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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