My friend Kerry has a lovely contemporary fold over bag.
It is something I have admired for some time but couldn’t justify buying as I really don’t need a new bag.
However my mind changed last week when we all went had into self isolation and I began to look for more things to do at home.
In my studio I was sorting through my small stock of floral fabric and found a piece of cotton/silk that was too small for a scarf or cushion but too valuable to discard.
Kerry’s fold over bag came to mind and so I accessed youtube for ‘how to’ patterns to make one.
Using two videos from Yoan Sewing Studio as well as a book I have by English bag maker, Debbie Shore, ‘Half Yard Bags and Purses, 2018, Search Press I proceeded to nut out the bag. I wanted a zipper closure at the top and decided to really test myself and added a zipper inside pocket as well as some extra pockets for a phone etc.
As well as my cotton/silk piece I used (from my plain coloured fabric stash) some red cotton fabric for the lining and some gorgeous boiled wool in black to sew onto the small piece of my cotton/silk fabric design.
It ended up taking me over a week, some days working on it for several hours and other days just an hour before dinner.
In the end I am happy with it and look forward to the day when I can wear it out.
Sharon Greenaway 