Purse Palooza – Pattern Review – S.O.T.A.K. Lola Pouch

This post is part of Purse Palooza 2015. For full details and contest rules, check here.
Today’s post is from Hadley of Flying Blind On A Rocket Cycle.

Thank you Sara for inviting me to take part in this year’s Purse Palooza. For those who don’t know me, my name is Hadley, I blog over at Flying Blind On A Rocket Cycle and pop up on Instagram as mrsflyingblind. I used to sew at school and university, but took up seriously quilting and other stitchery stuff again just over five years ago.

I have bought most of Svetlana’s patterns. They are all so well thought out, with clear instructions, great photos and what I love most with the Lola, is the simple table of cutting measurements, because when you get into double-figures of making them, that’s all you need!

This 14 page pattern details 2 great sized pouches, I have made both, and scaled others in-between to suit the fabric scraps or interfacing I have had on hand, it really lends itself to adaption.

The larger size is my go-to, it’s the perfect travel project size for EPP or I am guessing crochet, or just for keeping all the sewing gubbins you need in one place. As and when I am feeling brave, using a laminated fabric for the lining would make an excellent make-up or flannel bag.

Svetlana describes this as a beginners level pattern and I agree. Although there is a zip, feared by many, oh I’ve been there done that, the method of installation means you really can’t go wrong, and there are none of those pesky zipper tabs or bulky ends that need careful wrangling on your regular type zippy purse.

http://s1313.photobucket.com/user/mrsflyingblind/media/Lolas/IMG_1511_zpscbslmcow.jpg.html

The pattern gives the size of the side panels, which I usually make with a single print, however I have pieced the panels too and either way looks great.

Boxing the corners is pretty straightforward, but for the smaller size pouch I cut away the corner squares and then stitched across; this way seemed less of a fiddle than the regular squeeze the corner flat first method.

Now, for this pouch, and most others that I make, after making the lining, I trim about 1/4″ off the top edges. When the outer and lining pieces are cut to the same size, and especially when there is batting involved, this effectively shrinks the internal volume, so the lining can end up too big. Trimming will make your lining fit inside better. You may also want to take the side seams in a little too when stitching, but make sure the width at the top is only 1/8″ narrower than the outer or you won’t get a nice fit, I don’t tend to adjust this.

I could not make this (or any other) pouch without Wonder Clips or similar, you will need them at every stage, and they make life so much simpler.

I tend to buy long zips in bulk and trim down as required, Svetlana clearly shows how you should cut nylon ones to size. For metal zippers I just leave them at the length they are; I did find a tutorial to shorten them, but it was literally like pulling teeth, and life is too short! As long as you make sure you only sew through the tape and not the metal stopper, you will be fine.

For the zipper end tab I always cut my fabric 1/2″ larger, turning my edges under by 1/2″ instead of a 1/4″. This is because I am rubbish at stitching neatly so close to the edge on such small finished pieces. I also attach my tab before I attach the zip to the pouch as I find trying to attach the tab, once it is sewn on, a bit of a palaver.

Don’t scrimp on the stitching around the top of the pouch; joining the outer to the lining, then basting the zip before attaching the binding. It may seem like overkill, but it isn’t. It keeps everything perfectly aligned, and as someone always looking for a shortcut, believe me, it really is worth doing it properly!

The binding is my favourite bit. I love the look, I love hand-stitching it down at the end. Like the satisfaction of finishing a quilt, but you get to that point about an hour after beginning the project. I have never finished by machine stitching down the binding, so I cannot comment on the ease, but if you are confident and go slow, I am sure on the larger size pouch it may not be too arduous.

I know I have probably not adequately conveyed my love of Lolas, but I really must urge you to give at least one a go; I bet you’d then make more.