Finishing Touches

I admit it, I have a problem finishing projects.  Before I'm barely started with one, the next one is calling me out.  I have more ideas, fabric, drawings, patterns and tools that are waiting to be used.  

One of the reasons I like making bags, pillows, and minis is that they are projects that are finished quickly so my ADD doesn't kick into overdrive before I can get the small item finished.

One of the things I'm slow to do unless there is a deadline is the binding.  I had a quilt sit for 3 years with no binding.  Then when I added the binding it took all of about an hour (I usually machine bind).

This wall hanging just lacked the binding for 3 months, and then it was probably only finished because it was intended for my granddaughter's nursery and she was due to arrive.

I'm not one of those people who neatly roll their binding on to an old spool or something.  It just lays there in a puddle, waiting to be added

And voila it's finished, even added a label (another thing I often don't get to, but I'm trying to be better at)

And up on the nursery wall

The bed skirt matches the Elephant wall hanging

Nursery sewing I have to say, is quite rewarding.  I love to dress up the room with color

Keep Calm and Quilt On!

Mary

Cargo Duffle / Camera Bag

I showed you how I dressed up my camera strap in this post. Next up I wanted a snazzy handmade bag to carry around my equipment.  

I chose the Cargo Duffle by Noodlehead, this is a free pattern.  I laid out the measurements of the bag and hoped it would be the right size, even if it wasn't I knew I wanted to make the duffle, and it would be used.  

I chose Mochi Dot by Momo and a Paula Nadelstern print for the exterior and waxed canvas for the bottom gusset and sides.  I like to use waxed canvas on the bottom of bags so I don't have to worry about setting them down on the ground.  

Here is the Etsy shop where I purchased the waxed canvas.

The two exterior panels finished

If you want a crinkly aged look to your canvas you just wad it up in a ball and squish it around to get the wrinkles

I used waxed canvas on the pocket flaps and also around the cotton webbing I used for the handles.  I think the waxed canvas wears better than quilting cotton for handles.

I used a different color Mochi Dot for the back of my cargo duffle

I did add some quilting lines to the bottom gusset, I don't usually add quilting to the waxed canvas, but I had a seam I wanted to hide.  If quilting the waxed canvas, space the quilting lines further apart than you normally would

The Cargo Duffle is a bit larger than I thought for a camera bag - but I remedied that by adding smaller bags and pouches for my lenses, charger, and miscellaneous supplies inside the duffle.

This pattern does not have a lining, but there are several blogs on line who have added a lining.  I didn't add a lining to mine, the interior is canvas.  I used fusible fleece as my batting and added D links to the side so I can make a detachable longer handle for over my shoulder.  The only other thing I added was a strip of velcro on each side interior for padded dividers for my camera equipment.  

Keep Calm and Quilt On!

Mary