Well hello hello! I’m very happy to be releasing not one, but two patterns (I’ll blog about the Ansel Camera Bag tomorrow!).
I’m happy to introduce you to the Sloan Travel Bag, now available in my shop!
The Sloan Travel Bag is large – use it as a travel bag, school bag, laptop bag, or just if you have a lot of stuff! It features a 3-dimensional front pocket, zippered pockets, and padded straps. Keep everything safe with the top recessed zipper closure. There is also an elastic key strap in the lining, which will allow you to magically open a door without unhooking your keys from the bag! This pattern is rated for an intermediate-level sewist.
I made my bag sample out of Tula Pink ‘Eden’, which she is showing this weekend at Quilt Market. I made this bag with 40 wt Aurifil thread.
Finished Size: 18” long x 14” tall x 6” deep
Supplies
- 1-2/3 yards of Exterior Fabric
- 1-2/3 yard of Lining Fabric
- 1-1/2 yard of Solid Fabric for the straps
- 1 yard of By Annie’s Soft and Stable, available at local quilt shops or on-line
- (Soft and Stable is a 1/8” thick, foam sew-in interfacing; one of my testers also recommends automotive headliner fabric in place of the Soft and Stable; you can also substitute a needled fleece fusible interfacing for the Soft and Stable, such as Pellon #TP971F Thermolam Plus fusible interfacing)
- 3 yards of 20” wide Pellon SF-101 Shape Flex fusible woven interfacing (or medium-weight fusible interfacing)
- 1/2 yard of Pellon Peltex #71 fusible one-sided Interfacing (optional but recommended: for a sturdy bottom)
- 4 metal purse feet (optional)
- 9” or 10” zipper
- Two 14” zippers
- 22” zipper
- Four 1-1/2” metal rectangle rings
- 3/4” metal d-ring
- Two 1” metal swivel clips
- 2 pairs of pearl snaps (I use the Snap Setter tool and size 16 snaps)
- 3/4” wide elastic (16” long)
Thank you so much to all of the wonderful testers that did an amazing job with their bags! I hope you enjoy looking at all of their different versions!
Bernie made her bag out of amazing Ikea fabric in sophisticated white and gray. This bag sort of looks like it might be in a…I don’t know, J. Crew catalog? Amazing, and love the little zipper pull she’s added too!
Cyndi of The Nosy Pepper made her bag in Cotton + Steel fabrics. I really love that the front and side pockets match the straps, this really makes it stand out. Cyndi made this as an overnight bag for the hospital as she has a new little one!
Crystal made her bag in several prints from the new ‘Succulents’ fabric line by Heather Givans of Crimson Tate. I like that several prints from the line were used, it gives the bag a lot of stand out features!
Tracy from I’ve Got A Notion made her bag in a suede fabric that she had custom-printed on Spoonflower from one of her patchwork designs. Not only does the fabric look cool but the story is cool too! Breathtaking work Tracy (and thanks for the mosaic!).
Kristi made her Sloan Bag as a gift for an art teacher; it’s pretty breathtaking with this fabric! This one must have been hard to give up, Kristi!
Madelyn made her bag with cool Walking Dead fabric from the tv show, with red solid for the straps and polka dots for the side pockets. I think this is definitely an eye catcher and conversation starter!
Maria of Mia’s Creations made her bag with a textured fabric for the exterior with a floral print for the front and side pockets. I think this is a brilliant choice on fabrics and lets each feature of the bag stand out on its own! Great job Maria! You can read more about Maria’s bag on her blog here.
Yvette made her version with linen for the straps and a retro graphic floral print. She said that she used Pellon Thermolam for the body of the bag and it stand up quite nicely. Well done Yvette!!
Jamie of Designs by Jamie made her version in Alison Glass ‘Handcrafted’ fabrics. She used her bag for a trip to New York City for spring break! Jamie said it was her first time using snaps, and she found it to be really easy. She said she made her bag in about 5 hours. Great job!!
Shannon made her bag in a texty bike print fabric, and quilted the exterior fabric. Shannon also used magnetic snaps for the side pockets instead of pearl snaps. This is a gorgeous bag that definitely makes me dream about travelling!
Jessy of Auntie Matter made this gorgeous water-color bag using coordinating purple straps. It looks fun and, dare I say, spring-like? Wonderful work on your bag, Jessy!
Kelleigh sent me a photo of her bag and I gasped when I opened the e-mail, as it looked amazing in leather! I am always envious of people when they work with leather because the bags just look so good! Great job Kelleigh!
Chloe made her bag in a blue and white ikat print, with denim looking fabric for the straps and interior. Beautiful work Chloe! She said she is in need of a trip somewhere so she can take her bag somewhere fun…Hawaii anyone??
Natalie made this gorgeous bag in a stripe fabric, with the stripes going vertically with the straps. I think it looks fantastic and it is pressed and turned out for a perfect finish!
Audrey made her bag in a pretty green and pink watercolor fabric, with hot pink for the straps and bottom of the bag. I love colored solids for straps, they look just fab!
Mary made her bag in a neutral graphic print fabric, with textured solid for the straps. I like the idea of the large neutral print that Mary used because it can go well with any outfit or situation. Beautiful work as always Mary!
Julie at Jones Brady Bunch made her bag in a lovely dark peacock fabric, and I think the fussy cutting of the front pocket is pretty darn amazing! If it wasn’t for the green zipper, I might have missed it! Great job Julie!
Peta is overachieving as always and making 2 bags, both in tapestry fabric. She’s also fashioned her own ‘hardware’ out of fabric rings, which you can see attached to the straps. Lovely Peta, and your hard work shines through!
Cindy of Raspberry Sunshine made this bag in bright happy red polka dot fabric. I chose this view of the bottom of the bag out of the photos that Cindy sent, so you could see an alternate view and how crisp her bottom looks! Great job Cindy!
Alisha of Crafty Brooklyn Army Wife made her bag in a beautiful pool stripe fabric, with solids for the lining and straps. I really love the straps in this bag because it really makes the front pocket stand out! Great job Alisha!
Carrie of Carrie’s Things made her bag in soft neutral fabrics for the exterior and detailed topstitching on the straps. I think all the features and details together make for a truly winning bag!
Mary of Beautiful Blooms made this bag for her daughter for all of her crafting supplies…her favorite print in her favorite color! I think this is so sweet, especially made for someone special!
Fiona made her bag in newsprint fabrics, which I am a huge fan of. She noted that the interfacing used in the bag is really important, as it is such a big bag and the interfacing will help it to stand up. Beautiful work Fiona!
Holly made her bag with prints from two different lines of Melody Miller’s designs for Cotton + Steel. I love how these prints play together, with a pop of fuchsia in the lining. So gorgeous Holly!
Georgi made her bag in a navy blue nautical themed fabric, and quilted the exterior fabric to go along with the triangles on the print. This is really fantastic and so pretty!
Donna made her bag in batik fabrics, and squee, she added grommets for the bottom of the bag underneath the front pocket! I love it!! She also used magnetic snaps on those side pockets instead of pearl snaps.
Angie of Sewing with Squeak made her bag out of an adorable viking fabric! I especially love that the front pocket appears to be a border print. Very cute and the bag looks fantastic!
I hope you’ve enjoyed the Sloan Travel Bag eye candy! If you liked this bag, please check it out in my pattern shop or at your local quilt store.
Thanks for allowing me to test yet another fantastic pattern, Sara! So many great samples here – lots of inspiration.
WOW!! LOVE the variety of fabrics and ideas shown by your testers. Will be purchasing this pattern. I have yet to make a bag, purse, or tote, but intend to continue through all the patterns adored once I start. Just finishing rearranging my spare room into a sewing room. My priority in ownership is a variety of bags – for ANY reason. Like shoes, a person can never own too many! Thanks for a great pattern!
Hi Sara, congrats on another great design. I think this one’s a must-make!
All the testers’ samples look wonderful, but a few really stand out (literally!!) with extra crisp shaping & perky profiles. Question: do you know whether there’s any trend in which interfacing they used for those ultimately professional finishes?
Happy stitching!
Same pattern, so much diversity! So fantastic!
Great pattern! Congrats!
I don’t sew. Where can I buy one of these bags? I’m going on a trip and this would be perfect. Thanks!
These are so fabulous! What a great bag!
Hey Sara! I am planning to purchase this pattern to make as a work bag. Do you think it would be possible to add a padded divider to function as a laptop slot?
Any plans to make a video for this pattern? Your videos give the support I need to construct with confidence. I’d love to make one to rival my Vera B one!
Yes, we are preparing a video for this pattern now and it will be available later this summer. Thank you!