Monday, July 28, 2014

Convertible/Reversible 4 in 1 Bag Tour & Giveaway




Welcome to the Convertible/Reversible Bag Tour. Today is the first day of the bag tour and I'll be showing you my bag but for those of you that are visiting here for the first time let me tell you a little about myself.

I've been sewing for years and grew up watching my mum sew but never really enjoyed making clothes. About five years or so ago I got into making bags and loved it. Then came pattern testing for some wonderful bag designers. I've learned so much from them. I also like to try my hand at patchwork quilting and even tested a quilt pattern just recently which was so much fun. My biggest weakness is fabric, if I leave the house the chances are I'll come back with some. My greatest joy is that my daughter graduated as a Textile and Fabric Designer and she too loves fabric shopping. We're like two little kids in a sweet shop.

Ok lets get on with the bag tour.

I found Sarah Gido at Cosy Nest Design through a friend and it was only after chatting with Sarah a few times realized I had won one of her bag patterns just recently. I can be a bit slow to catch on sometimes LOLL. The 4 in 1 bag is Sarah's latest design and was thrilled to be able to test it for her. What an amazing bag she came up with. I've never made anything like it and whilst making it, constantly wondered how on earth Sarah came up with this design and how she managed to put it all together to make a bag.

Here's my Convertible/Reversible 4 in 1 bag. Four bags in one, can you believe it!!!!!!
How, you're wondering, well I'll try my best to explain.

 
Here's the first of the 4 in 1 bags. A cute clutch with a magnetic button flap closure and if you go HERE Sarah has a tutorial on how to make magnetic snap covers, a brilliant and very effective idea and you can let your imagination run wild with these by making them with flowers or whatever you wish. In the pattern the flap has piping around it but I omitted that. It would also look great with a twist lock closure. If you were using a plain fabric you could even do some embroidery on it. This bag design allows you to let you creativity run free.


This is the back view.



If you look inside you'll see a zip on the bottom and probably thinking what a strange place to add a zipper but that zipper is actually the top of the next bag when pulled out and up.


to look like this. The pattern says to make two adjustable straps, so that they match the two different fabrics you've chosen but I chose a fabric that matched both sides of my bag so only needed to make one. 
The sides have tabs to attach D rings but I omitted those and just attached the strap straight onto the fabric tabs. So far you have a clutch and a shoulder bag or cross body bag.


Underneath the zipper shown in the photo below is another zipper from the other side of the bag, getting confused, stick with me, I stitched a decorative running stitch to hold the two in place becasue I was pretty sure if I machine sewed them together I was going to get wonky stitches on one of the sides.


Ok lets move onto the third. This one is my favourite side. You turn the whole bag from the above photo inside out and you get your bag #3. You'll notice this side is slightly different. It has a zipper across the middle. This flange can be in the upward position like mine or folded down. Again you have your side tabs to attach the adjustable strap.


Are you still with me. Now you'll see why there's a zipper in the middle with fabric tabs below it. Time to show you bag #4. You remove the adjustable strap and push the top half of the bag above the zipper into the bottom half.


Attach your straps to the tabs below your zip and close up your zip to give you another wonderful shoulder/cross body bag.


And there you have it 4 bags in 1. Genius!!!!!!


This bag is so versatile, you could use cottons for one side and use it during the day and a fancy evening fabric to turn into a clutch for going out in the evening.
My bag was made from quilting cottons as suggested in the pattern as one of the fabrics to use. Heavy upholstery fabrics is not an option for this bag because it would be too bulky but the other fabric suggestion was vinyl, which some of the other ladies in the blog tour used and they look amazing.

I'm a visual sewer, as well as clear and simple instructions I must have photos accompanying them. When I got the pattern to test I really thought I'd bitten off more than I could chew. What no photos!!!!!!!!!!!!! I couldn't back down now so I made a start and soon discovered that Sarah's instructions and clear illustrations were enough, believe me if I can do it anyone can. In fact despite it looking complicated it's probably the quickest bag I've put together. It took me a day and a half to make so this is definitely one to try out and Sarah is such a sweetie, if you should get stuck she'll be more than happy to help you out.

Here is the schedule for the blog tour. Make sure you go round and see each one as they are all fantastic looking bags and there will be giveaways too. All the prizes for the giveaway have been very kindly provided by Sarah.

Monday, July 28th

Maria of Mia's Creations
 Niki Stringer of Roonie Ranching
 Alyssa Carrion at Keep Calm & Carrion

Tuesday, July 29th

Lynn Potts of PottsCrafty
Marilyn Brandt at Shades of Bold

Wednesday, July 30th

 Vicky Myers of Vicky Myers Creations
  Liz Schaffner at MOMENTS
 Sarah at Cozy Nest Design

Thursday, July 31st

Amy Macdonald with Friends Stitched Together
 Kathy from Handmade Dress Haven
 Judith Clauss of Judith Stitches and More

Friday, August 1st
 Jonie Brooks with Knot Sew Normal
 Lorena Rey of my way of...
 Bethany Rapp with Sweet Bee Buzzings


Here's your chance to enter my giveaway. You get a free entry just for being here and letting me confuse you LOLL plus you can earn more entries by using the widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you'd like to buy the pattern you can buy it here at http://www.cozynestdesign.com/?p=2119
and get a 25% discount up until 2nd August 2014. The code to use for your discount is bagtour.

When you leave a comment please check that I can get in touch with you. As much as I like comments I like to reply to them too. If you don't hear from me then that means you are a 'noreply' commentor.

Thanks Sarah for letting me test this brilliant bag, it was so much fun making it also a big thanks to Amy who was very patient and helpful when I got stuck with things like permalinks. I've still got so much to learn about blogging.

Best of luck to all of you with the giveaway.

Happy Sewing

~ Maria ~

69 comments:

  1. I absolutely adore the fabric choices for your bag. And that hand-stitching definitely adds a fun element! I love a pattern that can take a few little tweaks so it can be personalized. You are such a talented seamstress!!!

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  2. Maria...times are changing....ypur sewing with red and i with browns!! We must of gotten our Muses mixed up !! LOL

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  3. I like the one in the top left pic, blue casual.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Debra. I like the blue version better too.

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  4. I think I like that last one better. though I'm completely confused how we got from bag1 to bag2....

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  5. very interesting... I think butterflies would be the type fabric I would use to make the bag my own

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  6. Wow Maria that is some bag with all those conversions. I might need instructions just to remember how to convert it to the different styles, let alone trying to make this bag! I love your colors.

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    1. Oops I forget to say I like the shorter version in blue with the strap the best, like in your last photo

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  7. I think my favorite is bag #3, but I love them all!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Crista. It's interesting to see which one people like the most.

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  8. My favorite bag is the cross body bag. It is fun to see your color choices and additions.

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  9. It is really hard to decide but I think I like the larger of the bags. I carry a lot of stuff. Love the colors you chose.

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  10. Would pick some wild prints and probably do a pleather bottome.

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  11. I love all of them!! and the fact that I don't have actually to choose a style and I can keep changing it during the day ;)
    Thanks for the chance to win

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  12. Like the clutch style with the option to all out

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  13. Wow I love them all!!! Those are awesome!!! I like the long cross body version best!!!

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  14. Oooooh!!! LOOOOOVE Bag #4....my Favorite!!!!! Grrrrreat job!!!

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  15. Que maravilla de bolsa, soy fanática de las bolsas y no había visto una como la tuya, muchas felicidades.

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  16. I love the clutch!

    lenelson(at)mail(dot)com

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  17. I love the clutch, just imagine being able to unzip to add whatever extras you find as you go along!

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  18. I like the top left version! Very everyday for a mama on the go :) very cute and versatile!

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  19. I like the smaller cross body bag; cross body bags are my latest "thing"

    I think I'm not a no-reply, but just in case: jhunsberger (at) gmail (d0t) c0m

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  20. wow amazing bag and love your interpretations, what fun!

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  21. As always, you did a great job. My favorite is your blue version of shoulder/cross-body bag.

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  22. I love bag # 3. I too love making bags. I recently made 4 bags for a local charity fundraiser.
    kdavis1@centurytel.net

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  23. What fun - I like bag #3 best !

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  24. I like bag #1, the clutch like one, what a great bag to make, I like making bags the best too!

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  25. I love them all, but I'm thinking the 2nd style is best for my kids to carry their small collection of items when we're out and about, LOL. :)

    twocheekymonkeys at live dot com

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  26. I like the clutch version best.

    Sandy Hardman

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  27. My favorite is the small pink one! Very cute. sarah@forrussia.org

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  28. I came over to your blog, not expecting anything less than brilliance...but wow girl, you sure did good.....and without pics...awww our baby is growing up lol Seriously though hun, fantastic job as always!

    Hugs
    Nomes xx

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    1. I really should remember to expand the widget and not just comment....I carry too much 'crap' in my bags, so my favourite would have to be the fully expanded one lol

      Hugs again
      Nomes xx

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  29. I like the clutch with the strap - I can't carry a clutch as a purse as I'd be terrified of putting it down somewhere and then forgetting it. At least if it's over my shoulder I know it's going to stay with me, lol!

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  30. I like version #4. This is a bit mind boggling!

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  31. Wow! I like the last version best. Thanks.

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  32. Hi Maria,
    this bag is great and I love all 4 ways to use it :O)
    Well done, great job!
    Happy sewing day,
    Hugs
    Claudia

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  33. I have seen a few pictures of this bag but couldn't see how it would work. thanks to your excellent explanation it all makes sense. Now I need to find out the dimensions. It looks like it might be just right for taking on a cruise in about a month. I could see it being quite functional. I like having different fabrics that all coordinate. clever you.

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  34. I like them all but my favorite is totes ma tote bag

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  35. They are all great, but my favourite is the shoulder bag. Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

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  36. Love it, Maria. My favorite is the smaller crossbody. I don't have many bags that size and sometimes that is all I need.

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  37. I do love the clutch!! Thank you!

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  38. I love the clutch...but it's all genius!!

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  39. Style 3 is my favourite, it is just amazing what you can do with this bag. x

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  40. I like the dark blue deeper bag (1st picture) the best. What a cool bag pattern! :)

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  41. I love #3!! I have been looking for a pattern to make a purse for my friend for her birthday and this is the exact style she would like!!

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  42. I can't pick one... I love them all!

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  43. You did a great job -can't decide which I like best!

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  44. I really like #2, especially the stitching detail. :) Thanks!

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  45. I like the red bag with the stitching detail! All of them are pretty though.

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  46. The cross body is perfect for me as I'm always carrying my baby Lucy and need free hands!

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  47. Oh, the lime green and black bag is so eye-catching! The blue and flowered bag is the 2nd choice

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  48. Maria I like your bag, it is lovely, I love the blue and black side (those are my kind of colours) and your are right this bag is amazing
    xx

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  49. I like the cross body bag! But I must have it in Green! just perfect for a dress I just made!

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  50. I love the fabric choices and style of the first bag!

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  51. I love a long strap, to throw over my shoulder while handling kids.. Mia creations

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  52. I love version 3 and 4 - lets us see all the yummy fabrics used to make the purse - so unique!!

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  53. I love it all! I like the cross body one the best though.. love it in the green and black..

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  54. Wow! What a bag!. I like the cross body bag bag best. I have a small granddaughter so I carry a lot of stuff to keep her entertained. I love all the possibilities of this bag. I would make it in purple prints.

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  55. I love the top right one! BUt I love all the bags. Especially if it's ONE bag! So awesome :)

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  56. I like #4 the best. I like the way the strap is done, and I like the size.
    diannc(at)aol(dot)com

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  57. I love the bigger cross body! This is such a cool bag!

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  58. I like bag #3. It's a beautiful color and a very useful size!

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  59. Brilliant - such a clever design and I love the fabrics so chose to make it/them in

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Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Your comments mean so much to me and inspire me to create.
~Maria~