Floral Reflections - One Handle Shoulder Bag -

Aloha from the Garden Island! Toni here from Tiger Textiles. Aren’t we lucky to have such amazing batiks to create with?! This Floral Reflections line is stunning and lends itself to so many great ideas, including a bag!

I took my fabrics and pattern to the beach for a photo shoot, but, it was really windy. Lucky me, I found a cool painted rock to hold down the pattern.

I chose the One Handle Shoulder Bag by Echino from their Sewing Pattern Series. #EK-498 1A. The first time I opened up the pattern I folded it up and put it away. I was a little intimidated that it is all written in Japanese. Then I thought, wait a minute, reading patterns is one of my super powers, and I have google translate! You will notice that I traced off the pattern onto non-woven stabilizer, just in case I want to make the bag multiple times.

On something like this, I pin my pattern pieces onto the fabric. Especially the first time that I make it. Through Google Translate, they suggest “medium” weight stabilizer. That is rather vague and can be interpreted many different ways. I finally decided on Craft Fuse as a base and Fusible Fleece as a second. This concept is pulled from the Pink Sand Beach bag patterns. They often stabilize with two products.

I was looking for a rather firm, boxy feel to the bag, trying to replicate the picture on the pattern cover. The Craft Fuse gave me that, but, I would not recommend using it. Next time I would try Shape Flex. The Craft Fuse wanted to bubble and release from the fabric, thus making it challenging to get that smooth exterior.

After fusing, I decided to back track to the fabric and add a pocket. I couldn’t decide on slide in pocket or zippered pocket and what you see here is a happy compromise… a zippered pocket that has a slide behind it.

Sewing the bag was basic bag making rules until I got to the lining. The pattern sketches and the instructions in another language were just not quite enough. I ended up ripping out three times before I finally had success! I took a picture for posterity (and future reference).

The instructions suggest hand sewing the lining to the zipper, but, rarely do I close up a bag by hand sewing. Yes, I did manage to get it all under my machine and stitch it shut.