The Evelyn

I stumbled upon an awesome pattern from Chris W. Designs for a wonderfully professional looking handbag, the Evelyn!  Being that I love to try new techniques and further my knowledge of the craft, I purchased it.  I will admit that when I printed it out and first took a look, it was kind of intimidating!  It was a long, detailed pattern with LOTS of pieces.  So, I put it aside until a day came where I was feeling a little braver.  A couple of months later I saw a fabric from the Heirloom Collection from Joel Dewberry and knew it was time to break out that pattern and make a new bag! 
As with most things, once you actually get started it's not as difficult as you think it is going to be. Although, the first one I made (pictured above) did take SEVERAL hours - it was WELL worth it as I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this bag! It is completely functional with 2 exterior elastic side pockets (where I keep my cell phone and keys for easy access), an exterior zippered pocket on the back,

an interior zippered pocket which also doubles as a regular open pocket, and there are also 3 more pockets on the inside - one of them a pen pocket!  I ended up getting a couple of orders for these :)  As my fiance' says they are sharp looking bags!

This is the second - also a fabric from the Joel Dewberry Collection! The orange and turquoise are fabulous together!!  My favorite color is orange by the way :)  I believe I could purchase almost the entire collection of the citrine palette! These fabrics are a pleasure to work with and have a wonderful weight and feel to them.

Cutting the bag takes a little over an hour, I would guess - considering you are not interrupted, which I have yet to experience :) But, so is the wonderful life of a mom! I wouldn't know what to do without hearing that sweet little voice call me 50 gazillion times a day.  It has 46 cut pieces including the outer fabric, lining fabric, fusible interfacing and fleece interfacing, plus the 5 rectangle rings, two zippers, two pieces of elastic, and the magnetic snap.

Christine's pattern is well written and easy to follow with plenty of pictures to help you along.  This bag has turned out great each time I have made it and is well worth the time that goes into it.  First, you make and attach the handles, snap, and back zippered pocket.

Next, comes the side elastic pockets for the outside of the bag- these have 5 pieces each!  The interfacing, side panel, 2 pieces for the pocket, and a piece of elastic. They def come in handy though!  I can drop my keys in one and don't have to search through my purse for them!  My cell stays in the other, and I never have to look for it either! Love these pockets!!

The part that always gets me is attaching the sides - it is kinda tricky, and I always stick myself with (at least) a couple of pins.  When pinned enough, it vaguely resembles a voodoo doll of sorts.  But, when carefully done, it turns out beautiful!

Then, it is time to assemble the interior of the bag which features a zippered pocket that also doubles as a regular pocket, a pen pocket, and two more regular pockets.  I love the extra detail that Christine wrote into these in the pattern.  The band at the top of the pockets and double stitching not only really set these apart but also make them extra durable!

With both the interior, flap and exterior complete, finally, you can put it all together.  The interior is interfaced with fleece which makes it sturdy but flexible and soft at the same time. The exterior is interfaced as well but with a slightly stiffer fusible interfacing.  I use Pellon Decor-Bond for this and the handles.  The Evelyn is made to hold up well for a very long time!

This awesome paisley fabric is from Hobby Lobby and was picked by a customer for a custom order.  The Evelyn does take quite a bit of time to complete but is well worth every minute!  In the end, you end up with a well constructed, heavy duty handbag that is sure to last.

I def plan to try more patterns from Christine at Chris W. Designs!  If you are interested in trying these for yourself, you can find her online at www.chriswdesigns.com  or on Etsy.  She also has a blog and a Facebook page!  You can find plenty of Joel Dewberry's fabric on Etsy at really good prices.

If you would like an Evelyn already made you can message me on my Facebook page or through Etsy.  I don't have these listed just yet in my shop but they are $50 and you can choose your fabric for a totally custom bag!


That's it for now :) Time to go sew!

T