Tag Archives: Crazy Little Projects

The Magic Softshell Bag is finished!

Remember the Magic Softshell Bag I shared last month? I finally finished it, and it’s turned out exactly as I hoped!

I skipped the poppers on the front flap pocket, but so far it looks like the combination of soft shell, poly cotton and a clear piece of vinyl (for extra waterproofing) is doing a good job of holding the pocket flap down.

I could’ve added some vinyl to the back of the front panel where the pockets are, just to ensure nothing could soak through, but I’m hoping the soft shell will be waterproof enough to not need that.

Because most of my winter walks result in me walking home in the dark, I’ve added a couple of reflective strips to the strap. I’ve never tried using this reflective tape before, and found it a challenge to sew into the softshell. So, I fused some no-sew Heat ‘n’ Bond to the back and ironed it in place instead. I’m not sure how well that will hold up to being washed, but at the moment it’s working well.

The pockets were originally going to be soft shell with a polycotton lining, but I decided the polycotton looked better as the outer, leaving the softshell to be the lining. The bit of red softshell at the top of the pockets make them easier to spot.

Hopefully if I get caught in torrential rain again, this bag will actually keep the contents dry! All I need is to make myself equally waterproof!


Pattern: Messenger Bag by Crazy Little Projects
Fabric: Magic Softshell by Mibs Fabrics (now closed)

Magic Softshell Bag – second attempt

I started a Magic Softshell messenger bag earlier in the year. I almost finished it, then discovered that the dimensions I had used for the pocket weren’t right. After some unwise unpicking where I accidentally made a small hole in the lining, I added the bag to the depths of “UFO Mountain”.

A while later, I made the mistake of being on a 3 mile walk while it was raining – the rain came through the waterproof bag I had taken with me. So I realised it would be wise to have a properly waterproof bag before the winter.

Luckily I had enough of this Magic Softshell left over to cut another bag, and armed with some printed poly cotton left over from another project, I set to worry cutting out a new bag from my favourite Crazy Little Projects pattern.

It’s not the easiest fabric to get a decent photo of. The original fabric I was aiming on buying didn’t get enough preorders, so I had to change to the red soft shell. When the fabric is wet the magic happens, and clouds & rain appear.

I’m sticking with my previous amendment to this pattern, of including a patch pocket with a flap on the front flap instead of a zipped pocket. This actually makes it a lot easier to open, and there’s less things that can go wrong (like the zipper pull coming off when I unzip the pocket!).

All the seams are sewn with a triple straight stretch stitch for strength, and I also zigzagged the curved corners just for ease of mind if I put anything heavy int he bag. The main seam stitches should be fine without that, but I like to err on the side of caution.

Just the lining to sew, then I can start putting it all together!


Pattern: Messenger Bag by Crazy Little Projects
Fabric: Magic Softshell by Mibs Fabrics (now closed)