I was offered by several nice ladies to join them in a local market held in my area. This market is usually held for two days, once in every season. I’ve been there once, the sellers are usually stay-at-home moms who loves to craft in their spare time, and the buyers are other moms too, so it’s a bit like an inner circle. The place is not really big, but I guess it’s enough to accommodate all of these women from the area who’s interested to come.
I decided to make reversible Charlie bags for this occasion because (1) they’re quick and easy to make, (2) they’re more versatile than clothes, and (3) they give me the chance to use IKEA those fabrics I’ve been wanting to use but never found the right thing to make. So I made bags. Not one or two or ten, but thirty-three reversible bags.
At first, I spent too much time in cutting and pairing the fabrics. But once they are cut, I began to sew like crazy. Nothing is more satisfying that seeing a heap of bags in colourful pattern and identical shapes began to emerge.
Then I had a lot of scraps lying around. I turned these scraps into boxy pouches with zipper. The pouches are lined with white thick fabrics that I found in local store. I think they look pretty cute.
We came early to the market place and began to arrange our stuffs. Before the market even opened, I’ve already sold two bags and two pouches. When it was time to open the market, everybody was asked to go outside and make a line. The place was on the second floor and when I went outside, the line was already down to the first floor. Once the door opened, everybody went inside and elbowed one another. It was a war inside.
At the end of the day, my sales was pretty good. I still have some bags left that I’m intended to give to people as gifts or maybe sell online. Anyway, seeing people taking my bags off the hanger and bringing them to the cashier was a pretty good feeling. Hey, maybe I should do this again.
Bag pattern is Charlie bag from Burdastyle (with little modifications)
wow you are amazing!
I am trying the reversible tote pattern today I think!
Thank you
hay
can you help me how to sew or how to make a envelope hand ban?
please answer
Hi Novita,
I love the little pouches. Do you have a pattern for those?
Great blog and such lovely fabric, colours and patterns.
Liz
Hi Liz, I don’t have the pattern there’s a lot of tutorials for this kind of pouch. You can search for ‘boxy pouch’. Hope that helps!
Yes, it does. Thanks for the reply.
Liz
I love the fabric choices you made and your site overall!!! What modifications did you make for the charlie bags?
Thank you! I didn’t make any modification for the bags other than making them reversible
Oh nice!! I’m thinking of making these as Christmas presents this year. Thanks!!
I want every single one! I just saw your winning shirt at rae and am stuck browsing your lovely patterns. Congrats!
Hello ! I sewed a bag with Ikea fabric as well when I was leaving in Sweden. Here is a picture of it. http://charlotteauzou.wordpress.com/2010/07/09/un-sac-multicolore-de-chez-ikea/
Your bag with the colourful stripes is my favorite !
Good luck with your next projects, you are very talented
I love those pouches! Is too much ask for a tutorial of it? You are very talented on sewing and handmade things. Love your work 😀
those bags are perfect for summer with those wonderful colors, you’d always look vibrant carrying those colorful bags!
I LOVE all of your colours..
I love using scraps ! I use mine to make a wallet pattern as well and then I use the smaller scraps from the wallets to make fabric coasters. Your bags look so awesome all together.. I don't think I would be able to buy just one ! I would need at least five..
Thank you Lia and stefanisarah!
O wow. You've been busy. Knowing that others appreciate your work is really rewarding, isn't it You should've opened your etsy shop, like loong time agoo. I can see you already opened one. Congrats!
wow..where did you find the time to sew?! Love your blog 😉
Thank you everyone!
Anna Bee, I'll see what I can do! But there's a lot of tutorial for these boxy pouches, you might want to take a look at this link: http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=714
Hope that helps!
Great job, the bags are fabulous! Any chance you might post a pattern or a how-to for the boxy pouches?
Novita.. WOW WOW WOW the fabrics are awesome!! you did a great match match.
Wow you've done a great job! I love your choice of fabrics. They are all so colorful and pretty!
Congrats on your new store!!
I love craft market- both selling and buying. I miss doing that actually… It's so nice to see customers buying your stuff, and the person who is creating such beautiful things!
congrats on opening your Etsy store :)!!
Wow. Love all the colors! Your photos and fabrics are always so great. Where do you find all your fabrics? I recognize some from IKEA, others from local shops? Love the collage of all the bags. Wonderful work as always.