It's In The Bag blog hop (plus giveaway)

Welcome to my stop on the It's In The Bag blog hop!  This month, Island Batik Ambassadors each made a bag By Annie, with a kit put together by Annie herself!  Annie included everything needed for the bag: hardware, zippers, her amazing Soft and Stable, elastic, mesh, pattern, and fabric by Island Batik.  My fabrics are from the Lemon Grass collection by Kathy Engle for Chris Hoover of Whirligig Designs and I love the prints Annie chose for me!

Here's a closeup of one of the quilted panels so you can see the color variation in this fabric.  I quilted a 1" cross-hatch with Aurifil 2783 (dark blue) in the top thread and Aurifil 1231 (lime green) in the bobbin, to match the green speckled print that is the lining fabric.  I used my favorite Schmetz needles.  One tip if you are making this or other bags with lots of layers: switch to a new needle when you get to the steps with lots of layers. 

 

I chose my pattern back in February when I had just joined a local guild.  I picked Running With Scissors because it's a great gear bag for quilters--it can hold so many tools and accessories!  I had visions of workshops and sew-ins with the guild.  Well, not this year, but whenever those things happen again, I'll be all set. Look at everything I can fit in my Running With Scissors!

The inside has pockets with a quilted layer to protect tips of scissors, seam rippers, snips, and anything else with a sharp tip.  There are also some smaller zipper pockets inside, one with vinyl and two with mesh.  These pockets are great for any small items; I have wonder clips, spare bobbins, a pack of Schmetz needles, letter markers for pattern pieces, and diagonal seam tape in mine and there's still lots more room.  A row of elastic loops can hold spools of thread, chalk markers, or other tools.

empty case, so you can see how many pockets there are

There are two large zipper pockets on the outside.  They are a great size for patterns or for smaller rulers or templates. 

Now, I want to back up for a second and talk about my history with bags.  I'm terrible at them.  Terrible. Every few years I would convince myself that I'm not as bad as I remember, and I convince myself to try another.  The last time I made a bag was 2015. Since then, I've remembered and I've not attempted a bag since.  To say I was worried about this challenge is a huge understatement. 

My kit from Annie with everything I needed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had made one of Annie's patterns before, her project bags that I took as part of a class at my local quilt shop--and it was my first time with a zipper! But I assumed the only reason I was even halfway successful was that I did it as a class.  Turns out, it's Annie's patterns!  Annie is very thorough, which is probably why I like her patterns!  (We joke at work that Thorough is my middle name.)  I do want to be honest, this was not an easy project, nor a quick one.  I spent 3 sewing sessions just making/prepping the components of the bag, and probably 5 or more sessions on assembly.  But while it was not easy, it wasn't what I would call hard.  You just do each step as explained and make your way through it all.  I did have to concentrate, but the end result is well worth it.  

Annie's add-on video helped with some of the tricky parts.  Many of the patterns come with a code to unlock these videos on the By Annie website.  If you have an older pattern without a code (like mine of the project bags) then you can by the add-on video separately.   I also want to give a shout out to Wendy of Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life who did an unofficial QAL with me--she knew I was worried about bag making in general and she gave me a ton of moral support.  Quilting friends are the best!

In process, with lines marked and pockets pinned

I'm amazed at my confidence now and I want to make all the bags!  I think the companion to this one, Take A Stand, may be my next make.  Though I'll tell you, I really want to make the Ultimate Travel bag.  And there are so many great other By Annie patterns to choose from!

 
Running with Scissors also includes instructions for a small ironing pad.  When storing, the pad goes over the tools on one side to protect all the tools in the case.  I think my case also needs some coordinating sewing supplies like a needle book and a pin cushion.  I still have space in my case--what do you think I'm missing?

 Annie's pattern does give instructions for zipper pulls for all the outside zippers, but I am not really fan of zipper pulls.  I decided I only needed one for the main zipper keeping the bag closed and that I wanted to make my own.  My friend Kate gave me a sewing necklace and earring set a few years ago.  I don't wear earrings, so I saved them for the charms.  I added a blue bead that matches the color of the dragonfly fabric to the sewing machine charm.  I'm not a beader but I had some very basic supplies and I made a pull I'm happy with that is unique to my bag!

Supplies for this project were provided to me by By Annie, Schmetz Needles, Aurifil, and Island Batik.

No blog hop is complete without a giveaway!  Visit Island Batik to enter their weekly giveaway for a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of the fabric from my bag, Lemon Grass, or a fat quarter bundle of Mandala Magic by Jackie Kunkel of Canton Village Quilt Works. And I'm giving away 3 Stash Builder rolls of these luscious green fabrics.  Each roll has 4 strips that are 5" by WOF, so that's 60" by width of fabric in total!  Cut them into charm packs, 2 1/2" strips, or use for applique. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks so much for By Annie for the chance to make this great bag and have confidence that bag making is something I can do!