I’m getting close to being ready to send off my backtacking project. I ended up creating another bag that I saw in a knitting store and decided would be pretty easy to make. My gal is a big knitter, and said she likes neutral, earthy colors, so I’m hoping this will be of use to her.

(You like my little monkey in there who couldn’t bear to have pictures being taken that he wasn’t in?)

So here’s what I really like about the bag:

1. I created it, pattern and everything (right, right, I stole the idea, but still, I figured out how to do it all by myself!).

2. I love the retro liner fabric and the pretty brown corduroy.

3. This is the second one of this type of bag I’ve made and I made a few little adjustments that I think really helped (interfacing, shortened it a bit and reinforced the straps).

Here’s what really bums me out about it because I’m a giant perfectionist and self-doubter:

1. When I pinned the corduroy ends to cut it out the pattern circle I made got a bit bunched, so the outside is actually smaller than the inside and it feels like there’s all this extra fabric on the inside.

2. I completely made the whole zipper thing up as I went and it is so unprofessional you cannot even imagine. It works, but I have this feeling anyone who’s ever done a zipper ‘the right way’ will take one look at it and feel horrified at my incompetence.

3. I did the whole thing inside out with a gap in the liner so I could flip it through and then I hand-sewed the gap. I HATE THE HAND-SEWING. It totally shows. How do you make it not look different?

Anyway, I think I would like this bag, but I’m definitely feeling the pressure when I look at all the other backtacker’s sites. Everything looks so perfect and stunning. I am so imperfect!

So my solution is: if I cannot give her the quality I would like, I will go with quantity. I’m also remaking the original bag I made first with the gusseted pockets and flap top. I’m going to send her two slightly flawed bags, hopefully that will make up for it.