Have you ever been possessed by a project idea? I mean so totally consumed that you had to make it? Me, too.
Most of my sewing time is spent making samples or art quilts. I don’t make bags. I have lots of bags and, truth be known, I prefer leather bags. That’s why it was such a surprise to find a bag pattern that haunted me.
I was in the WebFabrics booth in Houston last year. Carly always has such beautiful things and I always look. This time, she had a new line of patterns designed to work with the Bali Pops that took the quilt world by storm at Market the year before. These patterns, by Aunties Two, use the 2 1/2″ strips in Bali Pops (you could use Jelly Rolls by Moda) and cotton clothesline to construct bags and boxes. I saw the pattern, saw the sample, and began to buy. Carly’s a great marketer! Even though I already had some Bali Pops at home, the feeding frenzy had begun and I had to pick up a few more. Why not one of each?
If I was going to make one of these beauties, I had to make one I’d actually use. I thought about going with all black, but I love batiks and decided to throw caution to the wind and embrace my inner color diva. I like red and so I decided to go with Strawberry Fields. This combination had some orange and just a little purple. What more could I want?
What more could I want?! Time to sew and time to play with fabric. My quilt guild’s spring retreat was the perfect time to try this pattern. I sat next to my good friend Kathy Lincoln. Kathy teaches this bag class at the Quilt Patch, the same shop where I teach art quilting. (Quilt guilds, she also offers this as a workshop!) If you’re in the DC Metro area, think about signing up. She’s offering the class again in January. Oh, and the Quilt Patch has a lovely selection of Bali Pops in the Batik Room.
I got out my 30-year-old mechanical Pfaff in case the clothesline proved hard to sew and I got busy. I sat next to Kathy, who guided me the whole way through the process. I could have done it with only the pattern, but a good teacher makes all the difference.
I sewed all of the strips together, end-to-end, not worrying about the color arrangement. Then I covered the clothesline, making a very, very long snake-like cording. Last, I used the widest zigzag my machine would do to sew the cording into a coil.
Easy, peasy! Of course, I had to change the pattern slightly by adding leather handles rather than fabric ones.
Did you notice that the sides of the bag in the pattern picture are straight and mine are angled out? I call this a design accident. The sides are meant to be straight, but I wasn’t very good at following directions and this was the result. I like it.
And so the next time a pattern calls out to you and won’t shut up, answer the call. I’m glad I did.
I was not surprised to see that you ‘changed the rules’ but the result is a fun bag that you could use for ‘school’ or for ‘work’ – depending on your mood.
I like the leather handles personally, but I admit that I bought a couple of pair of the plastic/ and wooden handles for making mine. (No, I haven’t started yet…) The handles remind me of the ‘Buffy Bags’ from when I was in…hmmm..grammar school maybe? All of the ‘preppy kids’ had the smaller size bags – the ones with the outsides that you could switch out to match your outfit. The shape of this bag reminds me of those bags…I’m thinking of making mine slightly smaller if I can get away with it.
You can definitely make it smaller. Once you’ve made the bag, the possibilities begin to swirl in your head. The box pattern is really cool, too!
That reminds me of a technique I saw done awhile back. (during my quilting days) Seems to me I made the coolest trash can for a bathroom with the same fabric I made the shower curtain out of. It distorted the fabric so much that people didn’t recognize it. They just wanted to know how I matched the colors so well. I NEVER thought of making a tote though. HMMMMMMMM
Julie, this technique makes a really, really sturdy bag (or trash can). You actually sew through the clothesline. The learning curve seems steep, but it’s a lot of fun. Totally worth it.
Is there a Aunties Two tote bag pattern that the strips are going up and down and sideways on the side using cording or clothesline. I saw a woman with one at a quilt show recently and she told me she got the pattern on the Aunties Two website. I cannot seem to find it.
Elinore,
I just e-mailed you a link to purchase the pattern I believe you’re looking for. Happy sewing!
Cyndi
is there any place in the wheeling, west virginia area or Pittsburgh, PA area that teaches classes on this. i would love to try my hand at this project
Lynn,
I don’t know what shops teach this. If you are part of a guild, you may want to consider asking them to book Kathy Lincoln (www.KathyLincoln.com) to come teach this workshop for them or for your local shop. If she’s not available, I’d be happy to fill in. It’s a really fun technique.
Cyndi
Hi: Did you sew the strips first and then put the clothesline through? or did you lay the clothesline in the middle of the 2 1/2 inch strips and then sew together.
Elinore,
It would probably be worth it to buy the pattern. It’s not expensive and the pictures are worth it.
The answer to your question: sew the strips together end to end. Press as if you are making bias binding. Place the clothesline inside the center fold and wrap both sides around the clothesline, covering it completely. Sew as you cover the clothesline with a straight stitch.
Good luck! It’s a fun project!
Cyndi
I do have the pattern and started it trying to sew it with the clothesline inside wrapping the fabric around it, but it sounds much easier sewing strips and then putting clothesline through. Thanks!
Elinore,
I’m sorry! I didn’t realize you had the pattern. I strongly recommend sewing all of the strips together end-to-end before you get involved with the clothesline. Then, press according to the directions. I know there’s a steep learning curve when it comes to sewing through the clothesline to cover it, but it does get easier (I promise!) and it will be faster than sewing and turning tubes (I think that’s what you were suggesting).
Please check back and let me know how it goes.
Cyndi
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. I can’t wait to start it and see how it comes out, just hope I don’t get discouraged. One more question………do I do a quarter inch seam on the strips. Sorry to be such a bother.
Elinore,
You’re no bother at all! Yes, use a 1/4 inch seam allowance when you connect all of the strips end-to-end. When you’re sewing the fabric around the clothesline, there’s no seam allowance to worry about, as you will be overlapping the fabric and then sewing down the middle — more or less. Good luck!
Cyndi
Cyndi:
I promise this is the last question. (maybe) Am I sewing the strips right side to right side and then turn or wrong side to wrong side and when I put them together I hide the seam??
Do you understand this???
Elinore,
I answered you directly in an e-mail. Let me know if you need anything else. Have fun with your project!
Cyndi
Cyndi:
I’m Michele Scott’s mom. She told me to tell you and to not embarrass her.
Elinore,
Too funny! You’ve got a great daughter!
Cyndi
Does it have to be a cotton clothesline, I can only find a very soft nylon one in my area
Great question! My friend Kathy Lincoln, an expert in making these lovely clothesline projects, tells me the nylon clothesline simply isn’t flexible enough. I know it looks like it will be, but she’s done tests and teaches numerous classes in this technique. If you need to shop online to find the cotton clothesline, it’s worth it. Check out http://www.kathylincoln.com/Workshops.htm for Kathy’s workshop.
I Have your pattern and my bag turned more into a bowl but I love it. I want to use this method to make a rug and I’ve started it. I am having trouble keeping the rug flat as I sew. when I take it off the machine, it looks more like a bowl. Do you have any suggestions?
Anyone here able to make straight sides? I’ve made two and the second was narrower, but I still can’t get the sides upright!
Beth, I’m told that the secret to straight sides is to make sure the bottom of your bag (or bowl or vessel) is perpendicular to your work surface. I keep my left hand flat on the bottom of the bag to maintain its position. I hope that helps!
Beautiful bag. Thanks for blogging. A friend and I are making time to try a similar pattern. Like you I’m very excited.