Lining Up

Back when I was trying to find my Sewjo I got the idea to make some little retreat gifts for my BQFs.  The awesome Aimee is always making me adorable things (totally love her!!!) and I'm the bad friend who never reciprocates (though I do always pick up the check).  I got hooked on making these cute little Lined Drawstring Bags to go with my ABCs and decided my friends deserved some too.  The LDB is prefect for any occasion and a great stash buster...  I had so much fun picking out color combinations to suit each of my friend's personal style.

Only for Aimee would I dig into the "my precious" bin for some Amy Butler Daisy Chain and Heather Bailey Chevrons.

For Alexis, Ms all solids all the time, I kept it classy with these fabulous metallics by Cotton + Steel.  I decided to make the contrast band and interior from one piece of coral linen leftover from my Sewing Circle Tote.  You'd think this would make things easier but somehow messed me up.

And for Rebecca I went with her quilt crush Joel Dewberry Deer Valley mixed with Seafoam and some Lily Ashbury Summer House.  I am totally crushing on this color combo from my Mod Log Cabin quilt!

Just when I thought I was finished Audrey spied these and requested one for her grips...  who could say no when a picky teen actually asks you to make her something?  She put together this adorable nautical combo of Michael Miller Littles.  Preppy runs in the family;-)

This is a great pattern, clearly written and easy to follow but I do have one tip if you're like me and too lazy to mark your lines for the casing...  For the first line I line the top of my bag up against the edge of my needle plate which gives me a seam allowance of 1 1/4".  For the second line I nestle a small 1" ruler along the line I just stitched and move my needle all the way to the right.  I just gently hold the ruler in place as I stitch around the top.  Also, for all of these I added a layer of Shape Flex (SF101) to the exterior fabric to give them a little more body.  It depends what you're going to use them for but I like a bag that will stand up on it's own.

Tomorrow is Worldwide Quilting Day...  I'm on retreat with the Boston MQG and we're sewing up a storm.  How will you be celebrating?

Checking in with this week's Finish it Up Friday by Crazy Mom Quilts.