There is now a pattern for this bag, go to this post to see the details
This was featured here:
Padded camera bags come in 3 varieties: black and expensive, super fashionable (and super expensive) girly ones posing as purses, and DIY. Thought I covet some of the fashionable purse like ones, I can’t justify the money on those, so mine is DIY.
And I really needed it. This is what I have been carrying my camera around in:
Yup, really. Just the box with the extra lens crammed inside and my lens paper and instruction manual as extra padding.
I’ve seen several great tutorials about turning a purse into a bag with a padded insert, and really, I should’ve just done that. But I wanted certain coordinating colors, so instead I made mine from scratch.
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I’m not gonna lie, this project was a big pain in the patootie. I hope it holds up well (and if it doesn’t, I’m just going with the padded purse insert). I fully intended to post this a a tutorial, but so much cursing and reworking (and 2 trips to the fabric store) went into it that I don’t think I could put this up in any way that would allow you to recreate it. Seriously, this took me all week to do, which is why I haven’t posted since Tuesday.
It’s made of gray duck canvas with yellow quilting cotton lining and upholstery piping covered with bias strips from the lining cotton. See the surprise under the over flap?
The bottom and sides are padded in 1″ foam (mostly because the first store didn’t have 1/2″ foam and I was being impatient). The front and back are padded with 1/2″ foam (second trip to fabric store. The foam was the biggest pain part of this. Getting it cut to size, in place between the lining and the outside, and then sewing the zipper into top of the bag while wrestling foam left me with lots of scratches. And I had to do some hand sewing as well.
This is my favorite (and also one of the easiest) part.
A zippered side pocket. This is outside the foam, so if I put keys in there they’re not poking through into the camera. But right now it’s full of this:
I used the same yellow to line it. My two favorite color combinations currently are yellow and gray and turquoise and red.
And inside the bag looks like this:
See the little pocket for my battery charger? Another detail that was easy and therefore liked by me.
I have enough foam to make another lens keeper, and room in there for it. So maybe Hubby (hint, hint) will get me that lens (it’s on my Amazon wishlist) that I want for Christmas.
Jenelle
Great bag and the piping is fantastic! I do love gray and yellow together. 🙂 I really need to make one of these.
Amy
This is darling, I love the colours you chose! I love your blog and I’m passing along The Versatile Blogger Award. Please feel free to email me or check my blog for the info! xoxo http://www.ahome-made.com/2011/11/versatile-blogger-award.html
Jenn
I really wish I knew how to sew, because I love this!
Pam
I love the yellow and grey together! The piping really finished is off nicely. A great camera bag. I found you via Amy at ‘A Home Made’ and am your newest follower.
Cook Clean Craft
Looks like it was worth the effort! I hope your husband reads your blog and takes your not-so-subtle hint (subtle hints never work with my hubby).
I’d love to make one too – will see how much motivation I have after Christmas presents are made!
Sugarr2518
It does look like you put a lot of time into it! Love the contrasting colors and all of the compartments for your extras for your camera:) I need to either make this or buy one!
LeAnn-The Modest Homestead
Wow this looks great! I love the colors! I’m your newest follower and would love it if you would check out my blog at the modest homestead.
Tenille
Yellow and gray are so cute together. This turned out amazing. I would love it if you would link this up to our linky party going on right now.
http://junkintheirtrunk.blogspot.com/2011/11/link-it-up-wednesday_08.html
Scrappycath
Such a classy camera bag. Great job! Hope you get that lens!
Emily
Wow! Love the color combo and the piping and the compartments and the shape. 🙂 I should probably make one instead of just carrying my camera around without a case. I also have a lens on my amazon wishlist. 🙂 Which one do you have on your list?
by night
It certainly is worth all the struggling! It looks fantastic! And I looove your fabric combination!
Rhonda
What a great camera bag – that grey and yellow are delish together!
Visiting from shabby creek cottage
Rhonda @ home.made.
Jamie
Love this. Love the colors. so glad you chose to make it from scratch. Hope to see you at DIY Home Sweet Home. I’m also your newest follower. Cute blog.
Jamie
http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/
P.S. I have a linky every Monday. Would love you to stop by and link up.
Alida - Radcrafter
Super cute bag! I love the gray and yellow together.
Love to invite you to share this project at my Thingamajig Thursday party going on now…http://radcrafter.com/2011/11/thingamajig-thursday-party-3/
Alida
Terry
The yellow and grey together looks gorgeous in any work. The piping really finished, looks off nice. A marvelous camera bag. I found you via Amy at ‘A Home Made’ and am your newest follower.
gifts for boys
Kara @ Mine for the Making
This is absolutely beautiful Melissa. I LOVE that you DIYed it! It’s exactly what you wanted. And sometimes our most frustrating projects turn into our very favorites 🙂
Kara @ Mine for the Making
I featured you! Happy Thanksgiving 🙂
Kara
http://mineforthemaking.blogspot.com/2011/11/featured-diy-divas-13.html
Emily S
Oh boy!! I think I am the first one to purchase this pattern from your Etsy shop and I LOVE IT. Seriously, gray and yellow are my favorite colors together too and I plan to make one just like this for me after Christmas. In the meantime, though, I plan to make this for my bestie for Christmas in brown corduroy with a fun green and blue lining. Beautiful job!! Can hardly wait!!
avaee
Wow I love this so much but I think I will just change some of the dimensions and make it to a super cute shoulder bag. I can hardly wait to try it out!!! You have inspired me so much!
Gail
I’m confused about the pocket piece. Am I suppose to cute 4 pieces or two? THANKS!
Gail
*cut