Ta da — it’s my second UFO finish for 2022! I completed this Sew Together bag in mid-February, right before I left for QuiltCon. I was able to carry some hand sewing supplies with me and did a tiny bit of stitching while I was in Phoenix.
(insert lament about how it takes me forever to write a blog post these days)
This is a very popular bag pattern by Sew Demented. I’ve had it on my “to make” list for quite a while and bought a kit from one of the vendor booths at QuiltCon 2019 in Nashville. So hey, it only took me 3 years to finally put it together! The kit included all the fabric plus 4 zippers. I had to purchase the pattern separately, plus the batting and fusible interfacing used to provide structure.
This bag has a reputation for being tricky, and the pattern has room for improvement. I hate to speak negatively about patterns, but this one is tough — the necessary information is there, but it would be so much better if it included a lot more diagrams and tips and tricks.
That said, the way the bag is put together is quite clever, and the pattern is popular enough that you can find dozens of blog posts and video tutorials from other makers on how to work through each step. My friend Elizabeth sent me a few of those resources, and they were really helpful!
- Studio AR Blog has a series of posts for a past sew-a-long.
- Birdcage and Thread has a series of videos that covers the bag from start to finish.
- QuiltBarn has a series from 2014 that was helpful as well.
I’ve completed 2 of the 12 items on my 2022 UFO list. Can I get a third done before the end of March? I hope so!
