For the month of October, the Island Batik Ambassadors were challenged to sew a ByAnnie bag. I made the Ultimate Travel Bag 2.0.
Disclaimer: The products used to make this project were given to me by Island Batik and Industry Partners.
Here's the pattern. You can find this pattern, plus a helpful add-on video on the ByAnnie.com website. This is the third ByAnnie pattern I've sewn, and my favorite so far. The step-by-step directions are written clearly and each step has a little box to check off, which keeps me on track and feeling accomplished.
I chose to use the Midnight Glow fabric collection from Island Batik. As I've mentioned many times recently, this is my new favorite fabric line. It's so dramatically gorgeous. You can sink right into it.
One of the first steps to sewing a ByAnnie bag is the cutting and prep. A sheet is included in the pattern that you can copy and use to label each piece as you cut and prep. I chose to print my labels on some light sticker paper so they are super easy to use and remove. No pins needed.
The outer shell of the bag is made from a main fabric, a lining fabric, and ByAnnie's Soft and Stable. Here I am quilting the layers together with matching Aurifil thread.
Zippers are prepped as well. This bag has three zippers, one for the main closure, and two pocket zippers.
I cut bias binding strips from this gorgeous coordinating fabric. The bias binding makes it easy to sew around the curvy elements of the bag.
In this step, I am prepping the bag straps. I did all of my pressing on my Prairie Spirit Alpacas pressing mat. It's wonderful. I love it more with every project.
One of the features of the ByAnnie bags that I love is the beautiful and sturdy coordinating hardware.
Here's the bag front pocket, prepped and ready for bag construction.
After all the bag parts are prepped and sewn, the bag itself is sewn together. The inside seams are covered with bias binding for a beautiful finished effect. I used Quilters Perfect Klips to hold the binding in place. Sewing this part can be tricky. I used a stiletto to help feed the layers under the presser foot evenly and also switched my needle to a Schmetz leather needle. A jeans needle would probably work well for sewing through all the layers, too.
This is actually the inside zipper pocket of the bag. This is showing the lovely finished seam binding. At this point my bag is ready to be turned right side out! Exciting!!!
And here it is! The Ultimate Travel Bag 2.0. This is the front side of the bag, with a pretty zipper pocket.
The back of the bag also has a pocket, and a trolley sleeve. Notice the padded, adjustable carrying strap.
There is a nice poochy pocket on each side of the bag. This will be just perfect for carrying a water bottle and a small snack, or anything else you need quick access to.
Inside view. This is a roomy bag!
Inside three section, elastic edged pocket.
Inside large zipper pocket.
Inside the large inner zipper pocket.
Ultimate Travel Bag 2.0
Bag Stats:
Size: 13-3/4" x 18-1/2" x 8" (at bottom)
Pattern: Ultimate Travel Bag 2.0 ByAnnie.com
Fabric: Midnight Glow by Island Batik
Thread: Aurifil
Needles: Schmetz
All the Island Batik Ambassadors are making ByAnnie.com bags this month! Visit their blogs throughout October to see what they made. Here's a list:
Note: This is an affiliate link. Clicking this link will not affect the purchase price. However, if you do make a purchase, I may receive a commission. Thank you.
Here I am, posting on the very last day of August, my Island Batik Ambassador monthly challenge project. This quilt is titled "Little Pink Houses".
Disclaimer: The products used to make this quilt were given to me by Island Batik and industry partners.
This month's challenge was to make a miniature quilt.
I chose to use the Midnight Glow precuts along with the coordinating fabrics, Boysenberry and Orchid to make my quilt.
I used all the the fabrics in Midnight Glow. I used 5 fabrics per row of houses, following the gradation of the precuts from light to dark, just as they were packaged. I used the Orchid fabric for the background and Boysenberry for the sashing, inner border, and backing of my quilt.
I chose to paper piece the blocks as they are minis. My blocks are 4" finished. I used clips to hold the paper pieced sections in place while stitching them together with Schmetz needles. The clips keep the paper sections lined up so much better than pins.
I used a piece of Hobbs Fusible batting that I had leftover from another project and quilted with Aurifil thread, color #2562 in straight lines across the quilt.
I love how pretty the blocks came out in the Midnight Glow fabrics. It looks like a sunrise/sunset to me with the pink reflecting off the windows of the houses.
My quilt came out 16-1/2" x 21". It's adorable! So a-door-able that I took a pic on this door.
Boysenberry on the back.
Binding in Orchid.
Pretty folds.
I had fun taking photos of this mini quilt. This key is actually huge, but it makes my mini quilt look tiny!
If you've enjoyed reading about my Little Pink Houses mini quilt, visit my fellow Island Batik Ambassadors blogs to see what they made for the month of August. Here's a list:
Note: This is an affiliate link. Clicking this link will not affect the purchase price. However, if you do make a purchase, I may receive a commission. Thank you.
Hello! It's Island Batik Ambassador unboxing video time and today is my day! Watch my video to see what wonderful supplies I received to use for my Island Batik Ambassador projects for the second half of 2022.
Disclaimer: The products in this post were given to me by Island Batik and industry partners.
Here's a recap in photos of my boxes' contents:
I received two packages of stash builders. I've already opened and used part of one package for my July Accuquilt Tree of Life challenge. Each stash builder roll has four different fabrics, 5" x W.O.F.
This is my ByAnnie.com bag kit. I'm making the Ultimate Travel bag. I was able to choose the fabric I wanted for the bag, and ByAnnie put together everything needed to make the bag. The pattern, the hardware, and Soft and Stable.
Here's something new: It's an Alpaca/Wool pressing mat by Prairie Spirit Alpacas. I've never used one before. I did try it this week for my July project, and it was awesome! I love how flat my seams came out.
This is the Bee Hive Buzz collection by Kathy Engle. These fabrics will be used in the September blog hop.
These 10" precuts are the Midnight Glow fabric collection, my absolute favorite from the new lines. I'm so excited to have received this. Aren't they just gorgeous? I'm thinking about using these in August.
These are most of the foundations bundle I received. I've used two of the fabrics already.
This is my surprise package! I can't show you this collection yet, but I've peeked, and it is wonderful! I'll be revealing these beauties in the November blog hop.
Hobbs Batting sent a package of Fusible Batting Strips.
I received this Four Patch Square Up ruler from Deb Tucker's Studio 180 for an upcoming challenge.
This is a generous six yard cut of Coconut.
Four yards each of Island Batik solid black, white, and gray.
Here's everything ~ WOW! I'm going to be busy. Thank you so much Island Batik, Hobbs Batting, Accuquilt, ByAnnie.com, Studio 180, and Prairie Spirit Alpacas.
Be sure to visit my fellow Island Batik Ambassador's blogs to see what supplies they received in their boxes, here:
Note: This is an affiliate link. Clicking this link will not effect the purchase price, however, if you do make a purchase, I may receive a commission. Thank you.
