The Convertible Bag

A New Bag of the Month Pattern

You can join this bag of the month club... for 6 new and exciting bag patterns
at Sew Sweetness blog

Since I love to make purses and bags, I signed up, last December, to get into this fun club at Sew Sweetness . We get a  new bag pattern each  month, for 6 months.  These bags are designed by 6 super talented and creative bag pattern designers.   

March's Designer is  one of my favorites... Samantha  from At Home With Mrs H

Samantha from Sewing Patterns with Mrs. H. is a Welsh pattern designer with a group of pretty yet practical bags in her pattern library. She also sells the perfect hardware to go along with her bags.

The Bag:   The Convertible Bag  

The Convertible Bag pattern   by Samantha  of Sewing Patterns by Mrs H

 
I love the bold and contemporary fabrics that Samantha used in her bag.  The solid pink color is actually a front pocket!

And have you noticed the cool hardware she incorporates into this slim and sophisticated messenger bag?

There are swivel clips on the handle strap, which is an adjustable across- the- body handle strap, and  on the front flap.... there's a thumb catch!  (There's a pocket hiding underneath it!)

Hardware Note:   I was able to get my hardware:

Swivel clips - 1 "  JoAnn Fabric  in the store

3/4 " D rings    JoAnn Fabric     4 in a pack in the store

Thumb Catch   Michelle Pattens   (several sizes available)

Triglide buckle- 1 "  Michelle Patterns

Samantha also sells them in super convenient hardware kit , at her Etsy shop... for about $20 including shipping to the US.  

Stabilizer for outer bag:   Annie's Soft and Stable   I got it at Annie's

So here is my Convertible Bag...

The Convertible Bag     Susie's Sunroom

Fabric:  Swallow  in Teal     Bungalow  by Joel Dewberry
              Zigtone Grass    Bungalow by Joel Dewbery

The colors are actually more teal in person....   I love this fabric!!

Finished size:   11 1/2 " tall x 10 " wide x 2 1/2 " deep

The back side   has  a zippered outside pocket.
There is a strap tunnel above the zipper.... for converting the bag into a back pack!

Inside of the back zippered pocket

The front with the large slip pocket

Side view  of The Convertible Bag    Susie's Sunroom

There are pockets galore in this bag.... inside a zippered pocket and a big slip pocket!

There's room for a tablet or Ipad,  and still room for more!!

Opening up the flap

A selfie of my hand , reaching easily into the back outer zippered pocket

My observations:

•  Samantha's directions are clear and easy to understand, with lots of pictures
• The Annie's Soft and Stable gives it a nice stiffness, and it "stands" alone.
• It has Pockets !  Pockets!  Pockets!     and Pockets!!   4 of them in all.  
• the  Outer pockets are very convenient for easy access!
• It has a cool Thumb Catch fastener!
• It has the across-the-body adjustable strap, and it is skinny!
• It can hold a tablet (mine is an Asus) and you'd never even notice that! There's still room for regular "purse stuff", too!
• It can turn into a backpack style bag in a minute!

I am pretty sure this won't be the last Convertible Bag that you'll see on my blog...

I'm off to my sewing room!

Linked up to:   Can I Get a Whoop Whoop @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict   and
                      TGIFF  @  Sew Giving  and
                       Sew Darn Crafty @ Sew Many Ways

Catching up on my Patchique' Blocks

Block Talking.....  Patchique Catch Up!

Have you  noticed that lately I haven't made any of my Japanese Taupe Quilt blocks, while sewing along with Amanda, at The Patchsmith blog?   Yes, I have been that busy!

But lately I did make time to sew up 6 blocks!

See all of Amanda's beautiful  blocks at  The Patchsmith.com 

Block # 26:  Ichimatsu yotsu me       ( which means four checkered squares)

 Block  # 26  from the book by Susan BriscoeJapanese Taupe Quilts 

I am very relieved to have found my accurate "scant quarter inch " method, as this is making the blocks come out to just at  the right size!  And, of course, it is SO great to read Amanda's tips and observations BEFORE I sew my blocks!!

Block # 26  Four checkered Squares      Susie's Sunroom

 Block # 77:  Ken yotsu me   ( means Four sword squares)

Block # 77  from the book

#77  Four sword squares     Susie's Sunroom

Block # 24:   Hira izutsu ni kugi   (which means Flat well curb nail )

# 24  flat well curb nail     from the book

Well,  I learned a lot making this block.   "The third time is the charm! "

Block # 24  Flat well curb Nail    Attempt 1, 2 and finally 3 !!

So what happened?  Well....
Attempt 1:      I didn't turn my computer on to look at Amanda's directions and                                         observations.       (It had a horrible center and was way too small.)  I must've been half asleep while making this block, because I just thought that the book gave longer strip dimensions "so I could trim them off."  WHAT was I thinking???!!! Doh!

Attempt 2:  I used some freezer paper and the templates, and really focused on the center  to make the nice points.   The block was still way too small. That center diamond was way too small.    (Must've still been half asleep!)

Attempt 3:  I read The Patchsmith's blog notes about block #24.  I made the block according to her directions.    It worked!! Yay!   'Nuff said.   

# 24   Flat well curb nail       Susie's Sunroom

Block # 69:  Kawari kazaguruma  (which means windmill variation)

Block # 69  from the book

I only had to make this block once!!

# 69   Windmill variation      Susie's Sunroom

Block # 17:   Kasuri taikaku   (which means Kasuri diagonal)

Block # 17  from the book 

Raise your hand if you think that I read Amanda's blog before I began making this block?
You are correct!
This block was very fun for me to make!  I do love having the correct scant quarter inch for my machine now!

Block # 17  Kasuri diagonal      Susie's Sunroom

Block # 84:   Yamabuki   (which means Kerria rose)

# 84  Kerria rose    from the book

# 84  Kerria rose      Susie's Sunroom

Wow, that's a lot of blocks to add to my pile of Patchique' blocks!

My Patchique blocks                                      Susie's Sunroom

I'll be posting my blocks in Amanda's  Flickr group for the Patchique blocks.   Hop on over to see all over her beautiful blocks.  Her precision and style  is amazing!

I'm off to my sewing room!

Across The Pond Sew Along ... March Project

March's Across The Pond Sew Along Project

March's Project :  Shamrocks

I have  a dose of "spring fever"  for sure...outside, we have still have snow  on the ground... it's been there  since the beginning of February.   I need something to remind me that spring is "just around the corner..."

How about a making a  new project with the Across The Pond Sew Along group?!  

March's Theme:   Shamrocks

We must have the" Luck of the Irish"  with us this month, because we have  "sew many" beautiful projects , that are available for free!  I found some great things... a little bit of everything, from basic blocks to finished project ideas!  Amanda, The Patchsmith, has some beautiful project suggestions, too.  And a free pattern for you!!

• Shamrock Block:    @ Kims Big Quilting Adventure      

photo  by  Kim's Big Quilting Adventure

• Scrappy Shamrock Block:  @  Quilting Assistant.com

pattern by Quilting Assistant.com

• A Paper Pieced Shamrock:  @  Sewhooked.com     

St Patrick Shamrock patten design by Jennifer Ofenstein

• A "Luck of The Irish" Table Topper :  @ Moda Bakeshop

Luck of the Irish Table Topper  pattern by RibbonCandyQuilts.com

• A Shamrock Coaster:  By Amanda @ The Patchsmith 

Shamrock Coaster  designed for the Across The Pond Sew Along ...for free!

Isn't this coaster stunning and cute!  Bonus: Amanda 's pattern teaches how to make Flying Geese by 2 different methods. 

• Shamrock Applique Block:  @ WeeFolkArt     see her blog for pictures and pattern

I wish I had time to make every one of these cute projects... but I decided to make the table topper first , because I don't have one for March and St. Patrick's Day.  

The "Luck of the Irish" Table Topper

Pattern:  A Moda Bakeshop pattern design by  Ribbon Candy Quilt Company  (free)

                                

Pattern design by Ribbon Candy Quilt Company and Moda Bakeshop

Fabrics:   Several  St. Patrick Day fabrics from Jo Ann Fabric
                  Kona   lime green
              Garden Pindot  white by Michael Miller

Dimensions:  30 inches x 30 inches

My Adaptations:

•      the pattern called for additional border of scrappy fabrics, but I liked this Lime Green so well that I used  it. 
• finished size:  24 inches by 24 inches
•       I used the back as the binding  ( by adding an inch to the back fabric  on all four sides, and folding and pressing it to the front.   Then I sewed the binding by machine , with my walking foot.

The Luck of the Irish Table Topper     by Susie's Sunroom

The stems of the Shamrocks are appliqued on, and then sewn with the Blanket Stitch on my machine

The back fabric.... with little gold flecks and mini shamrocks.... it continues to the front to become the binding

I quilted in the white sashes , in 1/4 inch straight lines

The directions are well written, and this project was very fun to make!  I love the bright spring colors!


You can see what other quilters have made in our Across The Pond Sew Along Flickr group, too.  Add your projects and share them with us!! 

I hope to make The Patchsmith's  Shamrock Coaster this month, too.  So stop by and see what else I make during March.

One last note, if you view my blog with Bloglovin', and haven't seen any new posts for months...  please feel free to sign up to follow my blog by email .  I am having troubles with my RSS feed, I guess.   

Linking up at :   Can I Get a Whoop Whoop @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict  and
                       Sew Darn Crafty       @ Sew Many Ways

I'm off to my sewing room!

                                  "Wherever you go and whatever you do,
May the luck of the Irish be there with you.  "