The Daily Duffel is available in two sizes! Get your copy on sale for just a few more days – the sale ends Friday 2/22 @ midnight CST!

First designed for Emmett, the small size is a perfect for a child for overnight or daycare or for snacks and toys after they have graduated from a diaper bag. Many of us are planning to use them for little kid dance classes! For an adult, it would be perfect for car travel (like a mini boarding bag!) or carrying heavy items like a water bottle, coffee thermos, and backup phone battery separately instead of dragging everything around in your handbag.

Midnight pics – the lighting doesn’t get better in my house even during the day. We will get outside ASAP! (Also I obviously think novelty fabrics on this bag are the best!!)

 The larger size is a generous overnight or even weekender bag. My friend Shannon, who brilliantly named this bag, asked for bigger and “ginormous” and the discussion led to make people saying they would try to re-size this bag. The small size maxed out the paper size, so by adding the large size you should be able to reduce it to 90% and print a size half way in between, if this suits your needs!

  I designed the small one first (which can’t really be too heavy even if you tried), so I changed up the handle design so that they can be secured with rivets for a heavier load.

For me and most of my testers, modeled pics have been a challenge with the never-ending snow. A few of the testers have gotten creative and added things like soup cans for scale. Check in the Facebook group for these fun pics and if you’re unsure on sizes, more pictures will be added as soon as meteorologically possible! 

Thankfully, Cara from Early Bird Stitches (Facebook • Etsy) was able to get some outdoor pics of the larger size when her snow melted last week!

I’ve also been sharing variations on pockets in the FB group, and I plan to share additional hacks along the way! (Shannon asked for 17 pockets but I tried to keep the fabric requirements and instructions reasonable!) The included a slip pockets (one exterior, one lining) have a little bit of added ease so that it’s not so tight that it is unusable or collapses the bag, and the zippered pocket has my usual no-raw-edge technique. There is also a sleeve for a removable hard base inside (this is what I use) to give the bottom stability, and instructions for the placement of bag feet. 

Included inside pockets:

Other pocket ideas:

As usual this bag has my incredibly detailed instructions and this bag does not have binding or a drop-in lining. I’ve come up with a different technique to allow you to birth the bag and no hand sewing is required. A bag of this style always requires compromise in some way with the finishing technique, and my goal was to minimize the hassle with a very nice result! This technique also allows you to tack up the lining to the top of the bag so that it’s not saggy. 

 My testers as usual helped work all the kinks out of the pattern so that you can have an enjoyable sewing experience! My endless thanks goes to all of them, so please let me share a few of their pics with you!

Carrie made this Minnie Mouse one that I love so much!

 Judi (Facebook) continued the novelty theme with her fabulous version she made to take to the lake house. 

Marianne (Facebook) made a large bag to take her Singer Featherweight to sewing group!

 Leigh Ann used vinyl for the base of hers, which was brave but it looks amazing!

Kimberly (Instagram) went all out with Floral Star Wars. I’m always impressed when testers are willing to cut into the gorgeous fabric for a pattern test! This is the smaller size. :)

 Kay made two of them, and left the handles off the second one to make it more of a messenger bag. I like them both!

Jacqui made this pretty blue one and Karen amazingly made one in vinyl. I’m impressed!

         Margareth’s (Instagram) sewing is always top notch and she catches mistakes in the written pattern like no one else!

Melanie’s 4-year-old started using his bag before she could topstitch it. Can you blame him??

Ruth’s sewing room has been out of commission for a while and I’m so happy she is back!!

Sharon (Instagram • Etsy) treated us to some giant dots – I love that large scale prints work so well on this bag!

Candy (Grandma G) has been working on a set for her granddaughter with a few of my patterns in this fabric. I just can’t get over the fussy cutting. Yes, there IS a front pocket on this bag!! Love it!

And finally, your treat for scrolling all the way to the bottom, is the fabulous Janet’s beautiful bag. (Follow Janet’s Instagram) I envy her eye for color and fabrics and the way she incorporates other materials like cork and waxed cotton.

After all of the tester bags, plus the whole bunch that I made, I’m confident you will love this pattern!

It’s been taking me longer to get these blog posts up (There have been something like 7 snow days this year so far… snow day = no preschool and my assistant is ever so helpful) so make sure you’re following on social media somehow – Instagram, FB Page, or FB Group – as I’m able to post there in a much more timely manner. :)

Happy Sewing!! OR in our case here in the Midwest, USA – Happy SNOW DAY Sewing! 4″-7″ are apparently headed our way right now!

-Erin