quilting

Palm Canyon Bag

About a year ago, Violet Craft released her Palm Canyon fabric line. I Have you seen the fabric? I received a half jelly roll of it in a Sew Sampler box awhile ago. It has some yummy colors, soft yellows and turquoise.

Palm Canyon Bag - A peek at some of the strips in the half Jelly Roll of Palm Canyon fabrics - piecefulthoughts.com

To be honest, I wasn’t all that excited about the fabrics when I saw them all rolled up, which is probably why it sat on my shelf so long. The colors are so soft, they don’t really shine well in a roll. I was much happier when I unrolled it and found this little guy.

Palm Canyon Bag - My favorite part of the Violet Craft Palm Canyon fabric, this cute little roadrunner - piecefulthoughts.com

Who can resist a cute little fella like that?! I’ve always wanted to see a roadrunner in real life. Maybe someday when I visit Arizona again.

Anyway, as I closed my eyes for a few winks the other day, I started thinking about this little half jelly roll. I suddenly knew what I wanted to make with it, a tablerunner!

So off I went, pulled out the jelly roll, picked out a few strips, cut them to 16-1/2″ and started to sew them together.

Palm Canyon Bag - Two bag sides, all sewn and bonded with Soft and Stable, ready for quilting. The fabric is Palm Canyon by Violet Craft - piecefulthoughts.com

Short runners, eh? Well, about halfway through the sewing of the strips, I decided that the runner was going to be too wide. I pondered cutting it narrower. Then I thought about making a pillow instead. No, wait — how about a bag? Did I have a piece of fabric for the lining? Yes, I found a grey polka dot by Kaffe Fassett in my stash. Did I have a batting stiff enough for a bag? Yes, I had just enough Soft & Stable left over from the Jolly Braid Tote Bag I made in October of last year. I love it when that happens.

So the photo above is the strips sewn together and basted to the Soft and Stable. Each piece measures approximately 15″ x 17″. I wasn’t using a pattern, just going from memory.

Now, drum roll, please . . . I actually did some free motion on these two pieces! I used Aurifil thread #3910, Lemon Ice (such a lovely color!). I’m just a little proud of myself. I did a simple meander in wobbly, kindergarten-type stitches, but I did it. Haha!

Palm Canyon Bag - Quilting detail on the bag pieces. The fabric is Palm Canyon by Violet Craft - piecefulthoughts.com

The Soft and Stable is foam-like, so it really shows off the quilting.  It also makes it look better than it is.

The one other item leftover from the Jelly Braid tote bag was the strap material, but I have no idea where I stashed it.  I did have some white cotton webbing, so I cut two pieces 30″ each. However, they just needed a little something. I took two jelly roll strips, one for each strap. Folding one strip in half, right sides together, I stitched down the side to make a tube. Once I had the tube turned, I pressed the seam to the center. I centered the jelly roll strip on the webbing and stitched along each side, trimmed off the excess jelly roll strip, and basted each strap to the bag.  I like how it turned out.

Palm Canyon Bag - Strap Detail, using 30" of cotton web for each strap, I folded a jelly roll strip in half, right sides together, and sewed it into a tube, then turned it. Press, center it on the webbing, and stitch down the sides. - piecefulthoughts.com

For the lining, I used a piece of Kaffe Fassett grey polka dot that I had in my stash, and cut it to the same measurements as the bag pieces.  Once I had the lining bag made, I snugged the outer bag into the lining bag so they were right sides together. I sewed around the bag, leaving a gap for turning. Once turned, I tucked the lining to the inside of the bag.

Palm Canyon Bag - Lining of bag from a grey polka dot Kaffe Fassett fabric - piecefulthoughts.com

I stitched around the top of the bag, catching the gap and sewing it closed. Voila! A finished bag. The bag measures approximately 13″ x 16″.

Palm Canyon Bag - A tote bag made using Violet Craft's Palm Canyon fabrics. No pattern was used. - piecefulthoughts.com

With a few 9″ – 10″ strips left over, I thought it would be fun to make a matching zippy pouch for the bag. I even found a matching zipper! This time I used fusible fleece to stabilize the bag, and did straight line quilting with my walking foot. I used the beautiful Aurifil Lemon Ice (#3910) again. It blends so well with the yellow strips it was difficult to see while I stitched, but I love it.

Palm Canyon Bag - A zippy pouch using leftover strips from a Violet Craft Palm Canyon jelly roll. The bag measures about 7.5" square. - piecefulthoughts.com

And I had enough of the Kaffe Fassett grey polka dot left over for the lining.

Palm Canyon Bag - Bag lining using grey polka dot Kaffe Fassett fabric - piecefulthoughts.com

Here’s the duo, sitting pretty on my patio table.

Palm Canyon Bag - My Palm Canyon Bag with matching zippy pouch, using Violet Craft's Palm Canyon fabric - piecefulthoughts.com

BigJ and I are going to take some day trips this weekend, and I think I’ll take this bag and pouch along. Just think of how much fabric that bag will hold, should we happen to come across a quilt shop . . .

And with that, my friends, this post is in the bag!

Linking up today with

Do you like to make bags? What is your favorite pattern?

Wendy

20 Comments

  • Jayne

    SO cute! I always have difficulty using jelly rolls so I totally understand having it sit around for a while. The colors are are really lovely! I like what you did on the strap! Its a beautiful duo and you should be proud!!

  • Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting

    Wendy, your thought process made those strips become just what they were meant to be! I love how you made the handles sturdy and adorable. That zipper on the pouch really highlights all the turquoise. Your new bags will put a little smile on your face as you and BigJ day trip.

  • Needle and Foot

    This is gorgeous Wendy – and you had all of it available in your stash. Isn’t that the best? I love whenI don’t have to stop a project because I need one more thing. The fabric was a bit ho-hum when I first saw it but yikes – all put together as you did, it becomes so pretty. Have fun filling it up this weekend!!

  • rl2b2017

    Hi Wendy! This project just came all together so well, didn’t it?!! It was meant to be – enough in your stash for backing, enough Soft & Stable, enough webbing, a matching zipper. Really nice job! I need to make a bag for my SIL but she wants lots of pockets on the inside – she gave me her old one as a model. This will be a first for us! Happy Wednesday! ~smile~ Roseanne

  • Lisa

    These two bags are beautiful Wendy. I am very impressed that you practiced your free motion quilting on the bigger bag. Yay you!

  • Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts

    I love that this project started out as one thing and ended up being something totally different! Kudo’s to you Wendy! Ad you made a matching zipper pouch! I’m using way to many exclamation points in this comment but I can’t help it – I loved this post (and your bags!!!)

  • thedarlingdogwood

    This looks like a really great bag and I especially love that you added a jelly roll strip tot he handles! I’ll have to remember that! I generally stay away from 3D projects but every once in a while I will forget how much I hate making bags and start one anyway 🙂 Now I just have to wait for the next time that happens! Lovely bag!

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