Backgammon Bag - January Bag of the Month

Yesterday was Family Day, and so I got to spend some quality time in my sewing room. I finished my January Bag of the Month, Betz White's Backgammon Bag.

I like it, I think it turned out quite well. I had my doubts during the process, and yesterday, I spent a bunch of quality time with my stitch ripper, making everything look the way I envisioned.

I made the back a mirror image of the front, so the points match across the bottom seam.

It makes sense to me. The points are from my vast fat quarter collection. I think most of them are Northcott, with a piece of Laurel Burch thrown in, because I love her fabric.

In the end, I used a white zipper on the inside, in part because I had a 7 " white zipper, so I didn't have to cut one.

I added a carabiner to inside to hang my keys on. Otherwise I lose them in the bottom of my bag. Although it is hard to tell, the carabiner is purple.



I added a large slip pocket to the other side of the lining. It can hold my phone, pen, and other stuff that gets lost in the bottom.

More Laurel Burch, well, just because!

So, will I make this bag again? Maybe, but with changes.

I think I would like it better if it were slightly smaller. I would make the strap longer, so I could use it as a cross body bag. I think I might like to use a foam stabilizer like Soft and Stable to make the bag a bit firmer. I would also add some fleece to the outer pockets to make them more substantial.

I think I would put a zipper in the top, to make the bag more secure, and take the magnetic snaps out of the side pockets. I don't think the snaps will suit my lifestyle. I might also eliminate the back outer pocket and add a zipper pocket instead.

The pattern is currently only available through the Bag of the Month Club. There is a link in the sidebar. In July, you will be able to buy it from the Betz White website.