Adventures in Bag making - The Shoreham beach bag

Designing and writing a new quilt pattern is not an easy business! Especially when the project concerned is a seaside quilt and it’s October! Of course I know this is completely the wrong time of year to be popping out a design that is all about summer holidays - but then…just as this project has taken me much longer do than I ever intended, I figure that all you stitchers and quilters out there need time to plan. What could be nicer on a dreary winters day than making a project for the summer days to come. Beautiful things take time to make and I think this quilt design is worth all the effort. I am just finishing up the pattern instructions which should be out by next weekend, but couldn’t wait to post up this bag, which I made using up some of the test blocks.

I know I have written about bag making before and I am not a pro by any stretch of the imagination. I am not a fan of having too much stuff, so usually only make a bag which I know I can use. In this case - it is perfect for carrying the quilt in and this quilt is going places…it will be on every picnic and every beach trip I ever make!

The bag was a quick and straight forward make given that I had two blocks left over from the quilt. I added denim borders all around as I figured it was tough and perfect for beach wear. (denim is a fantastic staple fabric to keep in the stash - it is amazingly useful). I then quilted the panels with wadding and a muslin backing using a free motion wandering squiggle for the quilt blocks and straight lines for the denim to add some contrast. With two panels done, I decided to try adding a little shape to the bag and angled the sides in. With hindsight, I wish I had done this at a wider angle, but as I wasn’t sure how it would work, I was cautious. I cut two lining panels to match these and chose a heavy weight home dec gingham in navy and white and once the bag was made up it looked fab. I didn’t use a pattern for this bag - I’ve made enough tote bags and zippered pouches now to know how it works, so it was bound to be a bit hit and miss, but on balance I was confident.

For the handles, I wanted to try something a bit different. I had bought a pair of 2mm thick leather handles from Panduro in Stockholm when I was over there earlier in the year and knew these were perfect. In fact I think these were expensive and in future I would just buy a strip of thick leather and cut it. However, they do look good - thick and chunky they compliment the bag well and look functional and modern. I ordered some shiny rivets from sewhot.co.uk and had a go at fitting them on. It seemed straightforward enough - I was a little timid with the hammer and I don’t know how firm they are but we shall see. I actually really love how they look.

This bag feels like the best beach bag I could ever make and I love it. I am a big fan of adding some pro touches and love Emmaline bag hardware. I used dome feet on the bottom and a handmade tag to match the rivets and give it a totally professional finish. I don’t know why but I am always surprised when I make something that turns out so well.

The Shoreham quilt pattern will be up in my Etsy shop later this week. I hope you will hop over there and check it out and I’ll pop up a few more pics here as well, as I am making it in another colour way, so be sure to stop by and see.