So…

I saw this fabric online and nearly swooned! And here’s the thing… it was by a designer I’d never heard of (Carla Reed), and distributed by a vendor I’ve never heard of (Sykel Enterprises, an evidently obscure division of Fabrique Innovations)!

And what makes this find even BETTER, is that I liked MANY of the fabrics that they’ve released! Which begs the question… why have I never heard of this company?

I’ll tell you more about this fabric which I find totally amazing at the end of this post, but in the meantime let me tell you about how incredible this fabric looks on our newest (close-to-being-published) pattern!

Here’s a good look at the front (at left) and the back (at right) of this bag. Keep in mind that this bag can legitimately be worn three ways, as a shoulder bag, a one-armed slingbag and as a full-on backpack, thanks to the strategic placement of 5 D-rings and depending on how you configure the straps!

The front Pouch is the perfect place to store your cell phone or anything else you feel you might require quick access to, AND the opening is secured with the audible click of an invisible sew-in magnetic snap! It also provides a fun way to utilize a cool, coordinating fabric to create a totally unique bag exterior!

And here’s a couple of closeups of the bag top area (and I LOVE how our new rainbow zippers work PURRFECTLY with this fabric combo)! The main compartment features a nice, wide opening to a roomy interior. When I carry this bag, I sometimes place my wallet inside horizontally, and other times I place it inside “on end” or vertically. It works out great either way!

And here’s a good representation of the three ways to carry this little beauty! And yes… I know my two backpack straps don’t match! At some point I’ll need to make two matching straps in order to display it well at a trade show, but in the meantime, there’s just no need to do so for each of these samples! I guess when I make my final choice for the “cover bag”, I’ll make an extra strap!

So here we are full circle, and back where we started with this yummy fabric again! And if you like this fabric as much as I do, just click HERE to pick up a fabric kit for your own usage!

This design requires remarkably little fabric.
Exterior= 1/2 yard
Contrast= 1/3 yard
Lining= 1/2 yard

Other particulars about this design include:
Bag Dimensions= 10X”H X 8″W X 4.5″

And right now I’m hoping to make this pattern available in early August, if not a bit sooner. I’ll be sending my wonderful testers their testing packages first thing in the morning, so unless something else derails my progress, (which can happen at a moment’s notice given the fragility of my folks), this seems to be a realistic goal!

Which brings up a BIG announcement!

I’ve finally settled on a name for this pattern! It’ll be….

the High Seas Convertible

Having just gotten back from a wonderfully fun & relaxing ocean cruise,
this somehow seemed appropriate. I like the sound of it and I’m thinking it will serve as a reminder of this remarkable trip!

So… what do YOU think of this name? And… if you have questions you’d like to ask about this design in general or this sample in specific, please feel free to leave either or both in the space provided below.

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