Appliqued Messenger Bags

I think that I will start off this post with a glowing recommendation for Oliver + S patterns. I don't own as many as I would like because they are so expensive but for my birthday a couple years ago I received Little Things to Sew and have found many favorites in the book.

 

The pattern that I have made the most is the Messenger Bag, they come together so quickly and professionally. I have made both the large and small bags:

 

I've made an Owl Messenger Diaper Bag

 

A small Shark Messenger Bag

 

and one that I attached to my bike

 

My newest bags are small ones for my daughters to carry some toys with them for when we are running around town this summer.

 



 

I appliqued one of the gray bags with a monarch butterfly.

 

 

I used the same butterfly template I sketched out for the Rainbow Butterfly Skirt I made last year. But instead of putting the rainbow colors behind the black butterfly cut-out, I put just plain orange fabric. The white dots are just white fabric paint.

 

 

I lined the bag with the same orange- I love the sharp contrast of the monochrome bag with the bright orange.

 

 

The second bag I made I chose to honor my Texan roots and applique the state flower, a Bluebonnet, onto the bag.

 

 

I used the same technique of placing the colored fabric under the black cut out of the flower before zig-zaging around all the raw edges.

 

 

I lined this bag with the middle shade of blue (used in the flower applique).

 

 

I am in love with these bags and am brainstorming right now what to applique on one for me that won't be too kid-ish.

 

Hope you all are having a great summer!

~Jessica