Bestie Bag for my bestie
I followed a sewing pattern for the first time in a year
I started my sewing journey making bags, and it’s definitely where my crafting comforts lie. But after the past few years of working on self-drafted projects, I was really itching to sew something from a pattern—straightforward and guided.
So when my good friend Hallie sent me a photo of a bag she likes (that just happened to very closely resemble the Bestie Bag by Blackbird Fabrics), I picked out my fabric, bought the pattern, and started sewing.
The fabric
This lustrous, soft brown fabric is one I sourced a long time ago and have been a huge fan ever since. It’s the Flax Dry Oilskin by Merchant & Mills in Nicotine and I used it on my most-loved Nanny Pack that I’ve been carrying around as my main bag for the past 4 years.
The fabric itself is 80% flax, 20% cotton and treated with an emulsified wax that is so gorgeous and durable, I think it’s a beautiful replacement for leather. Disclaimer: I did recently reach out to Merchant & Mills to see what exactly the emulsified wax solution is made of, but didn’t get a response. I would prefer it be natural/biodegradable, but until I know more this is one store-bought fabric I let myself indulge in.
The lining, on the other hand, was something I pulled from my second-hand stash.
The process
I may have been making bags for years, but I’m relatively new to making lined bags from fabric. I got my start in leather work, so this is honestly a whole different beast.
I thought the pattern was delightful and very easy to follow. I appreciated the extra notes (including snack breaks) and attention to detail. The biggest hiccup was topstitching the bottom panel after the bag is constructed, as my machine just doesn’t have that much range of motion. I did do it, but I honestly had to hand-sew the last few stitches as I got closer to the straps. If I make it again, I won’t use contrasting thread, as it’s really hard to make this part look great on a home machine and I’d rather not draw attention to it.
The result
I was really excited about the outcome, but I admit, this bag turned up larger than the bag she initially sent me… so I purchased the Baby Bestie Expansion Pack and started sewing up an even smaller one the next day. I thought I’d let her decide between the two, and she picked the Baby. I’m keeping the other (obviously) and already have it filled with all my things. After all, what good is a “bestie” bag if you don’t have one to match with your bestie? lol
