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| I made this bag! |
I’ve noticed an interesting trend among quilters. Many of them exclusively sew quilts and consider anything three-dimensional to be beyond their skill set. I am here today, my friends, to tell you that’s not true. Your experiences making quilts put you in a great position to sew, say, a Cargo Duffle Bag. Why? Consider this …
Fact: You can follow a pattern with ease.
You’ve followed quilt patterns before (some of you have even written them!). Sure, bag making might require learning new terminology, but with some help, you can decode pattern instructions and create something both beautiful and practical.
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| And I made this bag! |
Fact: You can sew with precision.
You’ve got the quarter-inch seam down pat. The half-inch seam, called for by many bag patterns, is easily within your reach. And the same attention to detail that has served you well when piecing with precision or quilting everything from straight lines to free-motion motives has prepared you to top-stitch beautiful detailing on a bag project.
Fact: You’ve got the equipment and know how to use it.
I wish that when I first started sewing bags I knew what a walking foot was because it’s the bag maker’s secret weapon for sewing through lots of bulk. You already have a walking foot and know how to use it. Now is the time to learn what else you can do with it.
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| Oh yes, I made this bag, too! |
Are you convinced yet? If you are ready to make the leap, I am holding a sew-along later this winter. We’ll be sewing a Cargo Duffle Bag together (this Noodlehead pattern is free from Robert Kaufman). There will be lots of in-progress photos and tips from me during this sew-along about how I get great results. More details about the schedule and prizes (because quilters who take risks sewing three-dimensionally deserve prizes!) will be posted in February. The sew-along itself will run in March.
This project is not for new sewists. But if you already know your machine, have created lovely quilts, and are ready for something new, this sew-along is for you!
In the meantime, let me celebrate your latest finishes with you. Share them in this week’s Brag About Your Beauties Pageant. : )
The pageant rules are simple:
- Post your finish in the linky tool. (No links to your own giveaway or linky, please!)
- Point your readers back here with a text link or use the button above.
- Visit and comment on other participants’ finishes.
A bag sew along sounds like a great idea, Michelle! And you're right on all your points :) Thanks for hosting again!
ReplyDeleteHooray for the bag sew along! I will definitely sponsor a giveaway. :D
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle! Short whine here - a sew along with a cargo bag?!! Really. You had to go there. Gosh, good thing it doesn't start until March because I already have 11 things on my quarterly finish thingy and I haven't started a single one. Other diversions keep getting in the way, like perhaps a cargo bag sew along. ~big smile~ Roseanne
ReplyDeleteI know I can do it; the real issue is the desire to do it (if I'm completely honest). :) Thanks for the pep talk!
ReplyDeleteI love the second bag. What is the pattern? I'd love a sew along!!! I've been wanting to make that but felt it would be too challenging. I'll be searching my stash for some fabric.
ReplyDeleteOooh, happy to see this. I've made a couple of simple bags, but this one looked like a big stretch. It would be nice to get tips from someone who has made one, or two or...
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