Simp 2357, Construction

The Pendleton Bag, Simplicity 2357 is very close to complete. Love that tag that came with the yardage. I sewed it on the outside of the bag. My company is a day late and I am a day closer to completing it. There are a few things that need to be pointed out about this pattern. It is very easy. Despite the fact that I am using wool and fusible fleece it is easier to sew than most bucket type bags I have put to dear Pfaff. There are just no awkward turns and angles here. I am going to point out a few of the changes I did and recommend to anyone using this pattern.Some are because of my own decisions, others are because of the dumbing down of the pattern. First, the design calls for a strip of points to be sewn into the bias edges of the bag opening. The combo of the wool and fusible fleece was just too much for the pattern design to handle. Way back in my former quilting life I learned how to edge a quilt with "prairie points". Its really simple and here is how to do it:

First I cut a five inch square. It was five inches because that was the width of my ruler and it just seemed simpler to work with that width. The triangle is folded on the diagonal and given a good press. Then it is folded in half again and pressed well. I used my clapper thruought this project. Then the folded triangles are placed inside of each other along the bias edge and basted in.

The biggest problem I see with this pattern, and I do think it is a big one, is that there is no direction to stabilized the  bias edge. This bag will be pulled open a lot . Just handling it in sewing caused my lining to stretch quite a bit. So I would at the least, stay stitch the edge, but better yet, use some twill tape or selvedge to stay the edge.

Another shortcoming in the pattern directions is the lack of direction to understitch the edges, those bias edges again. I understitched them as far as I could. I also ditch stitched by hand with a back stitch,  connecting the side seams between the  lining and the wool. Without the ditch stitching and the understitching I can really see this bag bagging out, separating the lining, and becoming pretty sloppy looking pretty fast. Another recommendation would be to stitch a second line of stitching next to the first when attaching the handle to the bag, just for strength. This bag looks like it could carry a lot and I would hate to see that handle separate.

Below you can see the inside of the bag. It is pinned here and there and therefore looks a little lumpy. All that is left is to connect the other side and finish the bottom edge with a binding.I love the Kasha lining, very luxurious and perfect for this fabric.....Bunny