I’d had my eye on Jessica Levitt’s Gradations Bag ever since I got my copy of Modern Mix. Foundation piecing is one of my favorite ways to construct things, so I knew I had to tackle it. Plus, I want to learn more about making bags and using interfacing. And it’s big enough to hold a book, which is my primary requirement for a bag.
And for months, I’ve been working on it! It’s not been hard; it’s just been the project that I do in between the other projects. So it’s been in my W.i.P. pile for a long while.
But now it’s finally done!
The fabrics are from a bundle that I got through Fat Quarter Shop’s Blogger’s Choice program. The bundle was put together by Heather Bostic from {House} a la Mode. It’s a strange bundle, but I liked it — half menswear houndstooth and plaids, and half Tula Pink’s creepy-awesome Nightshade collection. It has lightning bolts and potion jars, spiderwebs and skulls. I paired this with some Kona black, and I’m really happy with the results! (Mr. Skull Face says hello!)
I would say this is an intermediate project. Because I’ve done foundation piecing before, I didn’t have too many problems understanding the instructions, but I could see how a beginner might find them a little difficult. I also had a hard time with the straps — I ended up with a 1/8″ seam allowance to be able to thread cotton webbing through my fabric tubes. the 1/4″ seam allowance didn’t make the tube big enough. Other than that, the bag came together rather easily, and, not to toot my own horn here, I’m actually really impressed with my own constructions skills — this thing looks really, really good.
There are two handy pockets inside the purse, and the bottom is two layers of cardboard, so it’s nice and sturdy and maintains its boxy shape. I love the tab enclosure with the snap — it’s very slick.
I think it’s seriously rad, don’t you?
Will we see it at book club in a couple weeks? :)
If I remember to bring it, sure! (What day did we choose?)