The Seat Belt Series: The Crossover Bag and Trifold Wallet by Cozy Nest Designs

Okay, let me just tell you up front that I really had fun testing the first two patterns in the Seat Belt Series from Sarah Gido of Cozy Nest Designs.  These two patterns, working with seat belt webbing, were different from anything else I have done.  So much fun that I just ordered three more webbing kits, and I will tell you how to get those after I tell you about the patterns.

 Let's talk about the bag first. You have the option of making your bag out of a single color, two colors or three colors.  As you can see, I chose three colors. (Can you tell that I live in Ohio and the colors I chose just happen to be the colors of a really great college team in my state?) The completed bag measures
10-1/2" W x 11" L x 1-1/2" D. Seat belts are great to use because they are durable and stain resistant.  Since the seat belts are top stitched to a background fabric and the edges of the belts abut, not overlap, this bag does not get too thick to sew. And imagine this...Sarah was concerned about which shoulder that you might want to wear it on, that she gives you two sets of directions so the zippers will open correctly and the vertical seat belt strip will be on the correct side..

If you look at the next picture, you can see the front pockets. The top pocket is a zippered pocket underneath the second seat belt strip.  Under the third seat belt strip, is an L-shaped slip pocket that allows you to put your phone in it so it won't slip out.  Did she think of everything?

The inside of the bag has another zippered pocket and the bag closes with a recessed zipper.

The second pattern is for the Trifold Wallet.  There are directions for using seat belts and also directions for using fabric.  The choice is yours.  I made mine out of a single color of seat belt webbing.  

The inside of the wallet has six card slots and two zippered pockets.  It closes with a magnetic snap

You can get both of the patterns here.  They are on sale for an introductory price of $5 each through April 2, 2016.  Sarah, also, sells the webbing kits with the hardware here.  Patterns from Cozy Nest Designs are clear and concise and easy to follow. 

I love this bag.

The Girl Next Door Bag from Imazzpatterns

I recently enjoyed testing a bag for Imazzpatterns called The Girl Next Door Bag. I enjoyed the simplicity and the practicality of this bag.

I used Tula Pink Mini Owl in orchid from her True Colors collection for the main fabric.

If you look closely on the back, you can make out the owls.  The bag measures 11-1/2" H and the width varies from 11" at the top to 13-1/2" at the widest point.  It is 2-1/4" deep.  The flap is closed by a magnetic snap.  But the special part of this bag is the hidden zipper pocket under the contrast strip on the front of the bag.

 Here is my phone sticking out of that pocket.  The pocket is very large as it encompasses the whole front of the bag.  The pleats allow it to expand further without crimping on the space on the inside of the bag.

The inside has an optional slip pocket that I added.

You can purchase this pattern on her Etsy page here.