Thursday, January 25, 2024

Bucket Bag Tutorial

 I thought I would try to show you how to make one of these bucket bags...


They are fast and easy.

I used 2 Fat Quarters and some batting.


If you want a stiffer bag,
 you could use Soft and Stable by Annie


I stacked the two fat quarters on my cutting mat.


I cut my strips from the short sides

Cut 4 - 4.5" x 18" strips(bag outside and inside)
and 
1 - 4" strip from EACH fat quarter(handles)


The two strips 4" x 18" will be the handles.

4 - 4.5" x 18 will be for the  outside of the bag.

4 - 4.5" x 18" will be for the inside of the bag.


You will also need 4 - 4.5" x 18" pieces of batting


2 - 1.5" x 18 strips for the inside of the handles

Lay out the batting strips like this...


With right sides up lay your outside strips
on
 top of the batting strips


Fold over one batting/fabric strip onto the other like this


Stitch the strips together on the left side 


Then fold over and sew the unit together the other way matching center seams
 making
 a windmill shape like this



I lay the lining strips right sides up on the first windmill 
and
sew the lining strips together the same way as the batting/outside strips
to
make your lining windmill unit.


Make sure the windmills are sewn opposite,
spinning opposite ways


You will have two like this

Fold over one strip so it's lined up against the other strip,
 giving a 45 degree at the bottom



Do this with each strip on both windmills
to
create the inside and outside for the bag



Construct the handles next!

Lay the thin batting strip 
on
 the center of the handle strips on the wrong side.

Fold in half , then half again stitching down each side.



Make two handles.

Pin a handle end on each side 
with
right sides together.



With rights sides facing into the batting/bag.
arrange the lining into it, matching the corners to each other.


Stitch around the edges making sure to catch the handles at the corners. 

You can trim the points off the corners. 


Make sure to leave one part open so you can turn your bag out!



When you turn the bag right sides out.....


Tuck the lining in to the outside part of the bag

Topstitch around the edges of the bag,
 making
 sure to close the gap where the bag was turned out


The possibilities are endless. 

You can use two panels of each FQ to make the bag two colored


The bag is totally reversible.








Tuesday, January 16, 2024

My Quilts of 2023


I like to keep a journal of my quilts at the end of each year.

Many have gone to new homes and some still live with me.

Looking back at a year of projects. 

I see I am in a bold color phase 

These are not in order of completion.

 

It can be two sizes
 and
 I used Alchemy by Tim Holtz for this one!


 


It is a kit with all their hand dyed solids included in the kit!




Using Alchemy By Tim Holtz again...

I had to make this Storm Front by Lakeview Quilting 

It is a combination of  Storm at Sea with a Snails trail pattern







My entry for Cherrywood Challenge Monarch was accepted

This is the 6th time I have entered and have been chosen to travel.


Monarch debuted at the International Quilt Festival in November 2023


It will be at Road To California Quilt Show January 17-20 
and
 I hope to get there while we are in Yuma, Arizona!


My Lady Di and Graffitti are slated to arrive back home in January some time.


Lady Di even spent some time over in France!!

Man(or woman)...if these quilts could talk

The next challenge is Poppies.

It is due in May 

I am nearly complete!


That would be 7 times in a row!


Made a small bag to use as a make shift purse.


My Mexican Star Dance Quilt from a class 

with Pleasant Pheasant Fabrics 


This one was gifted to a little baby girl in Calgatry already!



This is a Mondo Bag


This fabric is called Color Block By Tim Holtz


Just loved how this turned out!


We finally got Justin's barn tinned


Installed the Barn Quilt Block I made him last year for Christmas!


It is huge!

8' x 8'


This next one is called Wind Drifter by Robin Pickens


It is Tim Holtz  Abandoned Fabrics


Comes in two sizes of quilt!

I went totally our of my comfort zone on this one

It is Tilda Fabric






This pattern was free to members.







So happy and bright!

I made a ton of feathers this year.

This pattern is called Aviary by Madi Hastings

I made this one half the size of the original pattern

I used an ombre for this one


This feather was using a panel of Whispering Pines by 


I made Tula Pink's Butterfly before.

It is not complicated even though it looks like it would be.

I wanted to try with Tim Holtz Abandon Line



I also tried it with the Avairy Pattern.


My girlfriend gave me a bunch of tiny HST's

I made her and I a little notions pouch.


Cute as a button!

Justin's friend had their Fourth baby this year!

They deserve more than a little quilt
but 
here is Lyric's new quilt!



My Ontario friend started doing Diamond Dot in Covid

This picture was one of her first projects 
so
 when I saw the quilt I had to make it for them!


In our travels this summer,
We stumbled on Minnesota's Shop Hop

This fabric was available at the participating shops


Loves their project for this panel


Something a girl is just wanting to do something easy and simple



\I used one of my 2.5" strips bundles from Bali


Just for fun!



Seth Apter is a new designer for Free Spirit Fabrics in 2023



To create this quilt
 called

\My grandson,Braydon loves to sew.

I cut out some big squares for him.

He sewed them together and I made it a bit bigger with some piano keys.


He loved getting it back for Christmas!

He's going to love the kit we got him for Christmas!

The year has wound down...

Made this no sew poncho for chilly camping nights


My sisters each received a shopping tote


Used a few ends of Widebacks to create these|!


My final 2023 project was this panel with log cabins on the last day of December


I hope you had a productive 2023!

I will be here for inspiration and creation supplies in 2024!

Stitch on!

Christa







Bucket Bag Tutorial

 I thought I would try to show you how to make one of these bucket bags... They are fast and easy. I used 2 Fat Quarters and some batting. I...