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Purse Palooza :: Pattern Review – Swoon Betty Bowler

pursepalooza2014

This post is part of Purse Palooza 2014. For contest rules, full details, and schedule, please click here! Today’s post is from Cyndi of The Nosy Pepper.
I’m super excited to be a part of Purse Palooza this year and I’ve picked the Betty Bowler by Swoon Patterns to review. This pattern has been on my to do list for quite a while and is my first Swoon Bag. I absolutely love the look of Alicia’s patterns but the Betty Bowler has stolen my heart!

 

The Betty Bowler is designed to be a small overnight bag or carry on. At 16″ W x 11″ H x 6.5″ D it’s a generously sized bag but not so ginormous that you couldn’t carry it as an every day bag (if you love over sized bags as much as me). This would also make a fab diaper bag, as adding additional pockets would be easy peasy on this bag.

 

I loved this bag but, I don’t think this is for a beginner bag maker. It’s listed as a difficultly rating of 3/4 on Swoon Patterns and I think that rating is spot on. I don’t feel that any step was particularly difficult at all, but the directions do assume that you are familiar with such techniques as zippers and piping. . That’s not to say there isn’t some explanation, but if you have never done it, you may struggle and need more pictures to help you along the way. With that said, Alicia’s technique of adding a recessed zip top is freaking GENIUS! I’ve never done it the way she instructed but OMG was it a dream!
The materials list calls for:

  • 1 yard 44” wide exterior fabric
  • ½ yard 44” wide contrasting
    fabric
  • 1½ yards 44” wide lining fabric
  • 3½ yards 5/32” cotton cording
    (or premade piping)
  • 1 yard fusible fleece (i.e. Pellon
    Thermolam)
  • 4 yards stiff interfacing
    (Pellon Craft-fuse 808)
  • ½ yard fusible stabilizer
    (Pellon Peltex 71f)
  • 6” zipper (zippered pocket)
  • 22” zipper (main compartment)
  • Four 1” metal loops (optional)
  • Coordinating thread

The pattern calls for fusible fleece and craft fuse, but those aren’t my favorites to work with so I opted for By Annie’s Soft and Stable and Shapeflex and was happy with the results. The bag is nice and structured and it wasn’t too bulky in the seams. The Soft and Stable also made it stiff enough I was able to forgo the Peltex for the bottom.

 

I also skipped the contrast pieces, only because I absolutely adore this print and I wanted to see as much of it as possible! The pattern has a cutting layout, if you like to see how to layout your pieces, but by cutting mine without using the layout, I was able to save a significant amount of fabric and used less than 3/4 of the exterior print.

 

The interior has a LARGE slip pocket that is the entire width of the bag, that I ended up adding a snap to so it’s more secured, you could also divide it up as well with a line or two of stitching.

Overall this was a fun bag to make, and if you are comfortable making bags I’d highly recommend this pattern! Those who are still getting their feet wet or who are very visual learners, who rely a lot on photos may struggle a bit with this one but it’s totally doable! I was absolutely giddy about how well the pieces lined up, as I find that rounded bags usually give me more grief distributing the fabric in the curves but this lined up like magic!

The only thing I’d change the next time I make one is the handle length, other than that I heart this bag!! I can’t wait to make another! Thanks Sara for putting together another year of Purse Palooza, this is like Christmas for us bag lovers!

Cyndi

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22 thoughts on “Purse Palooza :: Pattern Review – Swoon Betty Bowler

  1. Cyndi – You totally ROCKED this pattern. I adore it and just added it to my long list of ones to try 🙂 Great job!!

  2. Kare says:

    Great job! I will have to try this bag.

  3. Allison G says:

    Really love the fabric and the contracting piping. Very nice job!

  4. Monica Bauschard says:

    What a lovely design this is me

  5. Sharon says:

    Love this bag

  6. Barbara says:

    That fabric is stunning made up in this pattern. Great combo!

  7. lovemyboxers says:

    What a great review! I’ve wanted to try Swoon patterns and you make a very good point, some of us are visual learners. I tried to buy the easier looking bags as I didn’t see in the descriptions anything about pictures. They would be a great addition, I’d even pay more! Love the patterns so I’m determined to give them a try!

  8. Sara, with longer straps do you think carrying this bag on your shoulder is doable? I’ve recently found it necessary to carry a 6 lb steel oxygen tank everywhere I go (hopefully temporarily. At the moment it’s in the bottom of a canvas Coach bag with measurements similar to this one but the narrow leather straps make carrying it uncomfortable. With fabric straps this one looks like it might work. Any opinion? Thanks!

  9. Christina says:

    Beautiful!!

  10. kathyh says:

    This bag looks like it has a lot of room for customization.

  11. Betsy N says:

    Your bag looks great! And your review is awesome. You just enabled me to buy yet another pattern. My hubby calls purse my “pattern porn”. I just can’t get enough!

  12. I absolutely love how your bag came out. I used the recommended fleece for mine, but am seriously considering taking it apart to redo it with soft and stable, because my bag is just so floppy. I wish this review had been up before I made mine.

    1. Alicia says:

      Andrea, did you use the 808 as well? I like to double the 808 along with the fleece and they end up very stiff! I do want to try Soft & Stable someday but haven’t yet.

  13. Karen says:

    Check out this amazing Sew Along for those newbies who may need a little extra guidance along with the pattern instructions. http://alicatco.blogspot.com/2014/01/betty-sewalong-day-1-print-cut-and.html?m=1
    The Betty Bowler by Swoon Patterns was my very first attempt at bag making. I had never inserted a zipper or attached piping before, but because of my adoration for this amazing Retro inspired bag I knew I had to try. With the use of the easy to read pattern and Sew Along it was a cinch!

  14. Lori says:

    Fabulous bag and I like the fabric so much. I have been using more Soft and Stable, too, it is such a nice product.

  15. shanna says:

    This is a great bag (and review, btw!). I used it for an overnight bag for my 2 young daughters and it fit everything including a special blanket and small stuffed animal each. I would also love the handles to be longer if I make another one (whcih I probably will). Definitely recommend it and all the Swoon bags. They are great!

  16. Jackie says:

    I have to admit, I have never sewn in a zipper. It’s on my list of things to try!

  17. Donna Baker says:

    it is SO fun!! I love it

  18. Kate says:

    Eeee so cute Cyndi!!

  19. Susie says:

    Super cool and super cute bag! I love your fabrics. I’d love to try this bag pattern someday….

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