My New AK Bag and a Baby Blanket

Here's my new AK (Amy Karol) bag. It's brown in part because I'm thinking of it as my "autumn bag", but also because I wear a lot of browns and don't have a bag to match. It only has one outside pocket, and already I want to modify it some. On my original bag (with two outside pockets) I added velcro to close both outside pockets. I have found it kind of annoying that I can't just drop my car keys in one of the outside pockets without undoing the Velcro, so on every bag I've made since I've not put any Velcro on the outside pockets. Now, I'm finding it annoying that the un-Velcroed pocket means that it flops open, especially when there are keys in it. Hmmm. Also, I think I want to (on future bags) add another inside pocket with a zipper or Velcro closure; I need to have more small compartments for the little things (like band-aids) I carry with me all the time. On a positive note, I really like how the colors turned out. The majority of the bag is made from what I think is a wool suiting that I got virtually for free at a garage sale. I have a ton of it, too, and it would be great for more bags.

I'm finally spending time playing with my serger. This is a quick baby blanket I serged together and I really like how the serging acts as a design element by making all the edges wavy and also makes it a finished piece. I'm still trying to reduce my stash of fabrics.... so I have room to get more! These two fleece pieces I bought back in my crazy pregnant days when I thought I'd make some cute little outfit for my own infant. Ha! They had sat neatly folded on a shelf until I made this over the weekend, and my baby turned 2 not long ago. Now, I just need a little baby to give it to.

The Amy Karol Bag

So, someday, if I have a small crafting/sewing business.... I'll offer the "Amy Karol" bag for sale. Of course, I'll have to get Amy Karol's permission, etc., but I'm naming this bag after her because of the inspiration I got from making a couple of the Pleated Beauty Handbags from her Bend the Rules Sewing book and bag swap. I modified the construction and size, and added exterior pockets, but I'm very proud of the final product! It is the right size for carrying a good hardback book and a nalgene water bottle, without being too big or floppy. Or I can carry a two-year old's water bottle, a snack, and a couple of play cars... and a good paperback book and a nalgene water bottle.

My Amy Karol bag: wild and crazy, mismatched lining, handles, and pleats! An exterior pocket on both front and back, and much of it made of sturdy cotton duck. I absolutely love it!



And, the Amy Karol bag I made for my cousin, Katie. Somehow, she's always seemed like a perfect purple to me. So, he bag is certainly purple! On hers, the lining, handles, pockets, and pleats are all the same fabric. It has only one exterior pocket, but I also added a magnetic clasp to the main compartment.



If I ever get my business going I'll have to find a cheaper source for magnetic clasps- I think the clasp cost (at Hobby Lobby) as much as all the fabric together for the bag.