Lois your bags are so cute! I like how you used different colored zippers to match. Quite clever. If anyone doesn't like theirs... I'll send you my address!

Rosemary I'm eager to see your little amazing piece.

Well, I am done with the niece's wedding quilt. Whew! I enjoyed it, but as usual near the end, I got bored with it. Does that happen to anyone else? In any case, I will take it to the wedding August 1st over on the Washington coast. The cooler temps will be nice, not to mention getting to see all the family. I named the quilt "Hallways" as their last name is Hall. Here are some pictures of the quilt.



Here are some close ups. As I stared at the quilt I felt it needed some sort of extra binding treatment to contain it all. I wanted to put a small 1/8" flange on the binding but since Sybil decided to go up and live with Mr. Fix it, I don't have a walking foot to use for Constance. I knew I would just be frustrated trying to sew through 6 layers of fabric and cotton batting without the walking foot. So I used a decorative stitch Constance had and I like it better.








And, I hope you won't kick me off this forum and retreat, but I must admit.... I'm seeing someone else. Yes, I have found a small modern quilt group and they have asked me to join them! You are all still my favorite quilters, I do hope you all understand. It is nice to have some new friends locally.

Now it's onto the baby quilt for Victorina Rose, my newest grandbaby due October 18th. I call her Rosey. I bought eight 1/4 yard cuts of Kaffe Fassett while on Vashon Island this past weekend. They are just lovely. It will be a simple quilt. Half square triangles in a chevron pattern. I may have to write her name on the quilt using Microsoft Word, wonder under and tiny machine applique. Constance doesn't embroider.

I'm sending good wishes to all of you!

geneva

Conipur wrote:
Yes, the directions are much better for "The SewTogether Bag". I wish I had made them first. The "Bionic Gear Bag" is practically the same but larger. I am wondering if the 2 of them, the designers, don't have some copyright issues there. So much alike. Anyway, they are great bags.

Beautiful collection of bags Lois - by the way your parcel arrived today.
Marianne, I cheated a bit and used spray baste - ideal for small things like this, and since the quilt sandwich is only about 14" square, it is easy to steer one handed and I love the stitch count control of a hand crank for this size work especially as I am only doing straight lines so far
Wendy - hand sewing and curtains! awesome....

Lois,
Your bags are beautiful as well as practical. After making "The Gadget Bag" one time, I don't know if I would do it again. Are the directions better for the"Sew Together"?

As Luann says, I've used my walking foot with vinyl and laminates and that has worked really well. You sometimes need the tissue on the bottom so it doesn't stick to the bed of the machine, but often you can just keep the fabric lifted a little off of the bed.

loise98 wrote:
When I needed to sew up some thickish vinyl tote straps I dropped my feed dogs, released some of the pressure from the presser foot, and pretty much did free motion stitching down the straps. Didn't go very fast as I wanted even stitches. It worked well for me. I have also heard of using thin tissue over and under. And a walking foot might help. I have also used the iron-on vinyl, sounds impossible, but it works really well. And that stuff doesn't irritate my machine.

It's fun to use some of the innovative products that are out there. It's just the learning curve that can bog a person down.

May God bless you all
Luann

Lois I love all your bags........I like making bags and a "girl" can never have too many.
I'm just about to start tidying my work room and sorting all my scraps....and I mean scraps ...I save everything,.
I have a friend coming over from Spain for a week and she needs office space so she uses my "studio". She can spread her work out and leave it as it is.
She comes over about 4 times a year and we love having her here.
Have a good week everyone, happy sewing.
Anne

Thanks for the compliments. Lotti, your packing tips are great. They come from one who has had traveling experience. Marianne, All I can say about the top stitching on the laminate is "just don't try it without a teflon foot". I don't have one for my machine that handles the heavy stuff. Need to put that on my shopping list. And just wait until you see the quilt Rosemary is working. When you do you will understand why its easier on the hand crank. She posted a picture in progress, but darned if I can find it now.

The make up bag pdf is on Craftsy. It's "The Sew Together Bag" by Sewdemented.

I have Marriane all by hand, I did them properly. Pass some more

Thank you everybody for your kind words re my machine covers!
Wendy, surely curtain making is retreat worthy - hope you got your hand in the MM bowl now and again while doing those looooooong seams
Quilting on a hand-cranked machine is awe-inspiring, Rosemary. My first machine was a hand-cranked machine and I can't imagine how you manage to do quilting with only one hand on the quilt. How tightly did you baste?
Oh Lois! your pressies are so nice. The make-up bags are great. What pattern did you use? The pic-nic bag is so cute. How on earth did you manage to get such neat top-stitching on what looks like laminated fabric? You have been very, very busy
Marianne

Great machine Covers, Marianne, your machines now all snugly and cozy,
Fabulous prezzies, Lois, your new family members are some lucky folk! Pack everything inside your SIL's picknick-basket and use it as your carry-on
Rosemary, wow, quilting with a hand-cranking machine - I'm totally in awe of you! And looking forward to seeing pictures - of machine & quilt
Seems like you had a great wildlife-walk, Wendy. Here's the bear you missed, I think he was lurking in the corner with the snails ...

Lois, you are very thoughtful. Each person should get good use out of their gift.

Marianne, I agree that your machine covers are beautiful!

Cranky tension is no fun! But silk thread is yummy!

Lovely gifts, Lois! Your new family is very lucky!!

Keep cranking Rosemary I'm looking forward to seeing the end result at Birmingham