Lily and Will Diaper Bag - Simplicity Pattern 2924

One of my childhood friends is going to be a mommy of a little girl!! I am so happy for her :) I wanted to make her a baby item that would be reflective of her impeccable taste and also incorporate a delicate and feminine baby theme. Fabric shopping for nursery prints has been tough lately! Don't get me wrong, there's lots of great stuff out there, but it seems like it's a lot of the same stuff - overly commercialized and predictable. So, I was ecstatic when I came across the most darling fabric by Moda: Lily and Will by Bunny Hill.

Lily and Willy by Bunny Hill for Moda Fabrics

 The designs come in blue, green and pink. The fabric is an updated twist on a very classic design. Simply precious.

Added bonus: the damask patterns have tiny bunnies hiding in it!

When I saw this fabric I immediately knew I wanted to make a diaper bag out of it to show off all its precious aspects. I used Simplicity pattern 2924 because it provides tons of pockets (an essential feature for any mom) and an easy flap closure. I also thought this style would be advantageous for showcasing the specific aspects of the different fabrics in the collection.

First, I pressed all the fabric. One cannot underestimate the importance of pressing your fabric before you begin cutting the fabric and throughout the construction process. By doing this you will create a neat and professional looking item.

I organized all the fabric to get a better idea of which designs I wanted to use for each aspect of the bag, i.e., straps, flap, exterior, interior, etc.

Then, I cut each pattern piece with the necessary fabrics and interfacing. Placing the transparent pattern over each fabric prior to cutting allowed me to ensure even pattern placement. I did not want the pattern to be off-centered. I was especially meticulous when cutting the flap piece as I wanted the large bunny pattern to be perfectly centered on the front of the bag. 

Exterior front and back pocket fabric

With the front flap fabric, I first measured the height and width of the flap piece itself.

 Then, I measured the height and width of the design I was attempting to center on the front of the flap. I subtracted the design's measurements from the overall dimensions of the flap and divided that number by two (because there are two sides).

 I placed the transparent pattern over the fabric at a distance of the number found above for the length and width of the flap. This resulted in a perfectly centered pattern on the front flap.

Once all the pieces were cut, I organized them for easy access to begin sewing them together. This also helped to assure that I had cut the proper amounts and had sufficient fabric to complete the diaper bag.

I followed the instructions for constructing the bag according to the Simplicity pattern 2924 and this is the result:

Simplicity Pattern 2924 Diaper Bag using Lily and Will by Bunny Hill fabrics

Diaper Bag Exterior

Side pocket with elastic at the rim - securely holds items in place!

Exterior of bag with back pocket

Interior with pockets. These pockets also have elastic at the rim to securely hold items in place.

 This bag is uber feminine and so so so darling! I really liked  using this pattern as well because it's easy to change the style of the bag and still keep the wonderful features like alllll those pockets! I can't wait to make more of these beauties :)