Hindsight Superbloom

Hindsight Superbloom main body - in process
Hindsight Superbloom main body – in process

I finally started the Hindsight Superbloom. This is a project that has been on my list for a long time. I was excited to make this version at the time I made the first Superbloom. Somehow I lost momentum,  but recently I was inspired to pull out the fabric and the pattern and get busy.

Yes, I remembered to put my label on the bag before I started to assemble it! I am happy about that.

Hindsight Superbloom in process with handles
Hindsight Superbloom in process with handles

I had a little trouble with the handles as I was using webbing instead of making them from fabric. I eventually got them on the bag. UGH! I know why the process had to go the way it did, but I found it difficult.

I am always surprised at the size of this bag. It is quite roomy, but I always think it is bigger than it actually is.

So far, I am l loving the process. Those side pockets are awesome.

Finished: Walker Bag

Mom's Walker Bag- finished
Mom’s Walker Bag- finished

I didn’t think I would have to make another walker bag after I made the one for Friend Julie back in 2017.

Well, I did. Mom said she wouldn’t be using the walker long enough to warrant me making a bag for it. I waited about 2 weeks before making it, but finally made one the other night. She loves it and finds it very useful. I have to keep reminding her not to fill it up too much. She is limited to carrying 5lbs per hand.

I remember thinking the directions were confusing at the time. I made the same mistake this time that I made before: I sewed the Velcro inside the pocket. DUH! I hope the photos I added will help with that.

This time, I took the time to make some edits and add in some photos for next time. I hope I won’t have to use those directions again, but I am planning for the worst and hoping for the best.

Gift Post: Tim’s Project Bag

Tim's Project Bag
Tim’s Project Bag

I know it seems like Christmas is lasting forever on the blog. I made quite a few gifts, but it is also taking some time to post about them all.

Tim admired all the project bags I made last year, so I decided to make him one from Christmas.

I don’t have a lot of dark greens and thought these bright greens would be too much, but he loved the bag and said that he loves all greens.

I am super happy with the way this came out and will make one for myself next. Well, maybe not the next project, but the next time I make a project bag. 😉

Gift Post: Cal Atlas Zipper Case

Cal Atlas pouch - closed
Cal Atlas pouch – closed

Another project I finished for the holidays was a second Atlas Zipper Case. This one went to SIL#2. She is a Cal (UC Berkeley) alumna so the fabric was appropriate.

As mentioned, the pattern is from Center Street Quilts. The second one went more quickly and came out really well. This is a really good pattern. I want to make more of them.

I didn’t have quite enough of the Cal fabric. I bought 5 yards several years ago and I am down to scraps after this project. I found some yellows and blues that matched the Cal fabric colors perfectly. I went looking for more of this fabric, but aside from Spoonflower options, this particular print is nowhere to be found.

Cal Atlas pouch - open
Cal Atlas pouch – open

This pattern requires quilting, as do many of the Center Street Quilts bag patterns. I learned a lot by quilting the other Atlas and applied this knowledge to this bag. As you can see, I only quilted it intensely in a few places, not all over the whole piece. That technique made it a lot more doable. I like very dense quilting for bags, as you know, so I really had to restrain myself.

Cal Atlas pouch - right
Cal Atlas pouch – right

I thought about making the privacy pocket (lower right) with vinyl instead, but ended up fussy cutting some of the Cal fabric and keeping it as indicated in the pattern for private items.

The interior fabric on the top vinyl pocket is an older AGF fabric and it is just a little off of the Cal yellow. I like it as an addition so the whole bag too matchy-matchy.

Cal Atlas pouch - left
Cal Atlas pouch – left

I think the most useful pocket will be the large vinyl pocket. It has a lot of space for various items.

There are also slip pockets underneath all the pockets described, so flat items can be safely placed there.

I did shorten the tail of the zipper. I had a longer piece than required and thought it would be fine, but it was really too long.

All in all, this is a great project.

Lindsay’s Backpack

Lindsay's Backpack
Lindsay’s Backpack

Lindsay texted me with photos of a backpack she made.

This is the Archie Backpack by Knot & Thread. I made a pouch from one their patterns.

She made it as a test before she makes one with some of her precious fabric. One of her friends gave her the fabric and supplies for both backpacks.

Archie Backpack - interior
Archie Backpack – interior

I love it when people make bags so I was thrilled to see this effort.

It looks like a really useful bag. I have the Marlin Backpack pattern from Sew Sweetness and it looks similar. I haven’t made it yet, so I am having a hard time answering a couple of Lindsay’s questions.

She said the seams are rolling and I am not quite sure if that is a function of the pattern, or the fact that it is a backpack or if it is the way the seams are finished.

Archie backpack - back, straps
Archie backpack – back, straps

From these angles, the bag looks really great. I hope I get to see it in person.

All the Drawstring Bags

Sometimes I feel like I need to review how many of a certain pattern I have made. I think I have made enough Lined Drawstring Bags to do that now. I also feel like I’d like to see all of them together.

This is a good pattern that can also be used for gift bags. They take more time and fabric than my tutorial, but are more useful as well. I’d like to start making a bag for each quilt I give away, but I haven’t done that yet.

I was certain I had made more, but I think I always think that!

Gift Post: Gerre’s Enigma Bag

Skeleton Mermaid Enigma Bag
Skeleton Mermaid Enigma Bag

While I was making my sister’s Enigma bag back in July, I also made one for Gerre for Christmas. This is Enigma #6.

Skeleton Mermaid Enigma - bottom
Skeleton Mermaid Enigma – bottom

I didn’t use my ‘regular’ sugar skull fabric for this one. I used a fabric I bought on my trip to and around Portland and I can’t decide if I like it. The key is whether Gerre likes it.  I thought the seahorses and some of the ocean life were cool, but the skeletons started to creep me out after awhile. If she feels the same, I will make another one of these for her. I’ll have to see what she says. 

I am pleased with the fussy cutting on the bottom. I didn’t have a lot of the fabric and was glad I had enough to highlight the main motif.

Skeleton Mermaid Enigma open
Skeleton Mermaid Enigma open

I am also pleased with the way the inside came out. The stripes I bought at the Granary are perfect for the inside.

The pattern calls for a 2.5 inch wide binding. I made the binding 2.25 inches wide, which is my norm for quilting binding. I had to stretch the binding a bit in certain places and trim seams, but mostly the 2.25 inch binding worked well.

Skeleton Mermaid Enigma - interior detail
Skeleton Mermaid Enigma – interior detail

I figured out a great place to put my label on these Enigma bags. The label fits well in the middle of the inside pocket. The label isn’t tucked away unobtrusively and I am not sure how I feel about that.  I am not sure why I didn’t think of it before as it was also easy to install.

As with my sister’s Enigma bag, this one went together pretty easily. I like making the same bags over and over as they get better each time I do it.

Gift Post: Atlas Zipper Case

Paris Atlas Zipper Case
Paris Atlas Zipper Case

I finished the Atlas Zipper Case right before Thanksgiving. Of course, I couldn’t talk about it before now  because I wanted to be a surprise. Even this is a little early!

I am super pleased with the way it came out. I hope my Lil Sissy likes it, too. She shared the original IG video about the pouch (portfolio) with me.

I didn’t find the project to be very difficult even though I struggled to get started. Cutting is always a hassle. I always want to get straight to sewing.

For this piece, I used a piece of the Paris fabric I have been using to make gifts for my sister. The fussy cutting, after I quilted it, came out really well. I used my 20.5 inch x 20.5 inch Creative Grids ruler**. That ruler is really big and a bit unwieldy on my small cutting table, but I wanted to be able to see the whole piece and trim exactly. It worked really well except for pushing my entire scrap bin onto the floor in the process! LOL! The Eiffel Tower is perfectly placed on the front.

Paris Atlas Zipper Case - back
Paris Atlas Zipper Case – back

The bicycle on the back looks good, too. I haven’t ever asked my sister if she likes this fabric. I hope so as I just bought more of that yardage. I feel like I was lucky to find some as is isn’t new.

I forgot to sew the label on before I added the inside pockets, so I hand stitched it later.

The portfolio has a zipper that goes all the way around, so the bag is completely closed when it is zipped.

Atlas Zipper Case Open
Atlas Zipper Case Open

It has smallish, but useful pockets to keep some of your tools, or, possibly, project pieces organized.

There is also space for flat items, like a 6.5 x 6.5 ruler** under the pockets.

Atlas Zipper Case -open, right
Atlas Zipper Case -open, right

I am on the fence about the fabric pocket on the lower right. All of the other pockets are vinyl. I like seeing what I have available, but I guess you could use that pocket for things you didn’t want everyone to see. Credit cards or your driver’s license? I don’t know. I keep those things in one place so I always know where they are. If I make this again, I might make it into another vinyl pocket.

Atlas Zipper Case -open, left
Atlas Zipper Case -open, left

The left side has a larger pocket completely made from vinyl. This is a really useful pocket.

I really like this project and am looking for ways to make more.

 

 

 

 

 

**N. B. : Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and support small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.

Improving the Atlas Zipper

I didn’t really understand the directions for curving the zipper at the top of the Atlas Zipper Case pattern. My first one came out a little weird looking. There is a weird lump in the curve on the top. Underneath the end sticks out a little bit. None of this is fatal, but I wanted to do better on the second one.

Zipper tape at 90 degrees
Zipper tape at 90 degrees

I decided to make a triangle out of the end of the zipper. It makes a neat end with no lumps or bumps. I sewed the end down in the triangle, like in the photo (from another project). This keeps the end of the zipper in place, so I wouldn’t have to worry about it moving. As a bonus, I was able to create a nice curve as well.

Atlas zipper - better ending
Atlas zipper – better ending

The zipper on the Cal Atlas came out much better than on the Paris Atlas. There are no lumps and the curve is much flatter. In the future, I’ll do that to finish the zipper ends.

I recommend this method for crating zipper ends in the right circumstances. If you have a zipper tab, then you don’t need to do this. This is a great finish if the end of the zipper will be exposed for whatever reason.

 

Gift Post: Lined Drawstring Moon Bag

Lined Drawstring Bag for Julie
Lined Drawstring Bag for Julie

I made a Lined drawstring bag for Friend Julie for her birthday. It is a different look to all the other gifts I have made her.

She likes moon and stars themes, so when I saw this fabric at Kruusn, I knew I had to buy it and make for a gift for her.

She likes that green paired with orange, too, but I didn’t want to go crazy.

Time to Make Gift Bags

It is once again time to make gift bags. Obviously, Christmas is coming and these types of gift bags make wrapping a breeze. I know many of you don’t celebrate Christmas. These bags are great for any holiday including birthdays, anniversaries, saints days, Hannukah and any other you can think up. I use them for most birthdays. There is always more fabric, after all.

The great thing about these bags is that they are reusable. The other great thing is that you can use ANY fabric; it doesn’t have to be quilting cotton. I have made some gorgeous bags from upholstery fabric I got from FabMo.

Supplies:

  • Fabric – I use either a half yard, a yard or a fat quarter. If you use a yard you can make 4 smallish bags, two medium bags or one large bag. You can make bags with any size piece of fabric and you can make a specially sized bag for a special gift. I once made a gift bag for a weed whacker!
  • thread
  • ribbon- I often save ribbon from packages and other gifts and reuse it for gift bags.
  • Sewing machine
  • basic sewing kit

For this tutorial, we will use a fat quarter of fabric

1. If your fat quarter does not have a selvedge, create a hem using two folds so there are no raw edges. If your fat quarter has a selvedge, use the selvedge for the top. It won’t unravel.

2. Press hem in place.

3. Sew hem with a decorative stitch, if you have it, a zigzag or straight stitch work fine as well.

Optional: you can use embroidery to liven up or personalize the front of the bag.

Optional: If you have stitch letters on your sewing machine, stitch your name and the year so you know when you made the bag.

4. Fold hemmed bag in half WRONG SIDES TOGETHER so that half of the hem is underneath itself towards the top and the fold is on the left. You will be making a French seam.

5. Fold a piece of ribbon about 1.5 feet long in half. You can adjust the size of ribbon you use depending on how much ribbon you need to make a nice bow when you tie.

6. Place the folded ribbon in the open side of the bag about 4″ from the top edge/hem.

7. Pin ribbon in place.

8. Pin rest of the right side and bottom closed.

Use an 1/8″ seam allowance.

Sew first seam on gift bag
Sew first seam on gift bag

9. Starting from the top, sew down the right side, backstitching at the beginning and over the ribbon, 2-3 times. You want to backstitch at stress points to keep the bag from ripping apart.

10. Turn at the corner and continue across the bottom, backstitching at the end.

Optional: round the corner. It makes sewing and turning easier.

11. Turn the bag inside out, so the right sides are together and the ribbon is out of the way of the seam (It will be inside the bag, but I put mine as straight as possible towards the opposite side of the bag.

12. Press seams, taking care to push them as far out as possible so there is no extra fabric folded near the seams.

Use a 1/2″ or 5/8″ seam allowance.

Finish French Seam
Finish French Seam

13. Starting at the top, sew down the side and across the bottom again to finish the seam.

14. Open bag to make sure the raw edge is completely hidden inside the seam.

15. Turn bag inside out and press.

Voila! Your bag is really to use!

Many people ask about labels. I punch a hole in a gift tag and thread the ribbon through it. You can also buy basic tags with strings** or gift tags** and use those or stick a sticker onto the bag. I would recommend reusing gift tags. We do that, too.

Benefits:

  • reusable
  • reduces garbage
  • good way to use fabric you might not use for quilts
    • Novelty fabrics
    • fabric you don’t love anymore
    • Use fabric you already own
    • orphan blocks
    • vintage sheets
    • Any fabric is suitable including velvet, brocade, knits, etc
  • provides you with the opportunity to buy holiday fabric without committing to making a holiday (or birthday) quilt
  • quick method for wrapping
  • If you track fabric usage, this a good way to use fabric quickly
  • no need to rush out to buy gift wrap
  • no tape or scissors needed
  • small children can help wrap, or wrap their own gifts
  • Fabric costs can be amortized over the years of the gift bag use 😉
  • bags are made quickly
  • hems provide a good opportunity to try out decorative stitches
  • can quickly make a gift bag for an oddly shaped gift, such as the weed whacker I mentioned
  • odd sized bags can be cut up later and used for different sized gifts
  • I reuse ribbon I get from other places for the ties
  • Easy to open and close the gift bag up again if the gift tag falls off
  • Embellishment possibilities are endless, if you want to take the time. Gift bags are a great way to try out different techniques, stitches, embroidery. embellishments or use orphan blocks
Blue Flower gift bag
Blue Flower gift bag

Drawbacks:

  • takes time to develop a stockpile
  • reusable gift bags have to be stored
  • fabric costs are not insignificant
  • You don’t get beautiful mounds of boxed gifts under your tree

Any gift bags you make will add to your stockpile. You can use leaders and enders to make them, which means that your regular sewing isn’t interrupted much .

Resources:

 

 

 

 

**N. B. : Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.

Stella Swap Pouch

Yesterday was the guild’s Holiday Extravaganza. SIL#2 organized a pouch swap. I didn’t participate in the last swap, which featured potholders.  I am not a fan of potholders, so I didn’t want to bother. There were plenty without me.  However, I want to encourage people to make bags, and I like making pouches, so I planned from the beginning to participate in this latest swap.

Swap Stella pouch
Swap Stella pouch

After seeing the Center Street Quilts video on IG showing the making of a half vinyl pouch, I decided to try and make one for the swap. I thought I could probably make the pouch after watching the video, but decided to buy the pattern, the Stella Pouch from Center Street Quilts just to make the process a bit easier.

I looked for more specific directions on the Flying Geese and the vinyl, but didn’t find any. Even with the pattern, I still had plenty of figuring out to do. It wasn’t a problem. I knew I could figure it all out. That is one reason I enjoy making bags. There is always something to figure out.

I think I forgot to trim the height, so the pouch is bigger than the pattern states. Still, I think it will be useful. Small project bag?

Swap Stella pouch - back/vinyl
Swap Stella pouch – back/vinyl

I am pretty happy with the way the pouch came out. I am getting more practice with binding the inside edges and I was thrilled to get more practice on the zipper tab technique I talked about a week or so ago. I have big plans to make a bunch of these, but we will see.

Finished: Grab & Go Sleeve

Grab & Go Sleeve for Mom
Grab & Go Sleeve for Mom

I finished the Grab & Go Sleeve very quickly and sent it straight off to my mom so she could use it right away.

Both sides essentially look the same. The only difference is that I put a label on only one side of the exterior.

I also used some ‘webbing’ that Cyndi made me take from one of the Sew Day Free Table offerings. The webbing is made out of cotton rather than plastic, like the Tula Pink webbing I used for a couple of the Take a Stand bags.

Grab & Go Sleeve interior
Grab & Go Sleeve interior

Since this is for my mom, I dug out the Laurel Burch fabric I used for her Mustang Organizers and used that for the lining.

She received it on Wednesday and said that it fits her portfolio perfectly. She said she really liked it, which makes me happy.

If I can think of things for which to use these bags I’ll make more as they are a quick bag to make, especially if you use pre-made webbing for the handles.

Atlas Zipper Case Start

My Sister has taken to sending me Instagram videos. One of them showed a new Pattern by Center Street Quilts,  the Atlas Zipper Case. It is a portfolio like case that can be used for tools or small projects.

I was on the fence about another new pattern until I visited with Mary. She had bought and printed out the pattern. I was able to look through it. I decided that the pattern would be a good gift.

Atlas Zipper Case start
Atlas Zipper Case start

I started right away, but struggled to get past cutting. I was dreading the quilting part until a friend mentioned MistyFuse. I used MistyFuse to fuse the lining to the foam so I could quilt it. I never tried it before, but it adhered the fabric to the foam really well.

I haven’t tried quilting it yet but my fingers  are crossed that it will help keep the pieces flat.

Grab & Go Sleeve

Grab & Go Sleeve -exterior side
Grab & Go Sleeve -exterior side

The Grab & Go Sleeve is a project from Minikins Season 1. Honestly, it is one I never thought I would make. I have at least two laptop bags, so I really don’t need anything else. Also, there is nowhere in the bag for the mouse or the cord.

However, it is a good bag for other things like files and notepads. My mom has a portfolio she is using to take notes during a series of appointments she has. She is using the project bag I made her to carry around her portfolio. It doesn’t really fit very well.

This project immediately occurred to me once I saw what was happening. I am not sure why as I really never thought about this bag before.

This project serves a second purpose as well. I want to make the Heartlands Backpack. It is a ‘choose your own adventure’ bag. The Grab & Go Sleeve is a lighter version of a ‘choose your own adventure’ bag. It has only a few pieces and not many options. I wanted to try an easy ‘choose your own adventure’ bag before I started the Heartlands.

Grab & Go Sleeve- lining with pockets
Grab & Go Sleeve- lining with pockets

I decided to add some mesh pockets to the inside to provide a bit of organization.

I also added a D-ring (but rectangular) so she can clips things to the bag if she needs to do so.