Beetlejuice Handbag by Swoon Patterns

Coffee and sewing just go together!

Beetlejuice…Beetlejuice…Beetleju……Ha, I’m not saying it!

Do you ever feel like you need a bigger bag? All of your life doesn’t quite fit into your current bag, and it’d be nice to have a larger one, right? I sewed a big bag using Swoon Patterns “Annette Tote” sewing pattern. And, OMGSH! I am not joking when I say it’s a bigger bag. The bag is huge! I’ve made many Swoon patterns, and this one was no different. It’s well thought out, every pattern piece matches up, and the result is very professional-looking, as always.

I had some bright green Beetlejuice fabric and knew I wanted it for this bag. I also had black vinyl in my stash so, this was going to be a perfect bag for the spooky season. And, bonus, the new Beetlejuice movie came out around the same time I finished my bag. Yay!

If you’re new to bag-making, it can be a little intimidating. The most important thing is buying good quality interfacings and vinyl. Don’t skimp on these things. And, press, press, press.

Bonus, the pattern is my name, so you knew I was going to make a few of these, right?

Supply List:

• Annette Tote sewing pattern

• By Annie’s soft n stable (there are other brands, but this is THE best) Also, available on Amazon

• Sewing machine

• Wonder Clips. Pins are nice, but clips are my go-to for bag-making, especially if you use vinyl or leather

• Fabric for the outside (roughly1.5 yards)

• Lining fabric (1.5 yards)

• 2 Zippers- 1 for interior pocket, 1 for bag

• Interfacings

• Rotary cutter and mat

• Double-sided tape, I like Tandy leather

• Chalk marker

• Rulers

• Iron and board

• Marine Vinyl for handles and outside pockets, don’t skimp on this.

• Purse feet (optional)

• Metal hardware for handles

• Matching thread

• Printer, paper, and tape

I might have forgotten a thing or two, I’m going off memory here. There’s a whole list of what you’ll need in the pattern instructions. The fabric amount is probably wrong as well, make sure to check the pattern.

Annette Satchel first steps.

Interface everything!

• After you’ve printed the PDF pattern, cut, and taped everything together, it’s time to start the bag.

• Trace your pieces onto the fabric. Cut all the extra pieces there aren’t actual pattern pieces for.

• Interface everything! You have to sew the foam to the interfaced fabric main pieces. A serger is nice for this, or use the zigzag stitch on your machine.

• Cut out the vinyl handle pieces and place them onto the purse front and back. This is easy to do by folding the purse front in half and marking the CF. Use your ruler and chalk to mark placement spots for the handles. Use your double-sided tape to attach the handle in place.

Sew the handle connectors on.

Clip the 2 pieces of the side pockets together, matching placement points. This will feel funny, but it creates a nice big pocket. This pocket will fit a few cell phones, a small water bottle, a stuffed puppy, or a pair of flip-flops.

My Beetlejuice bag is coming along nicely.

Create the interior pocket. Leave a large gap in the bottom, this is how you will turn the bag right side out after it’s completed.

Purse feet are nice to have but not necessary.

You will sew the bottom base to the front and back of the bag. Topstitch. Below is what the outer will look like.

Now it’s time for the interior of the bag. I had some fun stripe fabric left over from a Halloween quilt I made last year. I didn’t have enough for the whole interior, but I made it work. Making bags is fun because you can use scraps for inside pockets and other small areas.

The intereior of the bag. Stripe fabric for the sides and Beetlejuice fabric on the bottom base.

Now the bag starts coming together.

Take the bag's main piece and side pocket pieces, and get your clips.

Start by clipping at the top, then the middle marked spot, and go from there.

Sew from one top edge, down and around, and up to the other edge. Repeat for both sides.

Clip, clip, hooray!

After the outside is finished, sew the interior the same way. This will be easier because there isn’t a layer of thick foam.

Add your own label. This is the chef’s kiss!

Clip around the top of the inside and outside. Sew!

Use lots and lots of clips.

Turn inside out through the interior pocket. This is tough, but you’ll persevere. LOL

The last step is to make the handles.

I usually make mine a little shorter or longer than what patterns call for. I measure the length I prefer with a soft measuring tape, draped over my shoulder.

Fold the handle in half, mark, then fold each side to the mark down the middle. Using the double-sided tape really helps with this part. Clip and sew.

When sewing vinyl, you cannot backstitch. The needle leaves permanent holes, so go slow and sew carefully.

Mark the center point, fold each edge to the line. Then fold onto itself, clip, then sew.

Insert into the hardware rings on your purse. Sew a few rows of stitching across the vinyl.

Dress accordingly and go see the new Beeltejuice movie.

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That’s it! Your big beautiful handbag is ready to get filled with everything on the planet.

It’s a fairly simple handbag to sew. I’ve made the smaller version as well and love it.

I’ve never had a handbag this large before so, I do feel a little funny shopping with it. I haven’t knocked anything over inside a store, yet. Haha! Oh, and it takes up a whole seat at a restaurant, but it fits everything! My laptop and camera both fit inside, which is nice if I’m on a photoshoot.

Do you need a huge carpet bag like this? I plan on making another in a different fabric- one that is more suitable for year-round use. I also might make a third using some leftover camera fabric from this skirt project.

Here’s a silly reel I made on Instagram showing what fits inside the bag.

Happy bag-making!

Annette

Movie theater goofball photos.

Bat Wing Top

Halloween is almost here! Do you know what that means? Halloween project time. Whether you plan on sewing costumes, home decor, spooky gifts, or something else, it's time to dust off the sewing machine. 

It's finally October, which is Halloween month. We start decorating around mid-September and my whole house is transformed into a "haunted mansion". Halloween is my most favorite holiday ever!! After Thanksgiving of course, because... mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. Yum! 

This is a fun top that you can make in a jiffy. You can wear it at home or around town, to the office, or trick or treating with your little ones. I recently made it and had to share it! It's too dang cute to keep it a secret.

Quick, grab the FREE Gone Batty top from Patterns for Pirates here. Then, click here for the sewing tutorial. It's the cutest!! Talk about a last-minute costume that's appropriate for work and/or school. You can wear it as an everyday top as well. It comes in one size that fits most, so no fussy fitting issues to worry about. All the wins with this one! Yes, please!!

I've had a long history of bats through caving experiences and I've grown to love them most of all. Bats are my favorite Halloween creature. When I saw this pattern last year (why did I wait so long??) I had to have it. Umm... a shirt with bat wings, yes, please! Bonus, you could even sew white topstitching thread to make it a spiderweb instead, if you wanted. Ooh maybe that'll be next year's project. 

Supply List

• P4P Gone Batty PDF pattern 

• 1 5/8 yard of Knit fabric

• Sewing machine with zigzag stitch

• Sewing supplies and notions

• Halloween music playing in the background (this is a must)

Put your PDF pattern pages together matching the letters at the ends. Tape the pages together and then cut out the pattern shape. Make sure your knit fabric is washed. Knit shrinks. Toss it in the wash on a quick wash setting and warm water. Dry your fabric on a warm setting too. Get all the shrinkage out of the way first.

The top is cut out like a circle skirt. You fold your fabric in half and then, in half again. You can use the whole pattern or use the cut-out shapes to make the "wings" along the hem. Sounds simple, right? It is! 

I did the full size PDF. It taped together nicely. No issues.

Cut out the pieces.

Should look like this.

The pattern was a smidge larger than the fabric amount I had.

Top and neckband.

So, I ran into a teeny-weeny problem. The knit I bought was 60" wide. Well, after I washed it, it shrank about 2". In the above photo on the left, you can see the pattern runs off the fabric. I traced that scallop to the end of the fabric. See... ya gotta make sure you wash your knit. It shrinks like crazy. 

Time to Sew

The pattern instructions have you take your high hip measurement and divide it by 4. I got 9". You find the center line and draw a line out to the side from that. 
Then, you make an angled line 12" up from that line. There weren't any exact measurement points for these, so you eyeball it. 

Now, this is where I urge you to use a chalk marker and baste where your stitch lines are supposed to be. I found out the hard way, the top would not fit me according to these loose measurements. I was blessed in the bust department and couldn't get the top over my body. LOL! After unpicking black thread on knit fabric for 30+ minutes, I wanted to share this little piece of advice with you. 

• Sorry about the blurry photo, but this is how much I had to unpick. I re-drew the line and tapered it out about 1 inch. This gave me 4 extra inches total and ended up fitting perfectly.

• You can see the slightly angled-out seam. This is the side seam and I needed more room than the instructions gave.
  
  

The instructions have you use the stretch stitch, which is the one that looks like a lightning bolt.

​I urge you to baste your side seams first. That stretch stitch is a pain in the butt to unpick. Especially when using the same color thread on knit fabric.

Save your eyeballs, please! 

After you've tried it on and it fits correctly in all the right places, go back and use the stretch stitch to sew your side seams. 
Then, sew the rest according to the directions. I used the stretch stitch for this too. 
​

Onto the neckband:

Sew the short sides together. Then fold over, RST.

Stretch a little, catch all 3 layers.

I don't remember reading the instructions anymore after this part. Oops! But, I went ahead and topstitched the neckband onto the top. I like the finish it gives. Use a regular zigzag stitch to do this if you'd like. 

It had some rippling but, the iron took it out after a good press.

I had so much fun making this top. And way more fun taking my photos!! I had fun music playing and danced around in my batwing top. I think I'll live in this for the month of October! I love, love, love it!!! I was channeling my inner ghoul. 

So, what do you think? Are you itching to make one? 

If you need more Halloween sewing inspiration, make Trick or Treat bags or DIY your own Halloween home decor. I also made a Fall circle bag. It was a little fail, but cute nonetheless.


See ya later, I've gone Batty!! 

Sew a Circle-Shaped Bag

The air is crisp and the leaves are sprinkling the ground as I type. Apple picking season is among us. I tried to hold on to summer but, there's no escaping it. Fall is here. Yay! I am ready, bring on my favorite season.

My creative side has been lacking lately so, I wanted to try something new. Usually, I only share patterns that I love or have created myself. But, I wanted to shake things up around here. So, I'm sharing one of my sewing fails. Yes, a fail. A major sewing fail. Face-palm.
​Here's the circle bag.

I wanted to try my hand at something new for the upcoming season. I saw a circle bag in a shop and knew I wanted to make one. I had light brown vinyl and planned on using it for a cute Autumnal bag. After scouring the interwebs for a free pattern, I settled on what I thought was a good one.  Welp, the pattern was not great. I don't want to throw anyone under the bus so, I'm not saying where I got the pattern. But it was "meh" at best.


I knew from the beginning this was going to be an experiment. Yay for experiments! I created a fall-themed embroidery file to place on the front, just in case the purse turned out cute. I didn't want a boring brown circle bag. 
The embroidery design has leaves, pumpkins, and a scarecrow. Fun! Although, the scarecrow was a little wonky.... don't look too close. ;)

​
Following the instructions, I gathered everything that was needed and cut out the pieces. I embroidered on the front circle only, that's the only area everyone will see. I used mismatched hardware for the strap (it's what I had on hand) and I used a brown zipper. Fall bag, here I come!

The seam ripper was using a lot. I horribly sewed a piece of fabric to cover the embroidery. Next time, I’ll just leave it alone.

Putting The Purse Together

The pattern didn't call for a stabilizer, which I thought was odd. But, hey, I've never made a circle bag before so, I forged on. 


You start with the zipper and long fabric strips that get sewn to the zipper tape. I didn't get a photo of this part. 

Then, you take the bottom bag piece and sew it to the zipper at the short ends. This makes a long loop that connects at the zipper ends.


You're then going to take a circle piece and clip the heck out of it, to your piping. I just used pre-made piping from the craft store. You can find it next to the bias tape. The instructions didn't include piping but, long story short... you need piping in a circle bag. ;) 

I used my zipper foot to sew closely around the perimeter of the bag. You have to work with the vinyl during this part. I found it easier to use tons of clips and pull as you go. I didn't use as many clips during the first round and it was more fiddly to work with.

Using the zipper foot helped to get closer to the piping.

Clip the edges.

After both circles are sewn on, turn the bag out and cry. Ask yourself why it isn't round and perfect like the picture. Retrace your steps and check if you missed something. Nope. You did it all. You followed the directions perfectly. The bag just wants to be rude and un-round. Major face-palm moment.
Carry on to the long shoulder strap anyway. Attach the hardware and add the strap. This part is easy. And, you're done!

It was an easy bag to make, but so disheartening. Why isn't it a perfectly round shape? I think it's because this is a 2020 bag. That's the only logical explanation. This bag, along with all of 2020, stinks. LOL 

So, what was learned from this experience?
Piping is your friend and foam interfacing should have been used. Vinyl and faux leather are stiff, but they benefit from something added.  

I will use this bag throughout the Fall season because it's cute. It's not perfect by any means and I'm somewhat embarrassed to show it to you. But, as sewists, we know there are wins and sewing fails. 

The circle bag has not defeated me though. I've accepted the challenge and will conquer this bag! Stay tuned for a pattern that will be free to you and will work! I'm creating and experimenting as you read this. 

Have you ever made a circle bag? Was it amazing and round? Or whackadoo and rude like mine?

Please, share any tips, tricks, or fails in the comment section. We're all in this together! LOL

If you'd like a quick pattern that is a no-fail one, click here. You're welcome. 

Ugly or not, I’ll still use the bag. Maybe.

Happy fall sewing ya’ll,

Annette

Halloween Sewing Projects

Once upon a time, there was a not-so-old lady who bought some fabric she didn't have any plans for. She saw it online and had to have some. No clue what she'd sew with the fabric, she bought it anyway.

That's the tale of every sewist at one time or another, right? We buy fabric without a clue what we'll use it for. We just love fabric. Give us aallll the fabric!!

​Here are some spooky things you can make with your new or old Halloween fabric. Disclaimer: they're not really spooky. ;)

I recently bought a Halloween fabric panel online. The designs were much larger than I anticipated because...online shopping. There are six rectangle designs in the one-yard panel. So, I made two pillows with my favorite ones and trick or treat bags with the other ones. I had orange Kona cotton in my stash which was perfect for the backside of the pillows. These are not lined and are meant to be an easy sewing project.
​
The fabric is Art Gallery Fabric and from their Spooky and Sweet line. ​​Which one is your favorite design?

Halloween Pillows

You will need:

• 1/2 yard of Halloween fabric

• Bag of fluff to stuff the pillow or a pillow form

• Sewing machine and notions

• Invisible zipper (or regular if that's what you have on hand)

Witch Hat Pillow

I chose the witch hat for one pillow. Pinned a matching invisible zipper in place. See those cute pumpkin pins? My friend made them for me. Squeee!!

Cutting out the large pieces. Ignore the wrinkles. It was easier ironing each piece individually.

If you have a panel like this, it makes pillow making easy. Just cut out the design you want to make the pillow with. Place it on top of the fabric you want to use for the back, using the rectangle as the pattern. Trace and cut. 

If you don't have a design piece like I used, grab a couch pillow and measure it. Write down the measurements on paper and add a 1/2" seam allowance. Use your ruler, chalk marker, and scissors to mark and cut out 2 pieces of coordinating fabric. Place your zipper on the bottom end of the pillow. I used an invisible zipper but, you can use what you have on hand. Buttons are always cute too. Just be sure to add extra length if you choose that route.

This is Halloween sewing, it doesn't have to be fit for a queen. It's supposed to be spooky fun! Turn on some Halloween music and just enjoy the process. 

Invisible zippers are supposed to be hidden. This one turned out perfectly, whew!

Sewing the invisible zipper.

After your zipper is in, check to make sure it is smooth and not catching any fabric. Open it up about halfway. Fold the pillow with RTS (right sides together) matching corners and edges. Pin or clip together. Depending on how long or short your zipper is, you may need to sew the seam a few inches at each zipper end. *If using an invisible zipper, stitch 1/8" away from the zipper seam. This keeps it from puckering and gives a nice finish.

Clip corners and seam allowances if needed. Turn right side out, gently poke out corners with your fingers or blunt end of a chopstick. Go grab the pillow form or bag of fluffy stuffing. I give this job to one of my kids. They love to stuff the pillows. The pillow will turn out like a limp noodle or a stuffed pig, depending on the child. LOL 

Trick or Treat Bags

You will need:

• 1/2 yard or so, of Halloween fabric

• Webbing for handles (you can use grosgrain ribbon if you have that)

• Sewing machine and notions

Sew the sides and bottom together.

These are quick and painless and I did not line these. They only hold candy for one night so, they don't really need a lining. If you're unsure about the weight of candy from trick or treating, we're reinforcing the seams. You're going to use a french seam finish. Let's get started.


Cut out a rectangle the size you want. Make sure you add a 1/2" seam allowance in your measurements.
My pieces were 14" wide by 17.5" tall. A perfect size for a trick-or-treat bag. Long gone are the days of the pillowcases. 

• Lay your two bag pieces WST (wrong sides together), I'm not crazy, stay with me. You're going to sew a French seam. It's easy, I promise.

• Pin or clip the two sides and bottom edge. Sew with a 1/4" seam allowance, backstitching at the start of one side and finishing up all the way around to the next side. 

• Turn it inside out (your bag should be inside out). Trim the seam allowances as close to the seam line as you can. Press the seams flat. It's very important to trim the seams allowances, otherwise, you could end up with the raw edges poking out.

• Stitch 1/4" seam around the sides and bottom, backstitching at the beginning and end. The raw edges should be fully enclosed now. Press flat. 

Trim seam as close as you can.

Turn inside out.

Press, then sew around sides and bottom.

After second stitching, bag looks clean on inside and out.

Turn right side out, press.

Turn under, and under again for the top of the bag opening.

Take the top edge and fold under 1/4", then under 1/4" again. Topstitch around the whole top. I like to use a 3.0-3.5mm stitch length for this. Press flat. 


Now for the bag handles.
Measure on your child how long or short you want them. Does your child want shoulder length or handle length only? I cut my handles 20.5" long.  

Position the straps about 1.5-2.5 inches in from side seams and pin. Sew a box and X to secure the handle to the bag. 

Grab ribbon or webbing.

Cut to length.

Decide where you want the handles.

Now you have a sturdy bag to head out and fill with candy with! 

If you have smaller pieces of Halloween fabric you could make a crossbody bag or self-tie headband. Or, even a fun little purse. And, if you want a wardrobe piece and have two yards of fabric to use up, check out my skirt post. I have 5 Halloween skirts in my arsenal now. Yikes!! 

​
Halloween looks a little different this year. But, keep the spark alive by finding new ways to celebrate. We're going to do trick-or-treating with an Easter twist. Buckets of candy will be hidden around our property and have a glow stick inside. My kids will have to hunt for their candy this year. My older kids plan on dressing up to scare us as we walk our property. We'll have our usual chili and cornbread dinner and watch a Halloween movie outside unless the weather doesn't participate. 

What are your Halloween sewing plans? Please share in the comments below. We all could use some new ideas. 

Happy Halloween, sewing friends!

XO,

Annette