The Anita Bag – Pattern and Review

When I dusted off my sewing machine last summer and started to sew again I discovered a great site called iThinkSew.  This site is a handbag sewists dream! Full of bags, wallets and pouches in various sizes and designs. What’s great is that the prices are very reasonable and all her patterns are instant download.  If you are not interested in handbags, she also has the cutest patterns for feminine shoes…mary janes, slippers, sneakers, boots. Oh my goodness are they adorable! Too bad I have no girls to sew for.

I have many of her handbag and pouch patterns and have enjoyed each one.  If you head on over to her site today you’ll notice she has a ton of freebies as well as a nice sale.  A few weeks back, I purchased her Anita Bag pdf pattern. Can I hear a hooray for instant pdf patterns!! I just love not having to hike around town for a chance to find a pattern I want or wait a few weeks for a package to arrive from an online order.

So back to The Anita Bag. This is a large bag, measuring 16 ½” W X 13 ¼” H X 5 ½” D. So if you are looking for a classic bag for work or a girls outing this would be perfect.  I really love the shape of this bag and with the way the handle area is constructed you can easily change the handle options. If you look at my picture, I opted to add grommets and clips then a fabric strap to match the lining. The pattern has plenty of pictures and how-tos making the construction easy and quick.

I used Pellon SF101 and a fusible fleece for the interfacing. So while it had nice structure and stands up on it’s own, it’s not stiff. That’s my style, but you could easily change out the interfacing for a stiffer kind if you like a harder/sturdier bag. In addition to her site, she also has a book out called: Bags– The Modern Classics: Clutches, Hobos, Satchels & More. So if you’re looking for a new bag or clutch to sew, I highly recommend you try out iThinkSew! Have a great Tuesday.