PPC28: A Tale of Two Gorillas

October 13, 2022 / Kat /

So…

an interesting this happened on the way to developing the pattern for this new design.

Normally, my first step after getting my idea down on paper (in the form of a sketch), I create a “prototype”, that’s to say that I create a skeleton form of the new design (without a lining and devoid of most interior features), just to get my important pattern pieces working together.

But this time…and for the 1st time…

I went straight from a sketch to a gorilla sample which I’ve been carrying for about 10 days (see the silver & gold sample below and at left).

And actually, if you’re wondering where our usual “initial prototype sample” is… here’s the deal… for the first time in our previous 46 patterns, I jumped straight to the Gorilla sample and you know what? I was actually pretty darned happy with how it turned out. But weren’t there things I wanted to correct or improve? Of course there are but first, let me play show & tell with our 1st Gorilla sample (at left), and the 2nd Gorilla sample (at right).
This design has two completely separate & roomy zippered compartments. I’ve included a three slot card caddy here, but these are easy to make and one could absolutely make up and extra one or two and place them on another lining wall.
And guess what’s in-between the zippered pouches? We’ve included one of our signature hidden drop-in slots between the pouches and this area is secured with a mag-snap closure. Your phone will easily fit here but so will your reading glasses, lipstick, pens or anything else you want quick and secure access to.
And finally, there’s another drop-in slot pocket on the back of the bag and my Samsung Galaxy 20 phone will also easily fit in here.

So why you might ask are there TWO gorilla samples presented on this page?

Well here’s the deal… as much as I liked the 1st Gorilla sample (on the left), after making the next sample (which I really believed would be the first show sample for this design) and carrying it for a week or two I found I was dissatisfied with that back slot pocket. When I carried my phone in that slot pocket, it seemed to blare open a bit making my phone seem a little too exposed and insecure. That’s when I knew that the right decision was to add a tab of some sort to strengthen this area, but I also knew that doing this would unfortunately render BOTH of these samples as totally ineffective as a true examples of this design… which means that although they’re both beautiful to look at, they could never truly represent the final design. For the first time ever, I had inadvertently created …

TWO Gorilla Samples!!!

As much as this was a disappointing turn of events, I’m satisfied with this course of action and I hope you stay tuned for our next post in this series when we’ll reveal the first TRUE sample of this design! I hope, I hope!

And now… a word about these fabrics, both of which I highly recommend!
The fabric on the left is part of Gustav Klimt’s collection for Robert Kaufmann and the on the right,
is a sample from Deborah Edwards’ “Luminosity” collection for Northcott Fabrics.

And now, it’s YOUR turn!

If you have comments you’d like to share or questions you’d like to ask about this design in general or these samples in specific, please feel free to leave either or both in the space provided below.

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Kat

26 Comments

  1. Donna Lamont on October 13, 2022 at 6:47 am

    I love these and wait patiently( not) for the release, but I love all of your designs , so there is that!



    • Kat on October 13, 2022 at 7:37 am

      Gosh, thanks so much. I’m anxious as well!
      🙂



    • Ray McCoy on October 13, 2022 at 10:02 am

      I love it. The roomy compartments are really nice. Can’t wait to test it.



      • Kat on October 13, 2022 at 6:25 pm

        And I can’t wait to get to that process! 🙂



  2. PJ on October 13, 2022 at 8:37 am

    I love the two drop in slots…Hoping my iphone will fit….and I have hit the age where I must have peepers with me as my eyesight isn’t what it was any longer and stops at the store that are unexpected leave me unable to read labels!



    • Kat on October 13, 2022 at 6:20 pm

      I think your iPhone will be fine. I have a large Samsung 20 and it fits with PLENTY of room to spare.
      🙂 (And I always carry my reading glasses with me too.)



  3. Pat Evans on October 13, 2022 at 9:03 am

    Love it! Wondering if the middle pocket could be constructed to carry a pistol?



    • Kat on October 13, 2022 at 6:20 pm

      Sorry pat, but I honestly think the pockets will be too low for a firearm.



  4. Nancy Rosa on October 13, 2022 at 9:13 am

    This will be a great design for those who favor smaller bags. Will be fun to test!



    • Kat on October 13, 2022 at 6:21 pm

      I hope so! But first I have to finalize the design. 🙂



  5. Dawn on October 13, 2022 at 10:19 am

    This looks awesome. Depending on the size, it could become my new favorite!



    • Kat on October 13, 2022 at 6:26 pm

      And that’s music to my ears! 🙂



  6. Charlene Samanich on October 13, 2022 at 10:31 am

    Why not make that outer pocket a zippered pocket. I prefer zippers for security.



    • Kat on October 13, 2022 at 6:27 pm

      That would be a lovely idea, but I’m afraid that design-wise that would be a very difficult challenge for most sewists! 🙁



  7. Ardis Lionudakis on October 13, 2022 at 2:05 pm

    I really like this design, especially the drop in pocket between the zippers. Could you let us know what the dimensions are? Thank you!



    • Kat on October 13, 2022 at 6:28 pm

      Hmmm…. I try to avoid boxing myself in with particulars such as this until I am totally settled on the design. But I should be able to divulge that info very soon! 🙂



  8. Bunnie Cleland on October 13, 2022 at 3:50 pm

    oooh Another little bag. I actually wore out my last one, the Hip Bag Hybrid. I made a Gateway, and would make another Hip Bag Hybrid , but I like the improvements in this one. Now to wait.



    • Kat on October 13, 2022 at 6:30 pm

      I’ll try to be as swift as possible Bunny! Will we see you in Houston?
      🙂



  9. Sylvia on October 14, 2022 at 2:11 am

    Love this bag….love the separate compartments…its the style I would buy if in a shop. Hope you will be able to make the pattern as a PDF so everyone across the world will be able to enjoy making it.



    • Kat on October 14, 2022 at 5:49 am

      Thanks for commenting Sylvia. I’m glad you’re liking this style!



  10. Mea Cadwell on October 14, 2022 at 4:34 am

    I can see the dilemma. Since everything is already put together, if it were up to me I’d unpick the seam for the lining to access the zipper closest to the back pocket, unpick the zipper seam just enough to put in a velcro tab there, sew it back up and then sew on a velcro piece to the outside of the back pocket. It may not look the best inside the back pocket where the thread for the velcro is located but it would also help keep the lining in place in the spot where the majority of friction would occur.

    Otherwise I really like the construction of this bag and the feather fabric you chose and can’t wait for it to become available.



    • Kat on October 14, 2022 at 6:12 am

      Thanks so much Mea! I’m really enjoying carrying this bag so far and I hope you will also! 🙂



  11. Lugene F on October 14, 2022 at 1:51 pm

    I love this design! I can’t wait for this to come out. But I am also a lover of card slots and it seems like I like an unlimited number of them. Do you think that you could put a double row of card slots in the lining, or would it be too close a fit? What about a magnetic snap to close the center pocket? I can’t wait to see you at the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival!



    • Kat on October 14, 2022 at 4:46 pm

      Thanks for commenting Lugene. And yes- there IS a magnetic snap to close the center pocket, but I’m not sure there’s enough room for a double row of card slots. You can however, include a 3-card slot caddy in multiple zipper pockets. 🙂



  12. Tammy O’Neill on October 21, 2022 at 6:06 pm

    I have been looking for a bag of this size! Excited to try it out!



    • Kat on October 21, 2022 at 8:18 pm

      That’s music to my ears Tammy! 🙂