travel handmade: duffle bag pattern review + a giveaway!



Sewing Summit is only a month away! These next few weeks are going to fly by with all the last minute preparations and planning going on. I seriously can't wait though. Part of the countdown to Sewing Summit includes a 'Travel Handmade' series which focuses on bags and other travel related things to sew and make. During the month of September, you'll find tons of resources, tutorials, and patterns for all things travel here and here. There's also a Travel Handmade Pinterest page you definitely need to check out! When I was asked if I wanted to participate, I immediately thought of making the Make Your Getaway Duffle Bag by Gingercake.  The pattern includes 2 sizes and I made the smaller child size bag which is still a nice sized bag!

I was inspired by the simple color blocking on this JCrew bag. I used off white and hot pink duck cloth for the outer bag {bought at Joann} and used off white denim for the handles and lining - that's it material wise. The denim looks exactly like the duck cloth in color and texture but was a bit thinner and helped keep the seams/handles from being too bulky. Instead of placing my handles on the top of the bag like the pattern shows, I placed them on the sides of the bag. Two reasons: I just like the way it looks and I felt like that would reinforce them. Probably a good thing when carrying camera equipment! All in all, it was great pattern to follow/customize and I absolutely love my new bag.


I already had this camera bag insert but didn't have a bag large enough to fit it. Lo and behold, this duffle bag fits it perfectly! My insert is 5" deep, 8" tall, and 14" wide and fits a ton of stuff. Obviously this set up isn't something I'd want to carry around like a purse for hours on end, but is a great way to get lots of photo gear from point A to point B. I can fit my camera body with a lens attached, 2-3 more lenses, battery charger, tablet, and more. There's also still room in the duffle bag for other stuff. 

This bag can also double as a great travel bag for my either me or my kiddo when off duty from carrying camera gear! 

If you'd like to make your own duffle bag, simply head over to Gingercake Patterns , take a look around, and leave a comment below sharing your favorite pattern in the shop! The lucky winner will receive a pdf copy of the 'Make Your Getaway' bag pattern.



Travel Handmade with The Sewing Summit

118 comments

  1. What an amazing bag! My favourite pattern is the Modern Folksy Bunny. Love it!

    melaniejennifer@gmail.com

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  2. oh wow!!!! I want to steal this from you. totally totally cool. and I love your setup with your chair and clothes/shoes. to die for. :)

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  3. NEW!! 3 Layer Clutch PDF Sewing Pattern looks great. I also love the Folksy Bunny. Thanks for the give away.

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  4. This is beautiful! And, I'm not necessarily a pink lover, but your fabric choice is gorgeous!

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  5. Sorry, it's a toss up between the penguin, the elephant, and the bird. I need to redecorate the girls room and they could use some fun pillows...

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  6. Such a lovely bag! I'm torn between the penguin and the love your lunch box pattern. All so cute!

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  7. I've always loved Gingercake's 3 layer clutch pattern! And I LOVE the bag you made, the colors are fantastic!

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  8. the softies are all super cute, but honestly the duffel is my favorite! especially in the colors you used. so lovely!

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  9. I enjoyed the cute animal softies and bags but honestly, my fav is the duffle bag!

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  10. I loved the Folksy Bunny pattern but I really need the duffle bag pattern. I have been meaning to sew one but did nr ind a simple enough pattern. This looks perfect!

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  11. This bag looks great! My favorite pattern is the Penguin Pillow! so cute! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  12. LOVE the bag! Hard to choose a favorite pattern, but I'd pick the Crayon Art Folio.

    leannlafave (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  13. I would love the pattern which you reviewed in this post.. but all her patterns are amazign! I really love the Getaway Duffle and the 3 Layer Clutch <3

    pick me! :D

    marysza.fotolog@vp.pl

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  14. I can't choose between the waste free lunch bag and the duffle bag!
    Thanks for a great giveaway!

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  15. That duffle bag pattern would have to be my fave, but the penguin pillow is a close second!

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  16. I love the katie bird. and the owl.

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  17. My favourite would be the Lola Owl pillow which my daughter would love

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  18. Hope i Can enter even if i live i Denmark :) It looks great would love to make one for each of my kids

    Simonsen.anett@gmail.com

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  19. You are GOOD!!! This bag is gorgeous! I have been sewing for the past two years. I still consider myself a beginner, but this is the kind of stuff I like to make. Love it!! Congrats!

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  20. Wow - I love them all - but for me, Katie bird pillow is the one for me. Love the give a way - thank you for the chance to win.
    Blessings -

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  21. Fantastic bag. Love the colours.
    The love your lunch box bag is so cute. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  22. I love the owl patterns - so cute - your bag is fantastic!

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  23. I love the notebook slipcover most of all, but the folksy bunny is simply adorable!

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  24. I love how you did your bag Vanessa! It is great the organizer fit in there so well. Thanks for doing the review!

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  25. The Three Layer Clutch is so pretty, but the travel bag you made and altered is perfect! I have been looking for a duffle-type bag forever and this pattern is pretty darn cute and practical. Love the color block approach you took!

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  26. love the colours you used. Tough choice but I would have to say this pattern would be fav. thanks for the chance!

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  27. Beautiful bag. I would make the notebook slip cover. Thanks!

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  28. I love all of the Gingercake patterns, but one of my favorites is the Art Caddy pattern. Thanks for this awesome giveaway! :o)

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  29. I have several of her patterns and they're all great. I'd love to try this duffle bag!

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  30. Love her art caddy tote- see tons of uses for that one :) Love your bag- just wonderful!

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  31. What an awesome bag - it is hands down my favorite pattern at the shop, but I also really like the journal cover.

    Thanks so much for the chance to win!

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  32. My favorite is the getaway duffle! I love the one you make!

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  33. I like Lucky and the art portfolio, but my favorite is the duffle that you made!

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  34. I love the duffle bag pattern best; yours is truly gorgeous!

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  35. I love the duffle bag you made, the color blocking is fantastic! My favorite pattern would have to be the penguin pillow, my kids would love that right now!

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  36. I think the penguin pattern is really cute. I do like the duffle bag pattern too can always use another bag. thanks
    lbroadstreet@tds.net

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  37. I love the penguin pillow, but I need to make the duffel bag! I love your fabric choice!

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  38. It's hard for me to decide between the hobo lunch bag and the getaway duffle. So, so cute!

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  39. The getaway duffle is great, but so is the 3-layer clutch. Thanks!

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  40. Although I love that penguin pattern I have to say the Duffle Bag is my favorite. I hope I'm lucky and win it. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  41. Love your bag!! Great fabric choice! Thanks for the chance to win... I'd love the Duffel Bag pattern, too!

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  42. Love your bag! The simple colors really show off the pattern too.

    I love this duffle pattern! I like it's tall frame and elegant lines. However, the bunny doll pattern is my favorite! I love it's ears and poufy tail.

    Malora at the gmail

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  43. I'm digging the three-way clutch. What cute patterns! I really like the pink/white duffel you made - adorable! Thanks for the giveaway.

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  44. I like the Art Caddy tote. Your bag came out great!

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  45. What a great bag! I like the art caddy tote, although the owls are too cute :)

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  46. I like the love Your Lunchbag pattern, and definitely the Make Your Getaway pattern

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  47. Oh my goodness. That is one heck of an adorable duffle!! This is definitely my favorite, but I also love Gingercake's Art Caddy tote!

    cmaemcmillen@gmail.com

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  48. Love your On the Go Organizer. Also, really love this duffle bag!!

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  49. I love the make your getaway duffle the best.

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  50. Hard to choose, but I think I like the adult duffle best!!

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  51. I think I'd have to go with the duffle bag. I love it. I do really like the art caddy too, though. kristie_keely(at)yahoo(d0t)com

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  52. I can't decide what I like more, the art folio or YOUR getaway bag! I love the pink and off-white combo :)

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  53. What an amazing bag!! I love love love this pattern and would love to win this pattern ;)

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  54. Love your two-tone duffle, esp with the hot pink! Also, with two little ones in school, I'd love to try the Love your Lunchbox pattern.

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  55. It's definately the Getaway Duffle Bag. I have been loving it ever since it arrived and would love to have a go at sewing it.

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  56. It's definately the Getaway Duffle Bag. I have been loving it ever since it arrived and would love to have a go at sewing it.

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  57. I love love love the colors of your bag! I really think after much deliberation, I really am in love with this pattern itself! Might just buy it anyway!

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  58. I like love your lunchbox. BUT...I have to tell you the colors you used for your duffle bag are awesome. The two solids are fresh!! LOVE it!!

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  59. Love the travel bag of course!! Also love the layered clutch, very clever.

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  60. very pretty travel bag! love the bright pink. :)

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  61. I've looked at this pattern so many times, but it has never really resonated with me until seeing your version. I think I'll need to make a twinsie bag for SS! I need this pattern!

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  62. Love this bag! Also love the pink.

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  63. I love the lunch bag and the duffel :)

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  64. Hello I love, just love the 3 layer clutch. Useful for day use and that is so important in my so-unorganized bag :) Thank you

    leandro.mjoao@gmail.com

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  65. I would choose the duffle bag-I have been wanting one for a while.

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  66. I love the On the Go Organizer and the Max the Owl patterns - and I really love your duffle bag, especially the colors!

    kallen27@gmail.com

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  67. I like the notebook slipcover.
    Love the duffle bag- it looks perfect for so many things!

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  68. a mi me gusta la duffle bag que tu hiciste!!!....los colores que usaste estan increíbles!..Me encantaría poder hacerla!...
    Gracias por el giveaway!!

    normatamezde@hotmail.com

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  69. Fantastic duffel bag!

    Deborah
    homemakerhoney @gmail .com

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  70. I've always had a fondness for lunch bags. Not sure why, most people would probably think it's too common a thing to really care, but I loved picking them out for school and I still love them now. So, my favorite pattern is The Waste Free Lunch Bag. I love the internal separation compartments. I'd love to sew one for myself.

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  71. Your version with the customised handles is fantastic! Those owls are cute, but the hobo style or waste free lunch bags would be really handy...

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  72. Your version is amazing---seriously! It turned out so beautifully. I'd love to make my own. Her Love Your Lunchbox pattern is equally adorable!

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  73. I like the Crayon Art Folio. Awesome

    Your bag turned out great!!

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  74. I love how you customized this pattern! I would want the getaway duffle pattern too and make one just like yours. :) Also, I like the Max the Owl pattern.

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  75. I love your duffle! I'm a total jcrew whore and that's immediately who I thought of when I saw it. I'll have to check joann's for duck cloth when I'm next in the US so I can rip you off! Her 3 layer clutch looks awesome, too. I bet it could be jigged to make a great ereader or ipad case.

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  76. I've made the lunch box pattern - my girls are still using them two years later! The art studio tote looks like a lot of fun. Your duffel bag is beautiful, btw. :)

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  77. Fantastic bag!!
    My favourite would be the duffle bag pattern since yours turned out so great!

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  78. The 3 layer clutch is my personal favorite.Thank-you for the chance at the bag pattern I really like and could use it.Becky

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  79. I like the Modern Folksy Bunny :)

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  80. I love the bag!!!
    miriamacedo@gmail.com

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  81. Perfect weekend-bag!
    My fav is Leather Accent Fold Over Pouch :)

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  82. The art caddy tote is adorable! I have a few little girls in my life who would love one.

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  83. I already own the Max and Lola owl patterns and they have been a big hit with the kids in my life! Love the bag pattern! Also, love your inspiration- the hot pink is perfect!

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  84. Oh wow, this is gorgeous! Keep your eyes on this at Sewing Summit or it might be coming home with me. ;)

    I took a look at the shop, and I think this is my favourite pattern, although I am about to become an aunt for the first time so I may have to make some of those cute softies!

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  85. I just love all your products that you have on your site. I make crafts myself and these are wonderful and such creativity with them. It would be great to win the Getaway pattern so I can make me a bag as I am always on the go. Thank you for sharing this with us. Can't wait to see more ideas from you. Keep up the good work.

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  86. I have already bought the hobo lunch bag snd the elephant , this bag looks good for over night stays for kids

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  87. I have made the Crayon Art Folio and it's adorable!

    mandy dot ueda at gmail dot com

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  88. I like the 3 Layer Clutch and Make My Getaway Duffel both!! Thanks for offering the giveaway!!

    {stampmeup}(at)[hotmail](dot)com :)

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  89. Holy moly Vanessa I LOVE this bag! Can I steal it please??!

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  90. Well, hands down the duffel bag, but probably because I am in travel mode. They are all very cute.
    I will get the pattern. I wonder if you can share some tips on your modified straps. I agree that it looks sturdier with the straps on the side! Thanks.

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  91. I do actually like the duffle bag the best! The art caddy tote is probably my second favourite!

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  92. V,
    Why can't I pin your pictures?

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  93. Love the duffle pattern, but the penguin is pretty darn cute too!

    sarah.drake@gmail.com

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  94. Such a lovely bag!
    My favorite pattern is the Art Caddy Tote

    kreatita(at)gmail(dot)com

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  95. I love the duffle! I could really use this:). Thanks for the giveaway! Amy @ gasudimack(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

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  96. I think I have to go with the Getaway Duffle... so cute! I have been wanting a classic duffle bag for quite a while now and this would be amazing!

    cdugan88@gmail.com

    ChristinasYarnCrafts.etsy.com

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  97. Definitely LOVE the duffel bag. Yours is GORGEOUS!!!!

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  98. I love the 3 layer clutch and the Lucky Elephant pattern. They are so sweet to give away too as gift if I do one.

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  99. Your bag is gorgeous, i love the colour blocking. My favourite pattern is the modern folk bunny

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  100. I love the dufflebag pattern you are giving away best, but the elephant pattern is super cute too

    jessicarwarfield at gmail dot com

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  101. Do I have to choose 1!?? I'd be hard pressed to name my top 5...the elephant, hobo lunch bag, love my lunch bag, the duffles, art tote, the penguin, the owls, the 3 layer wallet.....Want them all!!

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  102. Loving the bag and I have a need for one, my overnight bag handle just broke.
    She has some cute patterns. I really like the elephant and the bird pillow.

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  103. I recently found your blog via pinterest from a post on your daughters Project Run and Play outfit. I just wanted to say your blog is stunning and full of inspiration. I super love this bag, especially the simplicity of the two tone solids! I will be a avid reader. :)

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  104. I know this is an old post, but if you see this - does the bag pattern call for any interfacing?

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  105. Love the duffle bag! I want to make one!

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  106. this is such an asweome multi-purpose bag! I would love it as a weekender and as a carry-on piece when I travel, to keep my camera and all my travel essentials in it!

    Would you consider making these bags and selling them on Etsy? Maybe offer different fabric choices or made-to-order options? I know I'd buy one!

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  107. Hello, I was wondering what pattern you used to make the duffle bag give away above? I have paid and downloaded the original pattern that apparently you used as well and I am in the middle of constructing mine. However I am very interested in making the color block one you made in the give away and I am stumped and confused on how you altered the pattern to get the color block and the handles longer to fit in the middle? do you mind sharing? thank you so much. You can reply to my email: myrtleandflossie@gmail.com

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  108. For weeks, I have been searching the web relentlessly for the perfect Travel Bag Pattern and I think I have finally found it!! The size is exactly what I was looking for and I especially love what you have done with the pink and white(pink is my fave color). Compared to Amy Butlers Weekender, your bag takes the cake! I cant wait to make mine!! -Megan @ meggiemac76@gmail.com

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  109. very nice, want to make one, can I take pattern murattikil [at] gmail.com.. thanks

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  110. Hi Vanessa--
    Quick question on your bag--did you use any interfacing, or is it straight up duck and denim?

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  111. How did you make the bag two toned, I am looking to do this for a project and can't quite figure it out. I would really appreciate the help. thanks

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  112. I used off white and hot pink duck cloth for the outer bag {bought at ... cdufflebag.blogspot.com

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  113. Hi, I really need the information more as you have provided in this valuable blog. http://www.luxtime.su/

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