Do you make Christmas presents for your friends and family? I always have great plans to and almost always fail to make everything I have planned. Not this year! this year I’m organised and already have sone done. (oh if you are one of the people who normally get presents from The Englishman and myself, well perhaps don’t read anymore ok? or practice your surprise face, your choice).
I spotted the weebrawbag via Instagram and was immediately charmed by it’s adorable shape. A few clicks later and I had the pattern downloaded and drawn up to the correct sizes. I’ve gone with the wee size and 3 of the bigger knitter sizes. It’s possible that if you are a knitter you may want an even bigger size as this seems a little small if you were working on a big project. In fact I’ve already made one and blogged it here
Fabric wise I didn’t have much that would work so went to Quiltsmith in Annandale to have a look. Sadly the store is no longer there. I’d been in a few times but rarely use quilting fabric, quilters who I know are devastated at the loss of such a good local store (support your local stores!!). I came away with a few cat prints, I know total shock that I chose cat prints. A navy and hot pink print featuring pattern shapes and a favourite cotton and steel print that shows thread reels. The reels say Measure Twice Cut Once on them! love them. Plus sloths because well, sloths.
Using my Prom cutting mat, ruler and rotary cutter I had fun mixing and matching prints in an utterly madcap manner. Some of the combinations clearly work better than others but I love the freedom to play about and have no “rules” to it. I added a Star print from Pitt Trading that I had used for The Bingley Boxers and had scraps for leftovers.
The bags go together in maybe 15 minutes once you get the hang of it? Batch sewing certainly sped the whole process up. I went without any of the internal batting because a) didn’t have any b)I’m not sure they needed any?
Once done I used some lovely teal cord from Pitt Trading to create the drawcords and voila! Christmas presents ready to go…now I just have to finish all the other ideas I have for presents.
Highly recommend pattern for presents, anyone who needs to sew for school fairs, teacher presents and scrap busting. I also thing it would be a great project to do with kids, it’s all straight sewing but has some techniques which would be a good learning tool.
Pattern: Wee Braw Bag pattern by Laura Zuckerkuss
Fabric: cats x 3, Cotton and Steel Reels, Pattern Shapes and sloths from Quiltsmith stars and drawcord From Pitt Trading
Alterations: didn’t use interfacing because I didn’t have any to hand