Star Spangled Grocery Bag

Oh! John! Made me wanna stand up & salute!! It is just so Americania. Wonderful job (as always) John.

Nana done gushing now

That is so nice John. Well done! And "hi" to Herself.

Bronnie

Very nice! I was prepared to go to the link photo and be really disgusted to see the American flag misused, but this is lovely and NOT a cheesy misuse of the flag. Well done indeed!

I also agree that most of the flag oriented things are inappropriate. This whole thing started with the star patterned fabric that is used for the handle. I bought a ton of it to make this pattern for a series of quilts for returning veterans who were injured. There is always a bit of overage in fabric ( as we all know) and I had to come up with an idea for usage. There are a multitude of items that can accommodate the pattern and I am currently using it to go through the small lot of cutoffs left over from the quilt project. And so it goes. John

Herself says Gday to Ya. John

Coo! You need to be buying tres posh groceries to go in that bag! Fornum & Masons, maybe, or Harrods Food Hall type stuff. ;)

I usually find all the 'patriotic' stuff a bit naff, but this is just a nice bag made with lovely fabrics.

There was a really nice flag patterned quilt in the V&A exhibition. Lots of little pastel granny prints. Not my sort of thing at all, but as versions of the Union Jack, it worked. Sort of patriotic but understated with it. Better than all the Cross of St George banners going tatty on cars after England's dismal failure in the world cup, anyway! ;)

That was the Liberty fabric one wasn't it? Unusual use of their floral Tana lawns.

They looked pretty dismal in the rain before that and then they fall off in the gutters and clog up the grids.

Lizzy

Great job! Did you use a pattern or is this a John original? Purses seems so easy to make but then I know they're not!

Thanks for sharing. Donna in WA

No, just a Mr. John sort of thing. Actually. I have done about 20 different bags and they have become second nature to me. I have figured out some short cuts that make the whole thing go along quite easily. John

That's the one!

And the drains...

WOW! Nice job, John! (as usual, you've come up with a winning idea!) ME-Judy

John, care to share any & all short cuts, PLEASE!!??

Nana

No, just a Mr. John sort of thing. Actually. I have done about 20 different bags and they have become second nature to me. I have figured out some short cuts that make the whole thing go along quite easily. John

It's beautiful, John....you do such nice work! Perfect for the DAR. Donna

.

One thing I do is (If Possible due to the pattern design), I make one continuous piece of quilted sandwich which wraps around and forms all

4 of the sides. I place the joint under where the strap is being attached. Also If you can do so when you make the strap, leave the sandwich that becomes the strap not sewn together at the bottom of each end, where it runs across the entire height of the sides, and lay the back side of the strap on the inside with the edges folded under. This covers the joint of the side piece and when sewn together makes for a nice strong attachment of the handle. For the bottom I generally use heavy weight black cotton duck canvas which is made into a diamond pattern quilted sandwich and then turn the bag inside out and sew the bottom to the bottom of the sides. Square shaped for grocery bags, oval for purses. The cotton duck takes a lot of abuse and doesn't get as dirty as a continuous use of the main pattern and is heavier, lasts longer. If you have a serger then serge the inside bottom seems, and fold that down to lay on the bottom and topstitch it to the bottom. If you don't have a serger you can overcast the edges of the seams and then sew them down onto the bottom. Sometimes the fabric pattern I am using requires sewing the sides up into 4 separate pieces and then stitching the seams at the corners. That makes for a lot more seams but it is sometimes necessary with the fabric pattern choices. I make the handles finish out to about 2" width with a batting filler and that makes a comfortable handle. If you make small strap handles without filler, they tend to cut into your hands when the bag is loaded. That is about it, for tricks of the trade. You can add matching pattern pieces to the outside of the bag located between the straps, and even flaps over those pockets, but then you are approaching pursedom, and that is another fish entirely. If you go that route, then you should include a key strap attached to the upper edge of the binding, for fishing those attached keys out of the bottomless pit filled with all manner of things that seem to end up in women's purses. If you are really creative, then by all means, add piping to the seams and strut your stuff. The possibilities are endless. and only your abilities will limit your choices. I really enjoy making these things, and no two are ever alike. They do challenge your abilities but each one gets noticed and usually commented on as to whether I would make one for the person asking about it. That then becomes up to you. I only make them as gifts but there is a possible home fashion job waiting for the person looking to go that route. Hope this gives you some guidance and good luck. John

"John" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@w30g2000yqw.googlegroups.com... On Jul 15, 7:41 pm, "NanaWilson" wrote:

One thing I do is (If Possible due to the pattern design), I make one continuous piece of quilted sandwich which wraps around and forms all

4 of the sides. I place the joint under where the strap is being attached. Also If you can do so when you make the strap, leave the sandwich that becomes the strap not sewn together at the bottom of each end, where it runs across the entire height of the sides, and lay the back side of the strap on the inside with the edges folded under. This covers the joint of the side piece and when sewn together makes for a nice strong attachment of the handle. For the bottom I generally use heavy weight black cotton duck canvas which is made into a diamond pattern quilted sandwich and then turn the bag inside out and sew the bottom to the bottom of the sides. Square shaped for grocery bags, oval for purses. The cotton duck takes a lot of abuse and doesn't get as dirty as a continuous use of the main pattern and is heavier, lasts longer. If you have a serger then serge the inside bottom seems, and fold that down to lay on the bottom and topstitch it to the bottom. If you don't have a serger you can overcast the edges of the seams and then sew them down onto the bottom. Sometimes the fabric pattern I am using requires sewing the sides up into 4 separate pieces and then stitching the seams at the corners. That makes for a lot more seams but it is sometimes necessary with the fabric pattern choices. I make the handles finish out to about 2" width with a batting filler and that makes a comfortable handle. If you make small strap handles without filler, they tend to cut into your hands when the bag is loaded. That is about it, for tricks of the trade. You can add matching pattern pieces to the outside of the bag located between the straps, and even flaps over those pockets, but then you are approaching pursedom, and that is another fish entirely. If you go that route, then you should include a key strap attached to the upper edge of the binding, for fishing those attached keys out of the bottomless pit filled with all manner of things that seem to end up in women's purses. If you are really creative, then by all means, add piping to the seams and strut your stuff. The possibilities are endless. and only your abilities will limit your choices. I really enjoy making these things, and no two are ever alike. They do challenge your abilities but each one gets noticed and usually commented on as to whether I would make one for the person asking about it. That then becomes up to you. I only make them as gifts but there is a possible home fashion job waiting for the person looking to go that route. Hope this gives you some guidance and good luck. John

Thanks a whole bunches, John!!

Nana....off ta make some grocery totes!!!