The June Bag of the Month, The City Slicker, From Chris W Designs

I have been waiting a month and a half to show you this bag.  I was a bag tester for Christine of Chris W Designs on her bag of the month for June, the City Slicker Bag.  I was excited for June to come to show you the beautiful bag she created for the Bag of the Month Club.  This pattern comes as a bundle.  There is an advanced version (which is the one I made) and an intermediate version.  I will tell you what makes them different a little later.

This version is loaded with pockets.  Here on the front of the bag, you see the first pocket which is closed with a turn lock.  This is a roomy pocket that extends out from the front of the bag as you will see in this next picture..

 This is the top view of the bag.  Instead of one long zipper, I decided to add a double pull zipper to make it easier to open and it fit this bag well because of the shape of the bag.

 Here is the back of the bag that shows pocket number two.  It is a welt pocket that is open on the top but because of the design appears more closed than a slip pocket.

The inside of the bag is loaded with pockets.  On one side (pictured on top here), there is a zippered pocket with two slip pockets below it.  On the other side, there are two slip pockets and two pen pockets on top (under the yellow trim above the bottom pockets).  There are two slip pockets and one pleated pocket large enough for sunglasses below that.  Are you still counting?  If you are you should be at twelve pockets, including the pen pockets!  That's a lot of pockets, plus the bag interior is so roomy beyond the pockets and the bag opens wide to see and have access to everything. 

 

If you have never made one of Christine's bags, don't be intimidated.  There are lots of pages of instructions but the instructions are written clearly with so many pictures to show the steps that if you just take it a step at a time, you will end up with a beautiful bag that people will be surprised is handmade.  Don't be intimidated by the hardware.  Most of the hardware goes on pretty easily but makes the bag look so professional.

 

The intermediate version changes some of the pockets I have listed in the advanced version.  The back pocket is an easy slip pocket instead of the welt pocket.  There is an easier version of the interior zipper pocket.  This version is minus the extra pleated slip pocket inside.  The intermediate also has easier to sew triangular strap tabs and a slightly easier version of adding the zipper closure.

 

Whichever version you choose, you will have a great, unique shaped bag that you will love.