The Mini Aeroplane Bag

I may have used affiliate links for some of the items in this post. Using an affiliate link to purchase an item won't cost you any more money, but I may receive payment if you click on a link and make a purchase. For more information, visit the disclosures page.

Last week I showed you all the Sew Sweetness Aeroplane Bag that I made.  It’s a super great bag with an easy to follow pattern.  I’ve currently got all my workout stuff in it, so I can just throw it in the car and change to go for a run during lunch.  The only problem is that the bag is a bit too big for my everyday use.

Aeroplane Bag

Solution?  Make a smaller version, of course.  I already had all of my instructions printed off, so all I needed was a smaller version of the template.  For my Mini Aeroplane Bag, I decided to go with the regular bag, instead of the long one. That meant I only needed to print out the regular template at a smaller size.

aeroplane template comparison

I wanted something about half the size of the original.  To do that, I opened the PDF file and printed the template pages I needed at 75%.  From there, I taped them together, and basically followed the pattern, adjusting as I needed to accommodate for the new size.

aeroplane bag size comparison

The best part about shrinking the pattern down is that my new template was just under 1/4 yard tall, so I was able to make use of a couple of my favorite 1/4 yard pieces that I hadn’t had a project small enough for.  For the exterior part A, any 1/4 yard WOF will work.

mini aeroplane bag

Needless to say, I was super excited.  I actually ended up using the template piece and a matching bottom for the interior so I could use my other piece of Lizzy House Outfoxed.

mini aeroplane bag interior

For this bag, I ended up adding an external pocket for my cell phone, but the pattern really needs some interior pockets.  That will be the goal if I make another one… how to add interior pockets to keep all my stuff organized.

mini aeroplane bag

The straps on this one are a double layer of upholstery trim from grama’s stash.  I haven’t the slightest idea what she used it on, but what was left worked great as bag straps.

strap cloesup

Have you ever made a larger or smaller version of your favorite bag pattern?  How did it turn out?

We're sharing this project over at:
Take a Look Tuesday at Sugar Bee Crafts
Make It Wear It Thursday at The Train to Crazy

12 Comments

  1. Susan on June 3, 2013 at 8:18 am

    Very cool! There are some free online patterns for a little roll up purse organize that could be fun for interior organization too. I think I am going to try to make this! Where an I find the original pattern?

    • Andrea on June 3, 2013 at 9:29 am

      The original pattern is a PDF download from Sew Sweetness. It’s called the Aeroplane Bag – she’s got lots of cute ones, tho – so you may end up picking something else. Here’s a link to her pattern shop: http://www.sewsweetnesspatterns.com/

  2. Mandy @ Sugar Bee Crafts on June 5, 2013 at 4:10 pm

    Thanks for much for linking to Take-A-Look Tuesday over at Sugar Bee Crafts – you were featured today!
    –Mandy, http://www.SugarBeeCrafts.com

  3. Crystelle Boutique on June 6, 2013 at 10:08 am

    What a fun little bag. Great idea to just shrink down the pattern. I really like the vintage looking tape you used… !!…. 🙂

    hugs xx Crystelle
    Crystelle Boutique

    • Andrea on June 6, 2013 at 10:12 am

      Thanks so much! The handles are made from vintage upholstery trim left over from something my grandmother made. I was super excited to have a project that uses all of it.

  4. Markell Corpus on June 6, 2013 at 1:06 pm

    I love this. I can’t wait to get my sewing machine out of storage and try my hand at it. I found you over at Make it, Wear it and I’d love for you to stop by my new link party – http://www.amouseinmykitchen.com/2013/06/pin-it-proudly-link-party.html

    • Andrea on June 7, 2013 at 8:55 am

      Thanks so much for stopping by. I’ll be sure to check out your new link party.

    • Andrea on June 7, 2013 at 8:59 am

      Thank you! I really am enjoying it.

  5. Ewa "Mom Photographer" on June 6, 2013 at 4:25 pm

    looks great!

    • Andrea on June 7, 2013 at 8:58 am

      Thank you. It’s been a lot of fun to carry around.

  6. Donna C. on September 16, 2014 at 4:10 pm

    Such pretty bags! The pattern confuses me, though. Do you use that one big piece, or do use it to trace the smaller pieces off of? I’ve used traditional patterns like Simplicity and McCalls for the past 50 years, so you may understand my confusion. I’m very interested in learning new stuff!

    • Andrea on September 16, 2014 at 6:18 pm

      This pattern has 2 pattern pieces. One is for the long version, the other for the short. The bottom piece of the outside is cut to a specific size, and you use your finished exterior to cut trace the piece for the lining. To make the smaller version of the bag (the one that’s orange and hedgehogs), I changed my printing size to 75%, and did the math for 75% of the size of the cut piece. Everything else was the same.

Leave a Comment





This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.