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Purse Palooza :: Pattern Review : Dog Under My Desk Daytripper

 This post is part of Purse Palooza 2013.
For full schedule of guest post pattern reviews and prizes, click here!
 
Natasha from Houseful of Nicholes is a mom, sewist, and she *loves* making bags! Visit her blog to learn more about Natasha!
Hi! I’m Natasha from Houseful Of Nicholes and I am so excited to be a part of this year’s Purse Palooza. I’m a bit of a bag making junkie, and I love being able to make a bag for any event that I can think of. So far, I have about 15 different bags that I’ve made just for myself, and a ton of others that I’ve made for customers, and Erin Erickson’s (from Dog Under My Desk) Daytripper has been made a total of three times. It’s that awesome. It has a zippered outer pocket, along with two front pockets for things you may need to get to easily. The inside also boasts an extra panel full of pockets that you can customize to your liking. POCKETS, POCKETS, POCKETS! Plus TWO ZIPPERS! Score!
Dog Under My Desk Daytripper by Houseful of Stitches
 If you’re looking for a bag to carry around with you while you are traveling or touring your own city, this is definitely worth it. It’s big enough to carry a DSLR and a second lens, your wallet, keys, and other essentials! The strap is also adjustable, so if your a fun sized like me, it won’t be dragging by your knees.
 Dog Under My Desk Daytripper by Houseful of Stitches

For this bag, you need:
Main fabric:
1 1/2 yards
Lining fabric: 1 1/4 yards
20” woven fusible interfacing: 4 yards (Recommended: Pellon SF-101)
20” heavyweight sew-in interfacing: 1 1/4 yards (Recommended: Pellon 50)
Batting: 1 yard (Recommended: Pellon 988)
Hardware: 1.5” Adjustable slider & rectangle ring
Back zip: 18” or longer nylon zipper (Erin highly recommends YKK long pull purse zips.)
Top zip: 16” or longer nylon zipper
Size 90/14 Microtex/Sharp needles (Try a denim needle if you have trouble.)
Hand sewing needle
Matching thread
Rotary cutter & mat are extremely helpful
Sharp scissors to trim away batting and interfacing
Walking foot highly recommended Seam gauge helpful

From the list above I changed out –
Home Decor Fabric for Quilting Cotton Main Fabric
Thermoflam Plus for the Batting
Sewed the zipper tab on before completing the lining.

 Dog Under My Desk Daytripper by Houseful of Stitches

I first came across Erin’s patterns during a late night twitter chat as she was tweaking the pattern instructions for her Essential Wristlet. After chatting back and forth, she asked me if I was willing to test it for her, and a friendship was born! I love Erin’s patterns because her instructions are so clear, that even if you have never sewn a bag before, you’d be able to do it. I’m willing to bet my coveted box(es) of Pepsi on it. I was a lover of sewing zippers before I met her patterns, but I’m truly head over heels for them after seeing her installation tips. I love the way that she does her zippers so much, that I’ve altered other purse and bag patterns to use her way. It’s a very clean finish, and you don’t have any visible zipper tape once you’re done.

 Dog Under My Desk Daytripper by Houseful of Stitches

She includes a TON of photos, and by a ton, I mean a ton. You can also rest assured that even before releasing the pattern, she has sewn at least seven prototypes to catch anything that may confuse others. If you need proof, you should follow her on Instagram, or Twitter, which is where I met her after finding out that we both have an affinity for staying up way past normal hours to sew away. If I had to rate the pattern, I would say that a confident beginner would be able to do it. As long as you are okay with sewing curves, and KNOWING how to sew slowly around them, you should be okay.

 Dog Under My Desk Daytripper by Houseful of Stitches

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31 thoughts on “Purse Palooza :: Pattern Review : Dog Under My Desk Daytripper

  1. Great review! I’m going to purchase her pattern, this looks like a wonderful bag!!

    1. Thank you! I love all of her patterns. If you follow them correctly, your bag will look super professional! Have fun, and enjoy putting stuff in there! LOL!

  2. Wendy says:

    I love your fabric choice(s).. always bright and bold! 🙂

    1. Thank you Wendy! I figured I could go a bit more dramatic with this one, since it’s for me, and me alone!

  3. Why did you switch and use Thermoflam Plus for the Batting instead of what she called for? Have you had better luck with that, or maybe it’s just what you already had? Thanks for the review – I love her patterns, too!

    1. Terry, it’s what I already had and was comfortable with using. For me, I’m not as bothered by the wrinkles either, so I guess just personal preference. I use it so much in my other bags, that it’s always on hand. Thanks for commenting!

  4. I love her patterns. I have this one but haven’t sewn it yet. Not only her designs are lovely but the instructions are very clear. Is this one full size? It looks great with your fabric selection.

    1. Thank you so much! This one is full sized, but I have the mini printed and ready to be cut soon. I’m sure my husband would roll his eyes if I made another so soon after. LOL!

  5. CUTE BAG! Love your fabric choices!

  6. Laurel says:

    oh i LOVE this pattern…

  7. suemac says:

    It looks like a great sized bag.

    1. It’s a fantastic bag for a day of errand running, or travel. I have even seen some moms around the blogosphere use it as a day diaper bag. I no longer have to worry about that, so I can’t speak to it. LOL!

  8. Donna Baker says:

    so excited to be getting this pattern soon – I won the giveaway with Erin through Purse Palooza! your fabric is FAB! thanks for sharing

    1. Oooh! Enjoy it! Thank you for the compliments. 🙂

    2. Jake says:

      OooohDonna, the lucky lucky girl!

  9. Dyan says:

    I love this pattern too. Easy to follow, and easy to shrink down for the mini version, which is still a good sized purse. I also put that zipper tab on before the lining. Way easier to do it then instead of waiting till the end. Love your fabric choice!

    1. Thank you so much. The tab looks much better to me when I do it that way, since I’m on a smaller machine. I can’t wait to make the mini!

    2. Jake says:

      I like to stipple stitch on the zipper tab instead of outline stitch. It really looks better! I do mine at the end though…starch the heck out of it! But you should try stippling it. It looks great!

    3. Okay, Jake, you’re teaching me something here! Off to look up stippling stitches (which I may know by an unofficial name – LOL!)

  10. Lynne Tilley says:

    Great review! I love this pattern!

  11. Jake says:

    I definately agree with you about Erin’s patterns. Her two zip hipster was my very first bag pattern and I’ve been a bag making junkie ever since! I’ve learned not all pattern makers are as thorough though….Erin and Sara both have some of THE BEST pattern instructions out there and I think and confident beginner could do any of their patterns, even without prior zipper knowledge! I’d only ever sewn one zipper before completing Erin’s bag and I did her bag without any trouble whatsoever. Thank you so much for sharing your enthusiasm for Erin’s work! Anone anyone who visits her site should check out her dog ties! I made a bunch for my local shelter to use for adoptions. Great scrap buster!

    1. Couldn’t agree more, Jake! She is such a talented woman. I still have to do the two zip, because I take so long picking fabrics out.

  12. Vera says:

    Pretty cute. I really like your fabric choice.

  13. Great review! I purchased this pattern but haven’t had a chance to make it yet. It’s the closest to perfect as a bag can be for me. I’m going to try to add side pockets and hope that works! Love, the zippered closing at the top and the outside zip pocket! I just tested a bag that called for Soft and Stable and I just loved working with it. I may see if I can use it here too. Can’t wait to get started!

    1. Hi Grandmasewnsew! Erin did an entire post about all of the interfacing that she tested out on the Daytripper, here: http://erinerickson.com/2012/12/interfacing-the-daytripper/

      It really helps figure out which one you may want to use based on what type of structure you like. I find that I’m okay with an occasional wrinkle or two from fleece, and because it’s readily available, I’m drawn to it more. Hope that helps, and thanks for coming through!

  14. Alethia says:

    Great bag Natasha!!

    1. Thank you Alethia! I appreciate you coming over here to visit me!

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