This month the challenge with Island Batik was to try something new. I decided to try a new quilt pattern, and used a sample block to make this cute lunch bag.
I have a big project coming up, and I’m using the Folksy Fish pattern from Sarah at No Hats in the House. It is a foundation pieced pattern that includes curves. I’m always up for a curvy challenge, and I don’t want to find out that it is too hard when my deadline is imminent.
I figured out how to run freezer paper through my printer to make my foundation patterns. I cut two sheets of freezer paper down to 8 1/2″ x 11″ and then pressed them lightly to sheets of printer paper. They printed beautifully, but they did stick to the paper a bit more than I would prefer. On my next try I’ll set the iron at a lower temp, and try only pressing the leading edge.
I cut the pieces apart, and got to work, playing with my Island Batik scrap mountain. I noticed after finishing that the fish is supposed to have an open mouth. I didn’t see that when I was making him, so he has a mouthful of bubbles. I’ll be making notes on all of the blocks before my next project. I’ve also noticed some areas where strip piecing would be beneficial. I might need to just keep making a lot of fish. (This would be a perfect 100 Days project.)
After I finished the block, amid many squeals, I decided to make a bag with it.
I picked up the Stand and Stow bag pattern last year during a shop hop. Can you believe it only waited for a year to be made? I had fusible foam interfacing left over from my doll house, so I was all set.
I added some blue strips around my block, enlarging it enough to use for the front panel of the bag. It went together really quickly – These might become a regular project to use up sample blocks. The pattern uses really small pieces of interfacing, so those scraps can get used up, too.
Mom found me the perfect fish eye button in her button box. Don’t you love it? Now I need to find somewhere I can go and bring my lunch.
I lined my bag with this pretty neutral from my first year as an ambassador. I like to line bags with light colored fabrics to prevent loss of stuff.
I will happily acknowledge that this is not the most daring project I could have tried. If you want to see real experimentation, check out my fellow Island Batik Ambassadors. There is fabric weaving, texture manipulation, and even laminating of fabrics, among other techniques.
Alison Vermilya ~ Little Bunny Quilts
Anita Skjellanger ~ Quilt in a not-Shell
Anja Clyke ~ Anja Quilts
Anne Wiens~ Sweetgrass Creative Designs
Barb Gaddy ~ Bejeweled Quilts by Barb
Bea Lea ~ BeaQuilter
Becca Fenstermaker ~Pretty Piney
Bill Locke ~ Studio Bill Locke
Carla Henton ~ Creatin’ the Sticks
Carol Moellers ~ Carol Moellers Designs
Carolina Asmussen ~Carolina Asmussen
Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs
Connie Kreskin- Campbell ~ Freemotion by the River
Denise Looney ~ For the Love of Geese
Dione Gardner-Stephen ~ Clever Chameleon
Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood
Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail
Gene Black ~ Gene Black
Geraldine Wilkins ~ Living Water Quilter
Jackie O’Brien ~ If These Threads Could Talk
Janet Yamamoto ~ Whispers of Yore
Jen Strauser ~ Dizzy Quilter
Jennifer Fulton ~ Inquiring Quilter
Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations
Joan Kawano ~ Moosestash Quilting
Joanne Hart ~ Unicornhearts
Karen Neary ~ Sew Karen-ly Created
Kathleen McCormick ~ Kathleen McMusing
Kim Lapacek ~ Persimon Dreams
Laura Piland ~ Slice of Pi Quilts
Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights
Leanne Parsons ~ Devoted Quilter
Lisa Nielsen ~ Lisa Lisa and the Quilt Jam
Lori Haase ~ Dakota City Quilter II
Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for Quilts
MaryEllen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack’s Blog
Michelle Roberts~ Creative Blonde
Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts
Sally Manke ~ Sally Manke
Sandra Walker mmm! quilts
Sarah Goer ~ Sarah Goer Quilts
Sherry Shish ~ Powered by Quilting
Stephanie Jacobson ~ Steph Jacobson Designs
Suzy Webster ~ Adventerous Applique and Quilting
Terri Vanden Bosch ~ Lizard Creek Quilts
Tina Dillard ~ Quilting Affection Designs
Tish Stimple~ Tish’s Adventures in Wonderland
Toby Lischko ~ Gateway Quilts & Stuff
Vasudha Govindan ~ Storied Quilts
Vicki Schlimmer ~ Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting
That is so cute.Depending on your printer, you could have run the freezer paper through your printer without affixing it to printer paper.
Really! I’ll have to try that.
After cutting my freezer paper I will place it under my mat for a couple day to flatten out. It will run through my small printer smoothly. Not so much on the large printer. It’s worth a try.
That is really cute, both the block and the bag! I have the bag pattern and have made several of the medium (I think?) size. I use them for shopping bags and they hold a ton. One change I’ve made recently for the shopping bags, on the stabilizer panels that I insert, when they are in place, I sew an “X” through them to keep them in place. That makes me feel like I can wash the bag without the stabilizer bunching up (although I have washed one made according to the pattern and it was fine). It’s an easy make with a couple of yards of fabric. Great gifts too.
Thanks! I’ll have to try some of the other sizes. I think it would be fun to quilt the pattern more, but I worry that I might lose stability if I go through the Flex Foam.
That fish is adorable. I’ve never tried printing templates on freezer paper. Well done! I like that bag pattern.
Too cute!
Thanks for the idea to press the freezer paper to regular copy paper. Very cute fishy!
Two great patterns and so much fun in that little bag. I do think you were wise to test before you got too far. I think it is just fab!
The two patterns you used are fun! I love that you tested the pattern first. It really is adorable, and your fabric choices are so much fun. Oh, and I know that you can get freezer paper sheets, I have plenty of rolls of the stuff too but I love anything I can use that printer for!
Love the fish bag!!! Nice job on the curves.
Such a cute fish! And a lunch bag as a way to use up a stray/test block is a great idea!
Those aren’t bubbles in the fish’s mouth, they’re eggs! Some male fish carry the eggs around in their mouths until they hatch, and the fry even retreat to his mouth for protection in times of danger!
Awesome! I did it on purpose after all.