Date Night

Date Night.  No, not me, the new bag from Erin Erickson of Dog Under My Desk.  I have been making a lot of Erin's smaller things lately as you well know.  I think I can make the Get Carded wallet and the Zip & Go bag and never even look at the directions anymore.  I was on Pink Chalk Fabrics the other day looking to spend my $25 gift certificate that I won for my second place finish in the Bag of the Month Club with my Poolside Tote, which has gone off to a new home.  I have a harder time picking fabric out online unless I already know what it looks and feels like.  I have been wanting to try out Erin's new Date Night bag so I looked under the PDF patterns on Pink Chalk Fabrics and there it was.  So that is how I spent my gift certificate.  Buying the Date Night pattern and another one of Erin's bags, Bigger On the Inside Drawstring Backpack.

Since I just completed a bag I tested and can't show you yet and am awaiting another one I will be testing, I only have a couple of days in between.  Time to sew Date Night.  Here is a fabric I bought several months ago while visiting friends.  Time to use it.

This bag is a quick sew (except for the zipper).  The zipper has to be hand tacked and then machine basted and then sewn.  But don't try skipping any of the steps.  As you start to machine sew it, you definitely understand why you had to do all of that extra work.    Take your time on this part because it is the toughest part of the bag.  Erin gives great instructions  and gives numerous pictures to show you exactly how to manuever through it.  Oh, and by the way, you have to go back and rip out the hand stitching and the machine basting afterwards because you have to cut out the bulk of the Soft and Stable that is under it all.

Yes, this bag does use Soft and Stable.  It is a small bag (what drew me to it in the first place).  The bag measures 11.5" x 7" x  3.75" when completed, and ....it stands up on its own!

I put a pen in the front pocket in the next picture, so you can see the approximate size.

It is really hard to see the design of the bag because of the busy fabric I used.  The front body of  the bag has 3 pieces (a larger middle piece and 2 smaller end pieces).  The pocket extends across the center piece.  If you look closely, you should be able to make this out on the right side of the bag where the red from my pocket lining ends. You can also see it in the first picture of the fabric.  The back of the bag is one solid piece. 


This bag has a large base that helps it stand up and helps it hold more than you think it should.

I know the bottom has red thread on it....don't you have thread everywhere????  If you don't, please tell me how you do that!

Here is a picture from the side.

And last but not least, the inside with a solid red lining.  There are only slip pockets on the one side.  I think next time, I will put a zipper pocket on the other side.

I love this little bag.  One of my daughters is going to want a bag like this.  She struggles finding bag patterns that are small enough for her. 

I am not a tester for Dog Under My Desk (although I sure wouldn't mind being one), nor do I have any financial ties.  This opinion is my own... check out some Erin's patterns here.  They are fun to make and put together very well.  You'll love the end result!

Oh, and by the way....my daughter just picked out her fabric.  She wants that zipper pocket added and a little piping on the front.  Told you so!