Sew Preeti Quilts: Travel Bag

Monday, October 27, 2025

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.

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

The Ultimate Travel Bag

The October 2022 Island Batik Challenge is "Its in the Bag", sponsored by Patterns by Annie.

I chose the bag, I chose the fabrics and everything was sent to me. Gosh, I am spoiled!!!

Soft & Stable - For Bags that Stand Tall

Pattern and the Hardware

I chose fabrics from the Spring 2022 Sunset Plains Collection. It is a beautiful collection with bright greens, reds and maroons designed by Kathy Engle. I love the Cactus print.

Flowers on my morning walk - Collection Inspiration?

Fabrics

On second thoughts, I should have chosen a non-directional print. Keeping the cactus print upright was an additional challenge in making the bag.

Annie's patterns are extremely detailed. This means that they require total attention and complete concentration. Unlike my usual cutting/sewing/quilting, I could not listen to the radio or an audiobook. Proceeding one step at a time, I checked each box as I completed that step.

Quilting the Pieces

Completed Shoulder Comfort Pad

Binding the Shoulder Comfort Pad was a challenge but the Add-On Video was really helpful.

For the bottom of the bag, I chose to use a non-directional fabric, also from the Sunset Plains collection, leftover from making the Stars and Swirls quilt.

Buttons to limit wear and tear

Straps and Handles

Front and Back, Top and Bottom - Ready to Assemble

I used Schmetz 90/14 needle to make the bag. Going through several layers of fabrics and Soft & Stable is tricky and a lesser needle will cause you to skip stitches.

Once the four parts - Front, Top, Bottom and Back were assembled, I turned the bag inside out and attached the handles. Admired my handiwork and felt supremely pleased.

Paul: Looks fantastic.

Me: Um Hmm.

Paul: It is finished, right?

Me: Mostly

Paul: What is the matter?

Me: It is ready for pictures. And I have other things to do. I have been working on this for two weeks.

Paul: Oh, I know. You did not finish the insides.

Me: I am done.

Paul: Don't you need to protect the seams.

Me: No. That inside binding step is purely cosmetic.

Paul: So you have an ugly bag inside.

Me: Possibly, but no one needs to know.

Paul: You know it.

Damn the man.

Ouch!!!

It took me two days to hand bind the insides and my index finger hurt for two days after the bag was completely finished. But I can proudly share the inside pictures.

Large Inside Pocket

Neat on the Inside :-)

Speaking of inside, the design includes a sleeve to hold an acrylic stabilizer (also provided) in the bottom for added stability.

Sewing the Sleeve for Acrylic Stabilizer

Inserting the Stabilizer in the Sleeve

Annie has taken care of every detail and the design includes every step from making the zipper pulls and bias binding to the shoulder pads and trolley sleeve. I cannot recommend this Ultimate Travel Bag 2.0 enough. Many thanks to Annie and Island Batik.

And now it is time for the photoshoot!