The Dottie Vintage Bag

And the Paco Bean pattern love continues! The newest release is the Dottie Vintage Bag. It is awesome!

This is a small formed bag with piping that gives it a very retro/vintage feel. Notice how you can barely see where the piping is joined on the bottom? I used the same joining technique as on my origami fan skirt. Check it out here.

The Free Spirit twill fabric I used works well with this pattern by adding strength to help keep it's shape (not to mention durability!) And I think the print really complements the vintage feel.  :)

This bag can be made as a handbag or a shoulder bag. I chose to use the short handles to make it handbag style. I could see these handles made with leather too. Totally retro!

There is a single zipper across the top on the outside; keeping a clean, not too cluttered, look.  On the inside there is a hidden zippered pocket. I also added a couple slip in pockets across the opposite side, because a woman can never have too many pockets, right?

 

I used rip-stop nylon as my lining to make this a cosmetic bag. Or it could be used as nice little travel bag for your shampoo and stuff. If anything leaks it can be just wiped out. Easy peasy; that's what I like! 

The pattern also comes with instructions to make it an insulated lunch bag: lunch in style!

The directions were easy to follow and the results are rockin'! You can use pre-made piping if you wish but the pattern shows you how to make your own. Paco Bean also has a great free tutorial on making and applying your piping to this bag here. Really, the designer has been thorough and provided about just anything you'd need to know. It is an awesome pattern and would recommend it for sure!

And because I like to photograph bags like they are fashion models, here's more pictures for you ;)