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Bryan House Quilts

This is not a diaper bag

Uncategorized

16 Nov
Hi folks,
If you are visiting here, welcome! First thing you need to know is I have four children ages 6 and under. I am forever carrying their stuff.
They’re cute.

But they have lots of stuff.
 When I saw the Long Weekend “bag-along” I seized the excuse to make a bag (The Weekender pattern, by Amy Butler) to carry my stuff. Namely sewing goodies and chocolate and books.

The bag was challenging is a fun way, meaning I could make a challenging bag and make changes to match my preferences. The hardest parts for me were making the QAYG (quilt as you go, inspired by Elizabeth Hartman’s bag) panels and the lining.

I’m very happy with the way my bag came out. Making it was worth the sore fingers and thumbs. Someday I’d like to make another.

Here’s some of my goodies I’m packing for my Thanksgiving holiday. A new hand sewing project and some new books from market. There’s lots more room though. 🙂

Here’s what I did differently from the stated pattern: 

        1) I made my piping by basting together my tube of fabric and then shoving my cord through using a safety pin. It was easy and it work for me.

        2) The handles are half inch wider and seven inches longer. I didn’t use Peltex in the handles but used fusible batting and medium heavy fusible interfacing. I also quilted vertical lines up and down each.

        3) When attaching the handles, instead of only sewing the stated 3 sets of horizontal lines, I sewed by tracing 3 of 5 of my quilted lines on the handle up to the top mark. I think it gives my handles some extra security and I prefer the look of completely attached handles. I then sewed an “X” instead of one horizontal line at the top mark.

        4) On the inside,  I used the large outer pocket pattern piece to make two pockets. Using my leftover piping, added the piping along the top of each pocket. I hearted the piping.

        5) I used a bunch of interfacing for: the lining of the outer and side pockets, all the lining, and the lining of the inside side pockets.

Other tips:
        * I used a denim needle and heavy duty thread when I sewed the outer shell together. It was too bad, but I gave up trying to get a 1/2 seam allowance and just tried to crowd the piping by sewing to the left of the piping stitches.
        * Remember how to use your zipper foot. I was using mine backwards until I had sewn one side of the zipper. 🙂

***
I’m linking to the “The Long Weekend”


They are so many cute Weekenders out there. I love each one I see. 
Makes me want to make another…
***
Ok, I should probably go pack something other than my weekender, see “they’re cute but have lots of stuff” above…  
Thanks for visiting! 
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Heidi Staples says

    November 16, 2012 at 11:58 pm

    Cute, but lots of stuff — wow, can I relate! 🙂 Your Weekender is beautiful, Becca. I love the Joel Dewberry prints — just perfect for this!

  2. Catherine says

    November 17, 2012 at 8:28 am

    Wow, that's a beauty:-) Well done! (Sweet pic of your kids.)

  3. Lenka says

    November 17, 2012 at 10:07 am

    Hi from Czech Republic !
    Your bag is so beauty,love colours combo.
    Have a nice weekend !

  4. Holli says

    November 19, 2012 at 1:02 am

    You have made such a great bag! And it does hold so much, doesn't it?! Your children are beautiful.

  5. Taryn says

    November 19, 2012 at 3:08 pm

    It turned out so beautifully! The colors are pretty and I love the fabric you chose for the piping and handles. If I ever make this bag again (a long time from now LOL), I think I will use your method for making the handles. The Peltex is just too stiff and doesn't bend nicely.

    Your kids are so adorable!

  6. Jami Siddiqui says

    December 5, 2012 at 2:00 pm

    I love this bag! You did such a nice job:)

Trackbacks

  1. WIP Wednesday: Hand work in December – Bryan House Quilts says:
    June 23, 2016 at 4:17 pm

    […] of Thanksgiving travels I prepared several hand projects to stuff into my weekender (my weekender dahlink!). So this week finds me with plenty of snuggle worthy hand […]

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Not in getting it “right” or making it perfect, but in letting yourself be curious. 

Letting yourself try something, change it, try something else, and be a little playful instead of precise.

Some of my favorite quilts didn’t come from a perfectly planned layout… 👇

They came from standing at the wall, thinking, “Wait… what if I try it like this instead?” 👀

So if you have a few triangle blocks sitting nearby, take a little time to play with them and see what kind of pattern they end up in. 

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This time of year in the sewing room is always so This time of year in the sewing room is always so lovely. 

We FINALLY get to have the windows open, the world outside is getting colorful again, and the extra daylight is a big bonus. 

This is my recipe for a PERFECT April sewing day...

✨ Self care: plan meals/snacks for eating right & getting your exercise (booooooo! I know, I know.) Maybe a fun wee treat tho!?

✨ Entertainment: if it’s just you, get your show/ sporting event/ audible, etc. Or if you’re with your quilty buds, you know what to do! Sew, gab, laugh!

✨ Something you’re excited to sew: latest bingeable project at the ready!? Latest fabric stack that arrived in the post? Or...finally get that WIP d.u.n!

✨ Essential responsibilities taken care of: feed the dog, respond to that time-sensitive email, dinner for the fam? Take care of what you must get done so you can check out more completely.

Finally, set a timer for your hard stop time.

I set my alarm for when I need to pick up my kiddos from school. That way, I can get carried away by my creativity and indulge in “me” time!

Shut the laptop, check out, it’s sew time! 🧵 Everything else on your to-do list can wait. It is time for you!

What are you working on for a perfect April sewing day? ⬇️

#quiltingprogress #quiltinginspiration #quiltpattern #springsewing
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It’s not that you don’t finish quilts…

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Sometimes, a few hours (or days) in the sewing room just makes it all alright. 🙌

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Mark your calendars... I am revealing a BRAND-NEW Mark your calendars... I am revealing a BRAND-NEW block of the month design on May 1st! 🗓️ ✨

Yes, you read that right! 🙌

I have been working behind the scenes on ANOTHER block of the month pattern, and you’ll finally be able to see it on May 1st! 

And get excited, because this one is completely new and unlike any I have ever released before. I think you’re going to love it. 🤭

👉 Turn on post notifications so you don’t miss the reveal! ✨

#modernquilting #quiltpattern #quiltingdesign #quiltinginspiration
I’ve just recently got all of these quilts back fr I’ve just recently got all of these quilts back from the quilter!!!! 😍

SWIPE to see them all and tell me which one is your favorite in the comments! 💕 👇

#quiltpattern #quiltinspiration #modernquilting #finishedquilt
I think as quilters, we sometimes get really wrapp I think as quilters, we sometimes get really wrapped up in a project or wanting to finish by a certain deadline, that we forget to just play. 🙌

Triangle blocks are especially fun for playing with! 

Because the same exact blocks can look completely different depending on how you arrange them.

All of a sudden, you’re not just following a pattern anymore, you’re creating something unique. 🪄

And I think that’s where a lot of the joy in quilting lives.

Not in getting it “right” or making it perfect, but in letting yourself be curious. 

Letting yourself try something, change it, try something else, and be a little playful instead of precise.

Some of my favorite quilts didn’t come from a perfectly planned layout… 👇

They came from standing at the wall, thinking, “Wait… what if I try it like this instead?” 👀

So if you have a few triangle blocks sitting nearby, take a little time to play with them and see what kind of pattern they end up in. 

Comment ‘TRIANGLE’ if you want to take my free class where I teach you how to make a modern triangle, and give you a block pattern to start sewing. 💕

#modernquilting #quiltingtechnique #quiltingforbeginners #beginnerquilter
This time of year in the sewing room is always so This time of year in the sewing room is always so lovely. 

We FINALLY get to have the windows open, the world outside is getting colorful again, and the extra daylight is a big bonus. 

This is my recipe for a PERFECT April sewing day...

✨ Self care: plan meals/snacks for eating right & getting your exercise (booooooo! I know, I know.) Maybe a fun wee treat tho!?

✨ Entertainment: if it’s just you, get your show/ sporting event/ audible, etc. Or if you’re with your quilty buds, you know what to do! Sew, gab, laugh!

✨ Something you’re excited to sew: latest bingeable project at the ready!? Latest fabric stack that arrived in the post? Or...finally get that WIP d.u.n!

✨ Essential responsibilities taken care of: feed the dog, respond to that time-sensitive email, dinner for the fam? Take care of what you must get done so you can check out more completely.

Finally, set a timer for your hard stop time.

I set my alarm for when I need to pick up my kiddos from school. That way, I can get carried away by my creativity and indulge in “me” time!

Shut the laptop, check out, it’s sew time! 🧵 Everything else on your to-do list can wait. It is time for you!

What are you working on for a perfect April sewing day? ⬇️

#quiltingprogress #quiltinginspiration #quiltpattern #springsewing
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