Second Quarter Challenge
I know it’s taken me a while, but I finally got around to doing Ann’s 2nd Quarter Challenge! One thing I like more than colourful felt, is lots of colourful felt! So, when I have a nice collection of offcuts, I like to put them together in a collage and make something out of it. I’d been wanting an ‘alternative’ bag to my little drawstring bag for a while now, and I’ve got a canvas satchel which I really like, but I wanted something a little bit smaller, so I thought I’d go with a smaller version of that. I worked out the dimensions for the length and width I’d need it, marked out where the front, back and flap would be, then pieced all my strips together:
The middle section with all the nuno pieces would be the back, I positioned them there because I know from experience that felt, especially Merino felt, can bobble/pill easily when it rubs a lot, like bags do around the hip area. When I trimmed the edges and folded it into shape, I realised the front flap was a bit too long to add satchel straps, so I went with a magnetic closure. This is what it looked like from the front when it was finished:
This is how it looks when it’s open:
This is the back (with the front flap open):
For the side panels, I tried quite a few felt pieces, One which looked really good was a piece I’d made from woven pencil roving, but I knew it’d be too thick once the hook straps were added, so, and I don’t know why this is still hard to do after all these years, but many will understand, I cut up a piece of nuno felt I made a while ago. I’m not sure I ever showed it because it’s blue and I have a hard time taking photos of blue, but here’s one end of it:
I cut strips for the sides, and thinner strips to make the straps to hold the bag hooks in place:
I got the findings from another bag I bought from a charity shop just for them. I recently bought 10 metres of rainbow webbing with a bag in mind and it went perfectly with this bag, I even got the findings attached the right way around the first time!:
And on the rainbow theme, if there are any Mancs out there, Happy Pride weekend! 🙂
18 thoughts on “Second Quarter Challenge”
Great little bag, a fab use of off cuts Zed. I couldn’t use a bag that small. My wallet wouldn’t fit in it. Pride was a couple of weeks ago here. It’s on a different week in every city. You could go to a different one every weekend all summer.
Thanks, Ann 🙂
It’s about 8.5 inches high, 8.5″ wide and an inch deep (22 x 20.5 x 2.5cm). It’ll fit a fair bit in it, but the idea was to have a bag for just essentials. Pride is on a different weekend in each city here, too. A lot of the smaller places just have one day, but we need a 4-day event up here! (and a week or two either side of fringe events)
It’s fabulous Zed! Love it! In fact I would never tire of looking at it because it’s so complex and you see something different each time you look (and the rainbow webbing is briliant).
Thanks, Lyn 🙂
I love the rainbow webbing, my thinking was it’ll pretty much go with everything, so get loads, then after making the bag – with removable strap, it occured to me I probably didn’t need quite that much!
Fab bag, Zed! I wouldn’t wear it myself, but I can see a colour-loving person taking it for a walk 😀
Thanks, Leonor 🙂
Funnily enough, I re-sorted my offcuts when I tidied up and had quite a few blacks and dark greys, I might have to think of something for those.
I love this bag and the photos you provided! Beautiful job. Happy Pride, indeed!
Thanks, Cathy! 🙂
Loving your bag Zed!
Thanks a lot, Karen 🙂
Great colorful bag Zed! I agree with Lyn about seeing something new each time you look. I’m sure you’ll get lots of compliments when you take it out.
Thanks a lot, Marilyn 🙂
Fab bag Zed, it has “bags” of personality (sorry, I couldn’t resist! 🙂 ), hope you are getting lots of use out of it at the pride events? Have a wonderful time 🙂
Ha ha, thanks, Teri 🙂
I wasn’t really well enough to going to Pride, but the photos were great 🙂
I do need to send you my felt scraps, you do such a great job of putting them together. Enjoy the bag and the pride events 🙂
Aaw, thanks, Ruth 🙂
I feel guilty for taking so many compliments really when much of it is nuno!
Love it!
Thanks, Mary Lou! 🙂