You may have already seen the many beautiful examples of the Doable Duffel taking shape over on Instagram, but I finished mine this past weekend and just had to share it.
To be honest I’ve always struggled a little with bag making. It’s intimidating! I’m a pretty impatient sewer, and there’s always the fear that my little machine won’t be up to the task of tackling the construction. But when I saw Shelly’s pattern, and how cute the quilted bag was, knowing that I had a road trip coming up this summer, AND that there was an option to take it as a video course, I decided I’d give it a go.
And I’m so glad I did! The course was fun and super easy to follow, as was the pattern itself. My machine had no problem with any of the layers (which I think is a testament to the pattern design – it never got that thick in any one spot). And in the end I have my very own handmade bag. Super functional, and honestly I feel pretty proud of it.
I used Rifle Paper canvas fabric for the exterior, Carolyn Friedlander for the interior, and Denyse Schmidt for the pockets and trim.
I got my webbing (that’s the woven straps, something I learned), hardware, zippers, and stabilizer all from the Ma Tante shop. (You can buy individual pieces or a complete bundle, which is what I did.)
The verdict? Highly recommend Shelly’s pattern, whether you find bags challenging like me, or you’re a pro and just want a fun project! I’m already thinking about the canvas in my stash and which pieces I may just turn into duffels for Christmas.
Resources
Pattern: Doable Duffel by Ma Tante Quilting