by Linda Theil
I just finished my second "Starborn Crossbody" bag, a new design by Diane Spencer-Ogg. Since I previously had some difficulty stitching the final top seam, I used a lighter cotton fabric and cut the interfacing one-half inch from the edge of each pattern piece to cut down on bulk, I used a vinyl faux leather to make the D-ring attachment instead of the multi-layered fabric piece I used in the first bag, but I still had a hard time inserting it cleanly because of the bulk. In the future I would attach a wristlet, or carabiner to the zipper pull instead of adding D-rings for a strap; or I would try to find a 3/4-inch light but tough nylon webbing to hold the D-rings.
The cotton I chose to use is from the "Gnome of the Brave" collection by Shelly Comiskey for Henry Glass & Co. as a tribute to baseball fans.
The interior features a zip-pocket with credit-cards slots incorporated into the lining.
The front of the bag has a zippered pocket with a covered zipper.
I used rivets to attach a vinyl faux leather cover to the unbound end of the zipper.
Before closing the pocket that was used to turn the bag after stitching the top seam that attached the lining to the bag exterior, I reached into the still accessible unfinished interior and matched up the lining bottom seam with the exterior bottom seam and stitched them together so that the lining would be held snugly inside the bag. This seam is invisble from the exterior of the bag and is enclosed when the bottom of the pocket is sewn to finish the bag interior.
This pattern is well engineered and well designed with outstanding step-by-step instructions and full-length video accompaniment, but I still found it very challenging While none of the process is difficult, every aspect -- the body darts, the covered zipper, the top insertion of the main-access zipper, the interior zippered pocket -- demands attention to detail that I found very challenging. I really love this bag!
Update March 12, 2024: "Starburn" bag in Mora faux leather and interior from "Filagree" collection by Zen Chic
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Interior |
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Exterior |
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