Sew What?... Inspiring a Coloring Book Bag

One of the things that first inspired me to start designing was how much I enjoyed taking nothing more than an idea and turning it into some REAL. Sometimes it's a matter of discovering a need and making something perfectly suited to meet that need, or maybe it's a fabric or color or texture that sparks inspiration. Then, sometimes, it's both.

I bought myself a new Bible for Christmas this year. Suitably, it is called 'Inspire', and for a creative person like myself, it couldn't be more perfect. Big margins so I can make notes, and also lots and lots of drawings to color. Since getting it, I've been taking it with me to church Sunday mornings so I can color and listen at the same time. Those kids that you see doodling on the backs of the church bulletins? Yeah, that was me. I can concentrate better on listening when my hands have something to do.

But carrying my pencil crayons wrapped in an elastic band has been getting a bit annoying, and last week my 4 year old got hold of the elastic and was stretching it from hand to hand. Um... yeah... that was just asking for trouble. I can picture the look on our Pastor's face if suddenly struck in the forehead by a flying elastic band... at least he has sons of his own and I'm sure would understand it wasn't meant as a comment on his preaching. But the elastic band had to go.

So what is a creative girl to do? Check her fabric stash of course... whereupon I discovered the most "inspiring" rainbow fabric and the idea for the perfect bag for my Bible AND my colored pencils.

I love designing something without a pattern. It's fun to just see where things take you. I had one meter of this bright Robert Kaufman print and as soon as I saw it I knew I needed to make it work. I wanted a bag that fit my Bible comfortably, with a little extra room in case I needed to put something else in the bag (because with kids of course you never know what they are going to hand you and say "can you carry this, mom?") It also needed to have room for all my favorite colored pencils so that I can see and put away each one quickly and quietly. On the outside? Yes!

You know what is perfect about stripes? And particularly ideal about stripes that are about 3/4" wide? They are exactly the right size for colored pencils... and you don't have to worry about making them uneven or taking the extra time to draw straight lines!

First I cut the fabric wide enough to wrap around the front, back and spine of my Bible. Added an inch on each side for extra space, and seam allowances. I cut everything double so that I could fully line the bag. I cut the strips for the sides and a long piece for the shoulder strap. Then I needed to figure out how to make the pockets for the pencil crayons. I have 23 that I use, which was too many to fit across the front... hmm... why not wrap the pockets around both short sides too? Wouldn't you know, that exactly the right size for half of the width of fabric so I can line the pockets too... have I said perfect enough times yet?!

A basting stitch along the bottom of the pocket panel and a teensy bit of gathering brought the width of the pocket panel in to just the right size (with the added bonus of giving each pocket a little more room for the pencil to fit). With the pocket and side panels in place, I stitched between each stripe (making a teensy little bubble shape with each one), and VOILA!

I had a couple inches of fabric leftover, so with the contents of my button box dumped on the floor I rooted through them to find a beautiful vintage button that looked like the perfect compliment to my new bag. Make flap, add button hole... and it's absolutely perfect.

Coloring in church this Sunday with my new bag was definitely better than dealing with that bunch of elastic-wrapped pencil crayons (though I expect my son would disagree). I'm looking forward to bringing along my "bag of many colors" to many more places!