Account Login

Pattern Review of the Pelican Tote Bag

IMG_5620_LR
IMG_5557
IMG_5536
IMG_5609_jpg
IMG_5533_jpg
IMG_5539_jpg
IMG_5616_jpg
IMG_5548
IMG_5599_jpg
IMG_5620_jpg
IMG_5543_jpg
IMG_5624_jpg
IMG_5549_jpg
IMG_5612_jpg
IMG_5554_jpg
IMG_5603_jpg
IMG_5615_jpg

Pattern: Pelican Tote
Designer: Bagstock Designs
Fabrics: Accent Vinyl from Clover & Co. Fabrics, Solid colour from Dreamy Bag Hardware
Skill level: Beginner
Measurements: 15″ x 12″ x 3″
Adjustments: I made the recessed zipper with fancy straps version
Pros: This is such a fun bag pattern to make. I absolutely love the options and even better, IT IS FREE
Cons: None really. If you have basic skills, you could make this bag

The Wrap up

From the minute I had the concept for this bag I just KNEW it was going to be amazing. The muted but moody floral paired with the latté Litchi leather and gold hardware was the perfect combo to create an incredible look. 

If you have never attempted a bag before, I highly recommend giving this one a go, especially as it is a FREE pattern! 

I made mine from vinyl, but you can also make it from other woven materials. Mixing and matches patterns and solids really gives you endless options on how cool this bag can be. 

The construction is fairly simple and I love that I can customise the zips I want to put in it as well. All in all I am so happy with how this one turned out!

If you want a detailed step by step guide on how to put this bag together, make sure you join The Sewing Corner where I have put together an incredible tutorial to help step you through it.

You can also check out my detailed pattern video review below.

Get the Pattern
Clover & Co Fabrics
Dreamy Bag Hardware
The Sewing Corner

Video Pattern Review

Watch Our Latest Videos

I had one meter of fabric, two sewing patterns I loved, and a four-hour window before my daughter's school disco. This is the sewing pattern hack that turned a fabric panic into a dress that fits, finishes well, and still gets worn. -- Chapters -- 00:00 Two Sewing Patterns Into One Dress: My 1-Meter Pattern Hack 01:47 How to combine two sewing patterns from the same designer 04:00 Pattern Tetris: cutting a knit dress from limited fabric 09:16 Under-stitching a bodice lining for a clean knit finish 12:53 Pattern hack pivot: swapping skirts and improvising a contrast ruffle 14:51 How to gather and attach a ruffle evenly on a circle skirt 17:35 Attaching a circle skirt to a bodice and top-stitching a stretch hem 20:29 Final thoughts. The finished knit dress, 7 months later -- Sewing Tools, Threads & What's in My Sewing Kit -- (When available, we use affiliate links and may earn a commission.) 📌 Peony Patterns Nettle Dress: https://www.peonypatterns.com/products/nettle-dress-pdf-sewing-pattern 📌 Peony Patterns Calendula Dress: https://www.peonypatterns.com/collections/knit-patterns/products/calendula-dress-br-digital-sewing-pattern 📌 Sew Unique Fabric: https://www.sewuniquefabrics.com.au/ 🔧 Sewing Kit & Tool Recommendations 👉 https://sewandtellco.com/resources/ -- Recommended Videos -- 📹 Sewing a Zip Up Onesie That Actually Looks Awesome 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1Tb1DGWTjc&t=46s -- Free Resources to Sew Better -- 📕 FREE: Your starter guide to sewing stretch fabric, knits and jersey 👉 https://sewandtellco.com/simplystretch/ -- Your Next Sewing Step -- Ready to keep sewing? Here's where to go next: 💻 Stretch Fabrics 101: Get comfortable sewing knits, jersey and stretch fabric. 👉 https://sewandtellco.com/stretchfabrics101/ 🧵 Serger Sewing Essentials: Finally get your overlocker/serger working for you. 👉 https://sewandtellco.com/serger-sewing-essentials 🪡 Stitch Sessions: Sew alongside a community of people who just love to sew. 👉 https://sewandtellco.com/stitch-sessions-by-sew-and-tell-co/ -- Two Sewing Patterns Into One Dress: My 1-Meter Pattern Hack -- This video shows how to mash two sewing patterns into one dress when you don't have enough fabric for either pattern as drafted. The starting setup: one meter of bird-print knit fabric, two patterns from the same designer (Nettle and Calendula by Peony Patterns), and four hours before my daughter's school disco. What you'll watch: choosing patterns that mash well (and why patterns from the same designer often share blocks that combine without resizing), pattern Tetris when cutting layout matters, under-stitching the bodice lining for a clean inside finish, and the second pivot when the original ruffle plan didn't work either. Everything's stitched on stretch settings with a walking foot. Pattern hacking is one of the most useful sewing skills you can develop, especially when you're working with less fabric than a pattern asks for, or want to combine elements from different envelopes. The principles here apply to any knit pattern mash you want to try: matching compatible blocks, working with each pattern's seam allowances, and improvising when you’re not sure if you’ll have enough fabric. -- Let's Connect -- https://sewandtellco.com https://www.instagram.com/sewandtell.co/ https://www.facebook.com/sewandtellaus https://www.tiktok.com/@sewandtellaustralia https://www.youtube.com/@sewandtellco DISCLOSURE: We often review or link to products and services we regularly use and think you might find helpful. To support the channel, where possible, Sew and Tell co. registers for affiliates for the patterns, tools, and resources we love. Several links on this page are affiliate links. Clicking on these links and making a purchase may earn us a commission, with no extra cost to you. Also, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Two Sewing Patterns Into One Dress: My 1-Meter Pattern Hack
Struggling to choose the right sewing thread for your clothes? Here's how Rasant changed my garment sewing, and why thread choice matters more than you think. -- Chapters -- 00:00 How to Choose the Right Sewing Thread (And Why I Use Rasant) 00:45 Why Thread Choice Matters 02:30 How Rasant Sews: Smoothness and Tension 04:00 How It Behaves on Different Fabrics 05:00 Who Else Uses Rasant? 05:45 Final Thoughts: Is It the Best Thread for Clothes? Sponsored by Mettler from Amann. 👉 https://www.embroideries.com.au/ -- Sewing Tools, Threads & What's in My Sewing Kit -- (When available, we use affiliate links and may earn a commission.) 🔧 Sewing Kit & Tool Recommendations 👉 https://sewandtellco.com/resources/ -- Free Resources to Sew Better --  📕 FREE: Your starter guide to sewing stretch fabric, knits and jersey  👉 https://sewandtellco.com/simplystretch/  -- Your Next Sewing Step --  Ready to keep sewing? Here's where to go next:  💻 Stretch Fabrics 101: Get comfortable sewing knits, jersey and stretch fabric.  👉 https://sewandtellco.com/stretchfabrics101/  🧵 Serger Sewing Essentials: Finally get your overlocker/serger working for you.  👉 https://sewandtellco.com/serger-sewing-essentials  🪡 Stitch Sessions: Sew alongside a community of people who just love to sew.  👉 https://sewandtellco.com/stitch-sessions-by-sew-and-tell-co/ How to Choose the Right Sewing Thread (And Why I Use Rasant) Rasant is a poly-core cotton thread made by Mettler — polyester core for strength, cotton wrap for a soft, matte finish. It's well known in the quilting world and used in professional fashion production, but still relatively under the radar for home garment sewists. In this video I share three years of real-world experience using it across a range of projects and fabrics, including wovens, knits and faux leather. We also cover why thread quality affects more than just how your stitches look — think skipped stitches, lint buildup in your machine, seams that pop on first wear, and even sensory comfort against the skin. Three years in, it's still what I reach for first. -- Watch these sewing videos next – → Sewing Machine Problems Solved: Tension, Skipped Stitches & More: https://youtu.be/YrW4bLSHakA → What is the difference between Stretch Fabric and woven fabric?: https://youtu.be/Dr7rH5ogQuI → Sewing Thread 101: How to Pick the Right Thread for Any Project: Coming next Week! -- Let's Connect -- https://sewandtellco.com https://www.instagram.com/sewandtell.co/ https://www.facebook.com/sewandtellaus https://www.tiktok.com/@sewandtellaustralia https://www.youtube.com/@sewandtellco DISCLOSURE: We often review or link to products and services we regularly use and think you might find helpful. To support the channel, where possible, Sew and Tell co. registers for affiliates for the patterns, tools, and resources we love. Several links on this page are affiliate links. Clicking on these links and making a purchase may earn us a commission, with no extra cost to you. Also, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
How to Choose the Right Sewing Thread (And Why I Use Rasant)
Picking the wrong thread is behind more sewing fails than most people realise. Here's how to choose the right one for your project, and why it matters. -- Chapters -- 00:00 Sewing Thread 101: How to Pick the Right One for Your Project 00:24 Why Thread Choice Matters in Sewing 00:42 Mettler Sewing Thread: The Brand Behind the Thread 02:34 Metrosene: Best All-Purpose Sewing Thread 03:40 Overlocker/Serger Thread Tip 04:27 Seraflex: Best Thread for Sewing Stretch Fabric 05:05 Sereflex: the solution to sewing knit fabric without a serger/overlocker 08:22 Final Thoughts on picking the right sewing thread to stop wasting money on the wrong ones Sponsored by Mettler from Amann. -- Sewing Tools, Threads & What's in My Sewing Kit -- (When available, we use affiliate links and may earn a commission.) 🔧 Sewing Kit & Tool Recommendations 👉 https://sewandtellco.com/resources/ -- Free Resources to Sew Better --  📕 FREE: Your starter guide to sewing stretch fabric, knits and jersey  👉 https://sewandtellco.com/simplystretch/  -- Your Next Sewing Step --  Ready to keep sewing? Here's where to go next:  💻 Stretch Fabrics 101: Get comfortable sewing knits, jersey and stretch fabric.  👉 https://sewandtellco.com/stretchfabrics101/  🧵 Serger Sewing Essentials: Finally get your overlocker/serger working for you.  👉 https://sewandtellco.com/serger-sewing-essentials  🪡 Stitch Sessions: Sew alongside a community of people who just love to sew.  👉 https://sewandtellco.com/stitch-sessions-by-sew-and-tell-co/ -- Sewing Thread 101: How to Pick the Right One for Your Project -- If your stitches look uneven, your thread keeps breaking, or your hems snap the second you pull them on, there's a good chance it's not your machine and it's not your technique. Thread quality and thread choice matter more than most people realise, and once you understand what thread is actually doing in a seam, the whole thing clicks. In this video I'm breaking down two threads from the Mettler range that cover most garment sewing situations. Metrosene is a 100% polyester thread built for general sewing on woven and everyday garments. It feeds smoothly, handles heat, and comes in 318 colours so you can actually colour match properly. Seraflex is the one for stretch fabric sewists who don't have a coverstitch machine. It stretches with the fabric even when sewn on a straight stitch, which means no more popped hems when you pull a knit top over your head. I also cover a handy overlocker/serger tip for getting around buying four spools of the same colour, and why winding Seraflex into your bobbin needs a little extra care to get the best result. -- Watch these sewing videos next – Top stitching with a twin needle, the secret hack to hemming pants, dresses and more: → https://youtu.be/g_XG-wIYTHI What is the difference between Stretch Fabric and woven fabric?: → https://youtu.be/Dr7rH5ogQuI Review and Demonstration of the Baby Lock Acclaim Serger/Overlocker: → https://youtu.be/wAMoesh0hIA -- Let's Connect -- https://sewandtellco.com https://www.instagram.com/sewandtell.co/ https://www.facebook.com/sewandtellaus https://www.tiktok.com/@sewandtellaustralia https://www.youtube.com/@sewandtellco DISCLOSURE: We often review or link to products and services we regularly use and think you might find helpful. To support the channel, where possible, Sew and Tell co. registers for affiliates for the patterns, tools, and resources we love. Several links on this page are affiliate links. Clicking on these links and making a purchase may earn us a commission, with no extra cost to you. Also, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Sewing Thread 101: How to Pick the Right One for Your Project
You don't have to sew everything. A chat about buying clothes without the guilt, and what "should" is actually doing to your creative and sewing life. -- Chapters -- 00:00 Is it okay to buy clothes if you can sew them yourself? 00:39 The Target run that started this conversation 01:55 What happens when you film with a dog (and why I bought bathers instead of sewing them) 02:41 Why "should" is a dangerous word for sewists 03:11 Getting angry at your kids for interrupting the thing you're making for your kids 03:53 What I sew vs. what I buy going forward 04:48 Permission to abandon your UFO pile (and where to send it) 05:05 You don't have to sew everything -- Sewing Tools, Threads & What's in My Sewing Kit -- (When available, we use affiliate links and may earn a commission.) 🔧 Sewing Kit & Tool Recommendations 👉 https://sewandtellco.com/resources/ -- Free Resources to Sew Better --  📕 FREE: Your starter guide to sewing stretch fabric, knits and jersey  👉 https://sewandtellco.com/simplystretch/  -- Your Next Sewing Step --  Ready to keep sewing? Here's where to go next:  💻 Stretch Fabrics 101: Get comfortable sewing knits, jersey and stretch fabric.  👉 https://sewandtellco.com/stretchfabrics101/  🧵 Serger Sewing Essentials: Finally get your overlocker/serger working for you.  👉 https://sewandtellco.com/serger-sewing-essentials  🪡 Stitch Sessions: Sew alongside a community of people who just love to sew.  👉 https://sewandtellco.com/stitch-sessions-by-sew-and-tell-co/ --You don't have to sew everything. A chat about why buying clothes doesn't make you a bad sewist. -- This one started with a $200 Target run and a conversation on meta stories that got a lot of responses. A lot of sewists carry quiet guilt about the clothes they buy instead of make. This video is about where that guilt comes from, why it's not serving you, and what it actually looks like to choose joy over obligation in your sewing life. -- Watch these sewing videos next – 3 stretch cotton fabric materials for your sewing projects you may not know about: → https://youtu.be/j-6rVKivBQo The Best Easy Sewing Patterns for your DIY Women’s Capsule Wardrobe: → https://youtu.be/46xLC3ZnRII -- Let's Connect -- https://sewandtellco.com https://www.instagram.com/sewandtell.co/ https://www.facebook.com/sewandtellaus https://www.tiktok.com/@sewandtellaustralia https://www.youtube.com/@sewandtellco DISCLOSURE: We often review or link to products and services we regularly use and think you might find helpful. To support the channel, where possible, Sew and Tell co. registers for affiliates for the patterns, tools, and resources we love. Several links on this page are affiliate links. Clicking on these links and making a purchase may earn us a commission, with no extra cost to you. Also, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
You don't have to sew everything A chat about why buying clothes doesn't make you a bad sewist
Your knit hem was perfect before washing. Then it flipped and won't lie flat. The pattern didn't warn you. Your machine isn't the problem. Your technique isn't either. It's the hem depth. Increase your knit hem depth to half an inch and the extra weight keeps it flat after washing. Same fabric, same machine, same you. Just one small change. There are 14 speakers bringing tips just like this one to the Together We Stitch online sewing expo. A week of live sessions on knit fabric, pattern fitting, machine troubleshooting, upcycling and more. Ask questions in real time or catch the replay whenever suits you. March 16-22. From $7 USD. Comment TWS26 for your ticket.
TWS Hem tip
October 2023. Bali. A pool. A husband who thought we were on holiday for our 10 year wedding anniversary. I had an idea I couldn’t switch off. Tomorrow, I open the doors to the fifth edition of what it became. Together We Stitch. I created Together We Stitch as I couldn’t find an online sewing event that felt like it was actually for me. A place where garment sewists could learn, ask questions live, and feel like part of something. Regardless of where they lived in the world or their sewing skill level. So I built one. If you’ve been before, you know. If you haven’t… tomorrow’s a great day to find out. Have you joined us before? I’d love to know who’s coming back this year
The sewing event that changed everything for me #sewingcommunity #garmentmaking #sewing
Subscribe

What next?

Wish you had more time to sew?

Find out how to create more time for you, connect with an incredible sewing community and improve your sewing skills.

Find out more

Join Our Stretch Sewing Camp!

Enrol in our Conquer Stretch Fabric Sewing Course before 15th April 2024 and you can join our first ever Sewing Bootcamp! Be guided through 4 stretch sewing modules with weekly calls and exclusive online sewing community. 

Learn more ⟶

Choose how you want to sew:

Sessions run twice a month at varying times (mornings, evenings, and some weekends) to suit different time zones.

Miss a session? There’s always another one coming, and the community is always here.

The Stitch Sessions (core membership)

$ 16.50 USD / per month - billed Qtrly
  •  

Inside you’ll find:
✔ Two live, online co-sewing sessions each month
✔ A simple rhythm to show up and sew together

$USD Checkout
$AUD Checkout
Best Value

Stitch Sessions + Sew and Tell Library

$ 39 USD / per month - billed Qtrly​
  •  

Inside you’ll find:
✔ Everything in Stitch Sessions
✔ Optional access to a growing Library of past tutorials, replays, and guides

$USD Checkout
$AUD Checkout

Prices shown in USD. AUD available at checkout. Your bank will automatically convert if needed.