Sew What! Bags: 18 Pattern-Free Projects You Can Customize to Fit Your Needs (2 page)

YOU CAN READ ALL OF THE INFORMATIONAL STUFF
up front — or you can jump ahead to the projects and refer to the guidelines when you need them. You can also start with the first project and go through them all in order or you can skip around. Choose your own challenges and make what you like, when you like. But I do recommend skimming through everything first, just so you have an idea of where to find what you need later.

Sewing without a pattern may seem like a scary prospect to some … and liberating to others. Personally, I like the freedom and flexibility of pattern-free sewing. I want a bag to work for me, not the other way around.

This book is based on the same simple design principle that I use every day: Build the bag from the inside out.

THINK BEFORE YOU CUT
. Before you begin a project, ask yourself what you’ll be carrying in your new bag. You don’t need a pattern or template. Just your own eye and an understanding of your needs:

Will this bag be for daily use or for something specific?

Do you carry a lot of gear with you: phone, keys, gadgets, pens, and notebook?

Do you want to fish around in your bag to find your phone when it rings? Or would you like a dedicated phone pocket? Where would you like that pocket to be — on the inside of the bag or on the outside, where you can get to it faster?

Do you need to get to your checkbook easily? Or your lip balm?

Will you be carrying heavy books or lighter, fragile craft supplies?

Maybe you want something multipurpose?

You may be looking to whip up a simple all-purpose tote. Even though you don’t need to map out pockets or embellishments yet, you might want to think about the length of the straps.

Are you 5’1" or are you 5’10"? The answer will affect how long your straps should be, especially if you are lugging something at your side by the handles.

Do you like a bag to hang low on your hip? Or do you like it tucked under your arm?

Experiment with options. Once you know your preferences, you can make notes to save time later. Nothing will be as fixed or precise as working with a pattern, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get what you want. You’ll love watching your own style and preferences evolve.

STRUT YOUR STUFF
. Go get everything you plan to carry in your bag. Lay it all out and measure it right on the fabric. Eyeball it, to start. Then, to give yourself something more concrete to work from, grab some graph paper and a pencil. Look at your goodies spread out on the fabric and make a sketch — and I don’t mean it has to be pretty. It just needs to be accurate and to scale. (
See
Graph, Paper, Scissors!
on page
14) By doing this, you can get a good idea of what the shape and size of the bag will be. That’s really all the “pattern” you’ll need.