It’s in the Bag Blog Hop

/ quiltinggail
 

This month’s Island Batik challenge is to make a ByAnnie bag. There are SEW many bags to choose from and I choose the “Bowl Me Over 2.0” bag.

When I did my unboxing video from Island Batik in July, the kit to make this bag was in the box. (You can see the video HERE.) Annie had picked out the Island Batik fabric from the Deco Revival fabric collection. Everything to make the bag was included: Soft and Stable batting, the hardware, zippers, mesh, elastic and webbing … Everything I needed to make the bag. There was also a coupon with the pattern to access the videos to assist in making the bag. Here are the fabrics from the Deco Revival collection that I was to use:

Deco Revival is shipping to stores now!!! It’s a wonderful line of fabric … can’t you just imagine all the wonderful bags and quilts you could make with it?

The Bag

Here’s a picture of the kit that was in my box!

UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_38c0 When I make bags, I usually end up doing my own thing … but I needed to follow directions with this one.

Making the Bag

The instructions first told us to print out a sheet with labels on it to keep all of our cut fabrics organized.  WOW!! Am I glad I did that!  It helped a LOT!

Before I cut the coordinating fabric, I needed to decide what I wanted for handles.  I choose Option 1 which gives me an over the shoulder strap along with short handles.  It was fantastic to be able to choose how I would carry the bag!  We all carry our bags differently and have our favourite ways!

I quilted the fabric with Soft and Stable (byAnnie) between 2 batik fabrics. The pattern suggested either straight lines or quilt as desired.  Of course, I chose to do my own thing and quilted lines that sort-of followed the fabric. Aurifil #4225, a purple that came in my July box, was used for the quilting.

As I followed the cutting directions, I carefully labeled each piece, using hair clips to hold each label on.  There are a LOT of pieces and the labelling was both a life saver and a time saver!  A life saver because I didn’t become frustrated with which piece was which! And a time saver because I could identify each piece easily as I followed the pattern.

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One of the inside pockets gave me the choice of using fabric or mesh.  Well, since I had never sewn with mesh fabric before and I like the idea of seeing what’s in the pocket, I chose the mesh. For that pocket, I used Aurifil #2625 – Grey – to match the grey zipper.

As I followed the pattern, each of the components were made as directed.

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Finally, I was able to put the bag together.  Using clips was a great way to go.  As you can see in the photo below, I used a couple of hair clips (on the right) because I had run out of the “cool” clips.  The hair clips easily popped off.   I obviously need to get some more “cool” clips!

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Schmetz Super Nonstick 80/12 was used.  It was the perfect needle, especially at the end when I was sewing through 6 layers of batik and 3 layers of Soft & Stable.

Then the bag was done!

The Front View … the flap at the front has a magnet closure and it’s nice and strong!

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The Back View … there is a nice roomy pocket with a zipper.

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The mesh pocket inside  is large enough to hold my iPad!

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The pocket with fold-over elastic is in 3 sections … will be perfect for my phone, reading glasses and a small notepad …

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I LOVE it!

I had some fabric left over … SEW … I made a couple of coordinating masks using by Annie’s free mask pattern.  The mask on the left was made with the alternate fabric for the inside pocket (where I used mesh).  Annie’s mask pattern is a different from the usual pleated masks … there is a small pleat at the bottom which helps the mask fit better.

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Questions:

  • Would I make this bag again?  Absolutely!  Even though I’m not a great bag maker, it was made and I’m very happy with it!
  • Was it hard?  It was challenging for me.  However, the videos that Annie provides for the difficult, or more challenging steps, made those sections a lot easier.
  • Did I like “Soft and Stable?”  Yes.  It was easy to use and it gives the bag fantastic body!
  • Was the mesh hard to put in?  Absolutely not … Annie has a unique way (to me) of inserting zippers and it was easy peasy!
  • Do I have any suggestions for someone who is thinking of making this bag?  Yes … go to ByAnnie’s website and make the free pattern, “Easy Does It.”  I watched a lot of the videos for this bag as I was making my Bowl Me Over 2.0 and it helped tremendously.
  • Would I make another byAnnie pattern?  YES!!  I already have the patterns for “Running with Scissors,” “Take a Stand,”  “Easy Does It,” and “Clam Up.”   Obviously, ByAnnie’s patterns appealed to me prior to making the “Bowl Me Over 2.0” bag!

Disclaimer:  All products used for this bag were provided by Island Batik and the industry partners: byannie, Aurifil and Schmetz needles.

BLOG HOP

Make sure you visit the other Island Batik Ambassadors that are showing their byAnnie creations!  It’s a wonderful blog hop!

WEEK 1

September 8:  Buttercup

 

Suzy Webster  

 

Janet Yamamoto

 

 

September 9Deco Revival

 

Michelle Roberts  

 

Gail Sheppard   YOU are HERE

 

 

September 10Floralicious

 

Sharon Riley

 

Alison Vermilya

 

 

 

September 11

Visit Island Batik’s blog for a Round-up of the projects and your opportunity to win a giveaway!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

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44 thoughts on “It’s in the Bag Blog Hop”

  1. Pingback: Bag blog hop part 1 / Τσαντομανία Μέρος 1ο – Mania for quilts

    • Hi Jennifer! I LOVE my bag!!! It’s so practical and is perfect for me!
      The fabrics in this collection are fantastic … you’ll see more of them in my October post!
      Happy Quilting! 🙂

      Like

  4. Pingback: End of Week One It's in the Bag Blog Hop and Giveaway

  7. This a great bag Gail and likely large enough for me. You did a great job. Big hand bags are my thing and my sisters laugh at me because I only carry a small wallet, a comb, a pen, and a tape measure key chain.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hi Denise,
      It is a great bag … large enough for everything, but I’m like you, I don’t have a lot in it … however, this makes it easy to find what I want.
      Let me know if you decide to make Bowl Me Over 2.0 … I’d love to see it!
      Happy Quilting! 🙂

      Like

  10. Gail your bag is perfect and the fabrics are gorgeous. Been staying home and sewing up a storm since Covid started; 39 quilt tops and I quit counting at 200 masks. Haven’t made a bag or even a pouch so far. This might change my plans 😉

    Liked by 1 person

  13. So pretty, Gail! I love that you quilted following the curvy lines of your fabric. Such pretty fabrics, especially for the outside! Sounds like you are ready to tackle more Annie patterns!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Your bag truly Bowls Me Over! It looks fantastic and so professionally made. I love the big pockets and the mesh one is great for seeing the contents inside. You’ve given me hope that I could make one too! Love it!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hi Kathy!
      I laughed when you said my bag Bowled you over!
      It is a fantastic bag!
      I’m not a bag maker, but this bag, when you follow the directions and the videos, is actually very doable!
      I hope you give it a try!
      Happy Quilting! 🙂

      Like

  15. Hi Gail! Fabulous! I love the fabrics you chose for the bag especially the outside one. That wavy pattern looks so cool and good as a mask, too. I will check out Annie’s website – thanks for sharing the link. ~smile~ Roseanne

    Liked by 1 person

  18. I really love this bag Gail, and you did a wonderful job making it. The fabrics are perfect for this one. It is a beautiful bag. Thank you for sharing.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hi Vicki,
      The Soft and Stable was easy to work with! As you sew it, it compresses easily and makes it super easy to sew with. One part of the bag has 3 layers of the Soft & Stable, along with 6 layers of batik and it was easy to manipulate through my machine!
      At first, I did think the bag would be bulky with it, but it isn’t! It’s nice and light!
      Happy Quilting! 🙂

      Like

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