APEXcarry Release!
First Published February 2022
APEXcarry all your cares away!
Ok, so I can’t promise this bag pattern will carry everyone’s worries away, but it will help you carry almost everything else!
The APEXcarry pattern is live!! It has been a while in the making and I am super excited to see what wonderful APEXes are just waiting to be made! You can go get it here, with a 20% discount on it (and the APEXpouch) until the Saturday 12th February! You’ll get 10% off all other patterns too!
APEX Beach Adventures
The APEXcarry pattern started off life with me wanting to make a lightweight, simple big beach bag of a tote for all the family trips to the beach, the park, the swimming pool… I wanted a wide open bag that you could just load up with blankets, thermos flasks, towels, togs, umpteen changes of clothes, wellies, books, sandwiches… you get the idea.
I had a selection of Merchant and Mills ripstop dry oilskin in my stash. It is lightweight, strong, and water resistant. Just the trick! I had just enough to make the APEXcarry, including lining it.
The Snap Strip and Loop idea came out in this bag for the first time, and as you can see the loop sits connected to the top middle of the main opening. In the final APEXcarry pattern the connection points have moved over to sit beside the hand straps so that there is a counterbalance between the downward drag of the Snap Strip and the upward pull of the hand straps.
APEX Development
As the pattern evolved more that a few additions were made. Firstly the option to add a main zipped closure. We do sometimes want a bit of security for our belongings and as the oversized APEXcarry makes a fab overnight/weekend bag a zip is pretty essential for that potential function.
A lanyard strap & swivel hood has been added to help you all avoid the fun and games of our trip to Kerry; our car key disappeared while we were in a pretty remote part of the south west of Ireland. We think it ended up in the Atlantic Ocean, via my husband’s pier jump off Brandon Quay… You’ll thank me someday for that lanyard strap and clip!
Additionally the pattern includes the option for an internal angled pocket and a zipped welt pocket.
During testing a fundamental addition to the pattern was made – the addition of a second, smaller size. A number of testers commented that they were thinking about making a smaller sized APEXcarry as a day-to-day version. I had made a 75% sized APEX before testing to figure out some details. It is a good handbag size, but felt that roughly 85% size would be a better size; still big but a little less daunting as the oversized version!!
And lastly!!! As I made version after version I noticed that when the sides of the bag folded in, the shape of the bag was lovely and gave it a very different, more gentle, aesthetic. It reduces the scale and makes even the oversized APEX feel more like a big purse than a beach bag. I resisted adding it as an option but finally gave in!
I’m delighted with all the changes and additions that have come together in the APEXcarry and can’t wait to see the pattern come to life!!
Further south @sunkissmelbourne will be co-hosting and together we’ve planned a fun few weeks full of inspo, discounts and prizes!!! Yes, prizes!!! Whooop!!!! Over the course of the sewalong we’ll giveaway spot prizes that can be won by those of you get on board and share your progress. We’ll tell you how to do all that!
An amazing thank you to the following amazing bag sewing enablers for sponsoring some cool prizes!!!
@sunkissmelbourne
@littlesewingco8
@Australian_bag_making_supplies
@ateljeecaro
@fabricromance
@spreefee.bagmaking.supplies
@zipperzoo.be
@madeline_de_stoffenmadam
APEXdiscounts!
From now ‘til the end of the sewalong I’ve set up a sale with a 20% discount off both the APEXcarry and the APEXpouch patterns and 10% off the APEXbundle too!! No code needed.
Right now SunKissMelbourne have 10% off their APEX Kits using the code “APEXSEWALONG“! and ATELJEE CARO also have a 10% discount running with the code “sewalong_ICS“.
So, are you in??? Declare your intention and there is no backing out!!
Okay, so of course you can bow out, life gets in the way of many wonderful intentions. But it’s good to say things out loud sometimes, right? Share the picture above in your Instagram stories or as a post using #APEXsewalong & tag @incompletestitches and @sunkissmelbourne to let us know that you plan on joining in!! And don’t worry, you don’t have to be the best sewist or best photographer; just join in and have some sewing fun! All prize winners will be picked at random, but remember to tag us so that we see you!!
Stage 1 starts on 14th April with a final celebration on the 15th May. Full schedule and sewalong details to come but see the schedule above for the idea!
Time to get planning!! Download your APEXsewalong Prep Sheet to help you get organised! That’s all for now! Stay tuned for regular updates over on Instagram but I will post each weekly stage here too. Happy sewing! xx Sarah.
