I did it! I made something for me “just because” and I love it!!!! This is the Aeroplane Bag by Sara Lawson. Sara’s patterns are really well written and come with simple instructions, lots of tips and photos to help with each step.

I made a couple things different in that I added an external pocket between the handles, used cotton webbing instead of making straps and added a key clip to the inside – I don’t know about you but I always lose my keys in big bags.

This bag took me weeks to make as I started, stopped, decided to hand stitch some decoration onto the external panels, packed up, started again, you get the drift. I think if I’d focused and made it all in one go, it would take a full day, but it would be a day well spent! I’m super chuffed with the result and more than a little relieved that I finished in time to take it to QuiltCon.

Side Note :: Sara recommends using Soft and Stable as the main stabiliser and I’m so glad I found this stuff through her patterns. It’s the NICEST bag batting I’ve ever used and I don’t think I’ll ever go back to anything else! So soft and easy to work with but with lots of memory so it bounces back into shape no matter how hard it gets squished and pulled about.

The details:

Pattern :: Sara Lawson of Sew Sweetness. Work have a large range of Sara’s patterns on order, due to arrive early March.

External :: Echino Hexagon Bees and Solid Orange, 55% Linen, 45% Cotton. Handles are grey cotton webbing. All purchased from Addicted To Fabric (also where I got the Soft and Stable and the hardware).

Lining :: Botanics by Carolyn Friedlander purchased from Pink Chalk before they closed (sob). The key clip is a scrap of Kaffe Fassett Aboriginal Dots.