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19 March 2015

The Betsy Travel Bag blog tour


woohoo – its time for The Betsy Travel Bag blog tour so I can reveal my awesome Betsy bag !!!
The Betsy Bag

If you follow me on instagram you'll know that I've been pattern testing The Betsy Bag, designed by the gorgeous Kristi of Schnitzel and Boo, and its been such a fun learning experience !

free motion quilting The Betsy Bag

the hardest part was choosing the fabrics - I think I changed my mind a few times but when I saw a Melody Miller Ruby Shining Star panel for sale I snapped it up !! its a bit firmer than other quilting fabrics and is perfect for this bag !  It has some spots of hot pink and aqua so I added some hot pink spots, lime green flowers, Luna solid, and charcoal Sketch - its one bright bag that will be very easy to spot while travelling !!
The Betsy Bag

I followed the pattern exactly which was pretty easy to follow except I didn't read closely that all seams are 1/2" !! being a quilter I always think in quarter inches - once I got on board with that it went smoothly!
free motion quilting The Betsy Bag

I also did some silly things like sewing the separating zipper in upside down - that was fun to reverse sew (not!) but really the pattern is laid out well and even though I wasn't sure I understood about the strap, it came together perfectly !!

The Betsy Bag

I was really excited to use so many new to me techniques and all that hardware - I'm feeling pretty confident that I can make any kind of bag now - thanks so much Kristi for showing me how :)

The Betsy Bag

The pattern is rated for a confident beginner/intermediate sewer and I'd rate myself as the beginner - the only hardware I've used is a magnetic snap, I've never used a separating zipper which are sooo easy, and I've never used D rings or anything else that is in this fabulous bag !

The Betsy Bag

I had fun with the panel quilting - free motion loopy flowers (thanks Christina) on one side and hearts on the other - for the two ends I did straight stitching.

free motion quilting The Betsy Bag

I love the huge pocket on the inside too ! The  finished  bag measures  approximately  20"  wide  x 12.5" high  x  6.5" wide.

The Betsy Bag
 
As I said, I really had fun making the Betsy bag - its so great to learn new things and also end up with a fabulous bag!

make sure you check out all the other amazing Betsy bags on the rest of the tour - schedule below.

The digital Betsy Bag pattern is available for pre-order now from the Rebel Craft Media shop and will be launched on 1 April - the girls at Rebel Craft will also be hosting a sew along on their blog starting on 2 April - so if you want to make a fabulous bag to take with you when you travel then now is the time to join in :)

You can also get a kit with all the bag hardware from the Snuggly Monkey shop !

If you're in Australia you can get all the hardware you need for this bag from Handbag Hardware Oz - Kylie has great prices and wonderful service.

If you want to make a Betsy Travel bag and join in the sew along too, I have a copy of the pattern to give away - yay!! 

just leave me a comment telling me what fabrics you would use to make the bag and I'll have Mr RNG pick a name next Wednesday 25 March (8pm Australian EST) - should give you enough time to gather your supplies :)  make sure you leave an email if you don't have one linked to your profile !!


The  Betsy  Travel  Bag  Blog  Hop  Schedule  

March  17
pattern available for pre-­sale  through  RCM  shop

Blog  Hop  Day  1  posts

March  19
Blog  Hop  Day  2  posts
that's me !!

March  21
Blog  Hop  Day  3  posts

March  23
Blog  Hop  Day  4  posts
Don't Call Me Betsy

 March  25
Blog  Hop  Day  5  posts

March  27
Blog  Hop  Day  6  post

March  29
Blog  Hop  Day  7  post

March  31
Blog  Hop  Day  8  post
(photo  roundup)

28 comments:

  1. This gives me Hope to be able to make a bag...I'm allergic to bag making..lol... It always gets out wrong...so it would be fun making this....and fabrics... Huh...stash shopping maybe...low volume definitely...hmmm.... FUN...
    Well I guess I will come up with something!! :0)))

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  2. Bags intimidate me but I have been thinking about trying the Betsy because I love it so much! I want to make one for my daughter, named Betsy, in Sarah Jane fabrics. I want to make one for myself also with Bonnie and Camille. :)

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  3. I would love to make this bag! It looks like such an awesome pattern. I would probably use some beautiful cotton and steel fabrics. Thank you so much for the chance to win! :-)

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  4. I'm wanting to use some Robert Kaufman Satsuki for this! I love how yours turned out!

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  5. Would look great w/Tula Pink's Elizabeth collection!

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  6. It looks like a great bag! I think I'd make a scrappy version, maybe in grey and aqua with a touch of bright pink thrown in for luck ;o)

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  7. This bag looks amazing! I love hardware and ginormous internal pocket. I'd love to make a Doe version ;)

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  8. I am so scared by bag making, but hope that the easy instructions would help me!! I would love to make this in denim with fabulous teal and coral accents!

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  9. I can't decide!! But I'm leaning toward a sophisticated Joel Dewberry Birch Farms look. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  10. Oh I'd like to use Ayumi mills lighthearted collection to make this :)

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  11. I'd love to make in some DS Franklin

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  12. I love this bag! I have some Charlie Harper fabric that would look great in this pattern! thanks!

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  13. I'd use some Charms by Ellen Luckett Baker. :) There is a bigger sheep print I'm thinking of that would look so adorable on this bag!

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  14. I would use batiks, got a stash of them.
    bluewolf554@gmail.com

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  15. I'm pretty sure I'm going to use fabric from the Recollection line that I've been hoarding for a special project. Your bag is so fun and colorful! Great fabric choices and FMQ.

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  16. Love your fabric choices. I cannot wait to get sewing this bag. The pattern is ordered and I want to get the supplies of hardware bought. What length is the outer zip? It would be good to order this in. Di x

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  17. I have been saving some Glimma canvas for a bag...it might be time to use it.

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  18. My canvas supply is not up to snuff. I have some Oh Deer by Momo fabrics but would have to think about the canvas possibilities. Probably Cotton+Steel or Lotta Jansdotter. Thanks! notwendy gmail

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  19. I would probably use some pretty purple and lime green home dec fabrics. Love the design.

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  20. Your bag looks great! I would use Zambezi by Hawthorne Threads - perfect for a travel bag!

    jenny at youmansfamily dot com

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  21. Either some origami animal print from Ikea I've been saving or some very colourful geometric that I just bought :)

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  22. I think Daysail would be lovely made into a Betsy Bag.

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  23. I would enjoy making this bag, I would use a maroon flowered fabric I have laying around waiting for the perfect project.

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  24. This would be so much fun to try! I've got my eye on some Cotton + Steel basics that would look excellent...with some fun colorful prints mixed in for good measure.

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  25. Hey this is great! I would absolutely make it with handprinted canvas and some leather accents. I've only just finished sewing up my very first bag and am feeling confident! Or at least optimistic �� x Jackie (jackiemangus at Hotmail dot com)

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  26. Some of the Cotton and Steel would be wonderful for the bag or a great Canvas fabric.

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  27. Isn't it crazy how long the fabric choice takes? Don't hold me to this, but I think I have some hoarded AMH just waiting for a project like this :)

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  28. I think I would use denim from Amy Barickman and accent with the wonderful Maker by AGF prints!

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