Guest Pattern Review

Hi there, I’m Stephanie from Hugs, Kisses and Snot. At Hugs, Kisses and Snot you will find inexpensive crafts for kids and the home, everyday food that is husband and kid approved and my faith journey. I’m also a veteran IVF mom as well as experienced in raising a child with Sensory Processing Disorder. You can find our IVF and SPD stories as well as SPD resources.

I’m so happy to be guest posting for Sonia. After signing up for her e-newsletter she sent me this hobo bag pattern. I knew immediately that I would want to blog about making it and now I’m lucky enough to blog about it on her blog, not just my blog. blog blog blog. Anyway, thanks Sonia for the great pattern and the guest posting gig.

If I were a hobo I would be a very stylish one.

Let me put something right out there…I am not a good seamstress. I like to pretend I know what I’m doing at the sewing machine but really I have no idea. Kind of like when I sit down at the piano with music in front of me I expect it all to come flooding back from 29 years ago and I will be able to play beautifully. Or, like when I was working full time at the Assisted Living home and I somehow expected to be able to speak fluent Spanish with my Hispanic co-workers just by osmosis and watching Dora. In those situations and in sewing, it never happens the way I picture it in my head.

Only once before have I ever made anything by following a pattern and even then I had an experienced seamstress helping me every step of the way. Sonia’s pattern is perfect for beginners. It is easy to put together and has easy to follow, step-by-step instructions. I finished this bag in an hour! (or would have had I not been interrupted by nap time ending)

The Hobo Bag pattern includes three sizes. I chose to make the medium bag. I bought 1 1/2 yards of fabric and had more than enough. In fact I think that I could get another medium bag out of this fabric…maybe. I would definitely get the small bag out of the left over fabric.

After printing the pattern out I followed the directions on how to turn a stack of computer paper into a sewing pattern. I had my coordinating fabrics from Hobby Lobby and was ready to go in no time. Regarding fabric choice: I chose a heavier cotton fabric. The calico prints (while very inexpensive) seemed way too thin and not able to stand the test of time and abuse that a hand bag gets.

(Before you scroll through the pictures I feel the need to point out…my rug is vacuumed and clean. It’s just very old and worn. Please don’t think I would post pictures of my dirty rug)

Place the pattern on the fold and cut out the bag and pocket. Repeat with coordinating fabric.

I’m not going to go through the step by step directions. Sonia is soooooooo much better at explaining each step than I could ever do. Trust me, just download the pattern and instructions.

My one bit of advice that I will give…once everything is put together and it’s time to turn it right side out…start with the handles. (The handles are the long, rounded ends seen above) Push the tip of the handle in on itself to get it going. Use a chopstick or eraser end of a pencil to push it through further. Once the end of the handle is pushed in 3 or 4 inches then you can reach inside the bag, grab a hold of the right side of the end of the handle and start turning the bag right side out.

Knot the handles together and voila’. Done!

Because of the cute, coordinating fabric and there is a pocket on the inside this bag is reversible. It’s a two-fer!

Thanks Sonia! My sewing confidence level just went up from orange to yellow. Another one of Sonia’s patterns and I might move up to green.