Pretty in pink: oliver + s messenger bag

One of the best sewing books I've purchased in recent memory has got to be oliver + s: little things to sew. I drooled over it in the bookstore and was so excited when the first project I completed (the reversible bucket hat) turned out beautifully. My second project turned out equally well, don't you think?

This is the kids' version of the messenger bag pattern. I used an Old Navy twill backed with light-weight interfacing for the outside and lined it in a super cute Michael Miller for Vera Bradley fabric called Tea Garden (which I can't find online anywhere to link to!).

The pattern was super easy to follow but I did have to improvise when it came to the adjustable strap. Apparently you just can't buy 1.5 inch strap adjusters in this town. A buckle did the trick, though it is a wee bit bulkier than the strap adjuster would have been. Ah well - it works, and that's what matters.

I was also too lazy to manually make bias tape in the width suggested so I used my bias tape maker to quickly prepare some slightly narrower binding. It made things a little trickier to be sure, but I'm happy with how it turned out. Plus, it saved me about a half hour at the ironing board! Perhaps Santa will bring me another bias tape maker...hint, hint.

This little bag is off to a new home for Christmas, but I think I just may have to whip one up for Abner in the new year.