Windmill Bag

We will be having a visit and short talk at the next meeting from Julie, of "Making for Charity" who will tell us all about making the syringe driver bags for patients going through chemotherapy. 

She has provided the pattern and samples for us so we, as a group, can help by make some bags for this good cause.

Have a sort out of all your unwanted fabric ready to make some bags. 

The bags are lined and Julie suggests this, and/or the bags, can made from good condition, old duvet covers. 

I'm sure we can share and mix and match from what we have without going to great expense and still provide an attractive finished result for them.

Windmill Bag 

Here are few guidelines for members of the group who are making the Windmill Bag (below) on April 1st, which will give over two weeks to get prepared. 

This is a much simpler version of the original pattern, making it a quick and easy bag to sew.

Prepare 4 panels comprising of patchwork strips (see first bag example) or squares (second bag)

The above bag consists of 10 rows x 2 x 2.5 inch squares 

A slightly bigger bag can be made by cutting the squares 3 inches.

A chequer board effect from two strongly contrasting colours would be effective

or you could choose to make your panels using windmill blocks, which would be  really appropriate for a Windmill Bag! The choice is yours!

For each panel you will need;

batting, cut 1 inch bigger than all sides 

and lining, cut 2.5 inches bigger then all sides

(as shown in the next 2 pics below)

The bag is an ideal way of using up small scraps of fabric but take care of colour balance. After taking the photograph, below, I realised how the two very dark squares really didn't work so I changed them.

It's an idea to first lay the rows out on a design board to select finished layout.

The four panels before lining...

If you wish, the panels can then be quilted by hand or machine onto the batting and before lining, but if you do this you will need to put some light interfacing fabric behind the batting.

For each panel you will need;

batting, cut 1 inch bigger than all sides 

and lining, cut 2.5 inches bigger then all sides

(as shown in the next 2 pics below)

Bring these ready to the meeting.

However, if you wish, the lining can be sewn at home down each side, positioned as below with right sides together, 

then turned inside out and pressed ready to form the finished panels for the bag to be quickly assembled at the meeting and instructions will be given for different ways to complete it. Handles, fasteners, pockets etc.

If in doubt, wait to do this stage on the day.

Completed panels

2.5 inch squares        3 inch squares

If you are interested in joining us there are still a couple of places available....

Due to a couple of our members having to leave us through health reasons, we are now able to offer their places in the group.

 If anyone can manage to get to Liverpool for two Wednesdays a month and would like to share quilting skills, fun and friendship, in a pleasant spacious environment, please leave a comment with contact info (which will not be published) and we will get back to you with full details. 

We have a mixed level of skills, styles and interests, and beginners are welcome but please note that,  whilst we have occasional workshops we do not have regular formal teaching sessions. As you can see on this blog, we also make smaller items such as bags, hangings, seasonal decorations and, each month we set a block challenge. 

We also make small items needed to help cancer patients.

As well as our quilting sessions we organise days out to shows and places of interest.