Boxes to Bags....

Over the years the Valentine Days' gifts for my two daughters has changed as they have changed.  A day trip of shopping in Holland, MI resulted in some earrings in a specially chosen box.  Boxes were a simple souvenir I began collecting in my twenties.  A box was usually small and easy to pack.  One of my favorites I purchased in Vancouver, BC.  It had been hand carved with the raised carving painted in an off white and the background a subtle orange in Russia.  The Apothecary Shop in Holland was my place to go for a nice but not expensive reminder of Valentine's Day.  This year they're getting the medium sized Stand 'n Stow bag from Atkinson Designs.  It uses a ,new to me, Pellon called Peltex.  Peltex is stiffer and stands the bag up but with this pattern, packs away nicely.  We will be in the Bahamas for this week and it will be good for shopping, but easily packs away in their carry-ons for the journey home.

The bicycle material was purchased probably two years ago for a satchel bag.  The 18" frames are no longer available, so now it's a Stand 'n Store!.  The fabric was tricky.  While it doesn't have a nap to deal with, the pattern was tricky.  My first cut had the bicycles sideways.  Luckily the satchel bag required more than a yard.  To make it work, the fabric was opened and cut on the straight.  The next trick it presented involved the pattern not matching across the fabric.  I chose the front shown, but the other side either has upside writing or upside bikes.....

 The fabric above has been hanging on a closet door for a year or so.  I hung it there to remind me to make a quilt with it:  the colors are WONDERFUL!  The quilt thing wasn't happening - then it came to me.....but did I have enough?  Just enough.  I am so glad it is this bag now....

My friend Caroll D passed along a helpful hint she learned from Carol H, a long arm quilter used by many of us who sew at the Attic Window.  Caroll's hints are pretty good - my seam ripper sails along seams now - with only an occasional blup.

The pin showing on the left side of the presser foot is inserted at a junction with cross stitching.  Many, many times a pucker will occur at this point.  Carol H's HH (helpful hint) places the pin at the junction to set the fabric so when sewn it won't pucker.  I tried it several times and it worked beautifully.  So many times when I'm using my walking foot for quilting a pucker appears - now I'm optimistic that one more problem has been solved.  Thank you to Caroll D and Carol H.

The above bag pattern was purchased at the Attic Window, but I'm sure other stores will carry it once word travels how easy and fast this bag is to make.  BTW, I made both bags at the same time over two afternoons.  One long day would easily provide for making more than one bag at a session.

Fat Sack is a free pattern offered by Atkinson Designs.  I would most definitely try another of her patterns.  This fat sack would make a great a grocery bag, as would the large version of the Stand 'n Stow.

A Happy Valentine's Day to you all......