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Maker's Project Bag / Making No. 11 / DAWN
17 Aug, 2021 · By Drisana Rosales· DAWN makealong , Making No. 11 / DAWN , Sewing · 2 comments

Maker's Project Bag / Making No. 11 / DAWN

17 Aug, 2021 · By Drisana Rosales· DAWN makealong , Making No. 11 / DAWN , Sewing · 2 comments
Maker's Project Bag
 
Learning a new craft often invokes the feeling of learning a new language. With time and practice, the lessons learned can offer a better understanding to the origins of each system. I owe a lot to the skills I’ve built over time, and how I’ve learned to organize all of the tools and information I’ve gathered along the way; multicraftual and multilingual.

What I find most special about the Maker's Project Bag designed by Molly George from Making No. 11 / DAWN is how customizable the pattern is from bag size to fabric choice and number of pockets. The pattern pieces are the perfect size to use up beloved scraps that remind you of projects past—where you started, and where you’re going.



 
Choosing a Size

I made both sizes of the Maker’s Project Bag using the same three fabric scraps in a range of cool blues, all under 1 yard each. For the foundation, I used a sturdy 10 oz. denim which added the perfect amount of structural support to the bottom section of the bags.

The supplies listed in the pattern includes enough yardage to make both sizes. You can also pick up a curated Maker’s Project Bag Kit from our shop with enough fabric to make both sizes. I chose to make the Main Top and Lining in alternate colors to make the most out of my fabric scraps.
Finished dimensions are 10 1/4” tall x 7 3/4” wide for the smaller bag and 12 3/4” tall by 7 3/4” wide for the large size. For reference, the smaller bag is pictured carries 4 skeins plus my knitting WIP, while the larger size holds a book and supplies for an on-the-go embroidery project.



 
Fabric
The Maker's Project Bag is perfect for using up fabric scraps from garments and accessories I've made over the past few years. Denim bucket hats and face masks, a pair of denim shorts, skirts, and a patchwork quilt, all made with these same remnants. These are fabrics with life, with stories of minor flaws, small cuts, and generally “unwanted” pieces. Unintentionally, I chose fabrics that match my wardrobe and personality.

Maker's Project Bag
 
 You will want to choose a heavy weight linen or cotton canvas—or in my case denim—as the Base fabric, otherwise you will need to add a heavy weight interfacing to your fabric. For the Main Top, I used medium weight fabrics for the Main Top as suggested: Robert Kaufman Oxford stripe for the smaller size and a navy blue cotton-linen blend for the larger size.

Beginner Tips

 To make stitching the pocket sections a breeze, I recommend using a water soluble fabric pen to mark the pocket divisions. I followed the pocket stitching guides provided in the pattern template which turned out perfectly for my organizational needs. My bags have four smaller sized pockets with enough room for a set of double pointed needles and scissors, and two large centered pockets that are perfect for holding circular needles and my needle wallet.



 
Topstitching

 As I used a heavy weight denim for my base fabric, I wanted to make sure the seam allowance was secure, so I topstitched this section with my machine towards the base fabric to hold everything in place. If you are using a lighter weight fabric with interfacing as the base, you can opt to hand stitch a decorative seam for this step. 



 
Drawstring

 You will need exactly 4 1/2 yards of 5 mm cotton cord to finish the drawstring portion of your two bags. If you are making one bag, you can cut the yardage in half to 2 1/4 yards. If your cotton cord is any thicker than 5mm, you may have difficulty fitting the rope through the drawstring channels. In this case, you will want to adjust the size of the drawstring channel to accommodate enough room for both cords to pass through. 

Maker's Project Bag

  
These project bags represent what I've learned about and what I've made, and also what I'm continuing to learn and make. The beauty of the Maker's Project Bag is that it sews up so quickly, you’ll be ready to fill it up with your projects in progress to bring along on your next adventure in nature or around the city.

Maker's Project Bag - Drisana Rosales



  
To make your own Maker's Project Bag, you can find the pattern on pages 51-56 of No. 11 / DAWN, and learn more about designer Molly George and her process in our latest Contributor Spotlight interview. 

Join our mailing list for a Zoom link to our weekly DAWN Makealong meetups where you can chat and craft with the Making team and take a closer look at our projects in progress from our latest issue DAWN. Don't forget to share your projects using the hashtag #dawnmakealong so we can follow along and share your creations!