My children are finally at an age where I can have a smaller bag – I no longer need to carry around loads of nappies, changes of clothes, toys/books, etc with me.  However, I still need a bag that will fit my filofax, purse, sunglasses, phone, keys, and emergency kit (and I quite like it if it will fit in a small crochet project).  My latest bag fits the bill perfectly – not small, but not huge either.

The pattern is the City Bag from Nicole Mallalieu Design.  I added a few details to customise it – Nikki’s patterns are highly adaptable – such as adding a hard structured base with feet (the instructions for doing this are included in some of her other patterns such as the Laptop Bag).

I really enjoyed adding the hardware to this one – there are rectangular “O” rings on the straps, a slide adjuster to vary the strap length, the bag feet, a zipper pull and a swivel hook in this bag, all in antique brass. Nice!

The outer fabric is one of Amy Butler’s home decorating lines from a couple of season’s ago – I think it’s the Nigella range. The interior fabrics are quilting fabrics but they’ve been in the stash for a little while so I no longer remember which range they’re from.

There’s a compartment pocket on one side of the bag and a zippered pocket on the other. I interfaced the exterior fabric and added a layour of thin fusible wadding, and did the same with the strap. All the interfacings and hardware were purchased from Nicole Mallalieu Design.  Like all of Nikki’s designs, this bag came together beautifully. I like everything about this bag, and wouldn’t change a thing!