A new Patchwork Duffle

June 18, 2012

While on our beach vaction last week, the zipper on Elsie's duffel bag broke.  I knew it was only a matter time since it was a cheapy zipper.  The bag was one of my trials from when I created the pattern and instead of trying to replace the zipper, I thought it would be more fun to create a new bag!

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I used my bag of yellow scraps and cut all pieces (that were big enough) to a 6" width.  This meant that the piece were all different heights but all were the same width.  This made for a more random and casual patchwork but made putting them together easier than having all completely different sizes.

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Elsie and I both like how it turned out.  Yellow is a new favorite!  Happily, the chosen 6" width worked great for the side panels and the zipper section.  I made my own piping (more about that in the piped pot holders tutorial) and matched the handles with the same solid yellow.

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The only troubles I had with this bag was my choice to use duck cloth for the lining.  I am having a love affair with duck cloth but this time I may have gone too far!  It was too thick at the zipper section and gave me fits.  If I were to do it again, I may do duck cloth for the nice shape it gives the bag but do the zipper section lining in a cotton.  

I did add a layer of cotton fusible interfacing to the main panels behind the patchwork.  I think it gave me a boost of confidence but wasn't really neccesary- i just felt like the patchowrk might be sturdier with it back there holding things together.

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We are going to the beach again this coming week and then to my parents in Atlanta for the 4th of July.  I have to fit in all this travel before the new addition (a girl!!! due in Novemember) comes and makes getting around a challenge again.  I will probably be sticking close to home for the next couple of years!

The Make Your Getaway Duffel is on sale for only $4.50 until midnight tonight!  Remember to enter the discount code summer to get the deal.

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