Chicopee Corduroy Bag

There is something wonderful about making a project from a pattern for the second time. For one thing, the pattern pieces are already cut out. It's also fun to re-imagine a piece in different prints and notions, and you can fix any little glitches you noticed the first time around.

I made my first version of the Melford Messenger Bag pattern by Charlie's Aunt last June, and it turned out to be one of the best bags I've ever owned -- home sewn or store bought. When I started thinking about making another bag for the fall, I just couldn't think of any other pattern I would enjoy using more.

I saw Denyse Schmidt's beautiful new line of Chicopee corduroy last month, and I knew that I wanted to use it for this project. It took me a while to settle on a combination that I liked, but I finally decided on her Simple Plaid Red -- which is really more of a light tangerine color -- for the outside and Frame Natural from Echino's linen Decoro collection for the inside.

I love the way these two prints look together. The Echino has a wonderful vintage look to it, while the velvety soft Chicopee looks modern and retro at the same time. This time I reinforced the inside pocket with two sets of stitches, since it started coming loose in my other purse last month. I decided to make the outside pocket entirely out of the exterior fabric this time, and I like seeing the purse in one unbroken line without the accent of another print.

I've been saving these leather buttons for my next purse, and I'm loving the chocolate brown against the orange fabric -- so fall. Rather than place one of the buttons on the body of the bag, as the pattern suggests, this time I sewed all three onto the flap.

I am absolutely crazy about this bag. I've been under the weather for the past few days with some unknown bug, but I'm hoping to be done with it soon so I can take this purse out over the weekend and have some fun...

Linking up to Finish It Up Friday.