It's been a long time since I made a new bag pattern...and it took me a long time to finish this one. Too many distractions, including a vacation to Maui (poor me), a trip to Colorado for Easter with my Mom and family, illness, and now trying to find an Adult Family Care home for my husband's mom, who will be 100 in July! She fell and cracked ribs and can no longer live in Assisted Living, so the search is on for home that will be a good fit. I've also been taking a year-long mixed media art class, which has absorbed lots of time and revealed that I have more artistic talent then I every allowed myself to realize. I'll share some of that work in another upcoming post, along with a story about a very young Canadian girl who is winning quilting awards!!
So, back to my pattern. I've been wanting to stitch up some small bags for organizing sewing tools and handwork, and an iron caddy that would work for a craft-tacking iron as well as for packing my flat iron when on the go. The new pattern, Quilted Sewing and Travel Organizers fills the bill. As with all of my patterns, this PDF pattern is available in my Craftsy pattern store at:
http://www.craftsy.com/user/153303/pattern-store
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| Quilted Sewing and Travel Organizer Bags |
Use this trio of quilted bags to stash your hand-sewing
tools and craft iron so you can grab them and go when you're headed to sewing
class or appointments where you may have
a little time for handwork. All three bags are made from quilted double-faced fabric and have pretty ribbon tassel pulls attached to the zipper pulls. All require a coil separating zipper--which facilitates bag construction and makes it possible to open the iron caddy to make it into a pressing pad. Here's the scoop on the three bags included in the pattern.
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| Ditty Bag |
Ditty Bag
Finished Size: 2" x 5" x 7"
This little bag is super-quick to sew; the separating zipper
is the key to making it easy to construct. It's the perfect size for your
scissors, needles, thimble, measuring gauge, and any other small tools you want
to keep together and close at hand. Use it when you travel to organize charger
cords or other small items in your suitcase or carry-on.
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| Carry Me Tote |
Carry Me Tote with Handles
Finished Size: 13-1/2" x 7" x 2-1/2"
This little bag is the perfect place to tuck your handwork,
plus the Ditty Bag with your hand-sewing tools. It opens wide, making it easy
to pack and then find what you've tucked inside. You can tuck your mini-iron in
too, for sewing class or to use when staying in a hotel room. The tote is also
a great travel companion for organizing small items in your carry-on or checked
luggage.
Insulated Iron Caddy/Pressing Mat
Finished Size: 5" x 14" closed
10" x 14" open
Use this
multi-purpose caddy to pack a small craft iron for sewing class or tuck your
flat iron and other small hair items
inside when traveling. There's room for other hair items too. Unzip it
to reveal a padded pressing mat to keep by your sewing machine and to use at
your table during during sewing or quilting classes. It's also good for small
touch-up pressing jobs in your hotel room. Lined with silver-coated fabric for
ironing boards, the caddy includes a layer of insulated batting too.
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| Insulated Iron Caddy/Pressing Mat |
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| Unzip the Caddy to reveal a pressing mat to use with a craft iron. |
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| Also use with your mini iron at the sewing machine. |
Until Next time,
Keep sewing and smiling...and happy travels. Check out my Quilted Traveler's Tote in my Craftsy store, too. It's been on the Craftsy Leader Board this week. As the weather warms, I think lots of people are thinking about upcoming vacations and sewing bags stash their stuff while on the go!
Barbara
For a similarly styled travel tote made from unquilted fabric, check out The Terrific Travel Tote. It's really lightweight when sewn in outdoor fabric, or super stylish in tapestry or a decorator print like the one shown on the pattern cover. It has the same pockets and zip-top as the Quilted Travel Tote, making it a lighter version of the quilted one. Great to fold flat and pack in your baggage and then to tote all your goodies home from your trip.
Travel to the beach in style and comfort with my Sew 'n' Go BeachMat Tote & Pillow. Unzip it at the sides and out it folds to a quilted mat. There's a matching pillow that fits inside the zipped tote for your comfort, whether you're lounging in the sand or poolside at your hotel. And there's plenty of room for other beachside accouterments. An outside pocket is perfect for small items!
Use the three small bags in my latest pattern to pack and organize small items in your carry-on or your sewing tools for sewing and quilting classes. The Iron Caddy opens to reveal an insulated pressing mat that's the perfect size to keep by your sewing machine for quick pressing jobs with your mini iron or tacking iron.
