Leader of the Pack

The October Challenge requires the Island Batik Ambassadors to make a bag using Patterns by Annie. We get to choose the bag and the fabrics.

I chose fabrics from the Garden Glory collection and the Leader of the Pack pattern. Here is my completed bag.

Happy Me!

But let's start this journey from the beginning. 

I am in love with this gorgeous fabric collection by Claudia Pfeil. These rich and warm hues sing to me the most melodious Autumn Symphony.

My chosen fabrics

I chose the bright orange as the main fabric, maroon as coordinating fabric and green as contrasting fabric for inner pocket and expanding sleeve.

Supplies from ByAnnie

The process from cutting fabrics to the photoshoot took two weeks. Here are the pictures showing my process.

Cutting the fabrics, mesh, Soft & Stable, straps etc. took one day.

Quilting everything was Day Two. 

Mesh for outer side pockets

Curves & Pins - Slow & Steady

Padded Straps & Handle - Thick Layers and Many Clips 

Front Compartment - Will it Fit?

It Fits!!! Thank goodness!!!

Attaching the Front Compartment to the Bag Front

Making the Padded Straps was the trickiest part. But detailed videos for every step were a huge help. Attaching the front compartment to the bag front was also tricky because we could not use clips and the pins were at an angle.  I recommend using a new 90/14 Schmetz needle and proceeding slowly.

Front Compartment 

I love the bright yellow lining. Everything is visible.

Expanding Sleeve and Broken Pins

Yeah, some clips died in the process. Small price to pay, me thinks.

I made my life difficult by choosing directional fabric but Annie's vey detailed directions tell you how to proceed at every step so that the finished bag has the fabric facing up :-)

Almost there

Making this bag was a big challenge but completing this bag has been a big accomplishment :-) 

Time to show it off.

Finished

Filled

Let's take it out for a proper outdoor photoshoot. Because such a beauty deserves to be shown-off :-D

So bright, I think it needs sunglasses

Do you see the By Annie Magazine?

 The straps are padded AND adjustable

Sturdy Handle

And I am fan of ByAnnie

Love my new bag. If you want to make a bag, I guarantee that ByAnnie has a pattern to suit your needs. The directions are detailed and added videos are great help.

Thank you to the generosity of Island Batik and Industry partners! They generously provided the products to all Island Batik Ambassadors! Island Batik, ByAnnie, Schmetz Needles, and Oliso Iron.

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties and Quilting Jetgirl's Favorite October Finish. See complete list on the sidebar.

2025 Island Batik Ambassador - Unboxing 2

July is the time when the Island Batik Ambassadors celebrate Christmas! We have just received our second shipment of supplies and they did not disappoint. 

Here is the Unboxing Video. 

It is all about the supplies. I am losing my looks and the fabric gets prettier every year :-D

The Bounty

In September, we will be making a Crazy Quilt. I will be using the Everlasting Collection designed by Jerry Khiev. This collection will be in stores in September 2025.

Everlasting Collection

Dark & Light Yardage to Match

Of course, we need threads to make a Crazy Quilt. Aurifil supplied the following four spools - one for piecing (50wt) and three for quilting (40 wt).

Aurifil Threads to match Everlasting Collection

We received a generous supply of precuts.

Playful Purples (10" Squares) and Brilliant Blues (2.5" Strips)

Colorburst by Jerry Khiev for Heidi Pridemore, 10" Squares 

Ceramic & Cherry Yardage

As always we received a 6 yards of Neutral and 4 yards each of Black, White and Gray.

6 yards of Buttermilk 

Black, White and Gray

If we want to make a scrappy quilt, there are stash builders to help us out. 

Stash Builders - 5" by WOF strips

We also received 12 half-yard cuts from Island Batik Foundations. These are available all year round and match perfectly with seasonal collections.

Island Batik Foundations - Blenders, Basics & Solids

I will be using the following fabrics in October to make the bag. The Yellow id from Island Batik Blenders. The remaining three fabrics are from the Garden Glory collection designed by Claudia Pfeil.

Fabrics from the Garden Glory Collection

We received a generous supply of batting from Hobbs Batting. Queen sized Premium Polyester, 80/20 Bleached Cotton, and Cotton Fusible.

Queen Size Batts from Hobbs Batting

Tuscany Collection Batting from Hobbs

We have yet to receive the Summer Precut and the bag pattern from ByAnnie.com. I have selected Leader of the Pack. I will share when I get them.

Thank you so much for voting for Honi. She won the Viewers Choice Award.  I chose fabrics from the Fossil Finesse Collection.

Fossil Finesse Collection designed by Kathy Engle

Thank you to the generosity of Island Batik and Industry partners! 
Island Batik, Aurifil Thread, Hobbs Batting, and ByAnnie.

In other news, I have selected the purple scraps for July's Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  Will be sharing with Angela's Linky Party on Saturday.

Plentiful Purple Bounty from Island Batiks

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.