfect for cycling.

Worst thing in my bag? ABC (already been chewed) gum. Ick -- I was in a meeting and had to get rid of it somewhere -- isn't that what rumpled receipts are for?

Lindy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lindy said...

very cute backpack- love the colors. I've been debating buying the book but I keep hearing that you need to tweak the bags a bit. Wondering if you would recommend it. Ok just checked my bag- a tampon that has long since lost it's wrapper and cardboard tube thingy! Yah, it's in the trash now!

Anonymous said...

i was just thinking about gross things in my purse the other night. i was debating if i should switch back to my smaller purse. smaller bag, less junks to stuff in...you'd think :(

tiel said...

it is great. I'd even take up cycling to have one. She is a lucky friend.

Anonymous said...

mmm two squashed chocolate cadbury mini rolls, half a packet or raisins (very old), and half a tonnes of receipt.

Lovely bagpack. YOu're certainly getting your money worth out of that book!!

Berber said...

Very nice backpack!

What's in a my bag? What isn't?! I feel like Mary Poppins sometimes... I bet there's a lampshade in there somewhere!

wardstorms said...

Very cute bag!

hmm, probably just a sippy cup, some matchbox cars and maybe some smooshed cheerios in my bag!

Florence Knapp (Flossie Teacakes) said...

oh, that's so good to know...I have her book sitting next to my bed (it only arrived yesterday) and this is one of the things that I thought I might make from it.

However, it looks lovely even without the lining - particuarly as we can't see that bit :)