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Noodlehead Sewing Patterns

Noodlehead Sewing Patterns

Noodlehead is Anna Graham, working from western Wisconsin and designing bags rather than clothes. That focus is the point: totes, backpacks, pouches, slings, wallets and baskets, designed as things you'll actually carry rather than as craft projects. The patterns are known for clean, functional shapes and for instructions clear enough that a first bag comes out looking like a bag.
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Bag patterns are a category where the quality of the instructions matters more than almost anywhere else. A garment that goes slightly wrong can often be eased or pressed into shape; a bag with a badly drafted gusset or a vague instruction about where the strap attaches simply doesn't work. Noodlehead has built its reputation on getting that right, and it's why the patterns turn up in so many sewists' recommendations.

What the patterns are like

The design signature is modern and functional, with clean lines and the sort of practical details that come from actually using a bag: pockets where you need them, straps that sit properly, closures that make sense. Anna Graham came to this from a background in art and graphic design, and it shows in the illustrations as much as in the products.

One thing to know before your first Noodlehead pattern: many of the pieces are cut as measured rectangles rather than from printed templates. Rather than printing and taping a full sheet of pattern pieces, you measure and mark straight onto the fabric with a ruler and rotary cutter for the simple shapes, and use printed templates only for the curved and shaped pieces. It's faster once you're used to it and it saves a lot of paper, though it does mean accurate measuring matters more than usual.

Instructions are illustrated with clear line drawings rather than photographs, measurements are given in inches with metric alongside, and each pattern states a skill level. There are free video tutorials and sew-alongs on the Noodlehead site, plus an errata page worth checking before you start.

Fabric and hardware

Most of these patterns want something with body: cotton canvas, waxed canvas, denim or a quilting cotton with fusible interfacing or foam behind it. Our canvas fabrics and water resistant canvas collections are both good starting points, and a water resistant finish is worth considering for anything that will live outdoors. Check the pattern's requirements list for hardware as well as fabric, since bags need zips, rings, sliders, webbing or rivets that are easy to overlook when you're buying cloth.

What we're stocking at the moment

We carry a selection across the range, covering tote bags in several sizes, a backpack, a belt bag, pouches and wristlets, a messenger bag and a fabric basket. The grid above is the definitive list of what's in stock today.

Does Noodlehead make clothing patterns?

No. The range is bags and accessories throughout: totes, backpacks, pouches, wallets, slings, belt bags, messenger bags and baskets, with the occasional quilt or homeware pattern. If you're after garment patterns you'll want a different designer, but for bags this focus is exactly why the patterns are as well developed as they are.

Why don't Noodlehead patterns have full pattern pieces?

Many of the pieces are simple rectangles, and rather than printing them as templates the instructions give you the measurements to mark straight onto the fabric with a ruler and rotary cutter. Printed templates are supplied for the curved and shaped pieces. It saves a lot of printing and taping, and it's quicker once you're used to it, but accurate measuring matters more than with a conventional pattern.

Are Noodlehead patterns suitable for beginners?

Several are, and each pattern states a skill level so you can pick appropriately. Bags are in some ways easier than garments, since there's no fitting involved, but they do involve topstitching, working through several layers and fitting hardware. Starting with a pouch or a simple tote before attempting a backpack is the sensible route.

What fabric should I use for a Noodlehead bag?

Something with body. Cotton canvas, waxed canvas and denim all work well, as does quilting cotton if you back it with fusible interfacing or foam to give it structure. The pattern will state what it's been designed around, and it's worth following that, since a bag drafted for a stiff canvas will slump if made in something soft. A water resistant canvas is worth considering for outdoor use.

Do I need special hardware?

Usually yes, and it's the thing most often forgotten at the point of buying fabric. Depending on the pattern you may need zips, D-rings, rectangle rings, sliders, webbing, magnetic snaps or rivets. The requirements are listed on the pattern, so check them before you order so everything arrives together rather than holding the project up halfway through.

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