I needed a bit of light relief.
There are 4 more blocks to stitch before I complete the top for my scrappy Hopscotch quilt for Days for Girls. I needed to stop and have a breather, and also to find a use for two blocks which didn’t quite fit into the lineup. They’re too strong, and without enough contrast between dark and light to fit with the other blocks.
It was obvious. These are 15 inch blocks, and large. I’d make a bag; one on the front and one on the back. I hauled out some leftover fabric: mattress ticking for the handles and gussets, and some old kitchen curtain fabric I had left over after recycling most of it to make a quilt duffel, which would be the lining. It’s a simple structure: front, back, side and bottom gussets, handles and lining. Make up the outer, baste on the handles. Make the lining and stitch them together at the top edge, right side to right side, leaving a 3 inch gap in the seam to turn the bag through. Topstitch the top edge to neaten it and close the opening. Done.
It looks nice, doesn’t it? I wouldn’t mind keeping it, except that I’m committed to making prizes for Days for Girls for their next annual raffle and cent sale.
Well, I’ll buy some tickets when the time comes. Maybe I’ll win it back!
talltalesfromchiconia 
It’s a great looking bag and a wonderful donation.
I have a big list of other things to make from the scraps once the quilt is done. This was top of the list, as it was quick and easy. I like how colourful it is!
Beautiful 🤩 and let me know when the raffle is so I can also buy and hope to win that bag … 💝
I will. The quilt, this bag and a good few other items will be offered as prizes, I think.
A brilliant use for your orphan Hop Scotch blocks
It’s a nice bag… I’d hang onto it if it hadn’t been made to support a good cause!
A great contribution made for a fantastic cause.
And quick to make! Always a bonus, especially to a quilt-maker.
You can never have too many tote bags, so I hope you win this beauty back….or make yourself another one. 😊
I’ll probably make myself something, now that I’ve seen how easy it is! I have an idea for something with a pocket so I can stick in some keys and my phone and library card!
It’s a really bright and fun bag.
And best of all, totally scrappy!
It’s a lovely use of your second chance quilt squares, Kate. I love that it will also be a prize. You have a generous heart.
It’s good to do something creative which is also in the service of others. Very satisfying.
Agreed.
Oh my goodness. Oh my. Oh.
Will they sell tickets to me over here in South Africa?
I can buy some for you, and if you win, I’ll even ship over your prize! Other things to win in the pipeline 🎁
I only want this 😉 Happy to pay for tickets!!!
I can make you one of your own, if you like? I still have some ticking left, and an unending supply of scraps. Only the lining would be different, and you haven’t seen that anyway!
That is a very sweet offer, thank you — but I’d rather you concentrated your efforts on raising money for charity and/or your own quilting 🙂 It’s not like I’m short of bags, but I always seem to prefer things other people make to my own. I will continue to admire from afar, until such time as I win the lottery and fly around the world visiting all my bloggy friends – then we will swap handmade gifts, how’s that? xx
When I win the lottery, we’ll be going round the world by ship so my back doesn’t give out after the first 2 hours! Of course, I’d be taking some hand sewing along… You might end up with an entire quilt if the trip takes long enough!
can I join you….?
Of course! The Stitchin’ Globetrotters Afloat!
I love it! I have a whole load of simple bags like that so that I never need a plastic carrier bag at the supermarket.
I have a folding one in my handbag, and multiple-use insulated bags with flat bottoms, two in the car always and four in the house for big shopping trips. But they’re strictly practical. I like a pretty bag for books, though!
I just like pretty bags!
Me too 😊
looks fab.
Thanks! It’s nice and cheerful, isn’t it?
A great use for spare blocks and I love the ticking. There will be a lucky winnet.
Plenty of other scrappy loveliness on the To Make list, too.
Very nice! Great use of scrappies. I used some scrap to do lining for my dress. Same fabric, just the ends pieced together… won’t be seen, but needed all the same.
There’s no such thing as ‘too small’ fabric, only fabric that hasn’t joined a sewing group yet!
Heheh! I like it!
That is a glorious bag. Whoever wins it will be a very lucky person.
It’s beautifully colourful, isn’t it? You’ve got to love scraps – so long as they’re not overwhelming you!
Or you could make another and keep this glorious bag.
I will probably make another, slightly different one for myself…
I LOVE the bag. Someone will be so happy to win it. You have such a good heart, like my friend Alys who is always doing for others. I’ve made a few bags over the years and have collected many. Mostly from book stores which are extra sturdy. I haven’t needed a plastic grocery bag in 30 years. Why not use something so creative rather than plain and disposable.
One can never have too many bags, I find. Even if it’s just to hold *other* bags!
That will be a great happy prize for someone!
I surely hope so 🙂
What a great bag! The ticking was a brilliant choice for the gussets and handle; sets off the patchwork wonderfully well. I’d be buying tickets to win it if I weren’t ridiculously far away.
Plus the ticking adds a bit of sturdiness. There’s a set of placemats and two more bags in the pipeline, but first I have some other sewing jobs to do. Not interesting, but necessary!
[…] addition to my recent scrappy posts here, here and here, I’ve been working on a small project for my lovely SIL (Hi, H!). She’s the […]
A girl can´t have too many bag and this is a perfect way to use up scraps!
And it’s both strong and useful, too.