Hodgepodge Patchwork Tuesday (Wednesday) - Part Two - Turn a Quilt into a Bag

 Part Two  side seams, inside binding for side seams, and pockets and bottom tucks

Place pretty sides together and stitch both side seams. (1/4" to 3/8" seam allowance).

Inside pocket  - bind top and bottom

If you want an inside pocket, follow the next few steps before you stitch the side seams.  Pocket will show on the photos, so if you aren't adding pockets note that you will see them in the photos from this point on.










Bind the top edge and the bottom edge of the pocket.

stitch side of pocket to body

Then place the pocket on the body of the bag close to the top just below the straps.  Note: your sides seams are NOT sewn yet.  Stitch on the sides and on the bottom edge of the pocket to attach it to the bag inside.

Also stitch thru' the pocket to divide the pocket into sections. See next couple photos.

stitch bottom of pocket to body

stitch to divide pocket into sections

stitch some pockets shorter for pens and finger files

stitch the sides seams

Binding for the inside seam

Stitch a binding strip on the inside seam. (3/8" seam allowance) Leave 1 1/2" stitching out at the top edge.  Do this to both side seams.  See the next photo for trimming the bottom edge about 2 1/2"to 3" from the bottom.

Trim binding about 2 1/2" to 3" from bottom

First part of binding stitched to inside of bag

Flip over to stitch and trim see next photos...

Trim bulky spots so the binding will be able to wrap around it

Fold top edge of binding down and stitch see next photo...

Stitch to tack top edge of binding down

Fold over the binding and pin see next photo

Pin in place before stitching

Stitch the top edge of the binding see how much on next photo

Stitch about 1 to 2 inches to tack down top edge of binding

Then pin and stitch the binding from the bottom edge to the top.

The bound seams should look like this

Stand the bag upright so you can make the tucks in the corners

Pin the tucks for the corners flat so you can stitch across to form the bottom tuck

Stitch twice and then cut away the extra

Trim the excess bulk at the seam

Stitch a binding strip on the trimmed tuck with 1 1/2 inch sticking out on both ends

check if it will fold over - trim if needed

fold over and stitch/tack both ends down

fold over binding and pin in place and stitch

Stitching should look like this

Turn bag inside out and your bag is completed!

I will do another post tomorrow night with several measurements for cutting and finished bags.  This size finishes to a bag that is about 11 inches tall and about 11 inches across and has an 8 inch wide opening on the top. See the photos below.

The original quilt was made using my Easy to Sew Quilt Pattern.  It lets you create an artsy type of quilt without figuring out where the colors and pieces should be placed.  Fun and easy to make!

Special orders contact me at Marcia@craftysewing.com

Any questions contact me at Marcia@craftysewing.com

Info about April Giveaway next post!

Quilt that was featured in the Quilting Video

This is the colorful quilt that was featured in the Quilting Video. The pattern is "The Easy to Sew Quilt Pattern." It is available for purchase on my website

This unique quilt looks different every time you make it! See examples in my photo gallery of quilts and quilting. Easy to read and follow. This pattern makes sewing and quilting fun again!

Three Easy to Sew Quilts -- All from different lines of fabrics....

Quilts will be on display at LouAnn's Quilt Garden in Oelwein, Iowa later today October 4th.

.... Just choose a line of fabric and stitch it up!!! Using The Easy to Sew Pattern... it will guide you thru' how to choose the fabric and how to sew this easy quilt! Sewing made fun again!

Linda Kowalski made the brown and yellow quilt and I quilted it with vertical wavy lines. Deb Czech made the pink and green quilt. I chose to quilt it with overall swirls. I made the blue and yellow quilt and quilted it with a two color ribbon quilting and double daisies. All using the same Easy to Sew Quilt pattern, with different lines of fabrics .... The pattern makes it so simple!! ..... Choose a focus fabric for the center sections of the block and then add a light, medium and two dark fabrics.... choose some with a little texture. The possibilities are endless!! Add a wider border on the outside or add two or three borders to make the quilt larger. Choosing a whole line of fabric makes it easy! See several photos of the Easy to Sew Quilts at the Photo Gallery at www.craftysewing.com Lots of close ups too!

New Look

The Easy to Sew Quilt Pattern is now available with a Bright NEW front page or with a more Traditional looking front page. It is the same pattern but has taken on a brighter look! The new photo was taken of the quilt made with the Dye Candy Fabrics from dyecandy.etsy.com

I made the baby quilt using only SIX - 12 inch blocks -- thus making a nice little baby quilt approximately 30" X 40". The pattern makes SIXTEEN - 12 inch blocks to make the 52" X 52" lap size quilt. Using the leftover ten blocks I could make another little baby quilt same size or make a square quilt using nine of the blocks -- 3 across and 3 down -- that would make a nice baby quilt too.

The possibilities are endless....

Watch for future entries with more ideas --- you can be Creative too and it is so simple!!

See Examples Page -- Easy Quilt at CraftySewing.com

Easy Quilt using Dyed Candy Fabric and a bright focus fabric

Yesterday I used my Easy Quilt Pattern to make a delightful quilt!! Using a bright focus fabric and Dyed Candy Fabric. Quilted it this morning with a medium sized Two Color Ribbon Quilting including occasional whimsical flowers using Orange, Wild Violet, and Fushia threads to enhance the centers and the petals! WOW I love it!! Remember the possibilities are endless with this pattern!!! See previous entry about purchasing this wonderful pattern. Hurry before March 31st for free shipping! My friend Chris makes the Dyed Candy Fabric at dyecandy.etsy.com. I know why she calls it "Dyed Candy Fabric" because it is like buying colorful sweets!! The sweets I bought didn't add any calories to my diet --- just wonderful highlights to my quilt! Yummy!

A Quilt for Gatherings

Just sharing a few photos of my new quilt pattern for Gatherings. It is lap size about 52 X 52 Square. The pattern will be available at Gatherings Gift Shop in Boscobel and thru' my webstie beginning March 2nd. The quilt will be on display starting today in preparation for their Open House of their new fabric lines.... Thimbleberries and Moda ... to mention a few. The Open House will be Saturday, March 6th from 10 am to 5pm. I will have several quilts on display to show different samplings of the variety of free style quilting that I create for each of my customer's quilts. Some will be very detailed and some will be a more relaxed Ribbon Quilting like on the lap quilt. Note the whimsical flower on the lap quilt!

More Volunteers for the Harvest of Love Quilt Project

Linda Kowalski and Judy Booth also donated their sewing skills to the wonderful quilt project along with 35 other wonderful people... Remember you can help too with a lap or baby sized quilt or even a contribution of fabric, batting , thread, or money. And remember I invited you to come along next year!!!

Harvest of Love Quilt Project

Saturday I went to PrairieduChein, Wisconsin to sew lap quilts for "Harvest of Love" for the Linus Project to provide quilts for those in need. We sewed more than 85 lap quilts for the Project with the help of about 35 people! Every year we get more... volunteers and make more quilts!!! It a fantastic way to spend a Saturday sewing for others.... Some of the quilts stay in the county for the Battered Women's shelter and the Fire departments and their Chrsitmas for Families Program. The rest of them are sent to the LaCrosse Linus Quilts to be distibuted in Southwestern Wisconsin. They started Harvest of Love about seven years ago. So far I have only missed one year. If you are interested in joining me next year or would like to make a simple lap quilt or two at home and send it onto the Linus Project let me know and I help you get it there. Helping others is good for your heart.... that's why they call it Harvest of Love....