Sewing Together a Sew Together Bag...For Myself!

I have made a couple of Sew Together bags before, one for a co-worker and one for A Quarter Inch from the Edge. I chose fabrics to make myself a Sew Together and then it was never the priority. I decided summer vacation was the perfect time to change this!

Here is a very photo heavy post about my new bag. I've already filled it up with toiletries for travelling and I love, love it. 

I quilted the main panel this time with a bit of batting. This was a new thing for me to try and I think I would do it again.

I chose to do ombre teal zippers and I totally love the impact.

I prepped a bunch of pieces and then stalled again. I still need to check the Quilt Barn tutorial for this bag for some of the steps!

This is one of my favourite stages of making this bag. It starts actually looking like a bag and those side panels are intimidating the first time through.

Wonderclips make all the difference on a bulky project like this when doing the binding!

 When it was finished I felt such relief and excitement!

I used an Alison Glass sunprints text print on the inside. I had to maximize the cut I had so some of the text goes one way and some the other. I know this would drive some people crazy but not me!

I used some really bold colours on the inside pockets. They are drawn from the colours in the Ex Libris that is on the outside.

This weird side shot was because I was drooling over the details. I was reluctant to use up Ex Libris on things like long strips for binding because it seemed wasteful to cut through the panels. Seeing the results?? LOVE. Look at that zipper!

As always happens when I make one of these and post it on Instagram, people are asking to place orders. There is only one order I may actually fill...my older daughter wants one for her birthday. Now that I think I can do. :)

Sew Together For A Friend

After completing my first Sew Together Bag, I knew I would be making several more, including for myself. When quilty and bloggy friend Jenn at A Quarter Inch from the Edge commented on my Instagram picture that she sure wished I would make her one, I knew I needed to move hers up my priority list. Considering she has some significant changes in her life right now I thought a Sew Together Bag would be a nice reminder that the world is a wonderful place.

I selected fabrics I love because we have very similar tastes. I knew this Carolyn Friedlander print would be perfect for the lining, and the Lizzy House Mini Pearl Bracelets, Alison Glass and Heather Bailey all worked really well with the outer fabric, a Washi print that I think Jenn commented she loved about three(?) years ago.

This stage is always so satisfying!

Here is the finished bag:

Isn't that a fun print? And an Alison Glass for the binding too. I'm running low on those arrows and will be sad when they're all gone.

Look at all those pockets!

I really need to prioritize my Sew Together bag next!

The end result was a bag that surprised her and that she loved. Well worth the effort to both construct it and pick the perfect fabrics for her.

Now if only I could find even five minutes to sew these days...

Successful Sewtogether

As the year was wrapping up (the school year, that is) I wanted to make a gift for the grade two teacher I had been supporting all year (I am an Instructional Coach) to thank her for being such an amazing collaborator (and now friend!).

She is an incredible dresser, gorgeous and classy, and I wanted to make something that would fit her aesthetic. I thought immediately of the Sew Together Bag, which, if you have been living under a rock, is one of THE patterns that everyone with a blog or Instagram who sews has made or wants to make. I bought the pattern ages and ages ago but this was my push to actually MAKE one. And the timelines were tight.

I picked fabrics from my stash, starting with the outer lining as the inspiration fabric because it seemed so...her. (Honeymoon by C+S)

I then used this super delicious mint Pearl Bracelet fabric for the main lining.

Here are some in progress shots:

Adding all those inner zippers was a bit scary. But carefully following the instructions really, really helped. Plus my zipper foot.

After sewing it together it looked so cool from the bottom.

This is when it started to take shape. I squealed in delight. The linings are all from Cotton+Steel's Macrame line.

Admittedly this was a push for my skills. I think that is a really good thing. I don't think I would have been as successful had it not been for two things:

1. Quilty Friend C. She has made five of these (if not more) so I would text her with questions. She was awesome. Thanks C!

2. The sew-along steps from The Quilt Barn. Honestly, these step by step pictures helped me IMMENSELY. Especially when I got to the VERY tricky outside zipper.

Thank goodness for my Clover Clips because this bag business is a bit tricky!

C warned me that the really bulky seams in places might be tricky, so I was very careful. Really, though, my Janome 6600 was a dream. It didn't hesitate on all those thick spots (and I made sure to use a new needle so it was super sharp!)

Here is the finished product!

Ta da! This print from Honeymoon by C+S is so perfect.

The inside...

The linings in each pocket.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. It was hard to give away, I'm not going to lie. But she also LOVED it and I think it was to her taste so that made me feel great. I'm already plotting my next four bags. Ha! Time to buy some more zippers!