Wool Gym Messenger

It's pretty much winter now. And I'm well into my crabby phase of the year. One thing I can appreciate about winter though, is wool. You can't really enjoy something that cozy in the middle of July when you're happily wearing next to nothing and a sunburn. I find lots of great vintage wool when I'm hunting through thrift stores; sometimes it's an old blanket or an awesome poncho of another decade.

I made this Wool Gym Messenger for my friend Katie. She's one of my favorite people to sew for because she usually knows exactly what she needs. For this bag she needed a gym bag she could carry to work without looking like a hockey player. And since it was a gym bag it needed to be durable, and be ok with a little moisture inside.

The red wool I used is really thick, and previously existed as a blanket. It has great herringbone texture woven into it. For the interior I used my homemade recycled plastic fabric because it's really sturdy, can get wet, and can be cleaned with a wet cloth or a mild spray if needed. The brown strap is heavyweight polypropelene, adjustable, and wraps under the bottom of the bag for extra support. And everyone knows red and brown is a winning combination.

The little owl pouch was an extra Katie asked for. I love making tiny things with faces, so I was happy to do it. It makes me laugh and feel like a complete nerd at the same time.