Oh this is fun! Today I’m sharing a couple Traverse Bags I made samples of using Forage (my new fabric collection for Robert Kaufman Fabrics). The Traverse has been my daily bag for the past year. I made a regular size and used that until this summer and then switched to a mini size once summer officially hit! It’s been fun to use them and I might just have to make another mini using Forage for myself. It’s hard to restrain myself for now. I usually wait until a bag is starting to really show wear or is stained or whatever, but I’m sure I’ll have to break my own ‘rule’.

These two were fun to make! I switched out the piping/strap in the regular size once while making it. I like to have a little bit of contrast and the first fabric I picked didn’t have enough. Although I’ve seen so many great variations, even ones without the piping that look so amazing, too. So don’t feel bad if you get part way into a project and need to switch directions a bit. Sometimes it’s only a matter of ripping a few seams or remaking a strap, which I think is worth it if you’re not in love with your original choices.

Also, if you’re reading this post, I’ve got a new pattern in the works, it’ll be out the second week of September if all goes as planned. I cannot wait to sew a sample in Forage, but I’m already dreaming up all kinds of fabric combinations.

Pattern: Traverse Bag (regular and mini sizes)
Fabrics: Forage (designed by me for Robert Kaufman Fabrics), Chambray and Interweave Chambray were used for the handle and piping accents
Hardware/zips: Traverse Bag Hardware Kit here, or if you just need zippers, I recommend Zipit on Etsy, too.

And a huge thank you to Laura, my Cousin’s daughter, for modeling!

Happy Friday! I’m excited to start sharing projects I’ve made using my new fabric collection, Forage, for Robert Kaufman Fabrics. It’s shipping to stores in August (which is next week already believe it or not! although I’m sure it’ll take a few weeks to trickle into shops) and I’m excited to share more about the collection starting today. Over the next few weeks I’ll be posting about each project I’ve made, it’s been fun having little photo sessions with each one and hopefully you find it both helpful and inspiring! Forage is overprinted on Essex and Essex Yarn Dyed, which if you’ve worked with in the past, you’ll find it’s a super versatile fabric – great for garments, quilting, home dec projects, and bags of course!

I’m kicking it off with the Cargo Duffle today. It seemed only appropriate because it was the first free pattern I designed for Robert Kaufman back in 2013. Which seems like forever ago, but I still love seeing them popping up in my feed. It’s such a fun one to mix and match fabrics and also to see what modifications everyone makes to customize it for their needs. To me that’s one of the most rewarding parts of developing patterns, is seeing what everyone does with each pattern.

So this Cargo Duffle is one of the first projects I made using Forage. It was both intimidating and exciting to start! I love the way it came together. It quilted up quite nicely, which is always fun to watch the transformation. I used Draper Denim for the Contrast Bottom, I love the texture it has and it was just the right weight to work with on this project. I used the Big Sur Canvas in Natural for the canvas.

Fabric: Forage by me for Robert Kaufman Fabrics, Draper Denim and Big Sur Canvas in Natural
Snaps: available in my shop (size 24)

I’m hoping to round up some links to shops that are carrying Forage (if you’re a shop let me know and I’ll put your link on the list), please let me know if this would be helpful to you. And I think in the next post or so, I’ll do more of a general overview of my inspiration for this collection and a overall look at the collection.

Have a great weekend!