Pattern Hack – Honeymooner Suitcase

This is a pattern hack of the Sew Sweetness Honeymooner Suitcase sewing pattern, from the book Big-City Bags. The modification to the pattern is for luggage straps and a mesh zippered pocket! While this tutorial is free, you’ll need to pick up Big-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 Terry.  You can find her on Instagram as tooheycohen.

This project started with Tula Pink hexies.  I went looking for a fun bag to show them off.  The HoneymoonerSuitcase from Sara’s first book, Big City Bags, is perfect for that.  The exterior main panels are large enough to show off your favorite large-scale print or focal fabric.  This case is a great size for overnight or weekend, but I wanted to add a few features to help organize the inside.  I chose to add a zippered, netted pocket and luggage straps.

I love this grey woodgrain fabric from Joel Dewberry for the exterior gusset and lining because it makes the bright colors of the Tula Pink fabrics stand out! I also used Pellon double-sided, fusible Flex Foam instead of fusible fleece to give the case more structure.  The extra supplies I needed for my additions were a zipper and netting for the pocket, and two parachute buckles for the luggage straps.

To start, I used the pattern dimensions to sew hexies together, making one large piece of fabric.  After cutting both the hexie fabric and Flex Foam to size according to the pattern instructions, I fusedmy hexie panels directly to the Flex Foam.  (Hint:  If you use double-sided fusible foam, put parchment paper underneath or you might fuse the panel to your ironing board.  Guess how I know that!)

Zippered, Netted Pocket Tutorial:  My first addition to the pattern was the netted, zippered pocket.  Because of the way this case opens and is carried, I put the zipper on the side of the pocket, and not the top or bottom.

The materials for this pocket are:  one zipper cut to exactly 10-1/2”; strips cut as follows: (A) one at 2-1/2” x 10-1/2”, (B) two at 1-1/4” x 10-1/2”, and (C) two at 1-1/4” x 15-1/5”; one piece of netting 10-1/2” x 13”.

Fold all strips in half lengthwise, wrong sides together and press.  With your zipper facing right side up, place the raw edges of strip A lined up with the top edge of the zipper.  Stitch, using ¼” seam.  Fold up, press and top-stitch (1).

Place the raw edges of one strip B lined up with the bottom edge of the zipper.  Stitch, using ¼” seam (2).  Press down, then tuck the 10-1/2” side of the netting between the strip and zipper.  Pin and topstitch, making sure to catch the netting in the seam (3)(4).

Place the raw edges of the other strip B lined up with the opposite 10-1/2” side of the netting (5).  Stitch using ¼” seam, fold down and press (do not topstitch).  Repeat for both long sides, using the C strips, letting them hang over the top and bottom edges by ½” (6).  Fold the sides out and press.  Then, fold the edges that are hanging over so they are even with the edges of each top and bottom strip.  Pin (7).

Place the entire pocket onone lining main panel with the zipper on one side, pin, and top-stitch around all four sides using 1/8” seam.Top-stitch again about ¼” from the first top-stitching (8).

Luggage Straps Tutorial:  I also wanted a way to keep things from moving around inside the case, so I added luggage straps.   The materials for the straps are two strips at 2” x 9”, two strips at 2” x 16” and two ¾” parachute buckles.

Fold each strip in half lengthwise, right sides together, and sew the long side with ¼” seam.  Turn right side out and press.  Leave one end of each strap raw, and turn the other end over by ½”, twice, then sew to finish.  Attach each 9” strip to the half of the buckles without the adjustment, by threading one end through, top to bottom.  Sew the finished end as close to the buckle as possible to secure the strap.  Attach each 16” strip to the adjustable half of thebuckles by threading the strip through from the bottom up through the top, over the bar, and down through to the bottom again.

The raw edges of the four pieces are added to the inside seam where the main panel and gusset are sewn together.

Here is a quick tip for adding the bias-binding to the inside seams:  After all your pieces are sewn together, trim the inside seam allowances to 1/4 inch.  Then sew around the edges using a large zig-zag stitch to hold all the layers together.  This makes adding your bias binding so much easier, especially when using a foam interfacing.

I hope you like my Tula Pink hexie version of Sara’s Honeymooner Suitcase.  These hacks have addedsome nice organization to the inside of this great case.   Thanks for reading all the way to the end! Happy Sewing!

Terry (tooheycohen)