Hello, bag-making friends! If you love sew-alongs that feel like sewing with friends, then you’ll love this Penny Crossbody by Woodland Stitches video from The Bag Makers Sew-Ciety YouTube channel. This bag, designed by Leanne Woodland Stitches, is a stylish and practical crossbody that’s fun to sew and great for adding personal touches.
In the live sew-along, I worked through the bag step by step, chatting about materials, sewing techniques, and troubleshooting, while enjoying a relaxed conversation with the sewing community. If you missed it live, here’s a full recap with all the tips and techniques you need to make your own Penny Crossbody!
The Penny Crossbody – A Lovely & Functional Design.
This crossbody bag is such a great everyday size, and since I’ve made it before, I was excited to share some insights and little tweaks to make the process even easier. The bag features a back pocket, a curved front pocket with darts, and a structured gusset, giving it a really polished look.
Fabric & Interfacing Choices.
For this version, I used:
Vinyl for the exterior for durability and a sleek finish.
Wool blend for accents, adding a soft contrast.
Cotton for the lining, paired with woven interfacing to prevent sagging.
Foam stabiliser for the body, attached with spray adhesive and basted in place for a smooth, professional shape.
We also had a great discussion about interfacing options, and how to adjust materials based on your sewing machine’s capabilities.
Sewing the Strap Connectors & Gusset.
To get a neat, professional look, I used double-sided tape to fold the vinyl strap connectors before stitching them down with a 4.5mm topstitch. This helps keep the edges crisp and in place without shifting.
Once the strap connectors were done, I moved on to assembling the gusset, ensuring everything was topstitched neatly to keep the seams flat and strong.
Constructing the Pockets.
One of the fun features of this bag is its front pocket with darts, which gives it a lovely depth and structure. I worked through the back pocket assembly first, basting it onto the exterior body before moving on to shaping the front pocket.
The darts in the front pocket add a slight curve, making the bag more functional and stylish. Taking time to clip and press carefully made a big difference in achieving a smooth finish.
Topstitching for a Clean, Professional Finish
Topstitching can really elevate a handmade bag, so I shared my go-to settings for a professional look:
2.5mm stitch length for construction to keep seams strong.
4.5mm stitch length for topstitching, making it more visible and polished.
I also covered some tips for keeping topstitching straight, including:
Using a walking foot for even stitches.
Stitching slowly around curves to avoid wobbling.
Practicing on scrap fabric to test thread tension and stitch length.
Final Thoughts & Sewing Chat.
The Penny Crossbody by Woodland Stitches is such a versatile and stylish bag, and I had a great time sewing it in this live sew-along! Whether you’re new to bag making or looking for ways to improve your construction techniques, this bag is a great project to try.
If you missed the live session, you can catch the full replay on The Bag Makers Sew-Ciety YouTube channel. Have you made the Penny Crossbody before? Thinking of giving it a go? Let’s chat in the comments—I’d love to hear your thoughts! 😊
Until next time happy sewing and may your bobbin always be full.
Deb x
Comments