The giveaway is now closed. The winners were #10 Peggy, #23 Tracey at the Peony Teacup, #72 B Greene, #7 Alison C, and #26 Kristy @cottonaddiction. Congratulations!
Welcome to stop #9 of the Zakka Style Sew Along! If you’re not familiar, Rashida Coleman-Hale was the author of ‘Zakka Style’, a really cool sewing book with lots of small projects that have a ton of creativity. The sew along takes one project per week (24 projects!) and gives you inspiration (as well as prizes!). Check this out to find more information!!
I felt just okay about this book when I first saw it, but it has far surpassed expectations and I’m really digging a lot of projects in the book! I made this Mermaid Zip Organizer from the book a couple of weeks ago, and I’m really in love with it (and also I’ve gotten a ton of great feedback about it too!). I really love it, and I use it as a wallet. I’m looking forward to making more projects from the book now!
Anyway, my project for the sew along was the Stem Messenger bag. The bag features lots of different-sized compartments, and the leaves and the stem are applique. The main fabric is by Sweetwater, and the rest are Kona solids. I decided to change my leaves up a little bit and make them paper pieced. To do that, I just copied the pattern piece (I cut in half), and drew some randomly-sized segments, at an angle. I also added the 1/4″ seam allowance down the center. Really easy to do, and gives a nice effect to the leaves, I think.
For the interfacing of the bag, I used Pellon #TP971F fusible Thermolam interfacing (which is a needled fleece interfacing, similar to Pellon or Warm and Natural batting) for the exterior of the bag, and Pellon SF-101 Shape Flex woven fusible interfacing for the interior of the bag. There’s also Thermolam in the handles, to make them a bit padded. The Thermolam gives the bag extra body, which I like.
There is only one thing about the pattern instructions that is important to note. When you are making the gussets, instead of sewing the gusset off 3″ from the bottom corner of the bag, you need to sew 1″. It’s really important that you don’t sew 3″ because otherwise you’ll end up with a tiny-looking bag and huge giant flap!
The bag is great to sew for a confident beginner or an intermediate seamstress. There are no pattern pieces to cut out, just a curved edge for the rounded corners of the flap.
This bag was made for my friend, Kim’s, beautiful daughter Katy. She was kind enough to send me a photo of Katy with the bag. Isn’t she lovely? Katy’s favorite color is blue, so I tried to tone down the girly colors.
- April 2nd :: Zig Zag Tote with Sew Fantastic
- April 9th :: The House Pouch with During Quiet Time
- April 16th :: Zakka Pincushion with Pink Penguin
- April 23rd :: Sewing Kit with Monkey Do
- April 30th :: Patchwork Pencil Case with VeryKerryBerry
- May 7th :: Itty Bitty Quilt Block Magnets with Little Bluebell
- May 14th :: Raincloud Mug Rug with Quilt Dad
- May 21st :: Zakka Block Quilt with I like Orange
- May 28th :: Stem Messenger Bag with Sew Sweetness
- June 4th :: Zip Organizer with Spotted Stone
- June 11th :: Orchard Path Tweed Pouch with Don’t Call Me Betsy
- June 18th :: Happy Couple Handwarmers with A Cuppa and a Catchup
- June 25th :: Patchwork Potholder with Sew Take a Hike
- July 2nd :: Water Bottle Holder with One Shabby Chick
- July 9th :: Elephant Bookmark with Cut to Pieces
- July 16th :: Patchwork Ribbon with {House} of A la Mode
- July 23rd :: Delightful Linen Bag with Sukie
- July 30th :: Bread Basket with Patchwork Notes
- August 6th :: Sweet Sugar Cookie Sack with BettyCrockerAss
- August 13th :: Little Pocket Pillowcase with Freshly Pieced
- August 2oth :: Sweet Memories Photo Frame with Noodlehead
- August 27th :: Pleated Coin Purse with Shape Moth
- September 3rd :: Happy Garland Message Board with Maureen Cracknell Handmade
- September 10th :: Nesting Boxes with From the Blue Chair
So…if you’ve read down this far, how about a little prize for your efforts? I have a great prize pack, courtesy of Aurifil Thread! Aurifil thread is available at your local quilt shop, or you can find it online at several great shops! You have until Friday, June 1st at 7pm CT to enter! Be sure to click the link below to take you to the entry page!
Once Again, Sara, you’ve taken a pattern and made it “your own” and it’s gorgeous!
I love what you did with the leaves!
Your Zakka bag is lovely. Thanks for sharing.
Your bag is so beautiful! Lucky girl to receive it!
That bag is really great – love the leaves. Hometown was a good choice for the background!
what a fabulous bag! i love how you’ve incorporated so many shades of each colour in each leaf!
Very, very nice. I love the leaves and colours.
I love your twist to the leaves, and I will scribble the bit about 1″ not 3″ in my book, thank you x
I love how your bag turned out! Great idea for the leaves. Kim’s daughter looks very happy with it!
I made my bag without leaves. Gave it my own touch.
Yours leaves are lovely!
Totally love how you made this bag! The leaves are perfect!
Beautiful bag. I would love to try out the thread. I love all the different colors.
Lucky Katy, love how you did the leaves :o)
I LOVE that bag!! I have mine cut out but it looks boring compared to yours – your paperpieced leaves definitely kick it up a notch – no – TWO notches! Well done — Miss Katy is a lovely – and lucky!! – young lady 🙂
I love the paper pieced leaves on your bag!