Island Batik's November Challenge and Blog Hop is sponsored by ByAnnie.
I chose the project - Room with a View. I chose to make all three sizes.
The pattern and all supplies including vinyl, mesh, Soft and Stable, zippers etc. were provided, thanks to our generous industry partners at ByAnnie.
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| Supplies |
I received fabrics from the Morris Mist collection.
Morris Mist is a signature collection by Kathy Engle for Sherry Shish of Powered by Quilting.
It should be shipping to a quilt stores in November 2023.
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| The Fabrics |
ByAnnie patterns are very detailed with excellent step-by-step directions. Once you make a bag/project using these directions, you are kinda spoiled. They also come with additional videos to guide you through tricky/difficult steps.
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| Getting Started |
The very first thing to do (even before reading the pattern very carefully) was to buy 100 clips. No, this is not an exaggeration :-D You will see.
Secondly, I changed the needle. A Schmetz Microtex 90/14 Needle is an absolute must to sew through multiple thick layers.
I quilted the fabrics with Soft and Stable. I made bias binding. I made handles - top and sides.
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| Quilted! |
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| Bias Binding |
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| Handles |
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| Zipper Loops |
I could not listen to a book/podcast/music during this time. This project required my complete attention.
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| Mesh Pocket inside the Lid and lots of clips |
Each bag has three bindings, one on the lid, second where the lid connects with the body and the third on the base. I am NOT a hand sewing person. Seriously, by the time I get to the binding (for a quilt), I am already thinking about the next project and cannot finish the current one soon enough. So machine binding is my default method.
But in the case of ByAnnie patterns, I have accepted that it is impossible to maneuver the thick layers under the needle. I can stitch the binding by machine but must finish it by hand. This view is corroborated by other Island Batik ambassadors. After I completed the hand sewing of first three bindings, I was in a foul mood. My thumb and forefinger felt raw and painful.
The fact that there were two more bindings to stitch per bag, six in all brought out the worst in me. I was beyond hating this project. I didn't care about neatness any more. I had a deadline approaching and I was frustrated and stressed.
So I did something that I had never done before. I finished the second binding by machine. PHEW.
It isn't neat but it is done.
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| Getting close |
My thumb and forefinger thanked me. It was time to attach the base. Could I finish the last binding by machine? I had to try. I started with the small bag. I machine stitched the binding, folded it over and "tried" to finish it by machine stitching it from the front using stitch in the ditch method. I missed the binding around the corners. Removed a few stitches, smoothened the fabric, glued it in place and FINISHED it by machine stitching.
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| Small Bag's Base - Kinda Ugly |
Of course it is ugly. A war is ugly. In the end the only thing that matters is that I won! No PTSD for my thumb and forefinger.
The second bag went smoother, slightly. Still missed a couple of places and had to redo.
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| Medium Bag's Base - Missed a Spot |
The last bag went much better; no missed spots. After machine-stitching the binding, I folded it over and glued the entire thing, and then clipped it using about 40 clips (told ya).
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| About 40 clips on the base |
Then I turned it over and machine marched victoriously (but slowly), needle in the ditch. More or less, you know. Since I was killing it, neatness be damned.
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| Finishing Binding by Machine - Stitching in the Ditch |
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| Large Bag's Base - Not Too Ugly, Not Perfect. |
The binding is far from neat or uniform. I am sharing this with only you (so don't tell anyone else). If I can manage it, you can too :-) Besides this would be on the bottom of the bag.
There was just one last step - adding zipper pulls. I don't like the fabric pulls. So I found these little beauties for the final flourish in my conquest.
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| Fancy Zipper Pulls |
One more challenge conquered!
Once the war is over and debris is cleared, there comes the photo shoot and glorious celebrations.
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| Happy Fall! |
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| Small, Medium and Large |
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| All Lined up! |
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| What is inside? |
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| I am Small & Cute |
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| I am Medium & Pretty |
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| I am Large & Spacious |
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| Rooms With a View |
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| Fabulous Finish! |
Me (suspiciously): WHYYYYY?
Paul: We are going to see Mom for Thanksgiving. She'd appreciate them, you know.
Me: No, I love these beauties and they are perfect for my storage needs.
Paul (eyes twinkling): That's what I thought.
I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.
Make sure you check the Island Batik Blog for fabulous giveaways every week! The full list of Ambassadors’ names, collections they will be using in their projects, and their post dates are as follows:
November 1:
November 2:
November 6:
November 7:
November 8:
- Maryellen McAuliffe, Mary Mack Made Mine
- Emily Leachman, The Darling Dogwood
- Leah Malasky, Quilted Delights
November 9:
- Sarah Pitcher, Pitcher’s Boutique LLC
- Preeti Harris, Sew Preeti Quilts (You are here)
November 13:
November 14:
November 15:
November 16:
November 20:
- Renee Atkinson, Pink Tulip Quilting
- Anorina Morris, Sameliasmum
- Lisa Pickering, Lisa’s Quilting Passion
