Bergen Bag Parade - By Sofia of TråKärlek

I have an absolutely fantastic friend I'd like to introduce you all to: Her name is Trå Sofia of TråKärlek and she is an inspiration to me like no other! I wish I had but 1/10 of her energy and focus! She's nowadays one of my pattern testers and I couldn't be more grateful for the job she does, the thorough testing she gives my designs is invaluable. And all the beautiful bags she makes! 

Seriously, it's absolutely amazing! She doesn't sew to sell like one would think when one sees her production, she sews for herself, and as gifts for friends and family. Let me share with you some of her absolutely amazing, beautiful Bergen Bags.

The Bergen Bag pattern is available in English and Swedish, and comes with both inch and centimeter measurements. 

This unicorn Bergen Bag is one of my all time favorites, it's just soo beautiful! And look at the details, like the super cute hearts in the lining! She has also made it slightly higher than the the original pattern calls for and it gives a lovely look and more room!

This beauty is standard size. The cotton or woven fabrics and panels are from a lot of different places, but all vinyls for in these bags comes from my parents store Borlange Sycentrum

These three she made for her ice dancing teacher colleagues, aren't they adorable!? They are also slightly higher than the original pattern to allow the pretty panel to fit. 

These two gorgeous versions are made in a fabric that's very traditional for the area of Sweden both me and Sofia is from, Dalarna. So are the lovely woven bands she has incorporated in the lining of these bags - making them extra special to me. 

Love how the woven band returns in the lining of the zipper pocket! Such a beautiful detail!

Up next is this romantic flowery stunner!

And as a little break in the romantic and soft colors we have this rocking blue and orange one!

This pink stunner is right up my alley!

Love the extra slip pockets she's added outside the zipper pocket!

Another of my absolute favourites, Bleeding Heart, or Löjtnatshjärta as it's called in Swedish is a flower my mother grew outside our first home when I was a child, it'll always have a special place in my heart. As will this gorgeous Bergen Bag! 

Ohh this pink one is just so insanely pretty! This one has also been given a few extra inches on the height to be able to fit more things. 

This zipper choice is just sooo epic! 

This green and pink one is just to die for I think! Seriously so stunning!

This woven vinyl black beauty is just so darn cool!

This green, furniture fabric one is just so stylish!

And last but not least, this drop dead gorgeous white and gold heart one! Sooooo pretty! Love it soo much! 

The hearts continue all the way in! Such a happy, loving lining!

But she doesn't just sew bags, when I met her a couple of years ago she'd never sewn a bag in her life! 

She sewed clothes for herself and her family of course, but she also sews clothing for premature babies that she gifts to neonatal units around Sweden. So that when people are ready to bring their early arrival little miracle home, there's an adorable set of clothing available for them in a size that fits their baby - to bring the little one home in. I can't imagine how much this must mean to these parents. A small sample of her adorable, teeny tiny works below. 

Stay awesome Sofia and thank you for everything! 

The Beginner Bag - FREE pattern release!

I'm super excited to finally be able to offer the perfect bag pattern for all you beginner bagmakers out there! The Beginner Bag is the perfect bag to start your bag making journey! It's made with the absolute novice bag maker in mind and has in depth explanations of everything from fusing interfacing to zipper installation. It's available for FREE for all members of my Facebook Group, feel free to join for the pattern!

The pattern has been tested and tweaked with a team of complete novice to advanced beginner bagmakers, this alongside my normal pattern testing team to ensure it's super easy to understand and follow. This pattern comes with both inch and centimeter measurements and is availiable in both English and Swedish.

It has a zipper top closure, is fully lined and has open slip pockets. And it looks equally great in cotton fabric as in vinyls, as you can see below for the silvery cotton one. 

But this bag isn't just for the beginner! The simple but stylish design makes it perfect for production sewing or just letting one's creativity run wild. 

It's also perfect for sewing with panels, as you easily adjust the size of the bag to the size of the panel. It can be made any size you wish, instructions for how to easily adjust the size is in the pattern. It makes a super cute makeup bag if made smaller, or the perfect beach tote if made in a bigger size.  Here my pattern tester Helena Halvar Tall, made a beautiful set with a standard size and a small makeup bag version. She's added a little fabric panel edged by lace edged by quilting. So pretty!

The interior is simple slip pockets, but as you gain confidence you can naturally add zipper pockets or other cool additions as you please. 

You can easily kick it up a notch by adding my rolled bag handles like my pattern tester Jennifer Hilburn Spears have done here for a very elegant look. Adding little details like a tassel like she's done, really brings it to a different level! Link to the Rolled Handle YouTube tutorial is in the pattern.

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My fantastic pattern testers were awesome as ever and tested the pattern for me, alongside the awesome group of beginner bag makers - and just look at all the gorgeous Beginner Bags that were sewn! A sincere thank you goes out to each and everyone one of you for helping me make each new pattern -  into my best pattern yet! 

I'm so very grateful for all your help and hard work!

Liselotte - Made two gorgeous versions, one in vinyl that she quilted in such a cool pattern, with beautiful rolled bag handles, and one lovely mocha version that she also quilted. 

Helena Halvar Tall - Whom can be found here on instagram made these two gorgeous panelled versions. One in original size, and a smaller one that fits in the larger one.  

Annette - Made this absolutely lovely 3D vinyl version accented by a lovely black tassle!

Barbara Dörig - Whom can be found here on instagram made a super cool, dry oilskin version.

Hemasis - Who's website is available here made an awesome, quilted zebra vinyl version! 

Jennie Backlund - Whom can be found here on instagram made an adorable cat version.

Hanna Levin - Made a gorgeous, ultra cute pink pony one! 

Julia Willman - Made not one but two beautiful vinyl versions! One soft pink and a lovely, fresh white.

Laura Downs - whom can be found here on Instagram made a lovely, glitter vinyl version. 

Lori Peoples - made a beautiful fall coloured version quilted along the fabrics patterns.

Cissi - made this lovely blue vinyl and rainbow quilted version.

J Spears Design - Whom can be found here on instagram made this lovely quilted version with rolled handles.

Caroline Karlsson - Made these two beautiful versions, one straight line quilted standard size and one edited with an extra wide bottom to be used for lunchboxes for her mother, such a lovely idea!

Eva Halvarsson - of Borlänge Sycentrum made this gorgeous, quilted cotton and linen version!

Marybeth Haberman- of MB's Sew Crafty made this awesome quilted cotton version!

Ann Munthe Svensson - Made this beautiful, quilted grey vinyl version.

Sofia Nilsson - of TRÅkärlek whom can be found here on Instagram and here on Facebook, made this lovely turquoise, straight line quilted vinyl version with rolled handles.