Aurifil Artisan Challenge: Molly Bag!
As an Aurifil Artisan, I'm participating in a few challenges throughout the year. This month was a Bag Making month! I really LOVE bags, but normally I'm terrified by the instructions and all of the hardware and cork or vinyl. So when I signed up for this challenge, it was to push myself to make a usable bag that was more than just a tote! Aurifil partnered with Sallie Tomato and Thermoweb to provide the pattern and the interfacing this month! I picked the Molly Bag by Sallie Tomato and I figured it was a great size for a nice satchel.
Thermoweb provided the interfacing for the pattern (except for the foam since they don't make foam). I purchased a hardware kit from Sallie Tomato and it contained all of the hardware I needed for the bag. They also have zippers by the yard to use for making bags! I picked gold hardware because of the gold flecks in my black cork!
The longest part of making the bag was prepping all of the pieces with the correct interfacing. There were only 2 templates in this pattern, one was the handle connector and the other was the pocket facing. All of the other pieces were rectangular and could be cut with a rotary cutter!
This was the first time I ever made cork handles. I think they turned out pretty well. I should have used a black or gold-ish thread, but I kept my trusty 2024 white on my machine so you can see my stitching really clearly on the cork. I used 50wt Aurifil thread to sew everything on this bag! I have actually used 50wt Aurifil to sew all of my bags and so far it's been holding up really well. I do keep the stitch length around 2.5 for everything (even the topstitching).
There isn't a top zipper for the closure of the bag, but there is a cork strap. The bag becomes much wider without the straps clipped together.
The Molly Bag is SUPER spacious and way bigger than I thought it was going to be. But I love it! I think it'll be a perfect big purse! There is a zipper pocket on the inside of the bag as well as a slip pocket.
For people like me who haven't done a lot of bag hardware, there was so much hardware to include in the bag. It was actually way easier than I thought it'd be to make! The bottom of the bag included 6 feet as well to give the bag a sturdy base.
I love how this bag turned out and I can't wait to use it! I also want to buy more hardware and make more!
How many bags have you made with hardware? Do you love it?
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Beautiful handbag, Sherry! You did a great job. I agree, handbags can be daunting. I love everything Sally Tomato. Their products make sewing bags fun. And handmade handbags are the best!!! Each unique.
I didn’t understand the sentence: “the bottom of the bag included 6 feet” Six feet of what?
That’s a great bag. I have a couple of bag patterns I hope to make soon.