It’s been awhile since I’ve made a purse, and I was thrilled to be able to test the newest pattern for Vanessa of LBG Studio. I’ve made a couple of her patterns (LBG Blend London Backpack and Summer Stripes Clutch) in the past, so I knew this would be another great pattern!
I had originally planned on making my Lexie using a canvas from my stash, but I couldn’t resist these fun tropical prints from my local quilt shop! We had an unusually long winter (or at the very least, it felt like it!), and I was ready for spring and summer temps!
The Lexie Foldover Bag has a variety of options that make it easy to customize, and it comes in two sizes. I chose to model mine after an old fave Fossil bag I have, so I made the smaller size. I also kept the front simple with a lightweight suede leather accent piece and magnetic snap. Vanessa provides illustrated instructions and tips for sewing the accent piece and installing the magnetic snaps if it’s your first time.
Vanessa also provides tips and illustrated instructions for sewing the lining and inserting the top zipper. I purchased my zippers from Zipit on Etsy and both my leather and bag hardware are from Tandy Leather. I chose to make the adustable crossbody, and Tandy made it easy by having everything I needed!
One of my favorite features of my Fossil bag are all the pockets, so I included the sliding back pocket and welt pocket. For the interior, I also included the slip pocket. If you aren’t sure about all the options, Vanessa includes line drawings in the pattern to help you decide which features you want for your bag.
Overall, it’s a great pattern. My main tip for anyone making this is to take your time. This bag is a fairly easy sew, but they are many pieces, so it can get confusing. Prep your pieces and label them as you go (I use small post it tabs.), and you shouldn’t have too much trouble. Use a new needle because it will get very thick and bulky at certain points. A walking and/or teflon foot will also be helpful if you have one when you’re sewing with leather.
Tell me, what’s your favorite bag feature? Are you ready to make your own Lexie Foldover Bag? Hop over to LBG Studio and get your copy ASAP; Vanessa has discounted the pattern through the end of the week!