My first pattern test for 2024, say hi to Mr Heckles' Handbag from Sincerely Jen Patterns! Quite the opposite from that frumpy and grumpy old man in Friends, Mr Heckles Handbag is pretty, stylish and has oodles of personality!
A generous size bag, there are plenty of pockets to store your daily essentials and more.
I chose water repellent fabrics for the exterior for practicality and durability: this pretty floral Wildfields organic laminated cotton from Cloud 9 fabrics, teamed up with indigo dry oilskin from Merchant & Mills. Both fabrics are eco friendly and a breeze to sew on my domestic machine. A stylish, angular shape, the bag has a wide, adjustable and detachable shoulder strap as well as carry handles.
In true Sincerely Jen style, you'll always find a few surprise construction methods in her patterns! One side of the exterior has a neat hidden slip pocket, perfect for storing your phone, sunglasses, tissues, etc.
The clever installation of the rectangular base achieved a perfectly neat finish and I used a faux Mora leather for added durability.
The top of the bag closes securely with a wide zipper encased in dry oilskin.
The spacious interior has plenty of pockets to organise smaller items. The lining fabric is a grapefruit red Peony Garland cotton for a lovely pop of colour.
And a wide zipped pocket on the other side for keeping important items extra secure. The pattern gives the option for a vinyl overlay around the zipper pocket.
All in all, a really fun bag pattern to kickstart the year and I see more Mr Heckles Handbags in my future! She's a beaut!
Bag maker friends, you can grab a copy of Mr Heckles Handbag pattern from Sincerely Jen's website and while you're at it, join her Facebook group for more amazing Mr Heckles Handbag creations and inspiration!
