Leather Bag

Instagram tells me I bought this leather hide from an outing to Birdsall Leather back in May 2016. I had plans to make a tote from it but wasn't feeling brave enough to tackle it back then so it's been rolled up and hidden under my fabric cupboard ever since. That said I did use a very tiny piece of it to make a clutch about a year ago.

Over the last few months the Genoa Tote I made back in January 2017, and used daily, was starting to look a little worse for wear. It kinda also started to smell so I put it through the washing machine -- leather handles and all ! I NEEDED a new bag, and I needed it NOW!

I modeled this bag loosely on my Genoa Tote by including a key clip, internal (though zipperless) internal pocket and I also used a set of handles I'd bought for a Genoa Tote plus I added in a handy front pocket. The bag itself is just two A3 size pieces of leather sewn together with the seams on the outside. I've this type of seam treatment around and quite liked it. It took about 90 minutes from beginning to end - including cutting out the leather.

My machine handled the leather...sort of OK, but it wasn't all smooth sailing as the foot didn't really move along the leather very well so there are so very small stitches with the sewing stalled a bit. It was also really really hard to sew a straight line so things are a bit skewiff but I don't think it's very noticeable.

When  I first used the bag I found that it was too deep and not wide enough - it was annoying to try and find things in it so I ended up buying myself a work bag that has worked much better. This week I've been on annual leave between jobs and have started using the bag again and without all the cr@p I lug to the office it's proving to be nicer to use. I've even received a few unsolicited comments on it which is always the ultimate when your wearing your handmade stuff!