Sewing for Quilt Market

In the flurry leading up to Quilt Market in Portland this past May, I did a bit of sewing--trying to decorate the booth for the Japanese fabric lines that I peddle (just one of my many part-time gigs).

Here's what got done!

1.  Reversible apron
Both a brand thing--"Hi, we sell Japanese fabrics here!"--as well as a practical issue--pockets!  I made this apron from a panel (currently in stock: tell your local quilt shop to order a bolt :)
 

2.  Tissue box covers
What does the enterprising salesperson do with sample swatches that are no longer needed?  Why, make something cute and clever (and useful! if I do say so myself).  Whipped these two up in a trice: traditional Japanese motifs on one, and the ever-so-cute contemporary Japanese designs on the other.  The fabrics are backed with scraps of fusible fleece, to give them some body.
I think I will add interfacing/fleece to my next tissue box project; I have made several, but have not thought to make them more sturdy.

3.  Upcycled jeans skirt
I wanted to play with double gauze material, but didn't have a lot of time to stitch something up that would look "professional".  I had seen some versions of an upcycle--attaching basically a long ruffle onto a pair of jeans, and decided to give it a go.  When I cut the jeans off at bottom of the zipper in the front, it did hack off a bit of the back pocket (unlike the YouTube video I linked), but I think this was absolutely the correct place to cut.  And, if you haven't tried double gauze yet, you simply must.  (Umm, get the good stuff, not the Shannon brand--sorry, Embrace.)

This skirt is like wearing secret pajamas!

4.  Hawaiian tote bag
This finish deserves its own post, but if I don't get to that anytime soon, here is at least a picture.  Made from scraps of Hawaiian print fabrics (a souvenir from last year's vacation visit to a swap meet).  This is one of my favorite tote bag patterns, and the exterior pocket is perfect for showing off a sashiko stitchery.  Conveniently, the stitchery was Hawaiian-themed as well. 

So that's some quick-stitch I got done in May.  Next Quilt Market is in November, and I've already started sewing for the booth.  Fortunately, most of my makes come back to me and get used & loved.


Finally, no mention of Quilt Market would be complete without a gratuitous picture of Oakie.  He has been my faithful traveling penguin companion on many quilt-y adventures of late.  Here he is with Lucy, a traveling doggie companion who had come all the way from Japan to visit Market.  They are totally upstaging the blue-footed booby and puffin fabrics that were supposed to be the stars of this corner of the booth...

 #wheresOakie

Mondo Bag: finish it February

Does this ever happen to you?

You declare a goal: "finish it February".  Well, declare might be a strong word, considering I never actually told anyone, or wrote it down.  Not exactly the best way to go about goal-setting, from what I hear.

But in my mind, February was my month to finish things.  So very many UFO's.  And I kept leaving my projects so close to being done.

Challenge fabric: what would you make?

Then there is new and shiny.  My arch nemesis.  Don't get me wrong, this was not quite an out-of-the-blue new project.  The fabric was purchased in November as a guild challenge.  And the challenge due date was in February.  But I did completely change my mind at January's retreat as to what exactly I was gonna make for the challenge (which would be due in February--did I mention that I am a bit of a procrastinator?)

Voila, February finish: the Mondo Bag

Completely ignoring the UFO's grumbling from their corners, I went for it with zeal and gusto on a new project.  But, to my credit, I did manage to finish said project.  Does this ever happen to you???


And now I'm sharing all the details with you. Pattern-review style, here is my take on making the Mondo Bag.

Name of pattern:  
Mondo Bag, by Quiltsmart

Other, similar patterns: 
Quiltsmart offers the Midi Bag and Bitty Bag, smaller versions of basically the same technique (8" square bottom, 12" tall sides; 5-1/2" square bottom, 9" tall sides, respectively)

Pattern description:
Mondo [mon'-doh], Adjective - large, big: "This bag is so mondo, I can pack for a whole weekend!"  Adverb - very, extremely: "This bag is mondo cool, and mondo easy to make!"  Mondo unique assembly!  Make yourself a Mondo travel bag, or a Mondo diaper bag!

Pattern sizing: 
finished bag measures about 10" square at the bottom, with 17" tall sides. 

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern when you were done?
Yep

Were the instructions easy to follow?
A bit tricky, I'd say.  You need both the printed pattern and the printed fusible interfacing to make the bag (subsequent bags will need more interfacing).  The instructions for using the fusible interfacing (that is the basis for many of Quiltsmart's products) worked fine for me.  Additionally, there are a couple YouTube videos available (Quiltsmart's official Mondo video and online instructor Karen Dennison's version) that can help take you through the process more smoothly than the written instructions.  I have a lot of bag sewing experience, so I was able to work thru basic bag construction techniques that were a little skimpy, even in the videos. I plan to write up a separate post with some construction hints.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?  
I liked the fusible product for setting and stitching your squares together--worked like a charm.  I like the origami-like assembly technique that makes this bag--it is unique from any other bag I have made.  And this bag is darn roomy!  (I'm a little worried I might dislocate my shoulder if I load it up the way I do with my other bags.  My reminder: fluffy, bulky objects only; no armloads of books!)  I disliked the pocket option and I disliked the straps (so I changed them! see below)

Fabric used:
Quilting cottons and batiks.  The focus fabric was a Hoffman California screenprint (maybe a 2016 release?).  All other fabrics were from my stash, including the purple batik lining (yay, stashbusting!)  Interfacing was Pellon Fusible Fleece, my go-to for lightweight stability in many bag and kitchen sewing projects.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
Ooh, many!  In fact, one reason I waited so long to write this blog post was because I envisioned throwing lots of pattern hack/tutorial type hints up at the same time as showing off my finish.  But... I'm planning on blogging about my alterations, just not here.

• Fabric placement (carefully considered design decisions here)
• Two internal pockets added
• Bag hardware for making the straps more attractive/stylish
• Stabilizing the bottom for a flatter appearance

Would you sew it again?  Would you recommend it to others?
Yes and yes.  I have already been asked to teach this bag--both at the shop, and by my guild.  I really want to make one with 5" squares, so individual fabrics are shown off better.  I also have the Midi Bag pattern + interfacing pack on deck for a spring tote: same technique, different size.

Conclusion
I love this bag so much that I started using it before the topstitching was even done.(!)  The size is wonderful for toting those bulky nearly-finished quilting projects.  Would also make an awesome beach tote, as it's definitely of a size to cart along allll the towels.
If you have not made a bag before, this might not be the one to start with, however.


I finished a thing!
Thanks for following along.