More Bags in Progress

I've really grown fond of my denim circle tote bags—they're fantastic for shopping—so when I found a stack of old jeans I decided to make more. Although they're quite time-consuming to make, the effort is definitely worth it.

I've already devoted a full day to cutting up jeans into circles and I found I had enough for three bags. Sewing these pieces together, along with securing the flaps, usually takes another couple of days. I’m currently done with one of the panels and have two more to go.

After I sew the fabric into the panels, I sew them into tubes, then add the bottom and top pieces and attach the handles. Then, because I don't think these bags are strong enough, I make another bag from heavy fabric to line it. Once finished, these bags hold a lot of weight and my husband really loads them up when he's shopping.

I probably have at least another three days work on these bags to complete them. This process would no doubt be quicker if I had written down the measurements during my last round of making these bags. This time, I am.

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Put Your Foot Down

Still Playing With Denim

I'm not sure why, but I'm still in the mood to play with my denim scraps. I decided to make three more of these circle denim tote bags. I've finished cutting out and sewing together the panels but I haven't decided what fabrics I'll be using for the "windows." I'm not sure why I'm struggling to decide this time.

While I was trying to figure it out, I saw the big pile of odd-shaped scraps that were leftover from cutting out all the circles. I was inspired to start sewing them together to make crumb blocks. I'm not sure what they're for (yet). Maybe I'll use them as external pouches on more of the insulated shopping totes.

We've signed up for Costco so now we'll be doing less frequent, large shopping trips so it would be handy to have at least a couple more totes. I'm starting to run out of tired, old jeans so I might have to use other fabrics.

Ultimate Travel Bag Finished!

I finally finished the Ultimate Travel Bag, and what a journey it's been! I started this project back in January 2024, aiming to create an insulated shopping bag. I used the Modern Peacock pantograph by Kim Diamond for quilting and, as I recall, it used a crazy amount of thread: 5 bobbins for just 1 yard of fabric. I went all out with the batting—using one layer of Pellon Insul-fleece and a layer of Quilters Dream Blend 70/30. This combo made the bag really thick and insulated, which is great, but sewing it? Wow, that was an unanticipated challenge.

Getting those thick layers under the sewing machine foot turned into my own personal sewing ordeal. It was so bulky, I couldn't even fit it under the foot of my old machine. In my quest to find a machine that could handle it, I ended up buying two used machines this past year, but no luck—neither could manage the job.

Then came the Sailrite. Even with this new beast of a machine, it was tough. I mean, it could squash those layers down enough to sew, but I had to wrestle with it every step of the way and use some really heavy thread. After all that, I’ve decided I'm not going through this again with the same insulated batting. But hey, now I have a travel bag that's ready for just about anything!

And it's already been put to the test! My husband took it on a business trip to New Jersey and it worked out great. He was really impressed with how much he could fit in it and how well it held up through the trip. Looks like all that wrestling with fabric and thread paid off!

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Brag About Your Beauties
Finished (or Not) Friday
Off the Wall Friday
TGI Finished Friday

New Sewing Machine

I found a machine that will sew bags! It's a Sailrite Ultrafeed LSZ. I'd never heard of this brand before, but I saw it on Adam Savage's Youtube Channel so I ordered one! This was the third machine I've purchased because I want to make bags.

It took a bit of time to get it all set up. (Sorry, I haven't yet managed to get a good photo.) The machine is crazy heavy, over 50 pounds, and I don't trust it won't break my sewing table if I put it in the cutout, so I am still waiting for the new sewing table to set it up in a permanent location. 

I decided to give it a test drive by sewing a new purse. I spent a couple of days measuring my favorite purse and reverse-engineering the pattern. I decided to cut up some old, dead jeans for the fabric.

I made a few minor changes from the original purse but I think it turned out really well for the first try. And the sewing machine performed great. Now that I've figured it out, I think I'll make another in purple, my favorite color.

Downsizing My Sewing Room

My husband and I have decided to move into a smaller, one-story house so I am trying to downsize my sewing gear. We don't have a house lined up, but it is pretty clear to me I won't have a whole bedroom as a sewing room. So, I am starting the process now.

I am selling my tables and my excess sewing machines. I will miss these tables. I've loved having them.

Another Shopping Bag

The bag is based on Sew4Home's Zippered Thermal Picnic Tote. This was actually my third time sewing this pattern and it went much better because I didn't follow her directions for putting in the zipper and instead did a recessed closed-end zipper. It was so much easier to sew into the bag because those bulky tabs weren't in the way. I also didn't bother to sew in the interior pocket since I won't need it.

By the time I had finished building the bag exterior, I was out of the denim rectangles (I actually had to cut a few more) so I just did the pockets with a larger scrap I had lying around. The lining is some leftover trigger cloth from many years ago. The batting is Insul-Bright Mylar/Poly Batting to help hold in the cold when we buy freezer items. (I actually bought a bolt of it a couple years ago, so I'm happy to finally be using some of it.)

Now that I've gotten the hang of making this bag pattern, I might just make a few more as gifts. These really are great shopping bags. And I found a couple more canvas remnants while spending the last week cleaning up my sewing room/closets.

Linking up with:

Brag About Your Beauties
Finished (or Not) Friday
TGI Finished Friday

Thermal Shopping Bag

I finally finished one of my long term To Dos: An insulated shopping bag! This was my third attempt and I finally got one finished with the zipper!

I'd been sifting through all the stuff that's been dumped in my large walk-in closet and I found a tall pile of rectangular denim scraps. I don't remember why I originally cut these, but they inspired me to start sewing them together to make fabric for this attempt at the tote bag. I also found a remnant of red canvas that I used for the lining and binding.

I went ahead and tried the Zippered Thermal Picnic Tote pattern again, but this time I didn't wing it and followed the directions as closely as possible. It definitely went better, but lining it with canvas certainly caused problems as it is a lot more bulky than the lighter fabric recommended.

Now that I've figured it out, I'm planning to make another one, but I'm going to revise the pattern. The pattern for the zipper doesn't work very well with canvas so I'm going to try an make an Enclosed End Recessed Zipper for the next bag.

Linking up with:

Brag About Your Beauties
Finished (or Not) Friday
TGI Finished Friday

Fall Foliage Spectacular Quilted

I am delighted to have finished the quilting! I'm quite happy with how this one has turned out. This pattern is from Judy Martin's Cookies 'n' Quilts book and I used fabrics that coordinate with my living room furnishings.

Since I couldn't find an edge-to-edge design I liked, I created this block design by combining two different triangle blocks. I think it worked pretty well. I had tried a number of different triangles with that leaf design, but this was the one Jeff liked best, and the quilt was for him.

Heart Block P2P Triangle 01

Chloe's Garden Triangle 2

The small sashing design I created by snipping the leaf out of the garden triangle and slightly editing it.

I used Quilter's Dream Green batting, made with recycled soda bottles, as I feel it's the least I can do for the environment. And I used Madeira Aeroquilt thread in a dark green.

Linking up with:

Design Wall Monday
Monday Sew & Tell
Monday Musings

Brag About Your Beauties
Finished (or Not) Friday

Fall Foliage Spectacular Flimsy!

I finished my Fall Foliage Spectacular flimsy! Yay! I'm really happy with how it turned out. Had I remembered to pre-wash the backing fabric, I could already be putting it on the long arm frame, but I didn't. LOL

I have figured out how I'm going to quilt it, so once I get this fabric washed and pieced, I should be able to get this one finished fairly quickly.

I'd still like to make one more quilt in this same color scheme so now I need to choose what pattern to use. There are so many good options.

Linking up with:

Brag About Your Beauties
Finished (or Not) Friday
Off the Wall Friday
TGIF Friday

Fall Foliage Nearly Finished

My weekend unexpectedly freed up so I was able to spend it working on my Fall Foliage quilt! I'm delighted with how it is turning out.

Since I made this primarily from fabrics that have been in my stash for years, all the pieces were a yard or less. I need about a yard for the two borders and the binding and I don't have enough of any of the fabrics. I'd like to use the darkest green fabric, and I'd settle for one of the darker rust colors, but I don't have enough of either. Sigh.

I did find a quilt shop online where I could buy more of the darkest green fabric, but I don't know if I want to wait for shipping and prewashing to finish this quilt. (And I, of course, would buy enough to get free shipping.)

I dug around in my stash and I found this batik that is close to the right color, but I'm picky enough to not be quite satisfied with it because I never used it in the quilt. I'm probably just being overly fastidious.

I was hoping to finish this today, but I think I'll sleep on it for a day and decide whether to buy more fabric, or just settle for this batik. What would you guys do? 

Linking up with:

Design Wall Monday

Monday Sew & Tell

Monday Musings

Leaves!

I’ve made more progress on my Fall Foliage quilt this week than I initially anticipated, thanks largely to some late-night sessions in my sewing room after my husband had gone to bed. Although it means I’ve been staying up way too late, the results are worth it: 24 of the border leaves are now complete, with just 20 more to go!

I'm aiming to finish the remaining leaves this weekend. However, with a paid quilting gig scheduled for Sunday, it might take a bit longer than planned.

Seeing the end in sight is really motivating me to spend time in my sewing room. I'm thrilled with how the quilt is turning out.

For those who haven't followed along on my progress pics, this is how the leaves will be laid out on the center panel once I put it all together. This is the Fall Foliage Spectacular quilt from Judy Martin's Cookies 'n' Quilts book.

Linking up With:

Finished (or Not) Friday

Off the Wall Friday

Friday Night Sew-In

Tuesday ToDo #88

I think I'll try making lists again and see how I do with them. I've had mixed success achieving my goals. Oftentimes once I feel I have to do something, I don't want to. LOL

I would be really happy if I could finish all the foundation paper pieced stem squares for the Fall Foliage Spectacular quilt. I've started on them, but I'm still learning the technique and am fairly slow. I need 44 total for the borders squares, and I've managed to make 14 so far.

I would also like to start making the leaf blocks. Ideally, I would finish all 44, but I'm pretty sure I won't get that far. This is what they look like.

Anyway, I don't have a lot of time to sew this week because my father is visiting soon so I have to spend a lot of time straightening and cleaning house, but when I can, this is the project I want to work on.

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Tuesday ToDo

Fall Foliage Progress

I've finally gotten started on living room quilt #2. This is the Fall Foliage Spectacular quilt from Judy Martin's Cookies 'n' Quilts book.

As I often do, I cut out the odd-shaped pieces with my Cricut Maker.

When you start with a new cutting mat and blade, it works beautifully!

I foundation paper-pieced the little stem pieces because it was the easiest way to make them perfectly accurate. (This is a departure from Judy's original pattern so I made a handy pdf with foundation pieces. You can download it here. Be sure to print out at 100% or they won't be the correct size.)

Now I just need to make 44 more leaves for the border! LOL

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Oh Scrap!
Design Wall Monday

Monday Sew & Tell

Monday Musings

Chilhowie Quilted!

Chilhowie is quilted! 

I do think this one needs a label so I'll be setting it aside until the next time I do a batch of labels, and then I'll finish binding it. The backing I ordered turned out to be perfect, so I'm glad I took a chance on it.

I'm quite pleased with how this one turned out.

I quilted this quilt primarily with Christy Dillon's Orange Blossom set, but the original plan done entirely with these blocks felt like too many of the same flowers so I substituted in the alternate blocks with Donna Kleinke's Lady of the Lake 2 Block 1.

As usual, I used Quilters Dream Green batting and MaxiLock thread in the Lauren color. I had intended to use Glide thread, but I just didn't find a color I liked among my supply.

Linking up with:

Wednesday Wait Loss
Put Your Foot Down
Brag About Your Beauties
Finished (or Not) Friday
Off the Wall Friday
TGIF Friday