The Happy Handbag Sew Along by Mrs H

[@yvonnewelling129]

Amny thanks Mres H for the excellent sew along.

[@SewingPatternsbyMrsH]

You’re welcome 😊 Thanks for watching!

[@analuzvalentin4634]

Beautiful handbags

[@michele4750]

Merci pour votre vidéo

[@karenellshore4515]

I have just watched your instructions video, love the details and the ease to follow along, now to go start my cutting

[@SewingPatternsbyMrsH]

Thank you! I hope you enjoy sewing it, it's a satisfying sew!

[@sewing_myhappyplacepauline223]

Thank you for the sew along, I found it really helpful as this is my first BOTMC make 😊

[@lizwilson8371]

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND EVERYONE. First pattern to make in 2023. Love the classic look of this bag. I'm ready to sew. Thank you 😊

[@SewingPatternsbyMrsH]

Happy new year Liz, happy sewing!

[@paulasews]

Thank you! Great tutorial! Looking forward to making one of these! Hopefully before the end of the BOMC season. Love your tartan fabric too!

[@SewingPatternsbyMrsH]

Thank you! Happy new year to you! Enjoy sewing!

[@roxannericchio3556]

Love the look of this bag!!! Love BOTMC

[@SewingPatternsbyMrsH]

Thank you, Roxanne! Happy sewing!

[@Jessica-li2hm]

Hi, I just viewed your channel for the first time. I enjoyed your video and am sure to learn more from you; so I subscribed. I am not a beginner but I am always looking for new tips, tricks, and techniques. Thank you for this pattern and your tutorial 🙂

[@SewingPatternsbyMrsH]

You're very welcome, Jessica! Bag of the Month Club is all about learning new tips, tricks, and techniques - about skillbuilding - so I hope that you do get to try out some things that are new to you. Thank you for joining in with our bagmaking adventures!

[@maggiemay961]

Great pattern. Is there a video for the nappy bag? If not can you do one please, pretty please!

[@helendabrowski3390]

Thank you. We don't currently have a sew along for the Nappy Bag but I will put the suggestion to Samantha. Thank you for your support. Helen

[@sarahp7749]

What a great way to spend New Years day! Thank you for this tutorial. I just downloaded the pattern from my BOTM Club, and really love the look of this bag. You were right - it does look a bit intimidating - but your instruction is going to make this a true beginner project. Again, thank you, and I wish you and yours a very healthy, happy and prosperous 2023!

[@SewingPatternsbyMrsH]

Happy new year Sarah! Thank you for joining the club and for your encouragement!

[@MelissaH05]

Happy New Year!!! Beautiful classic bag pattern!!! Love the detailed instructions!!! I'm very much a visual learned so this is great! Thank you

[@SewingPatternsbyMrsH]

Happy New Year to you too! And thank you! I hope you get as much delight from sewing The Happy Handbag as I have!

[@barbarabroadfoot4621]

I just subscribed to BOTM club - this year I am actually going to MAKE the bags! :-) Just watching the video and note you keep a walking foot on. Is that a preference? I have a dual feed on my machine - would that suffice to make this bag? I have only used the walking foot once - when I quilted soft and stable to a cotton bag. haha

[@SewingPatternsbyMrsH]

Thank you so much for joining, and welcome to the club! It is personal preference....I really don't need it on this machine, but I like it for two reasons. 1) it is a wider foot so stabilises the fabric where it's being sewn so reduces wobbles 2) it is easy for me to line up the seam allowances based on various cut outs in the sole of the foot. It's a comfort blanket to me really!!

[@SewGigi]

I am new at sewing bags and messed up with my bag bottom. I used cotton fabric instead of faux leather. I am thinking of making another bottom and sewing it on top of fabric. Help!!!! I don’t know what to do and don’t want to take it all apart if I don’t have to. So NOW I know for the next bag. Thank you so much! I love your patterns and directions, which I should have watched before my mistake. Ugh 😢 U

[@SewingPatternsbyMrsH]

Hi Charlene, we're sorry for not replying before. I'll check with Mrs H and come back to you as soon as possible ~El

[@SewGigi]

Thank you, no problem. Actually, I added a piece inthe middle of the straps on bottom of bag. It looks fine, no one would ever notice. 🎈🤣

[@loribernard5144]

Great tutorial Mrs. H. Love this bag….question can you use pelted or decovil heavy instead of the bag base???

[@helendabrowski3390]

Hi Lori, thank you for your question. I have asked Samantha and she said that both of those you mentioned would work. Happy sewing!

[@sylvieallard58]

Nice purse I love your material. What kind of thread are you using and what is the length of your sewing machine please. Thanks

[@SewingPatternsbyMrsH]

hi Sylvie, I'm using standard 'sew-all' polyester thread by Gutermann. Do you mean the throat space? I'm not sure, but I use the Janome HD9. www.janome.co.uk/model-hd9

[@dizzydaffodil520]

Thinking about adding a placket zipper to the top instead of the magnets. Would that prevent the sides from coming in?

[@SewingPatternsbyMrsH]

hi Shana, yes it may unless you increase the height of the lining, reduce the height of the exterior and have the zip right at the very top between the two layers?

[@dizzydaffodil520]

@@SewingPatternsbyMrsH Thanks! totally get what you are describing. I think I'm going to give it a try on my second time around. Get to know the bag first... become good friends... and then play. haha. It's such a cute bag!

[@sheiladenton5271]

When cutting the fabric your book reads “All measurements are given as width x height” does that mean (crosswise grain selvage to selvage) x (lengthwise grain)

[@SewingPatternsbyMrsH]

hi Sheila, no, it means that if the pattern piece says to cut 11" x 10", it means to cut 11" wide and 10" high. :)

[@sheiladenton5271]

@@SewingPatternsbyMrsH Does it not matter which grain you cut lengthwise vs crosswise? I’m sorry I just don’t want to have to buy more fabric 🥴

[@SewingPatternsbyMrsH]

@@sheiladenton5271 If you're interfacing your fabric, then I don't believe it really does matter which way you cut. With dressmaking, you want it to 'hang' in the right way, but with bagmaking, you're interfacing the drape out of the fabric anyway, so personally, I save some money and cut however I like!

[@Bzzyme]

Quick question...what size needle are you using?

[@SewingPatternsbyMrsH]

I'm using a #80 for the lining and a #100 for the exterior. I use Schmetz Universal HLx5 (the manual says to use HLx5 for my machine, but I choose Schmetz because they're a good strong needle!)

[@Bzzyme]

Thank you for your response Mrs H. I am pretty much a "newbee" to sewing. I was gifted a Janome machine when I retired some years back and I am just getting acclimated to everything. I truly appreciate your taking the time to provide me with this information. I will order the Schmetz needles. I really, really want to make this bag. It is just "sew" precious!!! Thank you for sharing your expertise for the Bag of the Month club. I enjoy your presentation and hope you return with more designs!

[@ashleyhansom3028]

I am struggling with the foam step. 24 by 24 1/4 seams really big and I don't get how to lay that out.

[@SewingPatternsbyMrsH]

hi Ashley, the foam requirements is the total amount, you'll be cutting this into one 13” x 24 ¼” (33cm x 62cm) for the main body (after sewing the main panels to the base), and then two end panels (1 &7/8" shorter). Hope this helps x