An Open Wide bag

With all my Christmas sewing out of the way I thought it was time that I made myself a present! I have had this gorgeous Chinese Oriental Flower fabric for a few months (thank you Sue) and have been wanting to make it into a bag.

One of these Open Wide bags seemed to be the perfect match.

I had not used this pattern before so, being a good girl, I read through the instructions before I started! There are a lot of them and it all sounded rather complicated but once you get started they are extremely well written and easy to follow.

I made the medium sized bag and used Soft and Stable as the wadding.

I was worried about adding the end pieces and sewing round the curve but they set in perfectly. Adding the binding was not quite so easy. I hand stitched the reverse of the binding - machining round seemed like a step too far and anyway, I prefer the finished look of hand stitching.

The zip went in like a dream although I could not bring myself to cut the zip as per the instructions! However, cutting it once it was sewn in place worked well and I left the end stop in place too as it is covered by the fabric tab. Again, adding the binding over the zip took patience and there was a little reverse stitching here but I got there in the end.

And so here is my lovely new bag.

I am very pleased with the finished bag - the Soft and Stable works really well and is very light although I think for the small version I will use something a little less bulky.

I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts for Bag It 2017

FNSI and a Bag Story

Many thanks to Wendy for hosting our get together again this month - I am looking forward to seeing what everyone else got up to here.

Last month I was working on some secret stitching and promised to show you this month what I was working on. It was these.

Yes, another little log cabin pin cushion - this time with no gusset. It is about 3" across.

The little pouch bag I made using this pattern from s.o.t.a.k handmade - a good basic pattern in four sizes. I made the smallest.

Whilst in UK last weekend I collected a large package of wool from The Wool Warehouse in order to make this blanket.

 Good job it is squashy so that I was able to get it in my suitcase! I love the colours. I made a start on some of the blocks while I was away.

What I realsied was that I needed a small container in which to keep my crochet hooks, stitch markers, scissors and needle while I was working on the blocks - and so to my project for FNSI!
I used the same s.o.t.a.k pattern but adapted it to make a squatter pouch to keep all my little tools in.

Another little project for Friday was to make this card using 1/2" hexies for a poorly friend.

Now, while talking about the s.o.t.a.k pattern I also want to show you this wristlet bag that I made for my Mum adapting the same pattern.

I used some Liberty furnishing fabric samples and added a pocket to the inside, leaving out the boxed corners on the base.

It's a useful, adaptable, beginner friendly pattern that I am sure I am going to use a lot.

Well I think that is enough for one day - hope everyone had a great Friday.

I am also linking up with BagIt 2017 run by Patty at Elm Street Quilts.