Made: two new bags
I recently made a couple of bags for a friend. I’ve made each of these patterns before. The first is a pattern from Amy Karol’s Bend the Rules sewing book. It’s a sweet little pattern, although it makes for a tiny bag. So I decided to also make a larger bag as well, based on the tinyhappy pattern. The trouble I have with the tinyhappy pattern is closing the strap. First I don’t sew by hand very well, and second it tends to get a bit bulky for me, where the ends meet and need to be hand sewn. I had the idea to not sew the ends into one strap at all, but to instead add buttons and have the 2 ends button together to form the strap. I also added a ribbon closure instead of doing a button and loop. 
Project Notes: The modifications to the tinyhappy pattern, modest as they were, went well. The trickiest part for me is having the ribbon face the right way when I sew it in.
Mistakes/Complications: The repeated mistake I make is easily recovered from but not ideal. I often forget to leave an opening in the lining to pull the outside fabric through, and I have to rip stitches to make an opening. Not properly closing the seam on each end of the opening does not please me.
Notes for Next Time: I’ve begun marking the 2 spots, on the piece which needs it, where to leave the opening. This helps me remember when I’m sewing.
Tags: bag, from a tutorial