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carolyn friedlander

carolyn friedlander

fabric and pattern designer

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Handmade Style: Makeup Travel Case.

July 25, 2015 by carolyn friedlander 5 Comments

I really needed one of these.

handmade style_makeup travel case_7_carolyn friedlander

My toiletries-schelpping-when-traveling situation hasn’t been very pretty lately. Or very functional, to be honest. I was basically doing the throw-everything-into-plastic-bags…then the throw-all-those-plastic-bags-into-a-canvas-tote thing…which I then would add a few more things to before shoving it all into a suitcase. It always seemed ridiculous…and bulky…and not super organized or efficient, which when traveling are key goals to shoot for.

Enter the Makeup Travel Case in Anna Graham’s new book, Handmade Style.

handmade style_makeup travel case_8_carolyn friedlander

First, I need to say that Anna’s book is amazing. (But that’s no surprise if you are familiar with her work.) If you don’t have this book yet, you’ll need to get it. It’s a book that I was really really (really REALLY) looking forward to, and it didn’t let me down. It’s been a book that I’ve poured over and over many times, admiring the sheer beauty (well done Anna and Holly on the photography!), while also endlessly planning what to make next. There are so many projects (23 to be exact), and basically all of them are things you’ll actually want to take on and use/gift/admire/hoard.

Handmade Style by Anna Graham

It’s a good one.

So this isn’t my first project from the book–I’ll have to post about the first project that I made soon–but it’s one that I felt I could justify moving to the top of the sewing list, because I wanted to put it to use.

The finished project is really perfect in terms of size, shape and what I needed for the task at hand. It fits just about everything I need, and it looks super cute (if I do say so myself) to boot. I always love projects with opportunities to play with fabric, trims, hardware and general detailing, and this project doesn’t let you down at all.

handmade style_makeup travel case_1_carolyn friedlander

To make a classy/structured/well-detailed bag such as this, does require a few extra steps, supplies and endurance, but the result is worth it. I pretty much made mine as written in Anna’s instructions, with only a few substitutions which were total personal preferences.

Instead of batting for the exterior panels, I used Soft and Stable, and then on the inside, rather than finishing the seams with a twill tape by machine, I elected to cover the seams with pre-made bias tape which I (patiently) hand stitched in place.

polka dot bias tape_carolyn friedlander

The inside pockets are super handy and help organize the space well, while also proving perfect for playing with fabric.

handmade style_makeup travel case_3_carolyn friedlander

handmade style_makeup travel case_2_carolyn friedlander

I couldn’t find cording in my stash (still not sure where I put that…) to make my own piping, but I really wanted to customize that aspect and make my own. Putting the brakes on the project to run to the store to purchase some wasn’t a desirable option, so I made do with some baker’s twine that I had on hand.

Luckily it worked out well! (Note: I probably wouldn’t recommend improv-ing your piping base if you are planning to wash your project. Since this was going in to a bag that isn’t likely to get washed, I figured it was a totally fine move to make.)

impromptu piping_carolyn friedlander

I always love the extra touches Anna adds to her projects, like the leather tabs on her zipper pulls, so I got creative with my own. On the outside zipper pulls, I used tabs sewn from the polka dot binding that I used on the inside–finished with a decorative stitch–and then for the inside zipper, I made a small tassel with a wad of embroidery floss.

handmade style_makeup travel case_4_carolyn friedlander

Project Details:

Pattern: Makeup Travel Case by Anna Graham in Handmade Style

Fabric: (I used many, which was part of the fun!)

+ Stamped by Ellen Luckett Baker (exterior)

+ Doe and Doewide by me (piping, trim, hinge and lining)

+ Atelier Cats by Lecien (zippered lining pocket)

+ Daily News by Suzuko Koseki (gathered lining pocket)

+ Polka dot bias tape from Daiso

+ Purse zipper from ByAnnie (this was my first time using one of their zippers, and I loved it!)

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Natasha says

    July 25, 2015 at 10:04 am

    I love it! It’s great to see how you interpreted her design. I have the book and I just bought the supplies I need to make the bucket bag. I’m so excited to work on it! Anna’s designs are so beautiful. I want to make everything in that book.

    Reply
  2. Brianna Robertson says

    July 27, 2015 at 9:50 am

    This looks great! I’m with Natasha, I want to make everything! I like that a lot of it I can make with fabrics from my stash, too. This one will be soon on my list, I think.

    Reply
  3. crazymomquilts says

    July 27, 2015 at 2:05 pm

    what a great bag that you made! I can attest to the “throw everything into a plastic bag” method not working out so well when traveling. I think I need to add this to my “to make soon” list. You do such a nice job creating beautiful, professionally executed projects!

    Reply
  4. Anna Graham says

    July 30, 2015 at 12:23 pm

    oh man! this is to die for! Every detail is just amazing – of course!!!! That binding inside, wowwwwww! love!!!

    Reply
  5. Deborah says

    September 17, 2015 at 1:11 pm

    I wonder if this is deep enough/wide enough that I can fit my Sew Together Bag inside and make a coordinating set?? Because I can fit my cosmetics in the Sew Together, but I use 73 kinds of moisturizer, and I need them desperately when I fly…. These two together would be a dream team!!

    Reply

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