Bow bag with a zip

I keep a notebook by my bedside.  I use it to write down all the things that suddenly occur to me right when I am about to go to sleep - call british gas, buy water filters, book horseriding for Lillia, and other exciting things.  I also use it to scribble ideas of things I want to make - bags and toys, polyclay characters etc - the kind of ideas that only ever seem to pop into my head late at night.

One such design was a bag with a big bow on the front.  I wanted to try something more challenging than my usual plain dual fabric design.  I also wanted to try putting a pocket on the front.  So I drew up a rather amateur pattern, grabbed some old fabric that I didn't mind wasting should it all go wrong, and got to work...

I have to say I am pretty darned pleased with the finished result!  I managed to keep my seams relatively straight (and where there are wonky bits you can't see them)  I took my time over each element, made sure it was neat and well made, I unpicked several times in order to make sure I got it right.  It was a real learning experience.

But perhaps most exciting for a geek like me is that I successfully added a zip!  I've never managed to do this on a bag before, I didn't even know where to start, but then I came across Made by Jane's Recessed Zipper Bag tutorial and decided to take the plunge.

Woo hoo!  My first zippered bag!  And it looks really good too!  I made the bands that attach to the zip to form the recessed part quite a bit thinner than Jane's, as I didn't want it too recessed.  Also instead of adding a matching band to the outside I just made the outer fabric slightly longer than the lining.

I even added a lined pocket to the inside...

So there you have it!  My first ever zippered bag, I am one chuffed little sewing person :)  Maybe zips aren't that evil after all?