It's Your Bad, Do What You Want to Do: Friday, 11-15-2019 (9am-4pm)
Participants will have the opportunity to make two bags. The first will be a bitty bag. To make this tiny bag you will need two pieces of foam with fabric fused to each side and quilted (body pieces) and a small zipper. For this class, a kit will be provided to you to make your Bitty Bag (no cost).
The second bag will finish approximately 9" long x 6" wide x 4" tall. Students, however, will have the optional of making alternations to this bag size and structure. It's your bag, do what you want to do! No cost for pattern/instructions. Laurie will review basic purse construction including discussions on stabilizers, closures (including ZIPPERS), hardware, strap options and mesh.
Supply List (for 2nd bag)
- 1 yard Main fabric (body)
- 1 yard for Lining fabric
- 1/4 yard accent fabric (handles) A full ¼ yard is easier than a fat quarter
- 1 zipper at least 18" long (I prefer ByAnnie or Sally Tomato zippers)
- 18" x 20" either fusible fleece or bosal foam
- Size 90 needles (topstitch or microtext)
- OPTIONAL (STRAPS): 2 yard piece of strapping, 1: or 1 1/2" wide; OR a quarter yard of 40 inch wide fusible fleece
- Basic sewing matching supplies including threads to match fabric chosen.
Delightful Duffle: Saturday, 11-16-2019 (9am-4pm)
This duffle bag will be a bag that will be as functional as it is attractive. The five exterior pockets and two mesh pockets inside will help keep you organized. The double zip flap opening will make access to the inside easy. And the handles will enable you to lift a much weight as you can stuff into your bag!
Everyone works at their own pace. Some people, who are more deliberate in their approach to bag construction, will get far but may not finish their bag during class. That's no problem. You will get far enough that completing your bag after class won't be a problem. Those with bag experience will have an excellent chance of completing their bag by the end of class.
To get as far as possible during class, it is recommended that you get the following done before class:
- Quilt and cut out your pieces as instructed below.
- Make your handles.
- Wind at least two bobbins of thread to match focus fabric and one bobbin to patch lining
- If you know how to use zipper tape: prepare your zippers into (2) 21" and (1) 13" segments. If you haven't done this before, I will demonstrate in class. If not using zipper tape, bring three zippers, two at least 21" long and one at least 13" long.
If you have ANY questions, please feel free to contact me at laurie_schierer@yahoo.com. It will even be possible to set up a facetime chat if you need some visual help with your preparation.
Materials are listed at a minimum of 42" wide. Fabric requirements are based on fabrics with are NOT directional. If you have directional fabric, you will need additional fabric.
- SUPPLIES
- 2 ½ yards Main Fabric
- 2 ½ yards Lining Fabric
- ½ yard Coordinating Fabric
- 1 package ByAnnie mesh
- 84" foldover elastic (2 pkg of ByAnnie foldover elastic will work)
- Zippers to match focus fabric: (2) 21" zippers and (1) 14" zipper (I use ByAnnie or Sally Tomato zipper on a roll)
- 1 ¼ yard Bosal Foam, double sided fusible
- 2/3 yard Timtex (or Craftex) for bag bottom
- Velcro to match lining: 4 inches
- 3 ½ yards of 1 ½" strapping
- Threads to match fabrics.
- 90 topstitch or microtext needles (NOT universal needles). You are likely to go through at least two needles making this bag.
- Plastic clips
Besides basic sewing supplies, you will want to bring your 'strongest' machine. Lightweight 'travel' sewing machines usually lack the motor strength to handle these layers.
Notes on materials: When working with bosal foam, which is 58" wide, I fuse one and a quarter yard of focus fabric onto one and a quarter yard of bosal. I cut the other yard and a quarter of focus fabric at the fold. This 'fat half yard' is then fused to the remaining 16 inches of uncovered bosal. Repeat on the other side of the bosal for the lining fabric. You will use the remaining 'fat half yard' of lining to cut out bias binding, facings for the flap and bindings for other seams. The remaining 'fat half yard' of focus fabric will be used to make the pillowcase type covering for the internal bag bottom. While the cutting measurements require a yard of bosal cover with fabric on both sides, I have had you cut and quilt a yard and a quarter, as sometimes the foam can 'shrink up' a bit during quilting.
This project calls for the wider zipper tapes made by either ByAnnie or Sally Tomato. If you have never used zipper tapes before, I will demonstrate their use during class. I do not recommend sports zippers for this project. They look heavy duty, but
1) they are hard to work with, and
2) their tape is not as wide making it harder to seal the seams.
Zipper selection should occur RIGHT AFTER you pick out your fabric. Often my students put off getting the zippers. "Oh, I'll just pick those up next time I get to the fabric store", only to find out that the color they really need is not in stock and will have to be ordered. It's such an important visual component to the bag that you'll want the right color.