It’s in the Bag! Blog Hop

The Island Batik Challenge for November is the “Bags by Annie” bags.  We were to pick out a bag that includes an Add-on video.  I decided to do the “Divide & Conquer” Personal-sized Carry-on. 

The Island Batik fabric line that I was given was “Winged Things” by Designer Kate Colleran.

For the Small bag, I picked these three fabrics from the line.

For the large bag, I picked these three fabrics.

By Annie, send me all of the supplies needed for both of these bags. 

By Annie, does recommend buying your supplies from your local Quilt Store before purchasing from her website.

The Soft & Stable really makes these bags look good, they are a foam that is so soft and easy to work with.

Each pattern comes with complete instructions, and I do recommend if you are not familiar with By Annie bags, that you read the instructions.  It is a good idea to read thru before starting.  This is my second year making her bags, and I still have to stop and really pay attention.

This pattern has an Add-on video tutorial that was very helpful in making the small bag, and then I was able to continue to the larger bag without any issues.  (But I did spend time with my seam ripper, several times, my not paying attention, not because of the instructions.)

There are other free videos that go along with different techniques on the bags, I used those last year when I make my first bag. 

These bags used Vinyl, and normally, I hate using Vinyl, but the By Annie vinyl comes with paper attached, and is so easy to use. 

I attached a zipper to it wrong, and when I removed the stitches, the vinyl didn’t tear, or break.  It did keep the holes, but even after attaching the zipper correct, the vinyl didn’t tear apart. 

The By Annie zipper by the yard, are so easy to use, and you can cut in the length that you need.  Or you can purchase a 40″ length.

They have large sides that work great for these bags.  I recommend getting these 4-yard zippers for your projects, as they are so easy to work with.

My bags had Mesh, and it was so easy to work with.  You cut the pieces larger than needed, to help with any movement when sewing. 

There are so many good supplies used in making these bags, that you should check her website and see what you can purchase, and then go to your local quilt store to pick up.

The first part is to quilt the main fabric and the lining fabric together.  I used my Juki longarm to quilt the fabric.

For the small bag, I used the pattern “Blooming Daisies” by Quilting Pantographs.

For the large bag, I used the pattern “Butterfly Wings” by Quilting Pantographs.

Using the instructions, you cut out all of the pieces for the bags and attach a label that is provided with the instructions. (make sure to make a copy before cutting out).

I hang up all the pieces on my design wall as I cut them, to keep them organized, and easy to use.

The dark purple fabric is the coordinating fabric, and the multi-color is the front fabric for the small bag.

You follow the instructions and work as you go.  I was having so much fun, I forgot to take many pictures as I worked.

Here is a picture with the inner vinyl pockets added to the outside strips.

Look how nice the zipper looks for the outside.

There are points that you will use straight pins, but I used lots of clips, as I held things together to sew.  The clips keep you from getting stabbed as you sew around. (The straps are help down with pins to keep out the way while sewing.)

The bags are designed so that you have no exposed ends to fabric, to reduce shredding.  You add 2 1/4″ bias binding around all the seams.  As the bags is put together, it does get a little more challenging.

Inside each bag you have two mesh pockets, with zippers on both sides. 

And each side has a vinyl zipper pocket.

Here are my two completed “Divide & Conquer” bags.

On the back of the bags, you have the option to add a Velcro strip to hold the bags on a suitcase.  I added these, as my bags always fall off as I am walking thru the airport or to my mom’s apartment.

Both bags have a zipper pocket on the front and the back of the bags.

The large bag has a shoulder pad that you can make to add when you are carrying the bag over your shoulder.  While this is for the large bag only, you could make it for the smaller one as well if you need the extra padding.

There is lots of room in these bags, with the vinyl pockets.  I filled it with a towel and then added some of the other fabric from the line.

See how nice the bags sit on top of our suitcases.  I can’t wait to use them when we head to my mom’s for Thanksgiving this week.

For storage, I was able to put the smaller bag inside the larger bag.

For making these bags I used several colors of  Aurifil Thread, including a variegated purple #3840, white #2024, purple #2562 and #2520. Aurifil Thread is so easy to work with, and does not shred while sewing. I used in on my longarm and my regular sewing machine, with no issues.

These bags get very thick at points, and you have to be careful when stitching, that you do not pull the fabric, and move the needle.  I was not always careful and even hit my Stiletto several times.  So, I used several Schmetz Needles in this project.  The needles are very good, and I tried to use another brand, and it could not handle the thickness of the bag, so had to go find more Schmetz Needles.

The materials used in the making of these bags were provided to me free by Island Batik and their industry partners, Bags by Annie,  Aurifil Thread, and Schmetz Needles, as part of my role as an Island Batik Ambassador.

Today is the last day of the “It’s in the Bag” blog hop, so if you liked seeing my bag, check out the other Island Batik Ambassador’s bags they are all posted on their blogs.

Brenda Alburl ~ Songbird Designs
Renee Atkinson ~ Pink Tulip Quilting
Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts
Susan Deshensky ~ Lady Blue Quilts

Brittany Fisher ~ Bobbin with Brittany
Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts
Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for quilts
Reed Johnson ~ Blue Bear Quilts

Victoria Johnson ~ Forever Quilting for You
Randi Jones ~ Randi’s Roost
Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs
Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood

Denise Looney ~ Quiltery – For The Love Of Geese
Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights
Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack Made Mine
Anorina Morris ~ sameliasmum.com

Lisa Pickering ~ Lisa’s Quilting Passion
Sarah Pitcher ~ Pitcher’s Boutique
Claudia Porter ~ Create with Claudia
Lana Russel ~ Lana Quilts

Elita Sharpe ~ Busy Needle
Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail
Sandra Starley ~ Textile Time Travels
Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations
Suzy Webster ~ Websterquilt

#aurifil #aurifilthread #schmetzneedles #juki #patternsbyannie #softandstable