Quilted Zipper Bag......Tutorial

This was so much fun........I thought you might like to make one too!

Click Images to Enlarge:

Quilted Zipper Bag

My inspiration came from this green zipper bag my friend Celia made for me two summers ago...

Strips cut randomly from 1 to 3 inches wide x 45 inches

1/4 inch piece all strips together into a strip unit 
measuring 18 x 45 inches

Spray Baste the strip unit to batting and backing fabric

I like all of these adhesive sprays

Audition quilting thread

Be sure to spool out enough thread to see how it looks

I chose to free motion quilt a feather type design all over.

You could also straight stitch or cross-hatch 
with a walking foot.

Cut the quilted piece into 5 sections 8.5 inches each

This will make 5 zipper bags

Trim off the batting edges.

Find zippers 9 inches or longer.

If they are too long, you just cut off the extra...later.

Place the zipper face down on the pretty side of the fabric.

Stitch in place using a zipper foot.

I line the foot up with the right edge of the zipper.

Unzip the zipper and sew the left side of the zipper
 to the left side of the bag.

Press the seams over toward the inside of the bag.

From the back side, top stitch the zipper in place.

I line the left side of my zipper foot with the left side of the zipper.

It will give you a nice, even straight stitched line on the front side.

Zipper installed and top stitched.

Zip up the zipper and turn the bag inside out.

Be sure to leave at least an inch of fabric folded over above the zipper...see image above.

Stitch down the right side of the bag through all layers.

I sew over the zipper twice for extra strength in the seam.

Trim off the excess zipper end.

Make a handle from a 1.5 inch strip of coordinating fabric.

Fold the raw edges toward the middle, then fold in half.

Top stitch together on the left side of the strap.

Cut off a 8 inch length of strap for each bag

Tuck the folded strap inside the bag, with raw edges facing outward, and pin in place.

Stitch down the left side of the bag through the handle and zipper.

I double stitch over the handle and zipper area.

p.s. Did you un-zip the zipper before you sewed this last side?

I want the bag to have a flat bottom so it will stand up.

I fold down the bottom corners into a triangle and sewed in about an inch.

Trim off the excess triangle.

The square bottom is a nice addition to the bag.

This quilted bag tutorial makes 5 zipper bags!

Have fun!

CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts

CLICK HERE to see the Juicy Orange Bags I made...

CLICK HERE to see the bags Linda made using this tutorial...

May Your Bags Always have Zippers,

LuAnn

To see my New Work CLICK HERE

To see the Thread Shed CLICK HERE

To see my Exhibit Quilts CLICK HERE

To see Tutorials CLICK HERE

Challenge Project......Transfer Technique

Challenge Projects Revealed

Click Images to Enlarge:

Sneak Peek....Challenge Quilt

Last week I gave you this sneak peek at my challenge project.

This is the 4th year my local quilt group has had a challenge.

The challenge theme this year is......HOME.

"Those Who Nurtured and Loved Me"

My challenge quilt

You are looking through 4 and 5 layers of transferred images

I spent the summer experimenting with a dozen different transfer techniques.

I joined an online transfer group with Leslie Riley.

For this piece I used TAP....Transfer Artist Paper

I found it created a very clear image, which could be layered several times.

It was also very easy to use.

My strongest memories of HOME are when I was a child at the home of my grandparents. My fondest memory is sitting under the grape arbor with my grandfather eating grapes warmed by the sun.

These grape images are from the grape arbor that is now growing in my backyard.

Quilt Label

Those Who Nurtured and Loved Me

2009

Techniques: TAP Transfer Technique, cotton fabrics, layered with batting and backing, free motion quilted with YLI Variations Thread & Superior Bottom Line Thread, Fast Fused Binding and Fused Label.

CLICK HERE to see more of my photo transfer work

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

To see my New Work CLICK HERE

To see the Thread Shed CLICK HERE

To see my Exhibit Quilts CLICK HERE

To see Tutorials CLICK HERE

I'm Not Bossy......

Click Images to Enlarge:

I'm Not Bossy.....I Just have Better Ideas

What sits next to your sewing machine?

This is what I keep close by my applique machine.

I couldn't do without any of it...

especially the big white CUP

CLICK HERE to see what else is in the THREAD SHED

Pink Orange Gold Fabric Paper

CLICK HERE to see more Fabric Paper & Tutorial

Sneak Peek

I wish I could show you more of my newest project...

but it is a secret until Monday.

I will post more images and tell you about it then!

Overnight Guests at Kessi Farms

These are my little party animals!

They came to spend the night with Annylu (short for Auntie LuLu)

Tea Party

Who is watching Who?

Not sure if the kids are watching the animals...

or it is the other way around?

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

To see my New Work CLICK HERE

To see the Thread Shed CLICK HERE

To see my Exhibit Quilts CLICK HERE

To see Tutorials CLICK HERE

What a Bunch of Flakes.......Snowflake Class

Every Monday I meet with my local quilting group,

The Harlan Valley Quilters

Today I lead a class in raw edge machine applique:

"What a Bunch of Flakes"

Click Images to Enlarge:

Snowflake Applique Block

My Class Sample

I couldn't resist playing around with contrast and saturation in the photo program to change the look of the snowflake block from above.

This is a great way to audition fabrics for future blocks!

Another manipulated image from the photo program.

This snowflake appears to be icy cold.

Not a lot of contrast between the snowflake and the background...but it works!

Paper Snowflakes

Snowflakes created by students: Linda & Dana

Paper Snowflakes created by student, Kathi

Paper snowflakes created by student, Barbara

The paper snowflakes were later used as a pattern to create the fabric applique snowflake blocks.

Dana stitching down her fused fabric snowflake.

Completed Snowflake Applique Quilt Blocks

Original Designs

The students all completed a snowflake quilt block today and seemed to enjoy creating their own individual applique' pattern.

Paper Snowflake Directions can be found HERE

We ironed fusible web onto the back of our snowflake fabric.

Then folded the fabric just like we folded the paper.

Then we took the folded paper snowflake, placed it on the fabric folded snowflake (as a pattern) then cut out the fabric snowflake.

Fun Snowflake Links:

Make-A-Flake Website:

This animated site is so much fun!

I followed along with the diagrams and taught myself to make gorgeous paper snowflakes.

These paper snowflakes can be used to create fabric applique snowflake blocks.

Kids will love this site too!

http://snowflakes.barkleyus.com/index.html

Make simple snowflakes from paper - Tutorial

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/snowflake/

6 Sided Paper Snowflake Instructions

http://www.papersnowflakes.com/reg6sided_instructions.htm

9 different patterns for paper snowflakes

Print out the pattern you like, then cut it out.

You can use this pattern to create fabric fused snowflake blocks:

http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/dstredulinsky/lsamples.pdf

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

To see my New Work CLICK HERE

To see the Thread Shed CLICK HERE

To see my Exhibit Quilts CLICK HERE

To see Tutorials CLICK HERE