A Sew Sew Project

One of the things I wanted to get done this weekend was a challenge project for the 'Seams Possible' neighborhood group. Last year we were each given an inexpensive floral print to use as inspiration for a project. The project is due Tuesday and, of course, I left things until the last minute. Here is the picture I am to use as my inspiration:

This first thing I noticed about the picture is that the tulips were a color I did not recognize and that they were sagging in a most un-natural manner. My first idea was to make a skirt the color of the tulips using a pattern called, appropriately enough, The Tulip Skirt. The pattern was in one of the Japanese sewing books I have. When I realized how many adjustments I would need to fit my non-Asian form I decided to find something else to fulfill the challenge.

Until yesterday, I did not know what my other idea would be. Then I found a pattern in the loot I have been collectiing for the KAQG Quilt Show. The pattern is called the "No-Sag-Bag", published in 1983 by Cloth and Sew On based in Ontario, Oregon. I have been unable to Google the pattern or the company but, then again, after 25 years that should not suprise me. My thought was I would correct the sagging tulips and make a bag out of them. I didn't say it was a brilliant idea.


What makes this pattern unique to me is that a center pocket is incorporated into the structure of the bag so that it really can't sag.


Here's a shot of the pattern packet and its one pattern piece:

And here's what I came up with:

As you can see I have a few problems. The hand dyed fabric I found in the stash is a good color match but there was not enough of it to make the bag as shown in the pattern. I rescaled the pattern to fit the amount of fabric available. When I rescaled the pattern I did not leave certain bits at the original size like the seam allowances for the zipper and the sides of the bag thus the pathetic article shown above.


I may try this bag again because it really is a clever bag design. I just need to get it done quickly so I can return it to the Fish Pond items.