Getaway Duffle Bag + Giveaway!

It's been a while since I've made a full-sized bag or purse, but when Virginia from Gingercake PDF Sewing Patterns invited me to be a part of her Holiday Gifts Sewing Series, I knew which pattern of hers I wanted to try--The Make Your Getaway Duffle!

During the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, our family almost always has to make at least one out-of-town road trip to visit with extended family.  Usually, I just end up packing all of Ella's things in my suitcase, but now that she is getting bigger, I thought it was time she had her own bag.

The pattern offers pattern pieces for both an adult size and a child size bag.  I chose to make the child size bag which measures 18" wide x 12 1/2" tall x 5" deep.  It's really a nice sized bag and will be perfect for packing Ella's clothes and shoes for weekend trips!

The pattern instructions are clear and easy to follow, and there are lots and lots of photos to help you work through each step of the construction.  If you've ever sewn a bag or purse before, it's a pretty straightforward design that should give you no problems, but if you are a confident beginner, I recommend going slow and reading through all the instructions before you begin.

For the exterior of the duffle, I used Ann Kelle's Bubble Gum from her This and That collection and Hot Pink chevrons from her Remix collection.  Kelle gifted this fabric to us as a thank you for allowing Ella to be a part of her Super Kid's photo shoot a few weeks ago.

For the interior of bags, I always use duck cloth or canvas.  The duck cloth is very durable and a heavy enough weight fabric that I don't have to line it with any interfacing.  It's thickness helps give the bag some shape and definition all on its own.

I did make a few additions to this bag, but that is the great thing about this Gingercake pattern.  It's a great basic duffle bag pattern that you can customize!

The first thing I did differently was to add more interfacing to the exterior of the bag.  The pattern calls for heavy weight fusible interfacing, but over the last year, I've learned that Pellon Shape Flex is what I prefer to use for bag making.  Couple Shape Flex with a layer of Pellon Fusible Fleece or as I did for my Getaway Duffle, use car headliner fabric to give the exterior fabric more support. This was my first time using headliner fabric, and I am very happy with the results. The pattern instructs you to quilt the gusset of the bag, so I continued that theme to the front and back panels as well.  I thought this added more visual interest to the bag as well as secured the headliner fabric to the cotton exterior.

In addition to the headliner fabric I used as an interfacing, I cut out two pieces of scrap fabric the size of the bottom of the bag and fused a piece of Pellon Peltex to it.  I then sewed the seam allowance of this sleeve to the seam allowance of the exterior bag.  This addition provided the bag with a stiffer bottom and a more professional feel.

For the handles, I chose to leave them wide and straight line quilt them so they would be more durable.

I also added a little pull tab to the exterior on either side of the zipper.  Luckily, I realized I needed to add these before I sewed the lining into the bag.  This little square definitely makes opening and closing the zipper much easier.

You may have noticed my matching luggage tag hanging from the handle.  It was super easy to make, and in a few days, I'll post a tutorial so you can make one, too!

Now Ella is ready for travel during the holiday season, and I am going to love having all that extra space in my suitcase since I no longer have to pack her clothes with mine!  I should have made her a Make Your Getaway Duffle bag a long time ago!  I had so much fun sewing this that I might just have to make another one to give as a gift (or to use myself)!

Ready to make your own Getaway Duffle Bag? Then enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a copy of the Getaway Duffle Bag Pattern from Gingercake PDF Sewing Patterns!

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Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Please be sure to visit Gingercake and follow the Holiday Gifts Sewing Series for more inspiring project and gift ideas!  Have fun sewing!