This is a pattern hack of the Sew Sweetness Hey Mercedes Bag sewing pattern, from the book Windy City Bags. The modification is for different pockets on the bag! While this tutorial is free, you’ll need to pick up Windy City Bags for the pattern in order to complete the rest of the bag.
DEFINITION – Pattern Hack [pat-ern hack]: to modify or write a sewing pattern in a skillful or clever way.
This post is part of an ongoing series from my Pattern Hack Posse, and was written by Angelina. You can find her at Izume Boutique and on Facebook!
Hi I’m Angelina, I have a small home-based business called Izume (It’s a combination of my maiden name and married name). I was thrilled (and a little bit nervous) when Sara picked me to be part of her pattern hack posse as I’ve never written a blog post before so bare with me. I’ve been sewing and making bags for over 7 years now, and I can never follow a pattern exactly as it’s written, I always have to hack it!
I’m going to hack the Hey Mercedes Bag pattern from Sara’s new book Windy City Bags. What is a pattern hack? Well, it’s when you take any pattern and you add your own personal touch by adding pockets, recessed zippers, or even making the bag bigger or smaller. The possibilities are endless!
When I hack a pattern my main focus is pockets! The main reason I started making bags was I couldn’t find a store bought bag with enough pockets. The size of the Hey Mercedes Bag makes it a perfect candidate to add pockets especially since I can never have too many pockets!
Pocket #1:
For this pocket I wanted something in the open front pocket to divide it up a bit. Creating a place for my phone and keys and room for whatever else I needed quick access to. I made a pocket that was 1.5” shorter than the front pocket but the same width. Finding the center seams, I aligned it on the bag front and stitched down the center and basted along the sides and bottom to form two slip pockets.
I added the front pocket according to the pattern instructions on top of the slip pockets.
Pocket #2:
I figured if there is a pocket on the front why not put another one on the back. Except with this pocket I added a zipper to mix it up a little. Plus, having an outside zipper pocket is always handy.
Basically, I cut out 2 front pockets and interfacing and used one for the back.
I didn’t want the zipper go under the handle extenders to avoid it being too bulky, so I cut the zipper to 9.75” and put tabs on both ends of the zipper making sure they met at the extenders. Adding a zipper to this pocket is similar to adding the accent piece on the front, but I had to center the zipper on the pocket front piece, as it didn’t reach the ends. Using a zipper foot, I basted it in place, added the lining piece, turned it right side out and topstitched along the zipper.
Sewing a zipper pocket to the bag piece this way can be tricky, especially with the curved pocket. It takes patience and a lot of measuring, pinning and checking to get it just right on the bag. I had to go back and forth, checking the position of the zipper. Once I got it pinned in place I sewed it down, basted the sides and bottom of the pocket and added the handle extenders. When it comes together it looks pretty good!
Pocket #3:
I always have to have extra slip pockets on the interior of any bag. I added 3 pockets to the back piece of the lining just under the zippered pocket. I have learned it’s better to put them on the back rather than the front so they won’t get in my way while I’m rummaging thru the bag.
Once all the hacks were done I was able to finish the bag!
After completing this bag, I came up with more hacks I will try on my next Hey Mercedes Bag. I would make it smaller for sure, maybe around 85%. Add piping along the gusset and side seams. Create a zipper pocket on the back like the ones inside the bag instead of the one I did for this hack. If I’m feeling extra adventurous I may try a recessed zipper closure. The beauty of hacking a pattern is it’s limitless!
Thanks for reading my very first blog post!
I loved your MERCEDES BAG. It’s my first large bag. So i am working so much at my bag. It will be a wonderful bag. By the way, I am Brazilian and live in Rio de Janeiro (the city of Olimpic Games).
Huges
These hacks are great. I love pockets and I will be using these. Thanks for sharing.
Love the Mercedes bag and because I love pockets too your pattern hack is just perfect. Now I just need to finish some bag orders before I can have some fun with the Mercedes bag. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Fantastic ideas! I’ll definitely be hacking some outside slip pockets after seeing this bag.
I used several of your suggestions, including reducing the pattern to 85%. While I do like a smaller handback, I would say 85% is a might bit too small. Perhaps try 90 or 95%. I also customized the slip pockets to suit my needs (cell phone, transit pass, pens and pencils, etc. As another hack suggestion, I would add understitch the lining to the seam allowance to help it naturally curve to the inside.
Thanks for the great suggestions!