One of my favorite fabric lines this year is Spring Street. It makes me happy and fits the season so well. I did a pattern swap with a friend from my guild, and I got to make some Birdie Sling bags from her pattern and she got to play with my Practical Bag pattern! With the high cost of patterns I’m going to try to make the most of the patterns I have by setting up more pattern swaps in the future!
Here’s the first of the birdie slings (I cut out several this week, since we are swapping back patterns tomorrow and of course I waited until the last minute to get started!):
Pattern notes: while the pattern calls for 1 1/4 yards of the exterior and handle, I was easily able to make the bag with 1 yard of each. I omitted the interior pockets and only used about 1/2 a yard for the lining. I also ended up skipping the final step of top stitching the bag right under the band, because I tried it, but it looked badly enough that I ripped out the stitches.
In other news, I’m pretty sure that Edna Elizabeth is angry with me. This afternoon I sewed straight through the tip of my thumb. Not just through the skin, but through the meat of my finger. It was crazy–Edna didn’t hesitate–she just sewed right through my thumb and carried on going. I’m pretty sure my rotary cutter is looking at me funny, too, so I’m a little scared to sew without another adult nearby.
I finished 3 quilt tops and 4 quilt backs this weekend, so I’m feeling a little bit super-star-y. Even if one of the quilts is a super ugly Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See quilt requested by Willie B that I am going to serge bind and call done tomorrow morning!
Susanne - I bought a big roll of wax paper to trace patterns from. It’s perfect, especially if you’re swapping or borrowing pattern books from the library 🙂 .
Brooke - That bag is adorable! I need to get my hands on some of that Spring Street! And, I have to say, I’m totally jealous of your super-star-y-ness! It took me two nights of sewing to make ONE bee block and I’m feeling majorly bummed about it.
Kati - Love the fabrics. I made this bag a while ago. It’s such a fun one. Great work! So sad on the finger. I hope it’s okay. I’m always afraid I’ll do that. Watch out for that rotary cutter! I have taken off the top of my thumb with that one.
Susan Phillips - I love this bag. The fabric is perfect for it and perfect for spring. I hope your thumb feels better. Ouch! Thanks so much for your presentation at the Front Range Modern Quilt Guild last night. You did a wonderful job!
Rene' Sharp - What a gorgeous bag!!!