First off, let me say that I loved this project! It was difficult and challenging but I loved every minute of it. Even if you don't link up with the blog hop, I suggest that everyone make this bag at some point in their sewing journey. Once you finish it, you feel a huge sense of accomplishment.
If you have been following along with the blog hop, then you have seen some amazing examples of the Weekender Bag! Just in case you missed them, here is the schedule. Go check them out!
November 16-18: Project Link-up here at Lori H. Designs
November 19: Prize Drawings Announced!
I finished my bag a while back and have been impatiently waiting to show it to all of you! Like many others, I fell in love with Elizabeth Hartman's, quilt as you go version, of the Weekender Bag. So I chose my fabrics and decided that I wanted to use a foundation paper piecing pattern that I used perviously for my Modern She Made Swap item. So let's start off with my fabric choices.
I wanted something so colorful that I couldn't help but smile when I looked at it! And the best part is that all of these prints came from my stash!! The only fabric that I purchased was the black text print from the Madrona Road collection!
Once I pieced my blocks together I cut out my bag panels. And quilted them with a layer of batting and a layer of cotton duck. I cut all three layers a bit larger than needed to begin with. After I finished quilting them, I cut them down to the correct size.

Then the construction began. Everything went together pretty easily up to this point. I added the piping with my mega piping foot. This was my first time ever using piping in a project, it probably could have been done better but for my first time, I was pleased. And instead of making my handles, I used 1.5" cotton webbing. I am so glad I opted for the cotton webbing. I know the handles are going to wear so much better!
If I could offer any advice it would be to take a break at this point. You are going to need all of the patience and calm energy that you body can produce for the next stage of the project! This is the point where I stopped for the night and picked things back up the next day.
I don't know why I didn't take any pictures of actually putting the bag together but I didn't. I used Clover Wonder Clips to hold my bag together. The Wonder Clips worked pretty well, I'm not really sure anything would hold the layers together perfectly.
I can't say this enough .... use a denim needle and go SLOW!!!! I am happy to say that keeping those two things in mind, I didn't break a single needle!
I also made it a point to stay very calm, I really did want this to be a fun experience.
And here she is ....
She's not perfect but for my first bag I am so happy with her.
One addition that I made was the masonite bottom. I saw how Jill added the masonite bottom to her bag and I had to give it a try. This was by far the scariest part of my project! I added the masonite bottom after the whole bag was completed so I had to cut through the lining and the quilted outer shell. I was so worried that I would cut the holes too big or that the lining would shift and it wouldn't be centered. It was rough!
I also added an open pocket in the lining of the outer pockets, one on each side.
And two zipper pockets to the inside of the bag.
If I were to make another Weekender, I would figure out an easier way to do the lining. I don't like how loose it is on the inside. I will probably end up going back and tacking in the seams in more places. I think next time I would add the lining to the quilt sandwich that I made to begin with. And then maybe bind the raw edges when the bag was put together. I wouldn't be able to have pockets but I think it would be worth it.
I have been trying to decide how I am going to use my Weekender. I had thought about using it as a teaching bag but I'm thinking it will be more of a bag to tote my ongoing projects around in.
I am wanting to learn how to crochet so maybe it will be my crochet bag. Or maybe I will use it as my Quilting Class bag. There are endless options for this beauty!
And I'm linking up with the 4th Quarter Finish-A-Long!
You can find the original post here.