Basic Zipper Bag PDF Pattern :: Free for a Limited Time

 I finished up my personal sewing project for the month!

This is what I chose for the lining.

I filmed the process of actually sewing the bag and currently am offering the pattern I wrote for this bag for FREE. Click the link below and use the code FreePatternValentine2025 to get a copy for free through Thursday February 13, 2025 at 6pm Mountain Time USA.

Basic Zipper Bag PDF Pattern

To view the video you can watch it embedded right here or click the link below the video to go to it directly on my shop YouTube Channel. If you are so inclined, please consider subscribing to my YouTube Channel. I have lots more instructional videos planned. I hope that it will become a good resource for folks.

Basic Zipper Bag YouTube Video

I give a couple measurements in the video but not enough to actually make the bag so you will need a copy of the pattern to be able to follow along and actually make one yourself. Note that the pattern is only for the actual bag. There are no instructions for the hexagon designs or the hand quilting/embroidery work. 

If you happen to be reading this after the coupon code has expired, the pattern will still be available for $4.99. It's a PDF download so you'll get the link to download the pattern within a few minutes of placing the order.

Personal Sewing :: Side Two of the Project

 I'm making progress on the second side of my little hexagon bag project.

For this side I decided to just applique the hexagons down to my linen base in a pattern. I have more to add, but this is as far as I got yesterday afternoon while watching the NFL playoff games with my hubby.

I took a photo of the pre-made hexagons and the embroidery floss my friend gave me. I wish I had thought to take of photo of the hexagons before I started using them! They looked so pretty all laid out in rows that it took me a while to be able to use them.

If you missed my first post about this project you can view it by clicking the following link: Personal Sewing 

Personal Sewing

 Every January I like to try to make something just for me. So I started this little project. It will be a zippered bag when it grows up.

The hexagons were a gift from a friend from several years ago. She went to the big quilt show in Tokyo, in 2019 I think. She purchased these pre-made 1/2" hexagons and few small pieces of Japanese fabrics and gave them to me. I have 100 of these little hexagons and I'm finally using them! This is side one of the bag. I'm not sure what the other side will look like just yet, but I'm working on it.

I pieced the hexagons together, pulled out the papers then appliqued it to a piece of linen. There is a piece of fusible fleece on the backside of the linen. I quilted through the two layers and added some embroidery too. The colored embroidery thread was also part of the gift she brought me from Japan.

I'm just playing with no real plan, just doing what feels right in the moment.

New Pillowcases

 Sometimes even the shop owner has to put aside work sewing and make something for herself.

It has been two years since I made myself new pillowcases. It was time. These are already washed and on my bed. 

New Tablecloth Quilt :: A Finish

 I finished our new tablecloth quilt!

I altered the Moda Love pattern. The link in the previous sentence will take you to the free pattern. The pattern makes three sizes depending on the pre-cut you start with - layer cake, charm pack or mini charms. However, my squares finish at 7" and the quilt finishes at 56" by 56". This is the size I needed for our new dining room table.

I used up more of my cat fabrics for the backing. And here is the label I made.

I love using the old license plate fabrics from my shop for labels! I called this one "Here Kitty Kitty". It was fun to be able to do some selfish sewing!

Birthday Sewing

 My birthday was last week. I gave myself the day off and stayed home and sewed! I made a tablecloth quilt for our new dining room table.

The pattern I used is called Moda Love. It is a free pattern from Moda. I adjust the size of the finished squares to 7" finished so that it would fit my 46" round table. This version will finish at 56" by 56".

I am calling this quilt "Here Kitty Kitty" because I dug into my larger-than-I-thought collection of cat fabrics. I used 18 different cat prints for this project which isn't even half of my collection!

Fun fact: the cat print shown below was purchased exactly 20 years ago on my birthday from a quilt shop in San Diego. I used it to make a baby quilt for my son, who I was pregnant with when I bought the fabric. So, of course, I had to use a bit of it for this quilt too!

New Oven Mitts

 I have needed new oven mitts at my house for some time. When I saw this pattern that comes with a silicon shell I ordered the pattern (which comes with one silicon overlay) and a single silicon overlay (with no pattern) so that I could make a set.

The bowl fabric is showing through the silicon overlay. The silicon is clear which makes it hard to photograph. The silicon has a raised pattern on it to help with gripping stuff.

When they first arrived a few weeks ago I opened up the pattern and started to read but there were too many words for me to sift through on that day. So I set them aside. Last weekend I had a little time and wanted to sew something for myself so I pulled it out again. I realized that there really aren't that many words, the pattern writer has included several tips for various ways to sew these up. Once I figured out what the actual directions were and what were the tips, I realized that these are really easy to make! And the tips and photographs/diagrams were very helpful!

You do sew through the silicon. The cuff at the bottom is attached directly to the silicon, but my little Bernina didn't have any trouble sewing through the silicon. The silicon is always sandwiched between fabric so it didn't stick to the machine bed at all.

The only negative for these is that they are a little long (go down your arm quite a ways). For me this isn't a problem because I have thin, stick arms, but my husband couldn't get them on all the way because his forearms are bigger than mine. However, there are other sizes of these as well as potholders/trivet. I have ordered the other styles and will make them up to see if they have a more universal fit before committing to purchasing several for my shop.

My hope is that these will stay cleaner for me in my kitchen. They are machine washable and dryer safe but the pattern writer recommends just spot washing them in the kitchen sink. The silicon should be very easy to spot clean.

Still At "The Lake"

I'm still making progress on my On Ringo Lake project.

The photo above is of my progress on Clue 3. I have some of Clue 4 made too. I had planned to use my Deb Tucker Corner Pop ruler for clue 3, but I wasn't thinking and cut out my neutral squares for a different method! Oh well, it will work. I did use the Essential Triangle Tool ruler for clue 4. I must say that I am impressed. It was easy to use and my units are coming out great!

On Ringo Lake Mystery Quilt

I really don't have time for this but I'm doing it anyway! Our guest bed needs a new quilt.

I have no illusions that I will be able to keep up. My goal is to make 12 of each clue each week. Then I will make the rest as time allows.

The details of this mystery quilt can be found by clicking here. The next clue will be revealed tomorrow sometime.

Just Because

I've had the materials for this bag sitting next to my sewing machine for several weeks. Last weekend I decided to set aside the shop sewing I needed to do and make something for myself. This was handy and quick.

This Moda Man comic print canvas is too funny! It was one of those things that when I saw it I knew I had to have some for my shop. For the lining I used the light blue polka dot print that is also on the straps. 

It's just a simple tote bag. No pockets, zippers, magnetic snaps or anything fancy. I used the same method that I show in my trick or treat bag tutorial. For this one I started with 18" squares and cut a 4" corner out to box the bottom. For the handles I used cotton webbing (two pieces that are 24" long) but I also cut a strip of the lining fabric to dress them up. I stitched the fabric strips to the cotton webbing leaving about an 1/8" of the cotton webbing showing on either side of the fabric strip.

It holds a lot of stuff and has become my main bag for hauling stuff between home and the shop each day.

Mother's Day Sewing

I made myself a new purse over the weekend.

This is my Nancy Tote pattern with a few adjustments. The bottom is cork! It's a new product which I ordered months ago but just recently arrived at the shop. I've been anxious to try it out. It is very easy to use! I tested it with the iron. You can iron it but it doesn't seem to do much. I had best success with firmly finger pressing and then stitching the seam allowance down with topstitching. 

I also tried out another new product.

I found these metal "handmade" labels to order for the shop and couldn't resist purchasing a few for myself to use. I think it adds a nice professional touch.

Christmas Day Sewing

I made these on Christmas Day. We did inventory all last week at my shop so I didn't get them photographed until now.

I shopped my shop for food/cooking themed prints to use for these. For the pattern information and to see a photo of my first one of these, click here. 

It was nice to take a break from shop sewing and make something for myself!

Grocery Sack

Last week Svetlana posted about some reusable grocery bags she made. I was intrigued and purchased myself a copy of the pattern she used. 

Over the weekend I had a chance to make one.

This is the large size from the pattern. I'd like to make a medium one too to see which will work best for me. The pattern was pretty easy and it didn't take long to make. It is not your typical bag pattern as it is designed to be a fabric version of the plastic ones you get from the grocery store. 

New Pillowcases for Me!

I finally took the time to make myself some pillowcases.

I used two of the prints from the On the Road Again fabric line I made the Camper Quilt out of. Feels really good to have new pillowcases.