Hi, ya’ll! This is Veronica from sewVery, and I am excited to be a part of Purse Palooza again this year! While I love to sew clothes for my adorable little girl, sewing bags and purses are my favorite because of the challenge.
For my bag pattern review this year, I chose to sew The Scoop Tote by Green Bee Patterns. I purchased this paper only pattern as part of a kit from Craftsy.
The Scoop Tote is a medium to large sized bag with finished dimensions of 18″ Wide x 13″ High (excluding handles) x 3″ Thick that a confident beginner could easily sew. The design includes scalloped, “scoop” details along the upper purse edges as well as pleats at the top where the straps are attached. The pattern offers two strap lengths (18″ vs. 22″), and I chose the longer option which makes placing the bag straps on my shoulder a simple task with one hand.
Materials per the Actual Pattern:
1 yard each of main bag fabric and lining fabric/strap lining
1/4 yard strap fabric
2 yards Decor Bond fusible interfacing
1 magnetic snap
Spool of all purpose thread
All yardage amounts based on 44″ wide fabric, and the pattern recommends using mid weight quilting cotton or cotton, cotton/linen canvas.
I originally had planned to use Decor Bond per the pattern instructions, but after meeting a woman at the fabric store who had made this exact bag and felt it was a bit stiff on the exterior panels and lacked support along the bottom, I changed my plans. I didn’t envision The Scoop Tote being a super structured bag, so instead, I fused Pellon Shape Flex minus the seam allowance to all pattern pieces for both the bag exterior, lining, and straps. In addition, I fused Pellon Peltex to the end panels and the bottom to give the tote extra support when fully loaded with all my stuff. Again, I made sure to cut my Peltex the size of the Bag Bottom and Side Panel pieces minus the seam allowance of 1/2″.
With the use of Shape Flex and some Peltex, I am very pleased with the overall structure and feel of my Scoop Tote.
Per the pattern instructions, The Scoop Tote has one very large slip pocket on the inside. I felt this pocket was too big and that items would easily get lost or fall out of it. To help prevent that from happening, I sewed a seam down the middle making two smaller pockets. These two smaller interior pockets are ideal for holding a small notepad, pen, lip balm, mints, keys, etc.
The two pockets on either Side Panel of the exterior are the perfect size for holding my iPhone 5.
I like the convenience of having my phone so accessible, but because it is so visible and this bag is so long, I always make sure to have my phone on the end of the bag facing forward when I am carrying it. I guess I am paranoid that someone could easily take my phone or that it could fall out!
The pattern does not include an option for a zippered closure, and I wish that it did. The Scoop Tote has a very spacious opening that makes accessing my wallet and other interior items quick and easy; however, I feel that the magnetic closure doesn’t provide enough security or prevent items from falling out when the bag is sitting on a surface. See how open either side of the magnetic closure is?
A zipper closure could be easily added using this tutorial which I will definitely do on my next one! Also, another note about the magnetic snap. I found that its placement is a little too far down from the top edge of the bag. If it were moved up roughly 1/2″, I think it would make it easier to snap it shut and provide more clearance above the slip pocket yet not interfere with topstitching around the top edge of the bag.
As I mentioned earlier, I opted to sew the longer length straps which I love. I have no problems fitting my arm through the opening and hoisting the straps onto my shoulder with one hand. When cutting out your fabric, please don’t forgot to mark the outer strap edge as noted on the pattern piece. I failed to do this, and as a result, I sewed the straps onto the bag in the wrong direction the first time. Since the straps are sewn onto the bag body last, it was a fairly simple fix to pick out the stitching and flip the direction of the straps. I’m glad I did because the straps are cut so that when attached properly to the bag, the curvature fits your shoulder properly.
The Scoop Tote by Green Bee Patterns is a really well-designed pattern with easy to follow instructions full of detailed graphics. I sewed this one in an afternoon, and despite my comments regarding my personal preferences toward the bag structure and closure options, I would definitely sew this bag again!
Be sure to visit my blog, sewVery, to see other bags I’ve sewn. It’s been a pleasure being a part of Purse Palooza again this year! Thanks, Sara!
This post is part of Purse Palooza 2015. For full details and contest rules, check here.
Today's post is from Nancy of Baby Rozen Design.
Hello everyone! My name is Nancy Spaulding from Baby Rozen Design. I haven't had much time to sew lately, so this was a fun project! Thank you for having me Sara!
Today I decided to share my...
This post is part of Purse Palooza 2015. For full details and contest rules, check here.
Today's post is from Svetlana of s.o.t.a.k. handmade.
Hi everyone, Svetlana of s.o.t.a.k handmade here. Bags and pouches are my most favorite thing to sew, so when Sara asked if I wanted to make and review a bag of my choice for Purse Palooza I...
This post is part of Purse Palooza 2015. For full details and contest rules, check here.
Today's post is from Ree of Sincerely, Ree.
Hello! I hope everyone is FANTASTIC! Can you believe it's almost the end of October? I love this time of year, in part because I look forward to Purse Palooza. I get inspired seeing all the great pattern reviews...
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This post is part of Purse Palooza 2015. For full details and contest rules, check here.
Today's post is from Bree of My Crafty Crap.
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Hey there! Bree here from My Crafty Crap, which unfortunately has been very quiet for a while now, but you can find me over on Instagram these days.
Today I'm sharing the Sheena Hobo Bag from Swoon Patterns. Sheena is...
This post is part of Purse Palooza 2015. For full details and contest rules, check here.
Today's post is from Kerry of verykerryberry.
Hi and welcome to my post for Purse Palozzza. I always find these Palozza posts a great resource for bag and purse making so thank you Sara for hosting! When Sara asked me if I'd like to take part...
This post is part of Purse Palooza 2015. For full details and contest rules, check here.
Today's post is from Darcie of Darcie Mair.
When Sara asked me to write a pattern review for Purse Palooza I was extremely flattered and surprised! I love reading Purse Palooza every year, to be a part of it is like a dream come true!...
This post is part of Purse Palooza 2015. For full details and contest rules, check here.
Today's post is from Reece of Happy Okapi.
Hi! I’m Reece from Happy Okapi and I’m so excited to have been invited to participate in Purse Palooza this year.
Right away when Sara asked, I started thinking about what I would make. I was anxiously awaiting...
This post is part of Purse Palooza 2015. For full details and contest rules, check here.
Today's post is from Crystal of The Cloth Albatross.
I’m so excited to be a part of Purse Palooza this year. Thanks for having me, Sara! I’m Crystal of The Cloth Albatross. I love sewing and creating things with fabric, especially bags. Part of the...
This post is part of Purse Palooza 2015. For full details and contest rules, check here.
Today's post is from Emily of Mommy's Naptime.
For this review I sewed the Cat Pouch by Kristin / Woolly Petals. The pouch is Kristin's first purse pattern and it's totally adorable. You can find it on Craftsy.
When I first saw the Cat Pouch...
This post is part of Purse Palooza 2015. For full details and contest rules, check here.
Today's post is from Tiffany.
Hello everyone! I am super happy to be guest blogging for Sara’s Purse Palooza today!
The pattern I chose to review was Noodlehead "Caravan Tote".
This is the caravan tote I made for a swap for a friend, I absolutely need...
This post is part of Purse Palooza 2015. For full details and contest rules, check here.
Today's post is from Stephanie of Swoodson Says.
Hi! I'm Stephanie, I blog & sell toy sewing patterns at Swoodsonsays.com. I was so excited that Sara invited me to join in Purse Palooza, not only because she's a fellow Midwesterner, but because I bought a...
This post is part of Purse Palooza 2015. For full details and contest rules, check here.
Today's post is from Natalie of Hungry Hippie.
Purse Palooza 2015! All the makes have been so inspiring, I've found a few more patterns I "need" already. Have you?
For my Purse Palooza post I made the Aragon Bag, a sewing pattern by Sara Lawson of...
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I’ve had this patten in my stash for a while now waiting to be used, I’ve pinned this and will use when I get round to making it, I think I’ve put it off because of the wide opening and will add a zip gusset.
Enjoyed your review. Looks like another fun pattern.
Thank you!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I’ve had this patten in my stash for a while now waiting to be used, I’ve pinned this and will use when I get round to making it, I think I’ve put it off because of the wide opening and will add a zip gusset.
Cute, cute bag!
Not quite my style but a very nice roomy bag ! Thanks for the great review 🙂