The one where I make a weekender bag... in a weekend.

It's done peeps! My self imposed time limit to make a weekender bag was this weekend. I think it was tuesday last week that I decided I had to make one. And I HAD TO MAKE ONE LIKE RIGHT NOW. I don't like fannying around with interfacing, especially not Peltex, so seeing Elizabeth's version, and then Amber's version was all I needed to get my butt into gear and just go for it.

Thank you all so much for the Instagram and Twitter love by the way, being accountable to you lovely lot really made it go much quicker.

Anyway.... I'm not usually one to toot my own trumpet (lol, I love that expression), but can I just say, OMFG I'm so super proud of this. How frigging awesome is this bag? 

It had to be navy. And it had to be black and white and texty. Thats just my thing at the moment. I love navy. Pretty much all my outfits for sewing summit are navy so I will be uber co-ordinated. Hopefully not in a lame kind of way though....

I was saving the feather print, which I got from spoonflower when they were doing that free FQ thing, for a pillow for my bedroom, but I love how it goes in the bag. The feathers are probably my favourite part. 

Back to the pattern... I really didn't find it that hard. I can imagine, if you were using a bunch of interfacing and peltex it would be much more cumbersome. But this quilt as you go method was actually really simple. All you need is some canvas, or heavy weight cotton for the backing, a layer of low-loft batting, and regular quilting weight cotton for the top. I actually used 2 layers of batting, because I thought one would be a little thin and wibbly and I really wanted it to stand up on its own.

For the piping and handles, I used an ivory on navy Sevenberry Dot from Fabric Inspirations, and for the lining, the same Sevenberry Dot but in the reverse colourway.

Modifications I made to the pattern:

• Quilt-as-you-go method.
• Used medium iron on interfacing for the handles.
• Ditto for the base, but I used 2 layers.
• Added piping to the end pockets.
• Made the handles about 4" longer.
• Inserted a zipper pocket in the lining a la this tutorial.

Suggestions and tips for any future weekender-makers:

• Definitely use 1/4" steam a seam tape or whatever to make the piping. I had an old packet of wonderweb hemming stuff lying around which did the trick, but 1/4" stuff would be better.
• You really don't need to pin the piping to the panels when sewing it on. I gave up halfway through and it was much quicker.
  
• I've read that the 30" zip is hard to find...? I got mine, and the piping cord that you need, from Jaycotts. Here's a link to the Zip and Cording that I used.
• I had trouble with the very last bottom corner when I was sewing the outside together. I broke 2 needles on it. So eventually I admitted defeat and hand stitched it. All the other corners were fine though, so have faith! 
• RE the breaking of needles above... buy an extra pack of jeans needles just to be sure.
• I'm fairly sure the pattern for the bottom panel is too long. I didn't cut mine down, but I probably could have done with trimming between 1 and 2 inches off it. Likewise for the lining.
• Handsewing the lining was not my favourite part, but only took about 2 hours. Just sayin'... it's definitely doable.
• The lining could probably have done with some interfacing. I didn't do it, because I was bored at this point and just wanted it done. But this sevenberry dot is quite a lightweight quilting cotton so really it would have benefited from it. I may take it out, add some, and re sew it when I'm back from Sewing Summit. Maybe. Probably not though.

So there we go! If you're gonna be at sewing summit, and you see this bag out of the corner of your eye, come say hi! Its me! If you see it swinging off someone elses shoulder however, please go rescue it and bring it back to me. I've already had theft-threats from Katy, Diane and Amy ;o)