October's Box - Make your next bag the Mason!
[Please note, this blog post includes my affiliate link for Sallie Tomato, indicated by an asterisk * after the link. I receive a small percentage from the seller if you purchase this sewing pattern using my affiliate link.]
October marks the Busy Bagmaker's anniversary box - that's a whole year of delivering fun mystery bag projects to makers who love sewing bags just like me! So I really wanted to make this month's box extra special.
First, let's talk about that gorgeous feature fabric!
The moment I saw this stunning Blackbird print designed by Maureen Cracknell for Art Gallery Fabrics, I knew it would be bag-worthy. Remember the "Bloom Plume" fabric featured in April's box? It's from her same "Starling" collection. For October's box, members get to choose between the teal or lilac colour ways, simply because I couldn't decide which one I loved more, plus there was limited availability for both.
As for the mystery project - we're making the Mason* bag by Sallie Tomato Patterns which is perfect for showing off a bold, large scale print like the Blackbirds. It's a practical, unisex and stylish zipped bag with so many uses and the ideal pattern for kickstarting your gift sewing for the festive season!
Think a beauty bag for full sized toiletries, travel storage for a small hairdryer or other gadgets, a project kit bag for hobbyists like crochet or embroidery, even a lunch bag if you add a couple of handles.
Mason comes in two sizes and I give all the supplies to make the larger version, although there is enough fabric and interfacing to make two in the smaller size instead if you'd prefer - one for you and one for a friend!
For this project, we're playing with specialist materials like sew-in Style-VIL foam from Vlieseline and a gorgeous quality, water resistant canvas, as well as extra sewing notions to try out like continuous zipper tape, ByAnnie fold-over elastic and that extra surprise sewing gift!
I told you October's box would be special!
The Mason bag features a single slip pocket inside to store smaller items and you can easily add more slip or zipped pockets inside and out to make it even more functional. And in case you're wondering, the bag can be constructed with or without binding! In my video tutorial, I show how to finish of the inner seams with foldover elastic.
There are also two videos from Jessica Barrera of Sallie Tomato. Her more recent video shows how to make your own bias binding in cotton fabric and her original video shows an alternative construction method by turning the bag right side out through a gap in the lining (please note, this method is not included in the pattern instructions).
Inspired to make your own pretty beauty bag just like this one?
October's box includes:
- access to the Mason digital pattern*
- Blackbird fabric in teal or lilac
- Navy water resistant canvas
- Style-VIL sew-in foam interfacing
- ByAnnie foldover elastic
- Continuous zipper tape
- two dainty light gold zip pulls
- a surprise sewing gift
- my full-length, step-by-step video tutorial to sew the Mason at your own pace
- plus access to my private Busy Bagmakers Facebook group for support
Fancy having a go at making the Mason with your own supplies? Grab the pattern and Jessica and I would both love to see your finished Mason bags! Feel free to share in the Sew Sofia and Sallie Tomato groups on Facebook.
