Red Rabbit Mercantile’s ~ Waxed Canvas Bramble Bag Kit ~
After spending the past week in Jamaica I didn’t realize how hard it would be to get back in the swing of things! Slowly but surely I’m getting there, but it helps when I have some great custom orders on the table ready to sew and a really neat handbag kit to share with you today.
Before I left on vacation I had the opportunity to try out a pattern that uses waxed canvas as the main fabric. Ya’ll know how much I love working with waxed canvas! This particular bag is called the Bramble Bag and is one kit of many offered by Red Rabbit Mercantile.
Red Rabbit Mercantile is a Colorado based online store founded by mother-daughter team Annie and Mariah. And like many sewists who enjoy creating handbags, their kits came to life from a desire to make that perfect durable bag that was stylish and fun to wear. I must say they’re doing a great job.
The Mercantile is an all-in-one shop. You can order handbag making materials alone, like waxed canvas, hardware, and patterns. But what makes this shop unique is they offer complete kits to make their bags! All you have to do is choose the colors of fabric and if you want leather or webbing. Easy-peasy!
For my Bramble Bag here’s what I chose:
- antique brass hardware
- navy webbing (leather is offered as well!)
- magnetic snap closure (zippers are an option for some kits too)
- Waxed Canvas – Slate Blue
- Eco-Twill interior lining – Khaki
- Windsor Poplin accent fabric – Burgundy
The Bramble measures approximately 11″ wide x 10″ tall x 4″ deep when finished. There are 3 roomy pockets on the inside and outside as well as a zippered pocket inside. This pattern uses a magnetic snap closure.
I love antique brass hardware with waxed canvas. See how nice these feet look? Love.
This was not a difficult pattern to sew at all. If you are a confident beginner you should be fine. The pattern was very well written with plenty of images and description to help you sew smoothly to it’s completion. So even if you have never installed a zippered pocket, the directions make it a breeze.
Now that I’ve finished my Bramble Bag I can honestly say that Annie and Mariah’s bag making kits are a fabulous idea! If you are looking for a kit to gift or want to sew one for yourself, give one a try. You’ll be happy you did. Waxed canvas is a durable and very unique material every sewist should work with at least once. It truly gets better with age.
To try a Red Rabbit Mercantile kit head over to their online store.
** This is a review created out of my love for handbags, waxed canvas and small handbag businesses. I have not been paid to do this nor have I been given product for review. All materials were purchased by myself. Opinions and thoughts are my own. *
