The Belmont

Reference

Draw inspiration from the exceptional skills of 13 talented bag makers worldwide!  Explore the sewing machines and fabrics that they used.  May their stunning creations ignite your creativity as much as they have mine.

Testers' opinion on the sewing level for this pattern:

  • 1 voted Adventurous Beginner - someone who is relatively new to sewing but enjoys exploring new techniques or projects that may be slightly more challenging
  • 6 voted Advanced Beginner – has a more solid foundation in basic sewing skills and is ready to tackle slightly more complex projects but still requires some guidance and practice.
  • 6 voted Intermediate – Best suited for sewists with strong skills and experience handling a variety of techniques and increasing complexity.

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Tester - Leanne Clay, Australia
Shop Link - Clay & Co. Handmade
Machine used - Domestic Bernina Qe570
Recommended Skill level - Intermediate
Cut and Sew - 4 hours 
Material used - 

Various. White floral - bonded nylon from Brymaxx, cream gold synthetic leather - Sunkiss, pink/purple floral marble - Ella Jewell, dragonfly canvas - inklings and kraken, white/green floral synthetic leather - inklings and the kraken. Hardware from stash. 

Stabilizer - A mixture of Decovil and foam stabiliser from Sewfisticated Supplies. 



Tester - Milena Hunt, England
Shop Link - Created by Milena
Sewing Machine used - Domestic Pfaff Select 4.2
Recommended Skill level - Intermediate 
Cutting/Sewing Time - 6 hours

"Adorable size, brilliant construction. The finished bag looks sleek. I especially love how the gusset is constructed exterior and lining separately and how the side mesh pockets are offset so that whatever is inserted into them goes down to the lining and doesn't rest on the mesh-a very clever 3D volumizing effect 🧡 I so appreciate how the heights of pockets are staggered with the construction seams making it domestic machine friendly (minimal bulk). The drafting is immaculate-everything fits perfectly 🙏🏻 This pattern is an awesome skill-builder-the final construction challenges you to sew through concave and convex curves a bit like riding an exciting wave 🌊 Each consecutive make will get better and better 🙏🏻 Thank you 🧡"

Material used - 
Belmont Compact: Funky Town Printed Vinyl from R.j.A.f. Makes, Bright Teal Mora Vinyl from Country Cow Designs, Zipper tape and Webbing from Doves Hardware, Drop Zipper pulls from Sew Hot, Cloud zipper pull from Enchanted Fabrics UK, Ultra Hex non-adhesive and Ultra Hex Adhesive from Curated by Milena, Sewfisticated Twill from Sewfisticated Supplies.

Soft and Stable by Annie mostly but Sewfisive Heavy in the flap.


Belmont Compact: Ombre Butterflies Printed vinyl by Wattle&Slate, Zipper tape and Webbing from Doves Bag Bits and Polished Pulls, Butterfly Zipper pulls from MeveUK, Drop Pulls from SewHot. 

Sewfisive Light from Sewfisticated Supplies and Extra stiff stabilizer for the bottom from Crackers fabrics 

Belmont Luxe: Mora Faux Leather from Sew Hot, Winter Forest WPC from MeveUK, zipper tape, hardware and brushed copper zipper pulls from Country Cow Designs, drop shaped pulls from Sew Hot, Hexagon Canvas in Mint Sewfisticated Supplies, Nylon Hex Canvas in Dark Teal from Curated by Milena, "All seasons" woven label from the Specky Seamstress.

Sewfisticated Sew In 4mm for the top flap, Extra firm for the bag bottom from Crackers Fabric, but mostly Sewfisive Heavy from Sewfisticated Supplies. 



Tester - Mui Yan, Singapore
Shop Link - Aderry Craft
Machine used - Semi-industrial, Juki TL2200qvp mini
Recommended Skill level - Intermediate 
Cut and Sewing - 5-6 hours 
Material Used -

Belmont Compact: Exterior: vinyl, Interior: hexagon waterproof material, non stretch mesh. Stabilizer: Sewfisticated 4mm sewn in foam

Belmont Luxe: Exterior: waterproof canvas; Interior: hexagonal waterproof material. Stabilizer: By Annie's soft and stable foam



Tester - Geraldine Tan, Singapore
Shop Link - Made by Starflakes
Sewing Machine used - Domestic, Brother NV180K
Recommended Skill level - Advanced Beginner
Cut and Sew - 6 hours
Material used - 


Belmont Compact: Stitch vinyl from Oh So Pretty Custom Fabric, VibrantVue from Sewfisticated Supplies. Decovil Light.

Belmont Luxe: Stitch vinyl from Oh So Pretty Custom Fabric, VibrantVue from Sewfisticated Supplies. Adhesive foam (premium) from Sewfisticated Supplies



Tester - Jenn Hoopert-McGinn, Pennsylvania from the USA
Shop Link - Jenn's Homemadeology; IG Jennshomemadeology 
Machine used - Vintage domestic Sears Kenmore 158.17550
Recommended Skill level - Intermediate
Cut and Sew - Belmont compact: cut time under a hour, sew time 2hrs and 45mins. Belmont Luxe cut time: 1hr 30mins, sew time: 4hrs
Materials used -
Belmont Compact: checkerboard vinyl powdered blue, custom floral print, black& baby blue VibrantVue, white fabric mesh all from SCD supplies.

Belmont Compact: cappuccino linen vinyl, custom floral vinyl, bronze twill, rose fabric mesh, from SCD supplies.

Belmont Luxe: basket weave powdered blue, baby pink & baby blue VibrantVue, white twill & fabric mesh from SCD supplies, Butterfly pull is a Nate & bean pull from J&R Edwards 

Stabilizer
Belmont Compact: sewfisive sew in ultra firm 1.5mm.
Belmont Luxe: sewfisive sew in ultra firm 1.5mm and then sewfisive self adhesive premium foam 3.0mm for piece F4


Tester - Gladys Tan, Singapore
Shop Link - Chavanthandmade IG, Chavanthandmade FB
Machine used - Semi industrial. Janome HD9
Recommended Skill level - Advanced Beginner
Cutting/Sewing Time - Cutting approx 2 hours. Sewing approx 8 hrs.
Material used - 

Belmont Compact: Vinyl for the exterior, waterproof canvas from Sing Mui Heng for the lining. Stabilizer equivalent of decovil heavy.

Belmont Luxe: Exterior waterproof canvas, Oxford cotton from Sing Mui Heng. Lining is waterproof canvas from Sing Mui Heng,Stabilizer equivalent of decovil heavy.

Tester - Kris Bowen, USA
Shop Link - Bow 'n Needle Crafts
Sewing Machine used - Juki 2010Q Semi industrial
Recommended Skill level - Advanced Beginner
Cutting/Sewing Time - 6-8 hours
Material used -

Belmont Compact: Vibrant Vue exterior, Twill for lining, both from SCD, Ultra firm sew in & decovil heavy.

Belmont Luxe: Exterior vinyl from Thumbs & Thimbles, interior Vibrant Vue from Sewfisticated Supplies. Stabilizer - Sewfisive Ultra Firm Sew in 1.5mm.

 




Tester - Laura Cooper, USA
Shop Link - dkrainier; HomeStead Hobbies
Sewing Machine used - Sailrite Fabricator
Recommended Skill level - Intermediate
Cut and Sew - 5-6 hours
Material used -  

Belmont Compact- Waterproof canvas from fabric wholesale Direct exterior and lining mesh from ByAnnie. Shape flex foam

Belmont Luxe- exterior is lux nylon from Wonderground Fabrics lining water resistant canvas from Wonderground Fabrics. Dragonfly zipper pull from Online bag supply, zippers from Wawak. Shape flex foam

 

Tester - Suzii Jane, Australia 
Shop Link - The Scorpion's Lair 
Sewing Machine used - Domestic Janome Memory Craft 8200QC
Recommended Skill level - Advanced Beginner
Cut and Sew - 6 hours
Material Used -

Belmont Compact: Nightmare before Christmas waterproof canvas from Keffyn's Sewing Haven, Twil from Sewfisticated Supplies, #5 zipper tape and pulls from AliExpress, Vibrant Vue from Sewfisticated Supplies. Make #2 Minecraft waterproof canvas from Keffyn's Sewing Haven, black vinyl from A Passion For Vinyl, Twill from Sewfisticated Supplies, #5 zipper and pulls from AliExpress. Sewfisive-Foam self adhesive light 1.5mm.

Belmont Luxe: Waterproof canvas from Merezen, Twill from Sewfisticated Supplies, hardware from AliExpress. Sewfisive self adhesive 1.5mm

"This is a well written pattern, with precise measurements, making for a wonderful final fit. It's a well thought out design with great pocket placement. I thoroughly enjoyed this pattern, I did have to take my time at the end attaching the side panels, with easing them into place. Everything fit beautifully together. The design is well thought out, I do love the front zipper pocket, and the ability for the whole bag to be hung up, for easy access. Great pattern."

 

Tester - Tina Alanis Carbajal, USA
Machine used - Brother Innovis
Recommended Skill level - Intermediate 
Cut and Sew - around 8 hours
Material Used -
Bee Gees by Honey Studio vinyl from @MyPunkbroidery. Mesh, vibrantvue canvas and sew-in stabilizer from SCD. Sew-in stabilizer for Compact, decovil heavy for Luxe.

"I love how cute the compact version is. It will make a cute handbag and the Luxe is perfect for when I need to carry more items."


Tester - Karen Tay, Singapore
Shop Link - TK Embroidery
Sewing Machine used - Brother NV950D
Recommended Skill level - Adventurous Beginner
Cutting/Sewing Time - 1hr cutting 5hrs sewing
Materials Used -
Vinyl and foam stabilizer


 


Tester - Roeshell Arjin, USA
Machine used - Juki TL-18QVP
Recommended Skill level - Advanced Beginner
Cut and Sew - Approximately 5 hours 
Material Used -
Canvas from retrostitch custom fabrics. Peltex 70

Tester - Cynthia Molina, USA
Shop Link - Dandelion Craft and Creations
Machine used - Domestic - Brother SE1900 
Recommended Skill level - Intermediate 
Cut and Sew - 4 hours
Material Used -
All Therxtex from Fabric Therapy and hardware from atelier Fiber Arts. Foam for the stabilizer.

 

 

 

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