Wednesday, June 24, 2009

My Paris Traveler’s Bag

We’re leaving at the crack of dawn Friday morning for vacation. We’ve opted to do a road trip this summer starting here in Tucson and driving to the following environs:

  • Grand Canyon
  • Page, AZ where we’re signed up for a photography outing at Antelope Canyon
  • Bryce Canyon, seeing Escalante National Monument and North Rim along the way
  • Zion National Park
  • Las Vegas
  • Hoover Dam
  • Lake Havasu, AZ to see the famous London Bridge which was transplanted here years ago
Amongst other tasks involved in getting ready for our trip, I’ve done a bit of sewing. After making the Amy Butler kimonos, I started working on an adventure bag using Fig Tree’s “My Paris Traveler’s Bag” pattern. For those who’ve slaved over Amy Butler’s Weekender Bag (I’ve made 3), this bag was just as complicated, although at least I didn’t have to deal with heavy-duty interfacing like Timtex.

My fabric choices:

  • Main body: Patisserie (Fig Tree Quilts) pattern #20106
  • Handles: Patisserie (Fig Tree Quilts) pattern #20104
  • Lining: Solid for Moda.
My fabrics, including muslin and fusible interfacing, were purchased at The Quilt Basket here in Tucson.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

The first thing you have to do is to quilt your main fabric piece which took me an entire day. I decided to quilt around some of the topographical elements. The gusset piece is pleated on each bottom side in case you’re wondering what’s wrong with the bag bit on the right side.

The finished bag measures 23”x15”x9”. I “borrowed” a neighbor who’s about my height (5'2”) to give you an idea of the size. It’s certainly going to be the only bag I need for our road trip.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

My zipper is two-way so I can get in the bag easily from either end. I added a little charm pull.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

This shows you the lining fabric on the interior of the bag.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

After slaving away quilting the main fabric, I wasn’t going to let any of my efforts go to waste. So this morning I used leftover main and lining fabrics to make a square-bottomed zippered accessory bag. I just made it out of my head, no pattern or tutorial used.

A couple of notes if you decide to try this project; there were moments I just wanted to chuck the whole bloody thing in the trash and go to bed. Although the pattern says it’s easy, it’s not. Cutting measurement problems in the first issue of the pattern have since been corrected. Check their web site to make sure your pattern copy has the corrections.

Take the project very slow and don’t try to do it in two days like me. Read the instructions very carefully and think long and hard about what you’re doing before cutting and sewing anything together. While I love the end result, I do think the instructions ought to be rewritten and better illustrations provided.

13 comments:

Unknown said...

I love your bag. Have fun on your trip. Linda

sassypriscilla said...

Your bag looks great. Your trip sounds AWESOME. I hope you have a great time.

I had problems with another Fig Tree Quilts pattern. I think more testers might be needed before she releases her patterns.

Thimbleanna said...

Wow June! That's an awesome bag! Could that bag be a bread crumb??? I'll be on the lookout! ;-)

Shauna said...

Love the bag, and Honey looks adorable with it! Hope you have lots of fun on your trip! Please make sure you send me a link to the pictures when you get back, I'm trying to cover my walls in pictures of all shapes and sizes, and I don't have any good pictures from AZ (or recent pics of you and Honey, for that matter!).

Have a great time!! :)

Love,
Shauna

rohanknitter said...

It looks great June, I love that fabric! That is quite a bit to do in a short amount of time - no wonder you were up late. Have a wonderful trip!!

karen said...

Have a great trip fearless traveler. Hope you really enjoy yourself. The bag looks great and I love the quilting.

dutchcomfort said...

Oh my gosh... love your bag!! Have a wonderful ans safe trip!! Enjoy!

grendelskin said...

Your bag came out terrific! Have a great time and take lots of pics! A tip: try to go to Hoover Dam as early as possible; the first tour of the morning is the most likely to have small crowds and good attention by the tour guides.

Diane Schuller said...

what an apt bag you made June!
Oh, you two will really enjoy your trip. I've been to all of those places (ages ago). Bryce was my real favourite spot: gorgeous and a photography paradise. Oh and the Antelope Canyon near Page will also be fantastic for that photo outing you signed up for.

I won't go on and on but I must say how much I enjoyed each and every one of those places, for different reasons. That said, I have to say both my husband and I LOVED Lake Havasu. Great walking trails, the bridge is an amazing feat and I highly recommend the great mini brewery just above the bridge. It's a lovely new city.

Okay, nuff of that -- just enjoy that trip -- it sounds absolutely fantastic!

Diane

Jeannie said...

Love the bag! Have a wonderful trip! You are going to some of my favorite places, well except the Oregon Coast! Have fun!

Rachel@oneprettything.com said...

The bag is gorgeous! Have a great time, your itinerary is awesome!

Niesz Vintage Home said...

Have a great time on your trip!
Love the new bag! I've had the Weekender pattern for months and still haven't gotten up the nerve to tackle it. LOL

Yours turned out great!

Kimberly :)

Gumbo Lily said...

Oh! You are so good! Great bag. Have a wonderful road trip!

jody