My new Cosmo bag

I've been making myself a new bag all week.  I need a roomy bag that I can take out with me that doubles as a handbag and holds all the 'junk!' I need to carry everywhere I go.  At the same time I need it for the odd bit of shopping and the impulse purchases (mostly fabric and gardening items).  Also my lunch from time to time, and my sewing bits and pieces, when I go to classes or go out to visit my clients.

The fabric was left over from the waistcoat I made last autumn and I bought some red to do the contrasting handles, side pockets and the lining. I got the pattern from one of Amy Butler's books, she calls it the 'roomy and super-easy-to-make bag for today's runabout'. Which was just what I wanted. Well roomy it certainly is, it will hold all the normal things, like purse, keys, phone, water bottle etc.  And there is enough space to add things when I'm out and about.  However, the easy bit I did not agree with.

Like last time I found the instructions difficult to understand (I've made another bag from this book already), so had to make it up as I went along.  I did some minor adjustments too; I made pockets inside for the things I want to take out regularly with me. Like my hand sanitiser, my glasses, a pocket the correct size for my purse and another for my note book.

 The stiffening that is needed to make this bag is difficult to stitch and work with.  The bag was a challenge to do and I spent a lot of time working on it, perfecting it to my standard of workmanship.  Otherwise it is great, just what I wanted. I really like it, and can't wait to go out with it and give it a test run.

I used my new gadget for the first time as well this week.  I found these silicone finger covers that help when pressing, they worked a treat pressing the side seams open.  I bought them because I find I burn my fingers a lot when pressing the seams during tailoring projects, but now I know they work and I am sure they will be very useful.