Welcome to my stop on the Ho Ho Ho and on We Sew Blog Hop! Fiona @ Celtic Thistle Stitches hosts a tutorial blog hop on the theme of things to make for Christmas - yes I know its only just over but in case you wanted to get ahead or are looking for ideas on a present to make there are a bunch of tutorials over on the Ho Ho Ho page, 28 in total and I'm adding #29 today. There is a linkup below for all your Christmas makes and a generous prize. This month's giveaway is the Christmas Decoration pack from Angela Attwood.
This time last year Pam @ Threading My Way, made some cute 5" drawstring gift bags. I'm continuing the theme of drawstring bags with a free pattern for my Patchwork themed larger bag measuring 13". It can accommodate a patchwork block maximum size 6" x 8" so perfect for those 6" blocks like star blocks that you might want to make!
Last year, as a gift for my friend who loves baking and cake decorating I made this version to hold all the little brushes and cookie cutters you gather as a baker. I tired to write it as a tutorial but it got so long with all the little pieces required for the cake and bag (7 pages!) that it was easier to put it all into a free download on PDF as a pattern instead!
I just got my Janome back from the repair shop and decided to test it and the pattern by making another bag! Instead of a cake block I modified Soma @ Whims and Fancies Fields on Camera design so it would fit as a 6" block on my bag. I was lucky enough to win this brilliant pattern in a draw last year - thank you Soma! I thought it would make a nice front for my bag as a present for my mum to hold her camera battery charger, cables and adaptors for travelling.
This time around I boxed the corners and again used a 2" ribbon for the drawstring, lined it with a brighter fabric on the inside to make it easier to find stuff inside.
I tried out a few fancy stitches for the applique to make sure my machine was back to tip top working order but am sorry now I didn't satin stitch them as it is a bit rough around the edges this way!
Wilbur is not too impressed either (might be the fact that there is nothing edible inside!) I think he's right though the applique finish is not up to mum's standards so I just might keep this one for myself and make mum another one (this would fit my cleaning kit and lens hoods nicely for my new Fuji camera!)
And of course to let me know how he felt about the lack of treats he jumped at my head! You'd never know he had 3 epileptic seizures in a row only a week ago, would you? He's doing well on med's now and is loving getting his tablet twice a day with peanut butter. I might just have to make him a bag for his tablets, one with a big W on it!
If you want to showcase a piece of patchwork and make a personalised bag as a gift the pattern is free to download here.
To enter the draw to win Angela's Decoration pack please link up below:
Thank you to all this years sponsors for being so generous and supporting
Light fabric certainly makes a difference to finding things inside bags.
ReplyDeletePoor Wilbur! Three seizures last week! I hope he is much better now. I bet he comes running for his tablets in peanut butter. Our dog does!
Poor Wilbur. I take it likes peanut butter. Good trick to get the meds down. Great drawstring bag. I've been making a few lately (different pattern)...they are addictive.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely pattern, I've been seeing drawstring bags everywhere it feels like! I'm going to have to jump on the bandwagon and what better way than with some fun patchwork to personalize it! :) Glad to hear Wilbur is doing well on meds. I work at a vet clinic and it is amazing how well some of those medications work!
ReplyDeleteWhat great ideas for bags! I've got all sorts of themes running through my head! (I LIKE raw edge appliqué!)
ReplyDeleteGreat pattern! Very cute bags!
ReplyDeleteI love all your variations Ruth, what a great addition to the Ho, Ho Ho and on We Sew archive!
ReplyDeleteGreat pattern Ruth. I love the camera.
ReplyDeleteGive me peanut butter and I'll take pills as well, lol. I hope Wilbur stays well on the medication - I had to give my kitty pills for years - I became quite an expert (although - he was a gentleman when it came to taking them, so that made it easy) :) We do what we have to for our furbabies :)
ReplyDeleteCute bags - not only are they great to hold gifts, but they're also a gift themselves - a twofer, if you will! I cut out a Christmas gift today and will get working on it, so I should have a project ready for this month's linky :)
I think your mum and mine are cut from the same cloth...bought my mum a purse to replace the one my cat chomped on (just left a few tooth marks, but my mum was NOT impressed) but she said, "WHY does it have a black lining? WHY can't they make BRIGHT linings like your sister Wendy's purse." You're welcome Mum. And 'up to her standards' made Molli Sparkles' Union Jack block but before she even saw it, she said she hoped it was done correctly, with the narrow and wide stripes oriented correctly! Gulp. I love your camera bag, even if Wilbur doesn't, but I think a bag for his tablets and some room for biscuits would be a great idea. Rocco is awful for pilling; he somehow eats the peanut butter or peanut butter pocket and spits out the pill...I have to shove it down the side of his cheek and over the back of his tongue and stroke his throat...
ReplyDeleteWhat a darling bag. Piecing a block for it is a great idea.
ReplyDeleteHi Ruth, great post! Fiona suggested I link up to your holiday fun but I couldn't find the link button. She said to look again...there are a lot of boxes after your post, and the link button isn't obvious.
ReplyDeleteI would not have realized the button to link up was the tiny one. Usually the link up buttons show up a different color or stand out more, and I only saw one link so other people might also be missing it.
Needs a bit of neon lights! For people like me... heh heh.
Thanks for doing this, and I love your blog. I don't always leave comments but I always read what you're up to. LeeAnna
Oh now that takes bag making skills up a notch - they look amazing, and such a good idea for themed bags!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear Wilbur is getting better. Poor thing. Lovely bag for your new camera!
ReplyDeleteYou are all so organised! As someone who doesn't even think about Christmas until the start of December I am totally in awe.
ReplyDeleteLove your camera bag! I am doing a lot of catch-up around here, but hopefully will have a finish to share for Ho Ho Ho soon!!
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ReplyDeleteThanks so much for mentioning my camera pattern. You have no idea how much I love this bag! Now I have to make one too. Thank you for the fabulous tutorial, Ruth!! I hope Wilbur continues to feel better.
ReplyDelete-Soma
Great idea to incorporate a patchwork block into a drawstring bag, Ruth. Both versions look lovely. Thanks for the link back to my tutorial from last year. I've added another set of drawstring bags (made from a different tutorial) to the link up.
ReplyDeleteYour bags look lovely, great idea to personalise them like that for gifts. I definitely need to make some with boxed corners as you have, it definitely makes a big difference to how they sit. Hope your dog continues to do well, we're having worries with our cat at the moment - no fun having pets with worrying health problems :( , so I feel for you, especially as your dogs are obviously an incredibly important part of your family.
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