Molly's Sketchbook: A Music Bag

Besides being a Purl Bee Editor I am also a musician, more specifically a very amateur but enthusiastic cellist (and sometimes I attempt playing the violin pictured above as well). I've been playing for over 16 years and in all that time I have never found the perfect sheet music bag. Bags that are the right shape to hold the music without getting it wrinkled often have no other pockets so things like my keys and cell phone have no place to go. The ones I've found also usually have short handle so I can't carry them over my shoulder, which is important since I have to travel for an hour on the subway to get to my cello lessons.

So when I saw the adorable Yuwa musical note fabric I decided to give myself the challenge of coming up with my own perfect musical bag. The resulting bag has a lot of features I've always looked for: A separate inside pocket for the music to slide into so it won't get jostled and wrinkled, long handles, and a small inside pocket for my cell phone and keys. It's stiff and sturdy and best of all, it's pretty cute. I used the durable and natural looking Global Weave Linen Blend for the outside,  the lovely aforementioned Yuwa Musical Note fabric for the lining, and the bold Brown Sweet Grid for the accents. I love the unexpected way these three fabrics come together and I love this bag. It's going to make the subway ride to my lessons a lot more manageable!

If you'd like to make one for the musician in your life please visit my Music Bag Project Journal here. Thanks!-- Molly

Comments

[Lara]

Love it! In all my years of piano playing, I never found a good music bag either.

[Kristin]

I like this. I only play guitar right now, and don't need this but this looks like it would certainly work for take-along knitting projects as well!

[Jeannette]

Oooh! I love it!!! I'm a cellist, too.
I love your bag. I have this awkward old briefcase that I throw music, stuff, rosin, spare strings... It's crazy. LOL!

[Sara]

I've been looking for something like this! I'm a cellist too, and just toss all my stuff and music in one of those green market bags. Thanks!

[Queen of Procrastination]

Beautiful! Pretty enough to make me want to take up playing a musical instrument.

[Ottilia]

Ah, wonderful! I play cello too, and this will be perfect for me. Thank you, so much!

[Andrea]

Very stylish!! I used to play the flute and the clarinet.

[Cheryl]

Great bag! I don't play music, but I often need to carry papers and books that don't really fit in a regular brief case or bag. This would also work for sewing projects, many uses! I love the pink musical fabric!

[Natalie]

Another cellist here! I'm thrilled to see this project as I too have been on a quest for the perfect music bag to keep my music from being destroyed.
Thanks!

[Roberta]

I'm not a musician but I know one who would love this . It's a perfect birthday gift idea. Your fabric combo is great.

[Renee]

I am also a cellist (I play guitar as well) - and have run into similar problems in the past with the bag issue!! No place to put rosin, pencils, extra strings, etc (without it flying all over inside my case). I can't wait to make this bag!!

[Sarah]

I could fit my ukulele (case and all) in the main section. Excellent!

[Jodieth]

Wow, this is great! I played piano for 12 years when I was young (lessons). I never had anything like this to carry my books in. Love it. Thanks for sharing.

[knittingoutloud]

Gorgeous bag!

[badecca]

Molly, you are a genius.