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Bryan House Quilts

This is not a diaper bag

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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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1️⃣ Make a test block. I know it’s tempting to s 1️⃣ Make a test block. 

I know it’s tempting to skip this step... I cannot tell you how many times I have skipped making a test block and ended up regretting it later. If I had just made the test block, it would have saved me HOURS and HOURS of seam ripping and re-sewing, so take my advice and just always make the test block! 

I have never regretted making a test block, but I have regretted not making one. 😅

2️⃣ Celebrate the ta-da moments.

I’m not talking about just the finished quilt. I mean EVERY moment along the journey that feels like a win. Picking your colors and fabrics, sewing that first block, the points that line up, arranging blocks onto the design wall... Celebrate as much as you can along the way. 

I think too many quilters rush past these moments because they’re just focused on the finish line, but quilting isn’t one big “ta-da!” It’s a bunch of little “ta-da” moments stitched together.

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I’m not kidding when I say it completely changed my quilty life... The more I quilt, the more I realize that frustration doesn’t make a quilt more valuable. Struggling doesn’t make you a better quilter. A good process gives you more confidence, helps you enjoy the sewing, and frees up a lot of your time to keep quilting. It makes you want to come back tomorrow and sew another block! 

Quilting is meant to be enjoyed and there’s so much to learn along the way. These three things have been HUGE along my quilting journey, and I know they can make an impact on yours too. 

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But quilting? THAT’S my bread and butter. 

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Comment ‘ALCHEMY’ if you want to enjoy ALL phases Comment ‘ALCHEMY’ if you want to enjoy ALL phases of the quilting journey and make this beautiful quilt alongside a supportive community that is all learning, growing, and sewing together! ✨

We just started the Alchemy this month, but you can join and start your own anytime! 💕

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
Does anyone else just love this feeling? ✨ Walk i Does anyone else just love this feeling? ✨

Walk into the sewing room, shut the door behind me, and suddenly all other problems disappear. 

A feeling we all know too well. 🙌

What are you sewing right now? Let me know in the comments! 💕

#quilthumor #quilterslife #quiltteacher #modernquilter
Comment ‘FREEZER’ to take my free class! Keep read Comment ‘FREEZER’ to take my free class! Keep reading for tip number four... 👇

Always print your templates at 100% scale.

Before cutting your fabric, measure the 1-inch test box on your template.

Even being slightly off can affect the accuracy of your blocks later on and lead to some BIG oopsies. 😅

This is one of those tiny steps that saves a LOT of frustration later... Speaking from experience, and more re-done blocks than I could ever count! 

Follow along @bryanhousequilts for more freezer paper piecing tips that will make your quilting life easier and more enjoyable along the way. 💕
Comment ‘FREE’ and i’ll send you straight to my fr Comment ‘FREE’ and i’ll send you straight to my free class where I’ll teach you the life-changing technique that made me fall in love with quilting. 💕 

You’ll even leave with a free modern triangle block pattern to start sewing on your own! 🪡

Drop ‘FREE’ below and start the new creative hobby you’ve been dreaming about. ✨

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
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