I finished Ends n.25 a few weeks ago. I just handed it in and made time to post about it.
The background doesn’t provide the required contrast to make the oranges and yellows stand out. They don’t, however, blend together either.
This is a great example of what is fun about making donation quilts. I can play around with fabric combinations that I wouldn’t otherwise consider for my own work. I guess making backing is a little of the same.
Ends n.24 back
The back, like the back for Ends n.24, uses some old solids that have been around since the dark ages.
I promise not to show every single one of these that I make. I am just so tickled that the directions from an IG video actually work!
The aspect I worked on in this version was making sure the lining wasn’t saggy baggy.
Bag sewn
I am pretty pleased with the way it came out. I veered to a 3/8 inch seam allowance when I sewed the lining part of the bag together and used a 1/4 inch seam allowance for the exterior. This all happens before the bag is turned right side out. The picture of the inside of the bag shows the different seam allowances! (enlarge the photo). The trick is to veer smoothly. Don’t abruptly change the seam allowance, though it might not matter if one stopped, then restarted. I think veering is better, though. I may have to try the stopping and starting.
I am thinking about adding a pocket. I’ll have to think about how that would work.
There is no acrylic template for the rainbow block included in the Chaos with a Twist template set. Libs has repurposed these templates from other patterns, Bloem and La Fin Du Monde. It is great that the same templates can be used for all patterns, but I would really like that rainbow block template.
I have placed True Grips** on the back of my templates as it keeps them from sliding around. You can see them through the bright green. My paper Rainbow template is in the upper right hand corner. I made using the tried and true paper and template plastic** method. Not ideal, but it will work.
Testing the Clammy for Chaos
Before I put the Rainbow arch template together, I tried different specialty rulers to see if one of them would work.
The Clammy (left) is the wrong shape for this quilt. I tried to use it for the Orange Peel block and it is just too small. As a result, it won’t work for the Rainbow block, either.
JCB Options
I also pulled out my Jen Carlton Bailly templates from the class in 2019. One of the blocks she shows was a Rainbow block. It might not be the exact right shape, but if I do them all the same, it should work.
Looking at the photo I took, it may also work to make a regular quarter circle then use the background template to make the Rainbow. I am going to try this and see what happens.
Almost as soon as I finished Ends n.24, I started Ends n.25 using the same background fabric. I got the background fabric for free somewhere and never used it, so here we are.
You can see that there is a shortage on the bottom right so I’ll have to add something in there.
I am still working through the edges of the back of Orange You Glad, which make up the color in this quilt. I have a few other red and orange edges that I added in, some still hanging around from the back of the Lobster table runner.
The good news is that I have used just over 50 yards of fabric *NET*! this year. Of course, that may change. I am happy that I am a month ahead of schedule.
I still have UFOs. Who doesn’t, after all? A project in the ‘UFO’ category means I am stalled, it hasn’t been worked on in awhile or it is waiting its turn to be worked on. The list is a lot shorter and the projects are newer, for the most part.
I am close to having enough of the green blocks to make another Sidewalk quilt. I am still collecting grey, black and red 16 patch blocks for a QST quilt.
I have slowed down on making the white strip blocks, but will get back to it.
I talked about making the Zip It Up folio from ByAnnie. When I looked up the pattern, I found that it is now called the Zip It Up 2.0**. Even from the picture I can see the differences. I may buy the new pattern, but I may just make the other two from the pattern Mary loaned me. The new version looks super useful as well.
Did you buy one of those 3 tiered craft carts when all the popular quilt girls were buying them and showing them off on IG? If you did and you want to make it even more useful, check out the Cart Pocket Project Bag from Creamcraft Goods. It’s a really fun and useful idea.
If you need art supplies, go to California Art Supply in San Mateo. They are a small, local business with fresh stock. I take my mom there as a treat when she is with me. They sent me a link: https://tapgo.to/x0uRc3. If you use the link to set up a rewards account, then I earn a credit. I am not an affiliate, but I really like this company and don’t have enough need of art supplies to keep them in business on my own.
There is a new fabric design house. Thread and Ink is set up by former Creative Director of Dashwood, David Sweet. He has a new business partner, Bai Chauhan. They make contemporary, high quality fabrics in beautifully designed collections, according to Love of Quilting magazine.
The new fabric line by Guicy Guice, Hue, is awesome. I especially like the color wheel print. I went to Free Spirit to look at the whole line and found it has a very small number of prints. I’d like to see a number of the prints in multiple colors. I suppose that wasn’t the vision of the artist or the number crunchers didn’t justify it from a business perspective.
I was very tempted to buy some Sugar Skull vinyl from Sew Hungry Hippie. I resisted, but I have an idea for a project so I may not be able to resist for long.
Daylight Company has a Duo Neck Go light. It is described as “mall but powerful neck light with dual adjustable head lights for balanced, targeted illumination. Switch between floodlight for wider coverage and spotlight for detailed tasks, with 3 color temperatures – Daylight, Warm Light, and Cool Light – and stepless dimming that remembers your last used setting.” It might be just the light you need for evening sewing. I like the small size of the product.
The trays this company makes are beautiful and so affordable! Yes, they are sold out at the moment, but keep your eye on this page. So much better than plastic.
Make Modern is apparently ending its run. I haven’t read this magazine, but have started to see ads for it on Instagram. Issue 70 had an interesting teaser for the Mindalin Project Bag, a fun tool tote that might be a great gift. So, I went to look at buying the issue. The issue costs US $11.95 (AUD $14.95) . They also have an All Access Bundle which includes all issues, patterns, everything for US $99. I can’t quite tell how many bag patterns they have as part of the bundle.
Bonnie Hunter pointed out something called the Trim Lock. The website describes these tools as “Meet the Trim-Lock, a revolutionary cutting and trimming tool sure to make your life easier. The magic happens when you apply pressure to the handle, which engages the grippy material on the base of the Trim-Lock on your fabric, keeping your fabric in place so you can cut, and spin, your fabric without having to readjust your template for every cut.”
There was some discussion in a ByAnnie group about her zippers. In case you didn’t know they are size 4.5 not size 5, so changing out the pulls doesn’t really work. I saw that Wawak (no affiliation) has a variety of size 4.5 zippers.
Check out the Maker’s Club from Sew Hungry Hippie. It is a bag of the month club and comes with the pattern and all the supplies (you still need your machine and BSK). I like the idea of this club and I would make some of the bags, but I have so many patterns and supplies that I need to use some up.
Exhibits and Organizations
The German Patchworktage were held in Suhl starting on the 14 May. I’ll have to put this event on my calendar to attend one year.
Quilt Canada 2026 will be held in Winnipeg, Manitoba at the RBC Convention Center June 17-20. Check out workshops, lectures, tours and other events. The 2027 show will be held in Calgary June 16-19, 2027.
Star of Hearts from Baltimore Beauties and Beyond v.1
Very sad news. Elly Sienkiewicz died earlier this month. You may not recognize the name, but she was one of the quiltmakers I ‘grew up’ with when learning to make quilts. She was known for reviving the Baltimore Album style. She taught and wrote books and researched! I really admired her research into the style and the history of the style. I was fortunate to take a class from her at Thimble Creek in Walnut Creek, a store that doesn’t exist in brick and mortar. 🙁 Needle turn applique didn’t take for me, but I have a couple of blocks to prove I took the the class. You can read about her amazing life in her obituary.
Check out the Great American Birthday Quilt. I am sad I didn’t hear about this sooner. I would have contributed a block. This is one reason I am sad that Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine no longer exists. I wonder where this was mentioned?
Every time I enter a tracking number into the UPS site, I get an error. I can never tell where my fabric and supplies are. First World problem, I know, but irritating. Any solutions?
This is a tutorial for a Mini One Handle Tote. I saw a quick IG video and decided to try and make one.
I am definitely not trying to steal anyone’s intellectual property. I was not able to find a pattern shop with this pattern, so am writing this tutorial to help myself remember how to make this bag. I also want you to be able to make the bag. I highly recommend you follow Kotobukisewing on Instagram, take a look at Kotobukisewing’s reel on making this project. Also, visit their YouTube Channel for their various other pattern instructions including garment patterns. I also found a video from Mokochocko_sewing for the same type of bag, but the directions are different. Their bag is more of a bottle bag. Check this video out as well. If I find a pattern to purchase for this bag, I will update this post to include the information.
Note: the original video uses metric measurements, which I have converted. The original measurement was 27.5 x 11, but I have been making them using 28 x 11, because the cutting is easier when folded in half. The half inch doesn’t seem to make a difference in the sewing or functioning of the bag.
Note 2: cutting is easier for me if I fold the fabric in half and then cut pieces 14 x 11 inches, but I have a very small cutting table.
Press interfacing according to the manufacturer’s directions on to both the exterior and lining pieces.
Note: I leave space around the edge, in the seam allowance with no interfacing to reduce bulk.
Make Your Handle Template
Take your piece of card stock/heavy paper and place it vertically on the table in front of you.
Measure 2 inches from the bottom right hand corner up the right side and make a dot.
Measure 2 inches from the bottom right hand corner along the bottom to the left.
Draw a curved line from the dot on the right hand side to the dot on the bottom.
Using your paper scissors, cut along the curve on the card stock smoothly. This will now be called your “handle template”.
Cut Out Your Handle from Fabric
Place your interfaced fabrics right sides together.
Fold the fabrics in half with the fold at the top.
Using Wonder Clips, clip along the straight sides and the bottom. Do not clip the top left and top right sides.
Place handle template on left
Place your handle template in the upper left hand corner so the top edge of the handle template is even with the fold and the left hand side of the handle template is even with the left hand side of the fabric. The curve will be facing the center.
Draw a line from the top along the curve to the left. You are drawing on the interfacing, which is attached to the wrong side of the fabric.
Flip your template over to the right. You are still positioning the template along the fold.
Place handle template on right
Place your card in the upper right hand corner so the top edge is along the fold and the right hand side of the card is even with the right hand side of the fabric. The curve will be facing the center.
Draw a line from the top along the curve to the right. You are drawing on the interfacing, which is attached to the wrong side of the fabric.
Handles drawnFabrics clipped
Using Wonder Clips, clip the edges you have not yet clipped, staying away from the lines.
Cut the handles
Using your fabric scissors, cut along both curved lines through four layers of fabric and one layer of SF101 (2 exterior, 2 lining and interfacing) .
Unfold and clip exterior and lining together
Move the Wonder Clips so two, unfolded, layers are clipped. Fabrics are still right sides together, but they are now shaped like an uppercase I.
Note: The video from Mokochocko_sewing has a different method for making the handle, which you may want to look at if the ‘card’ method isn’t working for you.
Sew the Bag Together
The first step is to sew along the curve ONLY. Start sewing on the top, sew around the curve to the bottom of the curve. You are not sewing any straight edges yet.
Sew along the curve on the other side. Start sewing on the top, sew around the curve to the bottom of the curve. You are not sewing any straight edges yet.
Clip the curve.
Clip the curve and press the seam open
Press the curved seam open.
Remove the Wonder Clips lingering on the straight edges.
Turn the bag inside out
Turn the entire piece right sides out (RSO) through the skinny center piece.
Note: this step might be a bit tedious. I have done it with both batting and SF101 with no problems, so have patience.
Press the entire piece so the soon-to-be bag is nice and flat.
Turn the bag inside out
Lay the piece horizontally on a flat surface (table, desk, ironing board, etc) in front of you with the exterior facing up.
Line up exterior and lining
Take the exteriors only – the lining will still be on the flat surface – and line up the bottom edges. Clip the exterior sides and bottom together.
Lining is RST with lining
Now take the linings only and clip them together.
Line up the seams in the center.
Open and flatten those center seams, clipping them together.
Unsewn bag slipped and ready to sew
Before sewing, the bag will look like the photo above.
Mark a 3.5 inch to 4.5 inch space on the bottom of the lining that you will NOT sew. This is your opening for turning.
Note: for the next couple of steps you are going to be using two different seam allowances. You want to make the lining a bit smaller so it won’t be saggy baggy. This isn’t a huge problem in this project, but I did notice that it happened in Mini One Handle Tote #2.
Using a 3/8 inch seam allowance, start sewing on one edge of that lining opening, back stitching after a few stitches, and sew to the corner, then up the side. As you get to the center seam when the lining meets the exterior, veer to a 1/4 inch seam allowance. When you get to the exterior you want to be ready to sew a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
Mark edge sewing lines
Note: Remember how I showed you how to start sewing from the edge in the Snap Trays tutorial? Start at the edge, sew 1/4 inch, turn parallel to the edge and sew as normal? You can do that here as well to make a crisp seam in the turning opening when you turn the whole bag right side out. The photo above shows the marks. Between the marks is the opening for turning.
Sew around the exterior using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. I back stitch at corners and anywhere there might be stress on the bag.
When you get to the other side of the lining, veer back to a 3/8 inch seam allowance and finish sewing the bag to the other side of the lining.
Bag sewn
Back stitch at the end.
Press all of the seams you have just sewn open.
Box the Corners
Mark a 1.5 inch square to box the corners
Using your ruler, mark a 1.5 inch box in each corner.
Boxing the lining corners
Note: On the lining side, I used a slightly larger box, because of the slightly larger seam allowance. I don’t know if this is necessary, so YMMV.
Corners boxed and trimmed
Cut the boxes out using your ruler and rotary cutter or fabric scissors.
Corners boxed
Fabrics need to be right sides together and you will be able to see the interfacing. It will look like you have cut a square off of each corner.
Line up seam allowances
Line up the seam allowances from the boxing the corners exercise and, using Wonder Clips, clip. Align the center seams from both sides of the bag so that they will come together when the bag is turned.
Corners lined up and ready to sewCorners lined up and ready to sew
Corners clipped and ready to sew.
Boxed corner example
Sew across each box/triangle using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Repeat the above instruction for the remaining three corners.
Finish the bag
Turn the bag through the lining opening. You may want to use your turning/poking tool to make the corners nice and crisp.
Top stitch around both handles from side seam to side seam.
Note: this is a good place to try out decorative stitches
Backstitch or bury your thread.
Sew up the opening in the lining by hand or by machine.
Press.
Mini One Handle tote #3
Voila! Finished bag.
Once again, I am not trying to steal anyone’s intellectual property. I was not able to find a pattern shop with this pattern. I highly recommend you take a look at Kotobukisewing’s reel on making this bag and their YouTube Channel for their various other patterns including garments. If I find a pattern to purchase for this bag, I will update this post to include the information.
**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 website.
Mary took me to a new-to-me quilt shop called Stitched. It is a little hard to find, because it is directly behind an Army and Navy store! They have a big sign on the road so look for that when you visit, as well as the Army Navy store. The shop has its own parking lot so you don’t have to share with any Army Jeeps. 😉
Apparently, this is a new location for the shop. We drove there through Medford. I think Central Point is part of Medford or near Medford. If you look up “quilt shop medford” you will find the address and directions.
The sign says Sewing Works and Mary made a reference to “part of that brand”, but I have never heard of Sewing Works, so I looked it up. Apparently, the shop is now part of the organization. I am not sure if it was before, but the Sewing Works website is interesting and I like the name.
I am also not sure what this building was before – something like Medieval Times? Those gothic windows are definitely a unique feature I have never seen in a quilt shop. Isn’t it great how shops take over a space and make it their own?
The overall feeling of this shop was light and bright. The walls were very clean/white and there was a lot of nice light in the main, front room. The ceilings were very high, which, I am sure, helps.
Stitched front counter & looking down the left side
This is a BIG shop. There is a new,or recently filled, area in the back that smelled new and with which Mary was not familiar. It provided a lot of space for more fabric, books and quilts!
Stitched- backroom overview
The back room had a lot of fabric, Accuquilt dies and a few notions and books. They had a huge rack of the Fabric Cafe 3 yard quilt books. I haven’t tried one of these quilts, but I see the books more and more. I am not sure what the magic is about 3 yards?
Stitched- backroom displays
There were a couple of cutting tables. I could see also that they were trying out different displays. The space is large and they have room to grow.
I might have seen a crib as p[art of a display at other shops before, but I don’t remember specifically. I thought the look was good. There is a lot of space for creativity using the crib as a center focal point, especially because a lot of people start quiltmaking in order to make a baby quilt.
Stitched- backroom longarm
The shop also had a longarm. It wasn’t running (thank you!), but that indicates s full service shop where you can get your quilts quilted as well. On the other hand, it could have just been another innovative display! I didn’t check the website very thoroughly to see if they run a longarming service.
Stitched- backroom
Stitched- backroom
Stitched- backroom
Stitched- backroom
Stitched- backroom
Stitched- backroom
Stitched- backroom
Stitched – front of shop
The front of the shop has fabric and an extensive notions wall. For the most part, however, front of house is all things Bernina. Mary goes there for classes. In the photo (left), you can see the way they continued the castle window theme at the top of the wall. Fun, huh?
I also wanted True Grips** for my Sheffield acrylic templates, but the shop only carried InvisiGrip**. InvisiGrip** is not a favorite, though it is ok if you have nothing else. YMMV.
One of the things I like about visiting shops is seeing the different items that are available. Mary told me, and I noticed, that Aurifil is not widely available.
Stitched – classroom
The ‘classroom’ is small. It is an open space in the front of the shop and can seat about 6 people. I am not sure how I would feel knowing that I was in the middle of the sales floor and trying to learn.
I love the quilt to the left of the ‘classroom’. It was quite vibrant in person.
Thread & longarm supplies
Thread & longarm supplies
There was a ton of thread and Bernina longarm supplies. I didn’t look much at them, but I am sure it is good to know about a location that has such supplies.
Stitched purchases
I bought some nice fat quarters. I couldn’t resist the rainbow selection. I threw in a couple of low volume text fabrics. As mentioned, it was hard to find Aurifil, but this shop had a small selection of Aurifil neutrals in the large size (not the cone) including my favorite Grey 2600. I also bought some Iron Off** for Mary, though I think the brand was Magic Iron Cleaner** or something. We got some goop on her iron and cleaning it was the impetus for the trip.
All in all, Stitched is a good shop I would visit again.
5104 Crater Lake Ave
Central Point, OR 97502
**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 website.
Making a Sheffield bag for me has been on my list for a long time. Since it is #6 for the BAMUFO challenge, it is time to work on it. In case you are confused #6 was selected for this month’s project on which to work. I needed to get busy.
The Sheffield is another Sew Sweetness bag. It has an open wide zippered top and is NOT part of the Minikins series. It is a stand-alone pattern. I made one for Gerre (the purple one above) a few years ago.
I put it on my UFO list, because I knew I could finish it within the 30 day window. I was surprised to find I had started to cut pieces for it. They were in my bag fabric bin with the metal frame. That means it truly was a UFO!
After setup at Mary’s house and making a couple of small projects, I got to work on the Sheffield. I was sad not to be using my new machine, but was happy that Mary had a second machine I could use. Not having to haul a machine in our stuffed car was great. She has a Babylock Crescendo, which I have used before. It is a high end machine, which was fine to work on.
Before I could sew the Sheffield, I had to cut the rest of the pieces. As with most bags, there were a lot of pieces, thus a lot of cutting. The handles and the slip pockets were already cut. Apparently, I had already made the choice to make the handles slightly longer than the pattern suggests. Once I finished cutting, I was able to get started with the preparation of the various elements.
One new thing I did was add purse feet. This was my first time. They are listed as optional in the pattern. Since I had some, I decided it was time to use them. The ones I had were Clover Nancy Zieman Bag Feet in Satin Bronze**
BTW, isn’t ‘purse feet’ a funny phrase? All sorts of hilarious images appear in my brain when I say ‘purse feet’!
Installing purse feet
I brought my ProMaster leather punch** (hole maker) along for the trip. I like this tool. It made punching through two layers of canvas and a layer of foam pretty easy. Since I forgot to bring mine, I borrowed some pliers from Mary’s DH, who is a master wood craftsman. The purse feet are installed by shoving two metal flanges through the hole, putting a metal washer over the two and bending the flanges down as flat as possible.
Safety first! SF101 covers purse feet flanges
After I installed them I put a couple of layers of SF101 over the folded flanges to keep them from catching on the lining fabric.
Sheffield bottom with purse feet
There were only four, which surprised me. I always thought purse feet came in sets of five so you could put one in the middle of the bottom to keep the center off of dirty surfaces, but no, the pack I had came with four. I may add some Odicoat** to the bottom. We’ll see.
I had sort of decided not to add the gathered pockets on the outside, then changed my mind and added them at the last minute. I tried out different looks to see how I wanted them to feature.
Sheffield exterior option 1
Sheffield exterior option 2
I finally decided to alternate the fabrics. I didn’t like the look of the all blue gathered pockets. I really wanted to see the Poppy fabric. I had cut the slip pockets out of the Poppy fabric when I thought I wouldn’t use gathered pockets, because I wanted be able to admire that fabric. Using only the blue would cover up too much of it. Using only the Poppy fabric was too jarring and confusing so I eliminated that option right away.
Sheffield – finished exterior mains
The main exterior panels came out well with my choices.
This isn’t a particularly difficult bag, but I felt like I needed to sew slowly and make sure I was doing everything correctly.
After finishing the main exteriors, I was able to put the exterior together.
Poppy Sheffield for me- exterior
I decided after I had made good progress that I wanted to put some pockets on the inside as well as a leash, so I stopped work on it. I didn’t have the hardware with me and we had already been to Green’s, the place to buy hardware near Mary’s house. Since I had hardware at home, I decided to finish it at home.
This is farther along than I have gotten in the 6 years (SIX YEARS – WHAT?!?!?) since I made Gerre’s. I am pleased with how it looks and pleased with my progress.
I am getting quite the collection of tools and might need to make another one of these to store those. Or maybe I will use this one to store tools such as my my ProMaster leather punch**, KAMsnaps, awl, Snap Setter, etc.
**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 website.
I finished Ends n.24 pretty quickly, but have just had a chance to post about it now.
The edges I used are on the older side, including Orange You Glad, and were waiting for a new home and/or a new life.
Ends n.24 back
The fabrics for the back were even older. I used some solids from a bin of solids. Some of them I think I used in Mary Mashuta’s Pushed Neutrals class about a million years ago.
In record time, Lupine is back and ready to bind. I took the quilt to her in mid-March. Colleen did a great job quilting it. I am pleased.
I’ll be glad to get this off my list. I have enough time to enter it in the Fair, but I am limited to two quilts quilted by another, so I’ll have to wait until next year. 🙁
The only thing I have left to do is bind it. I started the other day, but have to actually sit down to bind and I haven’t had a chance. I also need to get DH to hold it up so I can take a photo.
First, it is super easy to change needle plates on this machine. There is a screen, so after about 2 clicks the needle plate pops up and is ready to change. No screws or screwdrivers involved.
Sewing vinyl on the Ultraglide foot and needle plate
I used it when working on the Zip It Up vinyl pockets and it felt like there was no vinyl involved. No stitckiness. The vinyl pockets moved through the machine as if they were regular fabric. It was unbelievable!
I was talking to my Austrian mom today and she was telling me about the high one of her sons gets when skiing in the highest part of the Alps. I get the same adrenaline rush when something like this foot and plate happen on my sewing machine! No heights, no ski gear involved. 😉
I am really happy I bought this and will make sure to use more vinyl now that I have it.
**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 website.
I have been trying to fit the making of another donation top into my flurry of sewing. I feel like I have been doing so much. I have to acknowledge that some of the problem is design wall space. I finally started a top after taking the Warm Four Patch Fun off the design wall.
Welcome Ends n.24. Can you believe I have made 23.5 of these quilts? Yes, I have made that many over 9 years. It is kind of astounding, but also makes perfect sense. I keep producing quilts and Colleen sends the edges back. Thus I have the edges of bunches of quilts and if I don’t do something with them, they would just pile up.
As mentioned, I decided to make this bag instead of the Aneela Hooey bag when visiting Mary.
Zip It Up #1
I got quite a lot done, but I had enough fabric to sew this one and one other. I had gathered enough of the selected fabrics to make three Book and Tool Folios. I had enough of some, but not all to make the second Zip It Up. I want the recipients to enjoy the fabrics. I found that I needed two full half yards to make the case body. Though I had enough fabric to start the third one, I decided I would make one and, assuming all went well, make the second two in assembly line fashion.
I looked at Mary’s version and chose to make this bag with two vinyl pockets instead of a mesh pocket and a vinyl pocket. I thought they were more useful for non-sewing activities than one mesh pocket and one vinyl pocket.
I cut the first vinyl pieces out wrong, so those will become the new windows for future I Spy pouches. I am glad I brought a brand new roll of glitter vinyl. Mary has a lifetime supply of clear vinyl, which was a good backup in case I ran out.
I made good progress despite the need to quilt the fabric. 🙁 As I progressed on the project, I decided I wanted to cover the top of the vinyl pockets below the zipper with ribbon, so I brought the pieces home. Since I was ready to assemble the bag, I needed to stop, add the ribbon and then proceed. Another project to finish at home. Sigh.
