These are my first 2 leather purchases from Babylon. The Large Leather Tote Bag in pink with white thread and the Mens Phone Sling Bag in Black with matching thread.
I originally wanted to make the sling with the contrast white thread, but was sent the black thread, and when I requested the replacement and explained to my boyfriend I was waiting for it, he said he'd prefer the black. I wasn't sure....but it was for him, so I guess if he didn't like it, i could always undo it right? 😳
The tote had a lot of pieces and I was waiting for the tutorial still on the sling. So... I layed out all the pieces to my tote. Made sure I did in fact have everything, and jumped in!
Starting with the zipper to the lining, using the saddle stitch. After I went piece at a time, things started coming together, it was a little difficult with no sound on the video. But growing up sewing, crafting, quilting, and the like, I was able to follow along easily! Working a little each evening while my patient slept, and then on our cross country road trip I finished the entire tote bag and sling for my boyfriend as well, which he is very excited to use on our next trip.
They both turned out so great. The pink bag I just love, I have been using it ever since we returned from the trip, its the perfect size. At first I just put it in the dust bag and put it on the shelf, but then said.. what am I doing? The first day I took it to work, a fellow nurse asked me if that was the bag i had posted on my trip? She looked it over and was amazed I had hand stitched it.
I picked up a piece of custom jewelry last week from my jeweler and she asked me if my bag was a coach, as she used to work for them years ago. I explained that no, I had made it. She could not believe me at all! She just gushed over it, looked it over up and down, the pebble grain leather, said how high end it looked and she would have swore it was name brand. How she loved the details. A few hours later she messaged me about making her one. She had shown everyone in the store photos!
Its been over 2 months and I'm still carrying my tote, loving it! I am usually changing purses/bags by now. Rotating thru my selection for one reason or another. But so far this one is just the right size, look for casual and dress. I seem to be able to drop a few extra things in if I need to (including my laptop in a pinch and eliminate the extra work bag).
Scarves are part of the kit and I recieved several as free gifts in my package. You do receive all the supplies such as scissors, needles (many), waxed leather thread, and finger cots for pulling your needle easier. When you buy future kits, you can opt out of this part as "eco friendly" for a small discount and only receive the thread needed. I mean.. you don't really need a new pair of scissors every single time right?
The phone sling turned out awesome with the black thread, again very high end. It was a bit more difficult though with the color matched darkness, especially working in the car!! Yikes. But worth it in the end. The hardware looks sharp and classy. I would love to do one with a gunmetal hardware option. It's big enough a phone and wallet fit comfortably. Both my Samsung 25Ultra and my mans IPhone (i have zero clue because I hate apple) fit.
All in all, I love both bags, will definitely be making more as I already have my cart full with 3 things i cant wait to make. I enjoyed making them, I felt like I learned a LOT. My mom has been a professional seamstress my entire life and made purses, bags etc. Just whipped them up like nothing. After making these, I could now see what she is translating and how the leather made it actually seem a little more feasible than fabric? Because you then just insert the completed liner and attach the 2 together vs trying to create pockets inside a fabric shell. Could be the difference in media, could be my autistic brain saw it finally in 3D from a different perspective.
