Reisende Bag

Here is another archives bag from 2016. And what, you might ask, does “reisende” mean? I had to look it up - it is apparently German for “traveler”, so this is a bag intended for travel! It would be a good carry-on size, and has a large open interior with a couple of zipper pockets. While it appears to have adjustable straps, the fittings are actually decorative, though you can make the straps the right length for you. This bag can be made in three different sizes - I made the largest size.

The Pattern

The pattern for the Reisende Bag is designed by Sara Lawson at Sew Sweetness.

As this is a bag from my archives (one of many!), I’m afraid I don’t have many notes on the process of making it, beyond the pattern instructions themselves. I do remember that it was tricky to work with the foam and other layers. At the time I was working on my original, small Bernina 240 machine, which doesn’t have a big throat space - I do remember being very glad that my machine was a Bernina! Berninas are powerhouses, no matter the size, and while my working space was a bit tight, I had no problems sewing through all the layers. I know I used Mettler 40 wt thread, which also held up great. I used a 100/16 topstitch needle.

Front and Back Match!

The front and the back of the bag look pretty much the same. I kind of wish the buckles were functional and the straps adjustable, but it’s probably sturdier with the straps as they are. The buckle hardware does add visual interest. I used a very heavy satin stitch to close the ends on the straps for extra durability and to make it look tidy.

The Interior

If I recall correctly (and also from reviewing the pattern instructions), the lining of the bag is meant to be loose. I do remember that I decided to stitch the lining down to the exterior, though I no longer remember exactly how I did it. I think I enclosed some of the lining seam with some of the exterior piping seam allowance. One thing I’ve noticed on other bags I’ve made is that the zipper-bag lining interface can be tricky, and it’s easy to get the lining caught in your zipper if you’re using it on the go. Securing the lining down inside was just a personal preference, and I’m glad that I did it.

As you can see, there is a roomy interior compartment on this bag, and two nice-sized zipper pockets. The pockets on this large version are big enough for a little tablet device or e-book reader, or other slimmer items. The main compartment can easily fit bulkier items such as a book, a laptop, a sweater, a wallet, a water bottle, or other such items as you’d want when traveling.

Epilogue

Making this Reisende Bag was a good exercise in working with different-weight layers as well as visualizing how to put the different components together. It’s a good size, and I like a roomy compartment. I’m not sure if I would make this bag again because of the loose lining and decorative-only buckles, but I’m glad that I did make it at least once. I think it could also be cute as a purse if you made one of the smaller sizes - I like a bag with a big interior space!