I have drastically cut back on my sewing bees and swaps--because I'm low on sewing time, my WIP's keep piling up, but mostly because it is stressful to sew for other people and equally stressful to send it away in the mail after working so hard on it. Recently I saw the ice cream swap on instagram and I thought I'd give swaps another try.
The ice cream block comes from the 318 Patchwork Patterns book by Kumiko Fujita. This book was recently release again in English and is for sale at the link (and I have no ties with the vendor). I have loved that ice cream block since I first saw Penny's block (back in 2010!) and now I've finally made one.
I used a bag construction technique found in a Suzuko Koseki book but then changed the dimensions to suit the pencil bag I wanted to make. You quilt the front and back panels but use a separate lining and then you quilt a zipper gusset with the lining fabric. Then when the gusset is sewn into the bag there are exposed seam allowances.
Then you stitch binding tape above the seam allowance by hand and then stitch it by hand again below the seam allowance but without wrapping the seam allowance. This way the seam allowance is tucked down and that gives the bag more shape while making the inside cleaner.
Here is a picture of the quilted gusset.
The finished zipper gusset,
and the finished bag. Yet again, I love the finished product so much that I really didn't want to send it off in the mail. I'll probably be taking another break from swaps. Call me selfish, but I don't seem to find time to make cute ice cream bags to stay here at home and I'll never will if I keep signing up for more swaps.
12 comments:
I keep signing up for swaps (my first year doing so) and have had so many issues with the people (they disappear, are weeks tardy without saying anything) and the items I've gotten (like a zip pouch that only half opened). I spend a lot of time, energy and thought on each item, and send out really nice, quality things! It's such a disappointment to not get anything in exchange, or it doesn't work correctly, or it's weeks late! I signed up for one more swap on IG (#igminiswap), and if it's a bust too I'm totally done with big swaps (one-on-one swaps have been very good so far). I hope your partner loves this cute little bag and you get something equally cute in return!
Love your ice cream cone and bag. I have a small group that we swapped with but I had to take a break because the deadline stressed me to no end (I met it) and that isn't worth it to me.
That's so cute! It's totally understandable that you'd want to keep it, heh. Thanks for pointing out that 318 Patchwork Patterns is going to be available in English -- I'm totally going to ask for it for Christmas! :)
Let me try again. It seems like earlier comments are right. Keep the swap small or make two one for you and one for the swap. In any case this bag is great and very handsomely made.
Wow, I loved your pouch before I realised how fancy the construction was!! I don't blame you at all for wanting to keep it! I'm going to check out that SK link now! :)
Oh, what a lovely bag, and as always, I so admire your craftsmanship.
what a perfect pencil case, love it!
i love all of this! the block is so perfect - the cone fabric in particular is genius!
and oooooh how fancy and perfect is your bag construction?!?
you never cease to amaze me my friend!
-melissa
This is so beautiful that surely would be hard to apart! Make an other one for yourself - I want to make one, too! x Teje
I don't think it is in anyway selfish to want to sew and keep things for yourself. Whenever I participate in a swap my husband always comments "You mean you're going to get one of these from someone else who you don't know? Why? What are you going to do with it?" That is kind of the fun and point of a swap but he's kind of got a point.
Go ahead and make something uber fun for yourself!!!
That is awesome!! Good for you. I'm too scared to join a swap, I'm okay with my mediocrity but I would have trouble sending it to someone else.
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