This week I’ve been busily working on making a butterfly messenger bag, using the Victoria collection by Blank Quilting Corporation. The Jaftex Ambassadors were offered the opportunity to make a project using a pattern from Patterns by Annie, and I chose to make MJ’s Messenger bag. I was planning to make it for my son as a gift, but I forgot to tell my connection at Jaftex about that, so instead I made one with butterflies. It’s all good, though, because now I have a better plan for how to work in some fun piecing into the version for my son.
Here is a video of me talking about the finished bag.
First off, let’s drool over this fabric collection. Victoria is a collection by Lisabelle Art Studio. It is chock full of butterflies and flowers, and is sweetly feminine. I would have died for this fabric when I was a pre-teen.
There is a panel with 4 squares perfect for pillow making, or to set in the middle of your larger quilt. I used the border scroll print to make the strap for my bag.
There is also a 24″ panel, which was my favorite of the collection. I used a lot of these motifs in the bag, although I couldn’t fit the 3 butterflies in anywhere. I neglected to get a good photo of it before I chopped it up, unfortunately. There is a better picture of the whole panel on the Blank Quilting website.
Here are the coordinates. Lots of butterflies perfect for fussy cutting.
Ready to get nervous with me? Look at the pile of supplies I was given to make the bag. This is a lot of stuff that is not my usual stuff. Luckily, Patterns by Annie is great at giving instructions. This was by far the most complicated bag I have made with them, and I made it more difficult by not following all of the directions. Because I was given 1/2 yard cuts, I had to cut up the stabilizing foam before quilting it. Also, I wanted to be able to fussy cut the pieces and make sure I made the best use of my panels.
The first step was to copy the back page of labels, then cut them all out. Then I pinned them up to my wall, to make sure I didn’t lose any.
Next I started cutting out pieces. I started at the end of the list, leaving the fabric until the end. This way I was able to see what I needed, and lay the pieces out on the fabric.
I even mocked up the bag, clipping the interfacing together to see how it was made. This way I skipped the frustration of having some directional prints going the wrong way, which has made me lose my temper in the past. I’ve had some Donald Duck moments.
This time, there were no moments of freak out. There were a couple of times where I was surprised to discover that a whole day had gone by, though. This project took up three entire days. This is what I tell people when they ask why I won’t make these for sale.
I did all of the quilting on my Bernina 570. The Bernina was a champ for this whole project. There were times where I was stitching through 3 layers of Soft and Stable, 8 layers of fabric, and strapping. The machine never skipped a stitch. I love my Bernina.
If you are thinking of trying your hand at a bag from Patterns by Annie, do it! The instructions are all very clear, even for someone who is a rookie bag maker. There were 2 steps that confused me, but I was able to figure them out by talking through them, and thinking about the finished product.
Finished bag
There is a mesh pocket against the front of the bag, which I have turned into 3 pockets.
Thanks to Blank Quilting Corporation and Patterns by Annie for supplying me with everything to make this project. My self confidence is way up today. And thank you for reading about my butterfly messenger bag! I hope you get to quilt today!
Previous By Annie’s projects
I have a pretty good pile of scraps left over from this project. There are 3 half-yard cuts I didn’t use, two undamaged pillow squares, and some other odds and ends left over. Want to win my scraps? Enter below!
**Quick note – if you post your comment on 10/5 and it doesn’t show up, don’t worry. I’m judging a quilt show today and can’t get to my computer until tomorrow morning. I’ll approve comments on 10/6.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The messenger bag turned out great! I have not made a Patterns by Annie bag, but I drool over how good they turn out. Taking your time and doing the mock up had to help in construction. I hope our bag you make for your son turns out just as good.
I have not, but I do have several projects from Annie’s. Someday…..
I’ve never used a pattern from this company, but I sure do love the organization labels supplied. You did an awesome job. I chuckled at your surprise of a whole day passing without realizing it!
Such a beautiful project and fabric 🥰
Would love to make a bag as I’ve never made one. Beautiful fabric to use for a bag project!
Butterflies? Fabric scraps? OOooo…. I can hardly contain myself. I do hope that I win. (My CB handle is Butterfly, I’m a quilter/stitcher who Loves scraps & I live on Double OO highway.) How could this be more perfect? Thank you for the opportunity! Your Messenger Bag is absolutely magnificent. pj stitches!
Have never made a project from Annie’s but would like to make a bag from your beautiful fabric!
I have not made a ByAnnie bag yet, but have several of her patterns. Loved how your bad turned out.
I just bought some patterns from this company at the Kaffe Fassett lecture in CT last week. I am glad to hear they are so thorough! I have not made bags before. I like your idea of mocking it up in the interfacing first to figure out which way I want my prints to go. Thanks for that idea. Your bag turned out beautifully!
I have never made a By Annie bag, but I do have one of her patterns I need to make.
Your messenger bag is gorgeous! Thank you for sharing the creation and so many useful tips. I feel like I might almost be brave enough to tackle one myself. And I would love that leftover fabric, I am a crafter / quilter / retiree (read: no income, lol) – this would be perfect for me 🙂 🤞🏻
Don’t ByAnnie bags look great?!! However, you’re right in that they take FOREVER to do them correctly. Shortcuts don’t work! Your butterfly fabric is beautiful!! 🙂 I love butterflies and am constantly saving patterns I find so eventually I can make a butterfly sampler. Our guild’s quilt show is this weekend, so tomorrow is set-up day. Judging was today, and I was there from 7 AM till almost 5 PM! 🙂 My feet are killing me…
Thanks so much for the chance to win the butterfly fabric! Keep up the great work…I love to see what everyone is making. Have a blessed day!!
Actually I have used their patterns. I haven’t made a bag of theirs though….although I do think I need another bag!! Lately I’ve been into mug rugs and using any and every block pattern I can turn into a mug rug. Thanks for the chance to win butterflies!
I have made By Annie patterns and they are fabulous. I think I will get this pattern too because I love the bag and it would be a perfect pattern for stash busting!
This bag is beautiful….have never tried a bag but think I will now. Thanks for all of the information.
I’ve wanted to try one of the bags from Annie’s but was afraid I wouldn’t be able to follow the directions. Seeing yours has helped calm that fear some!
I love this and I too am making ByAnnie items right now. Loving Soft and Stable. Great job on the bag and fussy cutting those panels!!! Well done.
Beautiful fabrics and all the necessary other parts, I have used Soft and Stable, great for the bags.
I have a pattern waiting, need to get some special zippers and pulls first.