Monday, September 21, 2020

It's In the Bag Blog Hop featuring Peacock Galore by Island Batik and the Round Trip Duffle from Patterns by Annie!

I've been waiting for my day on the Blog hop so I could show you the awesome bag I got to make - the Round Trip Duffle!  This is a great bag, lots of pockets and plenty of room for everything I would want to take for a weekend trip.

I am quite impressed with how it came out!  So now for all the details!



This was a really different challenge for many of us Ambassadors, but it's been so much fun seeing everyone's bag, and I think almost all of us plan on making more of them! I was provided with three fabrics from the Peacock Galore line in purples and greens with hints of orange, plus the pattern and all the supplies needed to make this beautiful bag all bundled together in the second Island Batik Ambassador box of the year.

Looking through all of the things required to make this bag was almost a little intimidating!  But then I opened up the pattern and saw how detailed the instructions were and I relaxed.  I love the way every step has good instructions and there are checkboxes so you don't get lost or skip a step along the way. (because I am known for doing that!)

For the pattern I chose, there are also special videos to help with the tricky bits.  Many of the ByAnnie patterns feature the Add-on videos, when you purchase the pattern you will find a code that you can use to view them for free.  It's Annie's way of supporting the local quilt shop in assisting you to make these patterns - and they really are very helpful.  There are even some free videos that go with the free patterns so I would recommend to check them out - visit ByAnnie.com to see all the great patterns, hardware and everything elso you can think of to make all of their great bags!



The fabric we are featuring for today's bags is Peacock Galore - designed by Claudia Pfeil of Claudia Pfeil Designs.  Aren't the colors so pretty in this collection?  I'll be using these for next month's challenge, too!  The fabrics that Annie chose for my bag were super nice!  And I very much like the hardware choices as well, they look very nice with the colors of the bag.  Besided the fabric and the bag supplies, I used Aurifil thread in dark purple, light purple and light green.  I tried to remember to switch thread so it would go with the fabric, especially when I was doing the top stitching.  
I know that if you've been following this hop that you have heard just about everyone rave about the way these patterns are organized!  I printed my labels on sticky label paper and was able to keep all those pieces from getting mixed up.  Definitely a big thumbs up for this because this bag has lots of pieces! 

One of the first steps was to quilt two large pieces of soft and stable between the front and back fabrics.  I forgot to take any pictures of this step, but it was a lot easier than I thought it would be.  I quilt on my domestic machine (a Juki Tl2000Qi)  I have a generous throat space, but the soft and stable is pretty springy and doesn't puddle like a quilt sandwich does, so I decided to do a wavy line echoing the pattern in the fabric.  It worked out perfectly!  No puckering on the back either, which I was a little concerned about.  Next time I might be a little braver and try some free motion, the texture of the Soft and Stable is delicious!

Next was making the straps.  I loved the way that the straps use webbing encased in the fabric!  Nice and sturdy, but not heavy at all!  
Making the little shoulder pad for the strap was a good introduction to binding the edges.  Then I was off to making pockets, which all have contrasting trim - such a nice looking touch!  Before I knew it I had a finished bag!  I had so much fun I forgot to take many pictures of the process..oops!

One of the best features of the bag is the inner mesh pocket which covers the whole back side of the inner bag!


The entire bag is clean finished with no raw edges exposed anywhere, not even in the zippers.  Since the lining is quilted to the soft and stable and exterior the seams are bound, which look really nice and add strength to them.

There are two pockets on the sides - perfect for holding a water bottle!  


The front panel has two pockets and straps (lots of layers to sew through, but my Juki did it without a problem).  I love having a zipper pocket on the outside of my bag, it's perfect for storing stuff you don't want to get lost.  And the zipper technique really made it look so neat and professional!


The back panel features a slip pocket and a trolley sleeve that goes over your suitcase, so handy! 
The inside features that mesh pocket on one side and three small pockets on the other side.                


The plexiglass insert for the bottom really gives the bag a great base and helps it keep its shape!
 I enjoyed making this bag and I'm sure I'll enjoy using it.  I can’t wait to try out my bag - we are planning a weekend getaway next week, so I’ll be loading this beauty up and hitting the road in style!  I'm deciding what bag to try next - I really could use a backpack, so I'm trying to choose which one I like the best.  I love having so many options!

If you would like to have some of the Peacock Galore fabrics to make a project of your own, I am putting together a bundle of them for a giveaway!  You can enter to win by leaving me a comment on this post - make sure I have a way to contact you if you win the drawing by including your e-mail address when you comment.  I'll draw the winner at the end of the hop.

Visit the other two stops for today as well to see more of this lovely collection (shipping now to shops near you!)

Make sure you enter the main giveaway for a chance at a fat quarter bundle as well!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks again to Island Batik and ByAnnie for making this months challenge so much fun!

34 comments:

  1. You did a great job! It's been fun sewing the same bag as you, and sharing hints. Have fun on your trip!

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  2. Pamela, your bag is really gorgeous. You did an amazing job making it. I really love these fabrics. They look sooo pretty. Thank you for sharing today and for your giveaway.

    jrcarter727@gmail.com

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  3. Your bag is really nice, Pamela. I love those fabrics, as you know.
    geneblack @ gmail .com

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  4. Your bag looks great. All those zipper pockets and side pockets are what makes ByAnnie bags so functional and useful. The Peacock Galore is beyond gorgeous!

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  5. wow you duffle bag is lovely. i am really loving this line. and all those pockets. woohooo. thank you for sharing and inspiring.
    quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

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  6. Fabulous bag! I love all those pockets and of course the pretty fabric!! Have a good trip!

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  7. Your bag turned out great! I am intimidated by bags...seems like there's so many steps, but what a great outcome. Thanks for sharing!

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  8. Your duffle bag looks so roomy and well made. And the fabrics are so pretty. Thank you for all the pictures of it.

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  9. I love the fabric and your bag is great!

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  10. That is one beautiful and handy bag!

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  11. I love your bag. The colors are wonderful and that strap turned out perfect. I like all those pockets. Jmikebalou (at) aol (dot) com

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  12. What a gorgeous bag! It is enough to inspire me to make the leap into bag-making, from being a mere zipper-pouch-maker. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  13. This is a great looking bag in the batiks. You make it sound easy enough for me to try.

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  14. I need to make one of these bags. I have lent most of my luggage (without returns) ndfromsd(at)gmail(dot)com

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  15. Awesome bag and
    great work on it.
    Carla from Utah

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  16. Anonymous3:35 AM

    Kathy,
    Beautiful duffle! Watching how all of the different bags are made gives a little push to jump in and try one. petuniakr@aol.com

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  17. This is a nice bag. I was a little intimidated by my pattern too and it was simple, not as many pieces. Love the fabric they assigned you too.

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  18. I am really enjoying this blog hop! All of the bags (and especially yours) are absolutely awesome! Thanks!

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  19. Your bag is beautiful, Pamela! I especially like the fabric on the strapping. Annie makes such beautiful choices. This bag looks super useful, and how great that you can test it out soon!

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  20. Such delicious fabric and a beautiful tote. Love all those pockets. You and all the other ambassadors are raving about the patterns and how great the instructions are. That is the best recommendation...from someone who has actually completed the project! Thank you for the opportunity to win. And congratulations on a great finish.

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  21. Very impressive bag! You did a fantastic job on it, Pamela! I love how the pockets are roomy and the inside can carry so much...just perfect for a weekend getaway or roadtrip. I could use both right now!
    duchick at gmail dot com

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  22. What a functional...and beautiful....bag. Love your colors and all those pockets. You are going to get tons of use from this practical piece. Great description of the process too!

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  23. Your bag looks amazing! And so useful. The fabrics in this line are gorgeous too.
    Thanks for the chance at a giveaway.

    diantha.howard@gmail.com

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  25. Such a nice bag and it would be really handy. Great job!
    hulseybg at gmail dot com
    My learning to quilt has tied me even closer to my Grandma. She passed away when I was about 12. She loved flowers and quilting and I do too! I often think how she would feel if she knew I was continuing in her shoes!

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  26. This is such a great and roomy bag! I could definitely use one like this!

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  27. I love this bag.... I want one.... I will be seeking out the pattern. Thanks for sharing.

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  28. Your bag came out beautifully! How nice that you get to use it right away. Have a safe and fun trip.

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  29. Thank you for sharing your beautiful beautiful bag! I love the coordinating fabric on the strap. You have inspired me to make one of these.

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  30. What a gorgeous bag! And so practical too. I know you'll have fun using it. I love this collection. So gorgeous!

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  31. What a beautiful bag. You’ll look very stylish on your trip. Have fun!

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  32. I love bags and zip bags but have made none. I love yours and those colors๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜. tushay3(at)yahoo(dot) com

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  33. Thanks so much for sharing this beautiful project! I've been thinking about making one of these duffles, and your post convinced me that it will be beautiful and doable, and useful as a great bag!

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Thanks for leaving me a comment, I love knowing what my readers think!