Christmas sewing - linen messenger bag or 'Africa Adventure Bag'!

I can't tell you how delighted I was when mum asked me to make her a bag for Christmas.  Mum does not do ostentation and she only has a small handful of bags, each of which has been with her for many years - every one has it's own purpose and she wouldn't just buy a bag on the spur of the moment, only ever if she actually needed it.

So, to be trusted with making one to replace her 'Africa Adventure Bag' was quite an honour (and also a little scary)!  Once I'd said yes to the challenge, mum sent me the dimensions and layout of her current, but falling apart, bag and some specifics about what she was looking for (this was all done in a very scientific and methodical way......that's my mum, she reminds me so much of my grandad, her dad, who was an engineer - and very engineer-like when it came to details).

The specifics included mention of 'room for binoculars, passport, tissues, suncream, sunhat and lipsalve'.  And the following fabric request 'tough material and dirt resistant colours! Present bag tough cotton lined in black'.  Travelling in rural parts of Africa is a grubby business!

All went ahead pretty much as mum requested.  I tried to persuade her to have an adjustable strap or inner zip pocket but they weren't needed.  But I did manage to get an internal key fob and zip for the main compartment added to the spec - yay!

I used linen for the main and lining fabric (full details below) - suitably tough and dirt resistant I hope.  I based the bag on this tutorial but made a lot of adjustments.  I added a zip for the main compartment (to keep those binoculars safe), under the flap there's a patch pocket and a big lined zip pocket (for passport and other documents).  The pattern suggests attaching the flap part way down the back of the bag but I thought it would be neater, and stronger, if attached at the top between the main and lining fabric.  The flap is closed with a loop of black elastic and a vintage horn button which I have been saving for something special.

And there you have it - mum's new 'Africa Adventure Bag'.  She seems very pleased with it and, as we speak, it is off on it's first African adventure.  Having been home (from South Africa) for three weeks over Christmas, mum and dad set off yesterday for Uganda.  After a couple of weeks there - including trekking to see mountain gorillas and chimpanzees - they will be back in South Africa until early April.  That's the life, eh?!

I'd love to know if you and your mum are bag people, or essentials only like mine........I have to confess to having a little bit of a thing for bags (and I battle with my conscience if I see something that I like but don't need - if we ever have more spare money I think I could build up a little collection)

Details:
Pattern - the basis of this bag was mmmcrafts basic messenger bag, I changed the dimensions slightly and attached the flap differently.  I referred to Lisa Lam's The Bag Making Bible for the concealed top edge zip and lined zip pocket.  I also added a patch pocket, key fob and piping
Fabric - Essex Yarn Dyed Linen in Black and Ellen Luckett Baker Triangles in Grey
Notions - black hair band for elastic and large vintage horn button for closure
Comments - I loved sewing this bag - and feel pretty proud of it.  In some ways having quite specific requirements made it harder, but at the same time it was much more satisfying to make something just right.

Adventure Bag - the trial run

I've realised that there is very little to show for the sewing I've been doing lately.  I've been preparing for a class that I'm teaching tonight (aarrgghh!) and a craft show a fortnight today - so, once again, getting folksy up and running has been put onto the back burner.  

In the October holidays, though, I set aside some time to work on a wee Adventure Bag.  I have long wanted to make a little children's bag - one that is robust and fun.  My first attempts, such a long time ago now, just weren't right (although Islay and Katie still play with it a lot).  And then quilts and baby blankets and bibs, and actual babies, took over.  But I have kept the thought ticking over.

I knew I wanted a bag suited to a boy as well as a girl (although, realistically, it will probably appeal to girls for a longer range of time).  I also wanted it to be suitable for a wide age range.  And fully lined.  And fun.  And not too costly.  So - a lot of requirements for a little bag.  But a sudden idea about how to make the straps adjustable and then realising that portholes would be perfect for giving a peep of colour on a robust linen exterior got me all excited.  I really couldn't wait to get it sketched out, planned and sewn.

And here are the first versions of my Adventure Bag.  I used a couple of fun fat quarters from The Stitch Gathering.  They are lovely but not really me or quite Forest Poppy.  The mermaids will be a gift for  a wee friend of Islay's and I have plans for the robots too.

The fabric below is set aside for some proper Forest Poppy Adventure Bags.  I can't wait to get sewing!