Our tour to celebrate Canada’s 150th has just begun and there’s so much to share with you over the next few days, you’re going to be dreaming in red and white! Don’t worry, you don’t need to be Canadian to enjoy the tour; we’re all friendly and have enough maple syrup to go around, eh? Check the tour schedule at the bottom of this post to make sure you don’t miss anything. Read more about the tour on the Emmaline Blog.  There are so many prizes to give away throughout the tour, so make to follow along each day. Us bloggers wanted to thank the sponsors for their generosity, and we wanted to make sure you all know who they are, so today I’m going to introduce you to a few of them. 

BringBerry Handbag Hardware and Designs offers luxurious, unique, and most importantly, shiny hardware for our bags. They’re offering up a voucher as a part of our Grand Prize (enter below). I remember when Karen first started out, and she would source out unique items she couldn’t find readily available. There were group orders to meet minimums, and eventually she started a facebook group just to handle all the orders. Now there’s a dedicated website with online ordering and continuing to source out quality hardware. Take advantage of the discount now until June 10th. Details in the schedule at the bottom of the post.

Fabric Please! is offering several vouchers for our giveaway, to use on anything in the shop! I wrote about Fabric Please! previously and you can read more about it here. Fabric Please! has several monthly subscriptions, there’s sure to be one that suits you. Not only can you find a wide range of designer fabric lines, you can get all your thread, batting and notions as well. Rita, the shop owner, takes great care with each package, and the wrapping delights me! She even includes a small extra with each order, as her way to make your package even more special.

Flare Fabrics is offering up a selection of bag making items for our giveaway. Flare Fabrics has a whole category on the website for bag making supplies, ranging from all the interfacing we need to magnetic snaps, zippers, and more! Flare Fabrics offers so many printed textured cotton solids (my favourite!) including Quilter’s Linen, Painter’s Canvas, and Exotic Garden Weave, plus so many staples of bag making, like Essex Linen, and different canvas and heavier wovens. Of course, if you’re looking for Batiks, you’ve found the mother lode! They also offer free Canadian shipping on orders over $150.

Melissa at Funky Monkey Fabrics is a trailblazer in Canadian fabric shops, offering a one stop shop for all your sewing needs, including all types of fabric, notions, and interfacing. They’re offering up a voucher for our giveaway, and it won’t be hard to find something to spend it on! Sign up for their newsletter and/or follow them on Facebook to find out about their weekly sales. If you’re ever in Varna, Ontario, consider yourself lucky, because you can stop in at the store front and see all the goodies in person!

Fiona at Tangled Blossoms Design is a new (but proud) Canadian and she makes bags, so she knows the needs of Canadian bagineers very well. She carries a wide range of Free Spirit Fabrics, and that gorgeous Tula Pink Hardware – I know you’ve had your eye on those shears! Not only is a voucher to Tangled Blossoms Design being offered for the giveaway, but you can also take advantage of the discount available during the tour (see details below).

Thank you so much to all our sponsors, and I really hope you check them out and discover a new favourite!

Disclosure: Some links in this post are my affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission on purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. All opinions expressed here are my own. Thanks for your support.

Welcome to the final post in the Designer Spotlight Series. I enjoyed getting to know each of the 12 featured designers and hope you did too! I think we may have a new divide when it comes to pizza toppings though! I mean, pineapple? I know it’s common enough on pizza, but I just can’t do it! Take a moment to catch up on the interviews if you missed a few days. You can find all the posts by selecting the Designer Spotlight category to the right, or just click here.

We had 250 responses to our poll, and I want to thank all of you who took the time to answer our questions, especially the many of you who left extra comments and feedback. When I originally thought up these questions, I was hoping to see a clear pattern of strong suits from each designer, so if someone said to me “I really like sticking to one or two pattern styles so if I stuck with one designer, which one puts out the best variety?” or “I’m really not a typical learner and need a lot of support to sew a bag; which designer offers that?” then I’d be able to refer to this list and bam! have a clear answer, but it didn’t really work out that way. It turns out that a few designers are favourites across the board. I’ll call those “The Big 6” for now. The Big 6 really dominated the answers, and for good reason: they each have large followings and a large number of patterns, plus have been designing bags for a long time. The Big 6 are (in alphabetical order): Blue Calla, Chris W., Dog Under My Desk, Emmaline Bags, Sew Sweetness, and Swoon.  When I take out the Big 6 from the poll results, I was able to see a bit of a pattern of individual strengths. In alphabetical order, these were the top 3 of the remaining designers for each category:

​Variety
Andrie Designs, Little Moo, Noodlehead

Easiest to Follow
Andrie Designs, Emkie Designs, Noodlehead
​
Value
Andrie Designs, Emkie Designs, Noodlehead

Support
Andrie Designs, Little Moo, Mrs. H

Innovative Designs and Techniques
Betz White, Mrs. H, Noodlehead

A few “others” that came up consistently were: Bagstock, Moments, and ByAnnie.

What I took away from these results is that so many of us have different styles and preferences, and I’m grateful that we have so many great to designers to choose from.

Now for the fun part! The rest of the poll questions were asked to establish our preferences, and I think designers can use these responses in order to better understand what bagmakers are looking for. Some of the answers really surprised me, and some didn’t surprise me at all. For example, I think we’re all pattern hoarders!

Many of the “Other” answers here were that people would buy if they liked the bag, which I guess teaches me to not assume that’s already implied. I sure wouldn’t expect people to buy a pattern for a bag they didn’t like. Some other comments were simply that they wanted to support the designer, and that’s something I can certainly relate to. Another interesting comment was from someone who said she waits to see what others do with the pattern – I love that! It’s great being inspired by the rest of the sewing community.

This is a good mix, and probably reflects whether people are just starting out in their bagmaking adventure, or have been around the block a few times. I am a bit surprised to see that every response was from someone who has purchased at least one pattern.

Congrats to the 15% of you who sew up more than 80% of the patterns you buy! I always have grand ideas of being able to sew lots and then I run of time, womp womp!

This one isn’t really a surprise, I mean we go back to who we love, right? Again, thank you to the person who responded they let their cat decide, also gave me a chuckle. I added that option because sometimes I have a hard time deciding too. The Other responses were mainly that people would decide based on if a pattern had a certain technique they wanted to learn or option they preferred to the other.

This one surprised me because I personally prefer Digital Drawings, and I was expecting closer to a 50/50 split, and surprised not a single preference for text only. Some of the comments at the end of the poll added more to this question, stating it depends on the quality of the pictures. Many people also commented that fabric choice for the bag being made in the pattern if using photos is really important and determines if the photos are helpful or not.

I love that this one has a variety of responses because I think it represents the variety in pattern styles too! Some comments were that pattern length should be related to difficulty or complexity of bag. Some people really didn’t want long patterns and some really appreciate the extra detailed instructions.

Additional Comments

• Full disclosure: some of you really weren’t happy with me asking you to pick favourites, but I really never had the intention of making this a popularity contest. I think polls are fun, and thought it would be a neat way to highlight how awesome these designers are, and what makes each of them special. By breaking down into categories the hope was that it would encourage people to try someone new and find a new designer they love. We picked the designers that we featured because their work is already outstanding and we trust them and know that when you purchase a pattern from any one of them it will be well worth it.
• Tons of praise for Dog Under My Desk!
• Requests for: structured bags, less materials required, functional bags, losing “tacky” disclaimers about insisting you credit the designer and link back to them, more sales, pattern pieces (rather than listed dimensions), cutting charts, and consistency between designers for where seam allowance is placed in pattern, plus requests for free patterns to try out that designer’s style (a “try before you buy” type of thing).
• Others mentioned that they stick with specific designers because they really enjoy the groups and how the designers collaborate with each other. 
• Lots of you commented simply that you really enjoyed the poll and interviews; thank you for saying so! 

Giveaway!

Thank you again to each of the featured designers. You all took time out of your busy schedules to answer our questions. Thank you also to each of the designers for contributing patterns for the giveaway. Heather M. won the Happy Okapi prize pack of one pattern from each featured designer, and you’ll have to head over to The Nosy Pepper to see won that prize pack.

With all this thanking, I feel like I’m receiving an Oscar, but seriously, I’m so grateful to everyone who took the time to complete our poll, leave comments, and read all the interviews, plus of course the designers, and one more person to thank: Cyndi of The Nosy Pepper! She did so much work for the series and I really couldn’t have done it without her!

Tell me what you thought of the results: what surprised you? Or what did you enjoy most about this series? Any designers you’re going to try out now that you’ve had a chance to read about them?

Welcome back for the final interview in our series! If you haven’t taken our poll yet, click here to read the info and let us know what you think, we’ll close the poll soon, and will share the results with you too.

How long have you been sewing and what inspired you to start designing your own patterns?
I grew up sewing with my mom. So it’s been about 25 years or so, but didn’t get into designing my own work until about 2009.

What do you love most about your job?
I love connecting with other creative people.

What is the hardest part of the design process for you?
The design process is the best part! It can be frustrating at times, but I’ve found that the act of finding a solution to problems or issues that arise is often the most rewarding. 

What do you enjoy doing when you aren’t working?
I love spending time with my two daughters, my husband and my dog. We love being outside and being active! 

What is your favorite pizza topping?
This may be cheating, but I love a good dessert pizza (peanut butter, chocolate chips and marshmallows, mmm). 

What is your favorite thing about bag making?
I love making bags because each step is something different and requires a different bit of knowledge or skill. Not much repetition keeps me on my toes. 

What is your least favorite part of bag making?
Honestly, I don’t have a least favorite! But if I had to pick it’s probably making straps/handles. 

Is there a pattern of yours that is your favorite? 
Sure! It’s always changing! I’ve always loved sewing a Poolside Tote and my Gingham Tote (from my book) is one of my favorites to use.

What is your favorite pattern by another designer?
I love sewing all types of projects, usually it’s whatever I’m sewing at the moment is my favorite. I make my friend Jeni’s (In Color Order) Lined Drawstring Bags over and over again for gifts, I don’t think I’ll ever tire of it!

What is your favorite snack?
Iced coffee with baked goods! 

What is your favorite piece of bag hardware?
That’s hard to call! I would say zippers followed by rivets. 

What machine do you sew on most often?
I have a Janome 1600p (it’s a semi-industrial straight stitch). I wish everyone could have one, I love that it’s such a versatile machine!

What advice would you give to someone who is new to bag making?
I’d say to stick with it. The more you try the better you’ll get. Try to keep an open mind about trying new things, you’ll come to find out what works best for you! Plus, you’ll have a ton of great skills under your belt.

Who is your favorite fabric designer?
I don’t think I could pick a favorite, I do find myself drawn to a handful of designer’s that I particularly enjoy. One of the best parts for me is coming up with fun fabric combinations by mixing different designers/collections. 

What is the best compliment you’ve received as a designer?
I think the best compliment is when anyone sends me a picture of their finished item and tells me how much they loved making it!  

How organized is your sewing space? Are you a mess maker or everything in its place kind of person?
I’m sort of in between! I do have a place for everything (usually), but then when I’m in the midst of creating it’s like a bomb exploded on my work surface.

What is your favorite color?
My favorite color is actually orange, but I hardly ever sew with it! 

What is your favorite thing to listen to while working? 
I usually don’t listen to anything in order to fully focus (especially when I’m working on a new pattern), but if I’m quilting or doing something for fun I love listening to podcasts. 

Is there anything you wish others knew about you or what you do?
Being able to express myself creatively and have it be my job is something I never thought I could do. I have a B.A. in Art and I never imagined being able to put it to use in this way and am super grateful for the opportunity.

​How do you make sure that your patterns are accessible to bagineers? How do you promote your work?
I hope they’re accessible to all types of sewists! I find I feel naturally inclined to visually share my work, so my blog and instagram are the main ways I do so.

Here’s your last chance to enter the giveaway. Check back soon to see who won the giveaway and what the poll results are.

Welcome back! If you haven’t taken our poll yet, click here to read the info and let us know what you think, we’ll close the poll soon, and the series is close to coming to a close.

Today’s Designer Spotlight can be found over at The Nosy Pepper, and you can read all about Janelle of Emmaline Bags! There’s a giveaway over there as well, and another one right here; make sure to enter both, and come back tomorrow for our last featured designer.

Welcome back! I really hope you’re enjoying getting to know all the designers so far in this series. If you haven’t taken our poll yet, click here to read the info and let us know what you think.

Today’s featured designer is Samantha of Mrs. H Sewing Patterns.  I was first introduced to Samantha’s patterns when I joined the Bag of The Month Club and made her Companion Carpet Bag. She just finished up what sounded like an amazing sewing retreat this Spring, and is gearing up for another one in South Wales (UK) in October; limited number of tickets are still available. 

How long have you been sewing and what inspired you to start designing your own patterns?
I learnt to sew at school and did GCSE textiles, but then I didn’t even think about sewing again until around 2010 when I started dabbling. We were on a tight budget and buying patterns wasn’t particularly high on our list of priorities so I decided to just make my own.  I realised that I have a very peculiar brain and I can see a 3D bag laid out in the 2D components in my mind, and often can develop a new construction technique just by pondering it for a while. My Nappy Bag gusset method took around a month of pondering, trying, pondering, trying, and finally succeeding!

What do you love most about your job?
I love having the freedom to create whatever I can dream….pretty much anyway! I love the start of the process, I get a quickening in my soul when I pull out a fresh sheet of paper and start the initial drawings on my muslin. I love the end of the process when I get to submit the pattern to the world and see what the bagineers can do with the pattern. Seeing their amazing creations is the most rewarding part of the process.

What is the hardest part of the design process for you?
I find that I spend a lot of time on research. I would never want to copy someone else’s design, even by accident, so I spend a lot of time trawling the web to make sure it’s unique, and if I find something similar then I work to change it where I can. I’d say that’s my biggest fear in this business, to not be unique. Designing a new technique or shape or construction method is so challenging, and I have a lot of respect for the effort other designers have put into also making their patterns unique.

What do you enjoy doing when you aren’t working?
I’m learning to play the piano so that I can play at the local care homes at Christmas time. That’s the excuse I tell everyone else, at least, but the real reason is that I love having a pretty grey piano in my house! My second favourite hobby is eating. I like to eat a lot.

What is your favorite pizza topping?
Green peppers and pineapple. Just like me, super sweet with a bit of a bitter side!

What is your favorite thing about bag making?
The excitement of starting to see a creation come together and the sense of pride that no one else will ever have the same bag, even if they use the same fabrics, because we’re all different!

What is your least favorite part of bag making?
Sewing long straps. I get bored easily and usually my mind wanders about halfway down. Then I have to do them again. Lots of bagineers have suggested I sew the straps first, so I’m trying that in an attempt to not have 20 strapless bags hanging around!

Is there a pattern of yours that is your favorite?
My favourite is usually the next bag I’m working on, so I can’t tell you what it is at the moment…but my previous favourite was the Captivating Clutch. It’s just so clever how it comes together, and it’s surprisingly spacious inside!

What is your favorite pattern by another designer?
’m terrible at following other designer’s patterns. In fact, I’m terrible at following my own patterns…. For this reason, I rarely sew other designer’s patterns, because I’d only end up changing them completely which wouldn’t save me any time and defeats the point! I did recently make the Mix & Match Clutch Bag from Emmaline’s Craftsy Class for a friend’s wedding bag. I very much enjoyed that and only deviated a handful of times. My seam ripper is of course my favourite bag making tool…. Unrelated…
​
What is your favorite snack?
I tend to measure the time taken to sew a pattern in Toblerones. A few chunks for a quickie, multiple for a long one. Chris W’s Penny Inn took me a whole Toblerone to make!

What is your favorite piece of bag hardware?
My favourite is currently the Snappy Edge clasp from Emmaline Bags, it’s so shiny! It’s like a regular snap, but made fancy! My preferred colour at the moment is the Copper version, I’m starting a petition to have all hardware available in Copper!
What machine do you sew on most often?
I’ve got a Janome 6600P which I love with all my heart. It’s a semi-industrial machine, I believe it was developed with quilters in mind, but it can handle everything I’ve thrown at it so far and I love the features it has.

What advice would you give to someone who is new to bag making?
Find yourself a great bag making group on Facebook where you’ll get all the support you need. You need a team when you’re starting out, but fortunately team members are easy to find in groups such as Sewing Bags & Accessories (https://www.facebook.com/groups/sewingbags/), British Bag Makers (sorry, it’s Brits only!) (https://www.facebook.com/groups/britishbagmakers/) , or other similar Facebook groups. The people in these groups can also help you find yourself a designer who’s willing to help and advise, and who’s able to help you adapt a pattern to your own needs if necessary. It’s very easy for new bag makers to be overwhelmed with the range of interfacing, stabilisers and hardware, let alone finding the right designer with enough time and experience to explain a technique sufficiently.

Secondly, find yourself a good source for tutorials and techniques. Most designers have a free pattern or two on their site so that you can have a go without too much outlay on the pattern at least. Use these as a way of learning the skills of bag making, and also to see how the designer’s writing style suits you. If you absolutely hate reading their pattern then they’re not the designer for you. If you can follow the pattern fairly well and it has a good explanation to back up the great design then add them to your list of designers to buy from.

Who is your favorite fabric designer?
I have ginormously big heart eyes for Bari J who designs for Art Gallery Fabrics. Alas, the new ranges take so long to arrive in the UK that they’ve usually sold out by the time they get here. I love her style, I love her colours, I love her skill. I love her so much I keep trying to get her to adopt me, but I don’t think she fancies having a 34-year-old daughter.
What is the best compliment you’ve received as a designer?
Ooooh, that’ll be in March when I released my Captivating Clutch pattern to the Bag of the Month Club. I had some lovely comments from people about the clever way it’s constructed. Some were slightly weirded out that my brain could work it out like that, but overall, people seem to have just accepted that I’m a bit odd, and chosen to call me a clever engineer. (ha!)
How organized is your sewing space? Are you a mess maker or everything in its place kind of person?
In the past, I’ve been a very messy maker, and verging on the hoarder side of crafting. I’m sure you all identify with the ‘just in case’ philosophy? Well I did the 30-day Minimalism Challenge with some friends of mine and really took a step back to look at the beautiful studio that we’re blessed to have. I was ashamed of how I was abusing this space. I’d feel annoyed every time I came in, I was unproductive, I had PhDs (Project Half Done) staring at me all day long and I just felt kinda down about it. I went through every area of the studio and was absolutely ruthless about getting rid of anything I couldn’t see myself using in the next 12 months. I got rid of PhDs that I was never going to finish, piles of fabric I bought for a particular project were put back into the stash shelves, and I released so much space and freedom into my work environment. It really was surprisingly easy once I’d embraced the philosophy that holding onto some things is purely fear of the future.
It’s so quick to tidy up the studio now at the end of the day and so much easier to work in. It takes me around 8 minutes to do a full studio clear down at the end of the day, although if I’m mid-project I pile it all on the cutting table and clear around it.
I made a really good effort to finish everything on my WIP (Works In Progress) pile and I did so just last month. I felt amazing!
I still have a stash, it’s just more refined and curated. I don’t have the fabric hanging around that, if someone were to come and visit, I’d be a bit embarrassed of having. I don’t have tubs and tubs of buttons, just one small spice jar of each colour. I have more than enough and I’m appreciating what I do have. I’ve chosen fabric in record time the last two bags, that can’t be a coincidence, right?

What is your favorite color?
Grey, hands down, every time. It’s not even a colour!!! I got to a point in my life where I just had to admit that grey was my favourite colour. I looked around and everything was grey. Grey car, grey living room, grey bedroom, grey carpet, grey sofa, grey curtains, grey clothes… you get the picture.

What is your favorite thing to listen to while working?
It depends on what I’m doing. If I’m writing then I listen to music without words, otherwise I find myself typing the lyrics! If I’m designing or sewing something to a deadline then I listen to running playlists on YouTube, they’re motivational and I feel good like I’ve done a workout or something. Especially if it’s a “whole Toblerone” type of pattern. If I’m innovating and working on new techniques then I listen to worship music as it’s calmer and less fast paced. Too much excitement in new techniques even without the wild music too!

Is there anything you wish others knew about you or what you do?
Sometimes I wish that people truly knew the time and work that goes into an innovative pattern. It’s not quick to write up any pattern, but it’s a whole lot quicker to write a pattern for a style or shape that’s already popular with just a small twist, such as my Fiesta Tote. But then adding to that pattern writing the designing, making muslins, developing methods on how to do X without having to do X, starting over because it didn’t work out after all, it can make for a very long process with a lot of brain burn.
Once I’m at the end of a pattern and it’s out in the world I consider it gone. The ways that bagineers develop a pattern with their own spin on it always amazes me. I’ve seen versions of my patterns that make me breathless because the bagineer has taken it to somewhere I never would have gotten to.
My patterns are a spring board, the bagineers are the talented ones to take the pattern as a template and take it that much further.
How do you make sure that your patterns are accessible to bagineers?
It’s hard for bagineers to know which patterns to buy. Unfortunately, it’s not always as simple as just choosing a design you like. You don’t know if the pattern will be clear, well written, with easy to sew methods. I’ve got a couple of free patterns on my site and a plethora of tutorials so that bagineers can see if my style of writing suits them. I hold a live Q&A session every few months where people can ask me specific questions of things they’re struggling with, or bag making techniques they need a little extra help with. It’s part and parcel of being a designer, that you know your craft well enough to be able to explain and teach techniques that might be a bit beyond the basic bag designs. In fact, I found myself working out the maths of someone else’s pattern last week when it printed out at the wrong size, for a member of one of the bag groups I’m in.
 I really enjoy trying to find alternative methods to existing techniques to make things easier and more accessible to bagineers. Things such as developing my zipped gusset method so that you don’t have to do seam binding or a drop-in lining, or for example using a traditional waistband method for sewing fully enclosed straps.
How do you promote your work?
​I try to be as helpful as possible in bag making groups on Facebook when people are struggling with my or other people’s patterns. As well as letting me be helpful, it gives me a chance to let my experience and knowledge shine through. I see many people joining my Facebook group who have encountered me initially through troubleshooting and explanations I’ve provided in other groups.
I share my patterns on Instagram and Facebook, and love to share what people have made with my patterns – it’s so inspiring to me! I really value the free patterns I’ve created, alongside plenty of tips and tutorials on my website and social media feeds, as a way of introducing people to my work. People can see that I know what I’m talking about….mostly!

Samantha will be holding another live Q & A session on Thursday 25th May between 8pm – 9pm BST (12 Noon – 1pm PST,  3pm – 4pm ET, 5am Saturday in ACT) in her facebook group Mrs H’s Bagineers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1682705708624802/
For more information about Samantha or her patterns, please see the site www.mrs-h.com

Enter the giveaway below and make sure to come back tomorrow to learn about our next featured designer and enter the giveaway again.

What’s this “Designer Spotlight” all about? Click here to read the intro post and take our poll.

Today’s Designer Spotlight can be found over at The Nosy Pepper, and you can read all about Kylie of Little Moo Designs! There’s a giveaway over there as well, and another one right here; make sure to enter both, and come back tomorrow for another featured designer.

What’s this “Designer Spotlight” all about? Click here to read the intro post and take our poll.

How long have you been sewing and what inspired you to start designing your own patterns?
I first learned to sew in the 3rd grade – my mom taught a friend and I how to sew. We made 2 projects, a draw string bag and a top – my mom let me wear mine to school (hers wouldn’t). I didn’t sew again until my youngest child was born. I needed something to do at night, both of my kids woke up every 2 hours as babies, and Netflix was getting real old.

What do you love most about your job?
I love the flexibility – if my kids are home sick from school, I can be there for them. We’ve also been able to travel a little bit and see different places. This also comes with its challenges – because I am home all of the time, it’s challenging juggling work and family when my kids are home during the summer.

What is the hardest part of the design process for you? I really love all parts of the design process. While I’m not very attached to the finished bag, I completely love sketching out ideas, drafting pattern pieces, and writing instructions. Just so that I don’t give myself too much of a pat on the back, drafting garment patterns is very challenging for me and an extremely slow process. Garments was one of my goals for this year, but it’s always been such a huge struggle for me, I probably should just put it out of my head, lol!

What do you enjoy doing when you aren’t working?
Reading books, watching tv shows with my husband. We just started watching The Americans, and we’re hooked. My favorite books are historical novels and thrillers – my favorite authors are J.K. Rowling, Michael Robotham, Kate Morton, and Jodi Picoult.

What is your favorite pizza topping?     Just cheese – I’m a picky eater. Although I did have dinner with a friend in Portland once, and I stuck my neck out and had an onion and leek pizza which was amazing.

What is your favorite thing about bag making?
I really love cutting out fabric and attaching interfacing – it’s really soothing.

What is your least favorite part of bag making?
Twist locks are beautiful and no matter how many I’ve put in, they still stress me out.

Is there a pattern of yours that is your favorite?
I would say that the Cumberland Backpack is one of my favorites. I love using the small sized backpack over the summer when we’re out riding bikes. I just made another one as part of my sewing videos, and I really love it. The Appaloosa Bag pattern is my favorite to teach – it seems like it fits a wide variety of tastes and people love the accordion on the front – plus it’s something that most students can finish in a 7-hour class.

What is your favorite pattern by another designer?
I love the camera bag from the Serendipity Studio Meda Frenzy pattern booklet. I made one for my mom a few years ago for Christmas. It was a challenging sew but I felt pretty accomplished when I finished it.

What is your favorite snack?
I don’t always take good care of myself during the workday (mostly forgetting to eat or drink), so I order myself snacks from Graze and Nature Box. My favorite is the Sweet Mustard Ranch from Graze – it’s a bag of poppyseed pretzels, honey mustard breadsticks, and sour cream cashews.

What is your favorite piece of bag hardware?
Metal rectangles and sliders are so useful.

What machine do you sew on most often?
I have a Juki TL-2010Q that I’ve had for a few years. It’s a workhorse. I recently got the Juki QVP 2200 Mini (which is basically the same thing as the TL-2010Q) because I needed a second machine for our filming studio (it’s more of a dark dungeon than a beautiful studio) in the basement. We’re filming twice a week now, and I had a hard time carrying it up and down the stairs since my machine was all metal.

What advice would you give to someone who is new to bag making?     
Just keep sewing – sew a new project every week. You learn something from every project that you make.

Who is your favorite fabric designer?
Tula Pink.

What is the best compliment you’ve received as a designer?
That someone used one of my patterns to make their first bag.

How organized is your sewing space? Are you a mess maker or everything in its place kind of person?
I’m not particular about keeping things clean in my house in general, although it does ease my mind to be working in sewing room where I don’t have clutter on the floor.

What is your favorite color?
Green

What is your favorite thing to listen to while working?
I like watching episodes of Law & Order: SVU. I’ve gone through all of the seasons about 4 or 5 times. I don’t know if it’s because I have short term memory or what, but many of the episodes I don’t ever recall watching (even though I must have). Go figure.

Is there anything you wish others knew about you or what you do?
I’m usually in my pajamas until about 2pm on workdays – my kids get out of school at 3pm, and I usually take a shower and get ‘dressed for the day’ at 2:00.

How do you make sure that your patterns are accessible to bagineers? How do you promote your work? Most of my patterns are available in both pdf and paper pattern format. Many of them are also translated into German. I’ll be debuting step videos on May 22 (now available)- I sew through an entire pattern in each video, which I hope will help those who are visual learners. I’m really excited about the videos – it was a challenge getting to this point but I’m really happy with how the visuals in the video look and I hope that people will agree that they are clear and easy to follow.

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Enter the giveaway below and make sure to come back tomorrow to learn about our next featured designer and enter the giveaway again.

Welcome back! If you haven’t taken our poll yet, click here to read the info and let us know what you think.

Today’s Designer Spotlight can be found over at The Nosy Pepper, and you can read all about Lisa of Andrie Designs! There’s a giveaway over there as well, and another one right here; make sure to enter both, and come back tomorrow for another featured designer.

What’s this “Designer Spotlight” all about? Click here to read the intro post and take our poll.

Today’s featured designer is Erin from Dog Under My Desk. I’ve yet to sew up one of her patterns, but based on the poll results so far, they are very popular and highly praised.  The Sunrise Saddle Bag is her latest pattern and it’s sure to be a hit. You should also check out the Time for a Change Toddler& Baby Bag; it sounds so well thought out and thoroughly tested, it even comes in 2 sizes!

How long have you been sewing and what inspired you to start designing your own patterns?
I’ve been sewing since middle school. I remember we were supposed to choose one bag to make for our entire semester project and my friend I picked out 3 or 4 from the catalog and made all of them! So I guess I’m not afraid of zippers because I never learned that they were supposed to be scary – at 12 or 13 we were sewing up zipped duffels like it was no big deal! I grew up around sewing. My mom always made our halloween costumes and sewed all the curtains in the house, and my aunts and grandma sewed as well and we got handmade gifts all the time. Maybe about 9 or 10 years ago I borrowed my mom’s old sewing machine to make something, so for Christmas that year my parents bought me my own. I started making harnesses for my Yorkies and bought a couple of bag patterns at the craft store, but I was frustrated with how so many of them had raw edges. I knew I could do better, and I found a few early PDF patterns by Michelle of Michelle Patterns. I loved the way she wrote her patterns, and her bags definitely did not have raw edges. At the time she mostly did simple envelope pouch patterns and small purses with magnetic snaps, and I wanted to make larger zippered bags, so I started studying how the zippers were installed in all the bags I had in my closet and my mom’s closet, and the key was that they were not sewn into the side seams. It took me a few tries but I came up with the recessed zipper technique I use in the Two Zip Hipster. Since no one else had made a pattern for anything like that at the time, I decided to write one of these “brand new” PDF patterns. I loved that I wasn’t limited on how long the pattern could be and that I could use as many steps and pictures as I wanted to explain everything! I do have a tiny bit of a technical writing background, and it just seemed to suit me more than any other job I’d ever had. I was determined to be successful enough to do it full time – this is not a job you can do for an hour between dinner and bedtime! 

What do you love most about your job?
I love the moment when I go from “this will never work, what was I thinking?” to “OMG OMG OMG this is my favorite thing ever!” … Usually there is one transition prototype that’s in between “I hate this!” and “I love this!” but sometimes, it’s just a moment, and that’s the best.

What is the hardest part of the design process for you?
All of the “I hate this” prototypes because I feel like I’m not making progress, even though I am. You feel like you’re wasting fabric and wasting time, but at the same time of course it’s not a waste, it’s all part of the process, but you want it to go faster, you want to be done, you know you have to trust the process but you have an hour until the toddler wakes up from his nap and you just want to finish the bag and post it on Instagram already! 

What do you enjoy doing when you aren’t working?
I have an 18 month old who can run and climb, so I enjoy any activity where my child can be put into a containment device, like grocery shopping! Nap time is pretty great. I also enjoy sewing knit clothing with my overlocker. (Yes, my hobby is a different type of sewing!)

What is your favorite pizza topping?
Just cheese! It’s all about the cheese, sauce, and crust for me. 

What is your favorite thing about bag making?
The precision of it. I’ve made some t-shirts and things let me tell you knits are awesome but the overlocker can accidentally shave off half an inch of fabric and that shirt is still going to fit you. One needle position can make or break a bag, and while that may frustrate some, I love it. I love the control, I love that extra prototype where I had to change a measurement by 1/8” to get it to be perfect. There is very little I can control in my life right now but I can get these little details just exactly the way I want them. There is also a lot of math, which I love.

What is your least favorite part of bag making?
Cutting out a bag, especially a big bag, when I just want to sew! I’m not one to leave half finished projects around – I work start to finish – so when I want to make something new I always have to start at the beginning. I don’t always mind the cutting step but sometimes it feels like half of bag making is cutting!

Is there a pattern of yours that is your favorite? 
Date Night was my favorite pattern and bag. I went through a lot to get that top zipper JUST right, and the photos for that pattern just turned out gorgeous and I love everything about it – the size, the front pocket… I made like nine of them *after* I locked in the pattern pieces, just to perfect the technique. I even did a photo shoot with them! BUT, it’s definitely the new Sunrise Saddle Bag now. Those princess seams give it a shape that I just LOVE. It holds about the same amount as Date Night but in my favorite cross body style and the curves make me happy.

What is your favorite pattern by another designer?
The Michelle Patterns Bucket Bag: I just love this bag. There are so many oval bottom shaped bucket bags but this one is just a little fancy and lovely and it’s a great size. I made one from my favorite Amy Butler fabric ever (which I think was called “Love”!!) and I still have it somewhere. Michelle’s simplicity and style will always win me over. I love everything she makes.

What is your favorite snack?
While sewing? Pretzels! I have to order the ones I like from America. 🙂

What is your favorite piece of bag hardware?
Rectangle rings and sliders because I love cross-body bags!

What machine do you sew on most often?
I currently have a Bernina 350PE because I had to sell my Bernina 750QE when I moved from the US to Australia. Bad life decision. I love my husband and son but I miss my 750 EVERY DAY. My life won’t be complete until I have another. 

What advice would you give to someone who is new to bag making?
Don’t be afraid! Find a good pattern that gives you confidence. The right bag to make first is a bag you *want* to make… there is no point practicing on a tote bag you will never use. Good interfacing and stabilizers are expensive, don’t expect to substitute cheaper ones and get the same look. Shop sales and use home dec fabrics where possible to eliminate a layer of interfacing. Zippers are not scary. Invest in the right presser feet – a good narrow zipper foot, a quarter inch foot, an edge stitch foot, and possibly a walking foot. You don’t need an expensive iron but you do need a HOT one with a lot of steam. Use YKK brand zippers, even if you need to order them online. Use a 90 or 100 sharp/microtex or topstitch needle. Change your needles often! 

Who is your favorite fabric designer?
Based on my fabric shelves? Kate Spain. I must have gone through a purple phase at the same time as she did. 🙂 

What is the best compliment you’ve received as a designer?
Usually when one of my patterns helps someone overcome some fear about sewing, like a fear of zippers or giving sewing another try after a bad experience. I also really love hearing about young people learning to sew with my patterns. I think my favorite though is the sheer enthusiasm that people have about the bags they make. Nothing is a bigger compliment than someone being SO excited about what they made with one of my patterns. 

How organized is your sewing space? Are you a mess maker or everything in its place kind of person?
Not as organized as I would like it because every time we move my space gets smaller, so it’s kind of cramped right now. I am the one with the super neat sewing room. Sure it get trashed while I’m actively sewing but if I had my way I would have a spotless room every night and most definitely between projects. Fabric folded, loose threads vacuumed, desk clear!

What is your favorite color?
Teal!

What is your favorite thing to listen to while working? 
It used to be dance music, but I don’t think I’ve heard a song that isn’t by The Wiggles in a year. I have a couple of podcasts that I listen to if they are available. Sometimes I just marathon shows like Tiny House Hunters because I don’t really need to pay attention to them. 

Is there anything you wish others knew about you or what you do?
The way I write my patterns is like a class. I try to include all of the information that you will need to successfully finish the pattern, along with very detailed photos of the process. You shouldn’t need a video or a Facebook group in order to finish it, although I do have a lovely FB group who will happily answer any questions or offer support and I pop in several times a day. I love seeing what everyone makes! I’m actually kind of shy about it. I’m an introvert so putting a pattern out there is kind of revealing in a scary way, and it’s still weird to me that people make things with my patterns. But, I do love it. I may just “like” your photo but I will probably call my husband over to take a look because I’m so excited about your bag. He’s active in my group (usually to let me know if I’m needed but sometimes to cause trouble like posting unflattering pictures of me working!) and we will often discuss the bags posted each day.

I do wish they all knew that I’m likely in another time zone – I’m an American in Australia (for now!) I usually reply to messages within a few minutes to a few hours, and if you need something urgently, I will absolutely happily help you immediately, as long as I am awake, which is possibly different hours than you are awake. 🙂 Oh what I would do for an assistant on the other side of the world! I also get the occasional email apologizing for “bothering me” for something simple like a pattern download limit reset. If you’re apologizing, that means you hesitated to ask for help. Don’t hesitate. That’s my job! I’m always happy to help! It’s not a bother or a hassle, please contact me! 

One more thing is that patterns take time to write. Maybe because my process pictures take a while, maybe because I’m a perfectionist, but patterns take me weeks even once I’m done sewing a dozen prototypes. I try to wait to “tease” the new patterns until I’m at least actively writing them, because at least then it’s only a 2-4 week wait, but I need that feedback before I spend a month writing a pattern only to realize no one is going to like it. I have yet to find the perfect balance of asking for important feedback vs. annoying people by posting too soon before it’s ready for purchase, but I’m trying! I know you NEEEEED that pattern. I really do. I need it too! And I love your enthusiasm! It will be available before you know it. No more unexpected, not-by-choice, nearly-two-year maternity leaves for me! The child finally has daycare a couple days a week for now (hooray!) and long term plans are being made so that I can work even more. I love this job and I’m not giving it up!

Also, thank you all for your support over the years, it means the world to me! I could never have taken the long break that I took without the best customers ever right there waiting for me! <3

How do you make sure that your patterns are accessible to bagineers? How do you promote your work?
The way I write my instructions is very accessible, the Sunrise Saddle Bag for example was 3600 words and 145 photos over 25 pages. The only reason someone might not be able to make one of my patterns is if they are so new to sewing that they wouldn’t know how to buy and install the suggested needle, for example, or are completely overwhelmed by very basic sewing instructions like basting. I am not suggesting that someone should make a purse that uses 4 yards of fabric and 6 yards of interfacing as their first bag project ever, because that’s an expensive lesson if you mess it up. BUT, there’s no reason to not chose a small project with a zipper! I write my patterns so that they can be made from quilting cotton or home dec fabric, since that is readily available everywhere. Not everyone has an industrial machine to sew vinyl or leather. I focus on reducing bulk so that my bags can be made on any relatively good quality domestic machine. I always test out a variety of interfacings as well, to see what works best so that I can recommend it and you won’t be left guessing. Then I try to list a few substitutes as well, and if those aren’t sufficient we have long discussions about them in the Facebook group. I love the group because someone has probably already done the modification you are thinking about, and someone probably lives in your country and has shopped at your local stores and can help you find a substitute for something. It’s so supportive and helpful! 

​I promote my patterns across Facebook (my own Page + Group), Instagram, and my blog and email newsletter. I have my patterns for sale on my own website and on Craftsy. The best way I can advertise is to just make great patterns that will turn into successful finished bags and when someone posts their finished bag, everyone wants to make one! Generally the “process” I go through is most detailed in the Facebook Group, and then Instagram. The “finished” bags and announcements go on the blog, newsletter, and Facebook Page.

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Enter the giveaway below and make sure to come back tomorrow to learn about our next featured designer and enter the giveaway again.