A Mini Miranda Made of Boy Scout Fabrics
by admin — 36 Comments » Lazies, Let me tell you how I altered the Miranda Day Bag LGD123 pattern to make this mini sized Miranda for my friend Kim. Her son just fulfilled the requirements to make Eagle Scout and I wanted to make something special for her to bring to his ceremony.
I used Boy Scouts of America fabric from Robert Kaufman. You can see all of the fabric swatches at their website along with a few project ideas.
Smaller Size
This mini Miranda is 11″ wide x 9″ high x 4″ deep. This Miranda turned out to be slightly smaller than a Gracie Handbag LGD118. Width and depth are measured at the base of the bag. It’s about 16% smaller than the original which is 12″ x 10″ x 6″.
Recommendation
If you’d like to change the dimensions of one of my designs, I highly recommend that you make the project as written first. Then you’ll have a better idea of how all the pieces fit together and where adjustments can easily be made.
Where to adjust the pattern
These are the adjustments I made to the pattern:
– I reduced the width of the cover, lining and interfacing pieces by 3″.
– I reduced the length of the cover, lining and interfacing pieces by 2″
– I reduced the corner notches by 1″.
– I reduced the height of the cut size of the pockets by 1″ and the width by 3″.
Other changes
Instead of cutting, quilting and piecing the cover, I used a single piece for the front and one for the back. I used fusible fleece from Pellon for the batting and fused it to the cover pieces.
These are the three pieces I used for this bag.
Yardage
I started with 1/2 yard cuts of three different fabrics from this line. I wish I had purchased 3/4 yard cuts instead. I used almost all of the fabric. If I had a bit more, I would have made the straps longer and perhaps some coordinating accessories. The red flap fabric ran along the selvage edge of the green badge fabric. More of this border would have been fun.
Bag support
The size A Bag-E-Bottom just fit inside the bag. I didn’t have enough fabric for a sleeve, so I wrapped the acrylic base like a gift, securing the cut edges of the fabric on the underside using Res-Q Tape, double sided tape. I talk a little bit about Res-Q Tape in this blog post.
Where to buy this fabric
The Boy Scouts of America fabric from Kaufman seems to be in stock every where right now. Check with your local quilt shop or do a search online for ‘boy scout fabric’ to find a retailer.
Other Lazy Scout Ideas:
– PurseNickities LGD117 brick shaped zippered bag
– Wonder Wallet LGD211 without cover decoration for money, first aid kit, etc.
– Perfect Pouches LGD113 small zipped pouches and bags seem universally useful
– Sew On The Go LGD103 for a traveling sewing kit
– Summer Tote LGD122 large light weight zipped tote which folds flat
– Chelsea Tote LGD116 all purpose backpack
– Take Along Bags LGD106 zipped bag great for dopp kit, project supplies/tools
I couldn’t wait to give Kim her Scout mini Miranda and she loves it. As soon as this project was finished I wanted to immediately give it to Kim. Are you like that, too? It’s a great feeling.
Enjoy!
Joan
Fabric swatch images from Robert Kaufman.
Well Ladies, this is Kim the now owner of the Scout mini Miranda bag and I have to tell all of you that yesterday I proudly carried my new Scout bag at out annual Scout picnic.
Needless to say it was a HUGH HIT! Several of the Mom’s expressed a desire to own one and even the head Scoutmaster was impressed.
Many, many, thanks to the creator designer and MY FRIEND, Joan.
My life would be totally different if I had not met and befriended her!
She is one of a kind!
KIM
Joan, love your creative heart and spirit. Susie
What a nice gift to give someone.
Lesley
http://www.pillowcasegram.com
Wonderful bag! Thanks so much for the smaller size directions for us math challenged peoples. I am horrible about gifts to, I have the hardest time at Christmas. I am sure she loved the bag and thank you for sharing with us.
Penny D
http://www.cottonvault.com
When I find time this winter to make the Miranda I’m going to be needing this entry in your blog. 🙂 It is so cute and I love the smaller size.
Great job as always,
Susie in northern NY
Thanks for the awesome update on such a great pattern. Lovely bag!
What a great idea. I love making bags and this one will be definitely be fun to do.
Thanks for the new dimesions! I love having size options for patterns. Oh, and I love your boy scout Miranda, the fabric is so unique!
Love this bag! What a perfect gift idea! Thanks for the cut-down directions. I’ve just started making a few bags of my own and you have given my wonderful ideas for gifts. Keep up the great ideas.
Joan, Thanks for posting this. I reduced the first Miranda I did and it came out just the right size for me ~ but for the life of me, I don’t know where I wrote down the changes I made.
I made the big Miranda & love it. I will make a smaller version too. What a wonderful idea.
Great Bag
What a thoughtful gift. I bet both the Mom and son loved it. Its all about bonding. I myself this summer have made 7 Sassy bags for friends, each with a theme fabric that reminded me of them. Hubby got one he wears with a golf motif, his is on a shorter strap that he wears around his neck. I have added a loop just under the flap (inside) for a set of keys. On another I added the loop to the outside, just to drop inside the large outer pocket. Thanks so much Lazies, I cannot ever be bored with all the fabrics and changes we all make to personalize these great bags!
Dotti
WOW, love the scout bag! our son is also an eagle scout and this is a great way to “show it off.” The scout “Moms” also get “pins” because they are usually the ones that help their sons get their awards…..so the miranda bag would be a great place to pin the awards! I think I have about 15 little metal pins! 🙂
from a proud eagle scout “mom!”
Joan you never cease to amaze me! You have come thru again for the wonderful Mom’s of these fine young men! I’m printing out these instructions and am going to keep it with my Miranda Bag instructions!
Your products are so versatile, it is HARD to find a designer like that any more. You are a TREASURE to our Quilting & Sewing Community!
Thanks again for the work, it really is appreciated!
Kim
grazie Joan per le tue meraviglie.
Giovanna (Switzerland)
Just ordered the boy scout fabric today…love the bag! We have sold tons of the Miranda Bag
Keep up the great work
K
This is absolutely adorable! And your hints and tips are so helpful. I’m sure Kim will treasure it.
I love your patterns and your work is excellent. I looked myself, but I couldn’t find if you ever told what type of interfacing, stablizer that you use. Wondered if you would share?
Hi Michelle,
I used Decor Bond from Pellon. Any mid to heavy weight fusible interfacing should work fine.
Thank you for the lovely compliments of my work. It means a great deal to me.
Best,
Joan
nice if my brother een this he would flip out he was in the boy scouts for 10 years, he got his egal badge too. Good job on the design looks very professional
My scout is now in the LAPD! But i do love the bag.
Personal theme sewing is so much fun!
And like you, Joan I cannot wait to give my handmade gifts. I love to see the joy and pleasuree in my friend’s eyes.
Nice work, lovely gift.
Love your blog and your products.
Hi Joan,
Thank you for the comment on my blog – you totally made my day!!
The next bag I plan to make is this mini miranda, but in girly colors. I love it!
Cindy
I found I just ‘had to have Miranda pattern’ and it arrived on Friday
It has not yet been made up but I did finish a tote as a gift to someone who is into Marine biology and it was a cheater sheet of dolphins. Did one side with a mock trapunto and the other (by luck) with diagonal lines going in the direction that the dolphins are swimming.
But when I came to put the handle on I had the choice of wood and the need to have a button or four to use to sew them on, or a blue plastic. I finally remembered your little joining strips and found some navy grain ribbon/tape and made my four tabs and was so proud of the professional look.
So thank you again for your wonderful lessons.
I have not yet taken photos for my blog………but will…..
Hello!
Please do not worry about my previous question… I figured out how to make a smaller miranda… woohoo!! I just posted it on my blog this morning.
Thanks again for your wonderful patterns and inspiration.
Cindy
Thank you for sharing the smaller version. I just finished a Miranda for my daughter…. the pattern instructions were wonderful!
nancy
I love this mini Miranda. Thanks Joan for the directions and dimension. Susan M
Wow! that’s great. Maybe I need to make one out of Marine fabric now that I’m son has joined. That’s a good idea. He’d love to see me support him like that.
My fabric has arrived and I am off to by the decor fusible. My question is, do you put fuse it on the exterior and on the lining?
thanks your designs Rock!!
Hi Sharon,
I followed the rest of the pattern as written. I did use fusible interfacing on both the lining and the cover/batting. However, you could skip the interfacing on one of those and the bag should still have good stand-up-ability.
Have fun!
Joan
Nice job! Could one, theoretically, draw the pattern our to be one single piece from edge to edge, that is, with the bottom piece being the middle? The ‘revised’ size sounds great.
On the mini Miranda did you reduce the measurments of the fabric blocks for the cover ?
– – – – –
Hi Anita,
I didn’t use blocks on my mini Miranda. I cut one large piece for the front and one for the back. I didn’t do calculations for making the smaller blocks and piecing the cover.
Joan
Hi, Joan, eye do not have the pattern of your Miranda Bag yet, but eye do like the way it looks and all of those pockets, eye can!!! use them, (question) r u planning on making a DVD and, or do a project of this bag on Kaye’s TV show?. thank u and keep up the good work!!!.
Kaufman has now come out with Girl Scout fabric. As a Troop Leader, I will be making quite a few lazies from that line. I escpecial love the cookies – what great advertisement during cookei season!
Do you sell these? I have been looking on the site and I am very interested in this bag. I may have just overlooked it somewhere, I’m sorry,
How do I get one
Great Article. commentary – I was fascinated by the insight – Does anyone know if I might get a blank Eagle Scout Service Project Worksheet – Boy Scouts of America document to fill out ?