Pattern Review: The Dorothy Day Tripper from Swoon Patterns
Last week after I got all the unpacking and organizing done in my sewing studio I was so excited to finally sew something. This is what I made… a gorgeous Dorothy Day Tripper bag from (Paco Bean) now Swoon Patterns.
Here is my little one all ready to help me get busy. I picked out some oilcloth (laminated fabric), which made sewing it a bit trickier, but I love the way that stuff holds up and looks pretty for so, so long. This oilcloth comes from Tula Pink’s Parisville collection. I accented it with some polka-dot Robert Kaufman cotton that I used for the handles and the piping.
This pattern is very well written and easy to follow. The clear instructions are accompanied by lots of diagrams.
If you decide to make this bag, be prepared to get friendly with your zipper foot. You’ll learn how to use it to make piping and then to apply it. I love the snazzy touch that coordinating piping adds.
Because oilcloth is a fairly firm (although not thick) materiel all by itself, I decided to forego most of the peltex (ultra-firm stabilizer) that the pattern asks for, only using it for the bottom panel and the handles. I still stabilized all of my interior lining pieces using HeatnBond Craft-Fuse Medium. Remember, stabilizers make the bag!
I absolutely love the huge interior pockets in this bag. I can’t wait to use it for holding all of my toiletries the next time we go on vacation.
But for now, I wanted to show it off so bad that I put a few sewing supplies in it and set it in a nice prominent spot in my studio. Yay!
Now go and check out this and all the other adorable patterns at Swoon Patterns!
xoxo,
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Love Alicia’s patterns, they are so fab & clear to stitch!
Great choice of fabric with yours. I’ve never stitched oilcloth before but it looks good & is practical so I think you may have inspired me to give it a go!
Thank you Annie, I think you’ll love oilcloth too. It is a little harder to manipulate through your sewing machine, but I think it’s well worth the extra effort. xoxo
That is a gorgeous bag! I have the Clyde Day Tripper bag that I am hoping to make for my son for Christmas/ his birthday. I love how your bag looks with the oil cloth, I’ll have to keep it in mind for myself one day! I really want to make myself the Eleanor Slouchy Hobo bag first though.
Thank you… I can’t wait to try another Paco Bean pattern too! 🙂
I love Dorothy Day Tripper, I have made one for my daughter and another one for me. It looks more difficult to sew that it actually is. Following properly the instructions and having intermediate skills you easily can sew one in a weekend.