Not One but Two Cooper Bags

When Colette Patterns released The Cooper Bag, I knew I had to make it.  I really enjoy making bags, something relaxing about the construction.  I think it is the straight sewing, lots of topstitching and occassionally, I just like not having to fit.



 Canvas and faux leather are some of the recommmended fabrics, which particularly appealed to me. Mood Fabrics' Beige/Silver Sparkle Canvas was my main fabric choice, which in person has more of a gold look.

Cooper bag - Strap and Lining

Tomorrow the finished Cooper will be on the Mood Sewing Network, so check out the finished project, it is a fabulous bag.

I have a blog post with some basic information about the bag and sewalong link.  If you plan on making this bag the sewalong is fabulous, tutorials are good and you might want to purchase The Cooper Companion, an extra pdf full on photos and little extras for the bag.  What type of extras? bag feet, self-fabric strap, key fob, etc.  Well, worth the money.

Since Colette Patterns has such great tutorials, videos and The Cooper Companion, I really don't have too much to add on the constructions.

Here are a few tips:

I used a ruler when lining up the straps to make sure they were straight.

The magnetic snap......the instructions have you put the female snap on the bag.  The flap is constructed next with the male snap on the flap.  I had better luck, waiting on the female snap.  I completed the flap, basted it to the bag and then marked the placement for the female snap on the bag.  See the pink dot?  That is my placement.

Waiting on the female snap makes it easier to line up the straps.

Next the pockets on the lining, which is quilting cotton.



First step is press the bag body and pocket in half, that way they will match up.  Another perk, the pocket is perfectly centered.

Colette instructions have you press up the bottom edge of the pocket and just stitch to the body lining.

Instead I pressed up the bottom edge and  drew a white chalk line on the body of the bag.  This white line, which is the stitching line

I stitched on that pressed line and then trimmed to 1/4".

 Press the pocket up and pin in place

Edgestitch on the sides and bottom of the pocket.  After edgestitching, stitch again a fat 1/4" and that enclosed the trimmed edge at the bottom of the pocket.

Finally, topstitch  the center of the pocket, I always stitch from the bottom up, eliminates a pucker at the bottom of the pocket

Here is a picture of the lining in place

Cooper Bag

Frigid temperatures and blowing snow are a great combination for staying home and spending the day in my sewing room.  I finished up a couple of projects and then went to work on my next Mood Sewing Network project.  That project is Cooper by Colette Patterns

source - Colette Patterns

My fabric for the main is this canvas, Beige/Silver Sparkle Canvas

with Brown Solid Faux Leather

Colette Patterns had a sewalong for this pattern a month ago.  Their tutorials and sewalongs are excellent, so if you are planning to make this bag make sure you use this resource.