Bags, Uncategorized

The Katydid Bag

Hi everyone! Today I’m pleased to show you my Katydid Bag, as part of the Safari Moon blog hop to showcase Safari Moon by Frances Newcombe for Art Gallery Fabrics. Frances is my good friend and came to visit me here in Chicago last summer. What she can do on the computer is seriously out of this world. She does motion graphics for NBC, and whenever I see a commercial on TV that I know she’s done for one of the NBC shows, I get all giddy and jump up and down. Ha.

Safari Moon is her first line for Art Gallery Fabrics. It’s full of bright colors and a great jungle theme. You can find it right now at Fat Quarter Shop, Stash Modern Fabric, and more!

I used these fabrics to make the Katydid Bag, which is a pattern that you can find in the March/April 2014 issue of Gen Q Magazine. There it is! I took that photograph in -40 degree weather. Can you see my red nose? lol.

This pattern was written for my best friend Kim. She called me up a few weeks before we were going to Fall Quilt Market last October. She had made a New York Beauty quilt block (12.5″) and none of my current bag patterns were appropriate to showcase the block (they either had straps, pockets, or a flap that would cover part of it). So she needed a special pattern just for her. I think I was in the middle of making 3 things for Tula Pink’s booth, which I only had 1 week to work on, but because I love her so much, I did. And I named the bag after her daughter, Katy. So, here’s Kim’s Katydid Bag from last October. Personally, she did a better job on her bag than I did on mine, but Kim is just perfect that way. 😉 Well, the folks from Gen Q saw her bag at Market, and since the pattern for it had not been publicly released, they wanted it for the magazine. Only they did not want a plain bag. Oh, no. Because they had seen Kim’s fabulous bag, they had to have one with a star block on the front too. Except I had to make my own, brand new block. Never having drafted a foundation paper-pieced star before, I silently mimed strangling Kim (haha, just kidding) and gave it my best shot. Oh, and it was due right after Christmas. 😉

One of my favorite parts about the bag is the recessed zipper, and the method used on this bag is super easy peasy. There is also a zippered pocket down inside the lining of the bag.

I used the same store-bought handles from Joann’s that Kim used on her bag. They’re pretty snazzy.

Aren’t the fabrics just gorgeous in the star? So pretty and bright. They really work together well. Frances has done up some pretty cute projects to show everyone her fabrics. My favorite is this apron, but I also love this Larkspur Top.

I also used Safari Moon in another project. I’m working on my second book right now, so I can only show you this tiny sneaky peak of this one…I used the fuchsia print from Safari Moon for the lining, so it really makes the bag pop (which…you cannot see the pop from this photo, lol!).

Here are the other stops on the blog tour! I hope you’ll check them out!

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21 thoughts on “The Katydid Bag

  1. Purl Buttons says:

    I love the drama of the star on that blue. What a nice bag pattern. You are a good friend to stop and design this in the middle of Christmas. I am amazed how foundation paper piecing is having such a resurgence. I am ready to learn more about it especially since THIS time around, quilters are using such fresh, modern fabrics.

  2. DeborahGun says:

    such a gorgeous bag, and can’t wait to see your next design either 🙂

  3. Sandy W says:

    fANTASTIC! love the katydid bag! can’t wait to see the pop on the other secret project!! Going to have to find that magazine!!

  4. This is so so so gorgeous!!!!!!!!!! WOW Sara! I can’t thank you enough! This bag is amazing!!! I want it!!!!!
    Thank you Thank you! Love, Frances

  5. SIMPLESEW says:

    Red nose or not, your a Supermodel and I love the bag.. I grab the moth fabric in my quilt store because of the color, one of those last minute and my Quilt store has poor poor representation of AG and I got the fabric home and its really really gorgeous, its the green moth.. I have this bundle on my buy list … thank you

    1. christine ravish says:

      I love the Katydid bag and I want to make it a little smaller, and use linen. I have the handles and fabrics, but I can’t find the pattern or tutorial…..not at Gen Q anymore. Can you help?

  6. Melissa says:

    What a beautiful bag…it’s amazing! The bright blue fabric really show cases the Safari Moon fabric!

  7. Wonderful bag and great story too!

  8. Michele T says:

    I love this bag design!!! The star on the front is gorgeous – perfect colour choices!

  9. Katy Cameron says:

    That Kim, *such* a trouble maker ;o) And Rudolph, you need to start wearing a coat outside for photos ;o)

  10. Lynne Tilley says:

    Your bag is just gorgeous! Wow!

  11. Awesome bag AND fabrics. I really think the quality handles make the bag look so mum more Polished.

  12. Beth says:

    Love the fabrics,,,,love the star…love the bag.

  13. Wendy says:

    It’s beautiful, I need to learn to make recessed zips

  14. Lisa says:

    Beautiful Bag!!

  15. Donna Baker says:

    you are a great friend to help her out – oh and because of your feature in the next GenQ magazine, I bought a subscription! can’t wait to see your article and buy your 2nd book since I love the first so much! I already have fabric/supplies set aside for 3 of the bags!!

  16. Heather J says:

    Beautiful bag, inside and out.

  17. Kim says:

    I am just a BIG BOSSY BOOTS!!!! I use my Katydid Bag EVERYDAY! It hold 10,000,000 lbs of stuff! Thank you Sara and I LUVS YA Girlie!!!!

    ps for the record…I did tell you NOT to do it…LOL!

  18. Joan H. says:

    The bag and fabric are beautiful! Just what we need to welcome in Spring.

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