Messenger Bag for Little Sister
June 1, 2012 Oh you are all just the sweetest people. My daughter read all your lovely birthday wishes and says, "Thank you!"
You may remember last September when I made my older daughter a Messenger Bag for school. We just sorta came up with the design together and I made up a pattern. (Available here.)
This first one is wearing very well ... I've even washed it a handful of times and it still looks great! (I'm so relieved our design turned out to be as durable as it is cute ... if I do say so myself.)
Well, little sister really wanted one after all (big surprise).
So. Here it it. I think it turned out so super cute. These colors are so HER. All fabrics in this bag are from Rosalie Quinlan's "Folkheart" line for Lecien.
And of course she also wanted a monogram, just like big sister ...
I love the shoulder pad. Makes walking to and from school a lot more comfortable ('cause she's the kind of kid who will end up with 3 or 4 half empty water bottles in the bottom of the bag by the end of the week ...). For me it's little details that - yeah, I know, take longer to finish - but they make all the difference between a nice bag and a totally.awesome.designer.detailed.my.mom.really.loves.me.so.much bag.
And the blue fabric she picked ...
was for the lining.
It was so much fun making this for her "in secret".
She was sweet enough to pretend she was really surprised when she opened it ... but I know her well enough to know she wasn't faking her delight/pride when she saw it all finished in her fabrics.
There's just nothing like making your child happy with something you make. I know these days are numbered. She will eventually roll her eyes at me and explain in her best exasperated tone that it is SO NOT COOL MOM to use a homemade, quilted bag for school and that she will have to enter a witness protection program to survive the ensuing humiliation of being seen in public carrying anything homemade.
So I'm taking advantage of every minute she gives me.
And then I'm going to start harrassing her for grandchildren.
Wait, better rethink that ... I've already told her she can't get married until she's 30.
Reader Comments (30)
Turned out just as great as the last one, you have some lucky girls! Any chance you would post a tutorial or sell a PDF of that bag? It is just too cute! Happy belated birthday to your daughter, handmade gifts are the best!
How cute is that bag? And the photo of your daughter seeing it all made up is precious. Even though you can't see her face, you can feel her smile! I think both bags are "stylin'", and know the girls will use them with pride.
Adorable and great pattern. Would you do a tutorial? Please?? So glad your daughter enjoyed her very special birthday gift. She will remember that always, even when she's rolling her eyes at you!
Please, pretty please! Please do a tutorial or pattern of somehow teach us how to make that bag! It is absolutely darling.
Your girls are so blessed to have a mom who cares enough to make the very best!
Hugs........
The bag is brilliant! Are you planning on doing a tutorial or publishing a pattern?!!
Brilliant bag!! :)
I think you might have to shorten the description though if you're going to market it. :)
Happy weekend Kristyne,
Vivienne x
Adorable!!! Love it, love it! So happy that she had a great birthday! And can't wait for that pattern! :)
Oh Happy Day!! What a gift,you never disapoint! Loving it! It has all of the poiints I would want my daughter to have too! I especially loved that you included that zipper closure,as I al always losing things..then that shoulddr pad. and that padded strap, and of course the initial!! Perfectly done as usual. I beg you also,please do a paid pattern for us and tutorial,pretty please!!! Loved your fabric placements. It was a perfect day for the little princess!!
Love this bag! And even the monogram is the right one for me, heehee;-) Totally agree with all this tutorial/pdf pattern wishes above. Have a wonderful weekend, Hildy
the not loving stuff is temporary. But tough to get thru! The bag is fantastic. Like you xo
ps glad she had a happy birthday!
Being the excellent designer you are, you could make some serious money if you put out a pattern for the Messenger Bag. Consider this a challenge to spread your wings (again) and make this the first in your new pattern line! You have our love and support.
Oh wow! Lucky birthday girl!!! Happy birthday!
You are such a whiz! I wish I had your talent. Would you consider making into a pattern (I would gladly pay!) or do a wonderful tutorial?!?!
It is just gorgeous gorgeous!!!!
Bernie
That bag is lovely! Such great choices of fabric.
Claire
It's a chorus!!!! What a beautiful bag!!!! Could you PLEASE post a tutorial or a PDF pattern or both!!!! My 18 yr. and first born is leaving for univ.in England this fall (insert lots of crying from mom) and I would love to surprise her with this bag.
Keep up the great work!!!!
Kerry
What a fabulous birthday bag and congratulations to the birthday girl! The not wanting homemade stuff doesn't last too long. I have daughters 17 and 19 and they both love to have stuff I make. Especially the eldest who is away from home studying. She has taken all sorts of things that I have made with her to university so that it feels like 'home'. Made me feel very emotional!! Please think about doing a tutorial for the bag and also for the darling pencil case you made a short while ago. Just love them both! :)
Oh man that is cute!! Don't worry she'll think you are totally awesome again when she's all grown up and you whip her up the coolest diaper bag on earth for her little ones. And 30 is a good age to shoot for!! Great bag and Happy Birthday to your little sweetie!!
I would buy this pattern! This bag is fantastic! My daughter would love it.... Please, please, pretty please!? :).
This is so pretty! Any chance of buying this pattern? Thanks for sharing your beautiful things!
Love both of the bags! They are so beautiful! and hey....my birthday is June 11th and I will act "totally surprised" if you made me one too! hahaha!
You are a great Mom!
That is SO cool!!!! You're a totally awesome mom!
I would love a pattern too, that bag is so fabulous!
your bags are awesome! I just started making bags last year, and am surprised how well they wear! how come you can buy a "super durable" backpack at the store, and in a few months, and a few washings, it looks like trash? my homemade bags wash up like a dream!
I would like to share a story i read in a blog, somewhere, last summer. a fellow quilter was making her 20yo son's gf a bag as a gift. son appropriately gushed over moms work, assured her how wonderful it was, but gently mentioned that his gf spent hundreds of dollars on designer bags...so mom finished it up and put it in a box, and added it to the pile of stuff in her sewing room. she bought ds gf a gift card at an upscale dept store. xmas came, and while others were opening their gifts, dh rescued that box from the sewing room, wrapped it, and brought it in to the son's gf. she loved it. son later said she had it with her every day, that she said she never had a designer make a bag just for her! this story touched my heart, and i hope that the gifts i make my sons future girlfriends are received with such appreciation!
You did it again! What a wonderful bag! I loved seeing this and I bet it was fun to shower her with something you made that she will treasure! Way to go mom! (My birthday is in August.... just saying'... bahahahahahaha...... JUST KIDDING! ;OD
What a sweet birthday girl! I'm with everyone else in begging (down on my knees!) for the PDF/Tute to this bag (this is a second plead as I made the first back in September) & don't forget the pencil case, I'd love to learn how you make the zipper piping, (I tried & the tabs ended up facing the wrong direction, not pretty! :(
Am sure she will remember this bag for ever, it is so cute
Beautiful bag, she must be thrilled. My lil Ella still likes homemade stuff, the older three not so much, a prom dress or maybe some wedding dresses soon specially for Lauren who's 22, I'm already in grandkids hassling mode. No patience :(
Have a lovely weekend Karen x
lol THIRTY??!!! ;p I love the bag...will you be my mommy? I promise to sew with you if you adopt me! ;p
Beautiful bag! Lucky girl! Great mom!
Another masterpiece -- Very VERY cute Kristyne!!!!
that is a very sharp bag.