In my first few weeks of sewing machine bliss, I was lucky enough to stumble across p.s. i quilt, an inspiring blog with lots of incredible tutorials. I was immediately drawn to the Friendship Bag tutorial. Not only was the bag adorable, but I read the instructions ahead of time and understood each and every step thanks to the wonderful photos included throughout the tutorial. Plus all of the fabric pieces were rectangles that I could easily measure and cut myself without having to print a pattern.
I eagerly chose a variety of “fat quarters” at the fabric store. I have since learned that “fat quarters” are a quarter of a yard of fabric… duh, makes sense. But that means they are not always the best deal at $1.99 apiece, as that would be about $8/yard on the bolt! A little pricey for a beginning sewer, prone to disaster, who is just experimenting with a new project. But alas, the fabrics I chose complimented each other perfectly, were very “Lindsay-ish” with their cutesy blend of browns and pastels, and therefore worth every penny.
I made the bag and was shocked at how tiny it was. But my euphoria about making a successful bag outweighed the fact that I hadn’t really paid attention to the measurements, which clearly indicated how small the bag would be. Since I had plenty of fabric left, I later recalculated the measurements and made a larger bag.
What I learned from this project:
- There are lots of awesome, free tutorials available on the internet, thanks to savvy sewers on the web. Wahoo!
- Pay attention to measurements in order to get an idea of how large or small the final product will be. Don’t assume!
- “Fat Quarters” may look like a wee little economical choice in the store, but that is not necessarily the case. That doesn’t mean I’d ever pass up an adorable Fat Quarter, but I’ll never pass up an adorable fabric on the bolt out of convenience, either.
And now, I will leave you with the measurements for the larger bag. Follow steps in the p.s. i quilt tutorial, with a 1/4″ seam allowance.
- 16 strips, 9.5″ x 2.5″
- 1 bottom panel, 17.5″ x 9.5″
- 1 lining, 16.75″ x 25″
- 2 straps, 24″ x 4″
Happy sewing!
Sew Lindsay, Sew! 
I am getting caught up on emails and up to speed with your blog! I feel so honored that you shared it with me and even more honored that I personally own one of your amazing creations. Lovely blog so far! I can’t wait to read more! You are, as always, amazing.
❤
Thanks for being my first official comment, and a great friend! ❤
Congratulations on your bag…and the adorable bag-uette. The fact that you were able and willing to do the math and create a larger version bodes well for your sewing success. You’ve already figured out that to have the most fun with it, you have to keep in mind that it’s not rocket science and we’re not using combustible chemicals here. Good job! And welcome to PR, too. – Karla (sometimes found dazed and wandering in the Sewing Studio on 17-92, in Maitland)
Thank you Karla! I have never been to the Sewing Studio in Maitland but I can’t wait to make a trip! I’ll be the one with the bag pictured above, LOL! And for the record, I love the idea of calling the lil bag the bag-uette!
Great site Lindsay!
I too have realized the rip off price of fat quarters 😦 but sometimes they do go on sale! Great job going for it! And thanks for the blog listing! You rock!
Thanks Cassie, and thanks for having a great blog first and inspiring me to start my own!
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You are a great sewing teacher and throw the best sewing parties.
I feel you need a blog post on tissue covers. They do not get as much credit of how awesome they can be!
awesome job!!! i’m glad you are stretching your wings. quilting/sewing can be quite addicting. lol. hope you stop by again.
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