Forget About Vera B., This is Rachael A.

My youngest sister Kaite loves Vera Bradley. She not-so-subtly hinted on Facebook to our other sister that said sister should buy her a laptop backpack for her birthday last week. Sane (also broke college) person that she is, other sister said no way, and so Kaite changed tack by claiming that she loves “Rachael Arnold” more than Vera. That little equivoque earned her a cosmetic bag in addition to the rest of her combined Christmas/Birthday/Finals Week present (I’d neither the time nor inclination to try making a laptop bag).

It’s quite a nice sized bag for toiletries or sundries. It’s around 11″×7″×4″. The outer fabric is quilted to cotton batting, and the zipper spans the entire top section, curving over about an inch on either side.

One side has a small handle with her initials, and a carrying strap attached via a clasp and D-ring.

I didn’t get a good photo, but I’m rather proud of how I managed to center the design on the hand strap.

The lining material is interfaced and has a label. All in all, the bag has a lot of body and was completely empty in the photos, so you can see that it stands fine on its own.

I believe I’m going to make another one or two of these in the next month or so. After I iron out the issues I had with this one, I’ll turn it into a tutorial if anyone is interested. The problem with making up a pattern like this as you go along means I forgot things like the lining when initially constructing it, and I still don’t know the exact length of the side piece, since I just sewed it onto the front and cut off the extra.

2 Responses to “Forget About Vera B., This is Rachael A.”

Tamara

10:42 am | 12/07/12

Looks great! Can’t wait for the tutorial. I really need a cosmetic bag, why not a Rachael A. one?
Denise

7:34 pm | 12/07/12

Love it!!!!!!!!! It is so nice!!!!! I can’t either for the tutorial!! I don’t know where you find the time!!