Make a Simple Sketchers Go Bag

Preparedness is about being ready, having a system in place enabling you to grab and go at a moment's notice. In a previous post we looked at six ways to find and collect inspiration, we saw that our daily routines be with inspirational moments. Smartphones enable us to take a photo but, what if we could also further explore these moments through sketching or writing.

While sketching is an integral part of my practice, I often leave it to the last minute to put together sketchbook, pens, etc. and usually forget something. While sorting the pantry, my mind drifted to how preparedness might apply to be ready for recording inspirational moments — thus evolved making sketchers' go bag, having a small bag set aside to grab and go at a moments notice.

Over the years I've tried several size sketchbooks, and my preferred size for out and about is A6. The sketchbook size sets the dimensions for the sketchers' go bag, next I considered the items I would like to include in the kit and culled a few to keep it simple and the bag small.

Items chosen for this sketchers go bag:
A6 Sketchbook
Pen, pencil and two black fine point pen
Watercolours and a small selection of coloured fine point pens
A paintbrush pen
Glue stick, eraser and a small pair of scissors

With the size and contents sorted I headed across to 'Let's Sew' board on Pinterest. A board I've filled with tutorials and ideas for sewing projects. I knew I would be cutting the zip to size and wanted to try using the zipper tabs, so for this project, I referred to a tutorial by Amanda at Jedi Craft Girl.


For the main fabric, I selected two fabrics from my range "Together We Soar" & "Jasmine Balcony." I captured the image that inspired jasmine balconies during a previous sketching day out.

To the right side of the outer fabric, I applied "Iron-on Vinyl" which will give the bag some water resistance, I've used Iron-on Vinyl previously and been quite happy with its durability. Decide which size sketchbook will suit you best and cut the materials accordingly: 

Materials for Sketchers' go bag to fit an A6 size sketchbook
Cut 2 - 8 1/2" x 6 1/2" cotton fabric for the front & back
Cut 2 - 8 1/2" x 6 1/2" cotton fabric for the lining
Cut 2 - 8 1/2" x 6 1/2" Iron-on Vinyl to apply to the outer fabric

Materials for Sketchers' go bag to fit an A5 size sketchbook
Cut 2 - 10 1/2" x 8" cotton fabric for the front & back
Cut 2 - 10 1/2" x 8" cotton fabric for the lining
Cut 2 - 10 1/2" x 8" Iron-on Vinyl to apply to the outer fabric

Materials for Sketchers' go bag to fit an A4 size sketchbook
Cut 2 - 13 1/2" x 11" cotton fabric for the front & back
Cut 2 - 13 1/2" x 11" cotton fabric for the lining
Cut 2 - 13 1/2" x 11" Iron-on Vinyl to apply to the outer fabric

You will also need 1 x zipper to fit the bag and if you are cutting the zipper to size also cut 2 - 1 1/2" x 4" pieces of cotton fabric for the zipper tabs.