Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Christmas Sewing

As usual at this time of year my quilty friends are talking about their holiday sewing - looking for new and interesting ideas for their gift making, sharing photos of their projects, making a list and checking it twice (or checking things off!) I rarely, if ever, make Christmas gifts.  First, the stress turns something fun into a chore.  Second, I have to start early in the year to get it done on time, and once I've completed something I cannot wait that long to gift it!  So, for the first time in a very long time I made a Christmas gift for this year.   
























I love this "Quilted Totebag" pattern by Elaine Waldschmitt for The Quilted Closet.   I was first introduced to it by my friend Darlene (check out her blog!), and it has become one of the patterns I have gotten a lot of mileage from.

I made it scrappy using batik strips .....

























..... and used a tiny bit (compared to how much I have!) of this pretty blue batik for the lining.





Straight line quilting along the bricks and stippling in the center panels went pretty fast.   Then, since I'm a little (okay, okay, a lot!) OCD, I can't stand for the unfinished seams to show .....



















..... so I stitched a little casing over the side seams .....



















..... and stitched down the triangles that make the bottom corners.



I absolutely drew the line though at any more seam finishing, and I did not encase the bottom seam.  I'm not that crazy!

The first time I used this pattern was in 2006 when I made this bag for myself.  It has toted a lot of quilty stuff since then!






I liked it so much I made one for each of my sisters as gifts on our Sisters' Trip that year.




When I mentioned it in an online quilt group yesterday my friend Faye (check out her blog!) reminded me that I made her one that year, too!  She sent me a photo -






This was fun, and I'm ready for the gift exchange at my stitching group next week.  It may be a while before I make another Christmas gift, though.  After all this pressure I need a nap!

I'm linking up with Quilting is More Fun than House work for Cynthia's "Oh Scrap!" Linky Party and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.





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3 comments:

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

I haven’t even thought about my holiday sewing yet. Maybe I should be putting together a list. Thanks for linking up with Oh Scrap!

Louise said...

I know exactly what you mean about finishing something and wanting to give it right away! It's hard for me to hold onto something until a birthday or Christmas or whatever. I just finished a quilt for my brother and SIL who had lots of damage in the Houston floods, but can't send it until they move back into their house...I'm itching to pop that sucker in the mail NOW! :)

I love that group photo of all your sisters and their bags!

dq said...

I love the Batiks and the bag.