I tried something new ... and duffle-y :)

I tried a new to me tutorial this week - while it's made from the tutorial for a Ruffle Duffle, mine is, as you can see, ruffle-less.  I modeled mine after this one that I found on Pinterest.  Hers does have ruffles, but it's more structured and streamlined than the original Ruffle Duffle, and the quilting is rather a star in her show :)  It's exactly what I wanted mine to look like, and I think I came pretty close!  Mine measures 13.5" wide X 7.5" tall x 8.5" deep - definitely bigger than a boxy :D

My favourite aspect of the Ruffle Duffle is the fact that it's made like a boxy bag, only larger, and with straps.  Most duffle bags, including the Cargo Duffle from Anna/Noodlehead, are made with a side pieces with a zippered gusset, or they're the kind with round ends.  I like making boxy bags, and have made many of them, so when I realized that the R.D. is made in a similar manner, I knew I would give it a whirl.  The size (much larger than any boxy I've made) was difficult to maneuver through my machine to quilt and to stitch.  It was hard to move a bulky firm piece of fabric around - mine is made with outer + batting + mid-weight interfacing + lining, so it got pretty awkward :)  Not undoable - just a bit difficultly doable ;)

While quilting sandwiches of those 4 layers - one for the front, one for the back, I didn't think to spray baste - I figured that once I got the first row of quilting done, the pieces would stay in place.  NOT SO.  They shifted, and I didn't notice until I had done the 4th row of quilting - the layers skewed by several inches, LOL.   Lesson learned :D

Two things I will change next time - I used 6" pieces of webbing for the tabs, when the instructions called for 3" tabs, HAHA *brain fart #1*  Mine are awkwardly long :)   Secondly, I won't forget to bind the bottom middle seam like I did on this bag *brain fart #2* - you can see it in the picture where someone with old hands broke into my sewing dungeon to hold the bag open :D  Tomorrow I'll make a fabric covered plastic canvas base for the bag - that'll give the bottom some extra stability, and cover my bewbew ;)

I love this bag, and I love the tutorial, and I already have a 2nd R.D. planned for a birthday coming later this month.  I showed this one to my husband and told him I was making one for ****** for his birthday - he got very quiet and said ... "But you'll use different fabric, right?", LOL.  Dennis, I promise I won't make it in pink for a young man who is soon to turn 9!!

Here are a few more photos I took during construction - when I realized that things were going quite well for me, I decided to document the progress a bit :D

The lining side of the bag during zipper install.

Apparently I thought the lining during construction, was very photograph-worthy!  ;)

OOH!  Finished bag - viewed from the side to show off it's lovely large boxy shape!

This side view shows off the pocket (there's one on both sides) and the kitty zipper pull I found in stash :D

Hello Kitty ribbon used to embellish the pockets :)

A close-up of the kitty zipper pull - notice the fish hanging from the bottom, hehe.

Posting to Celtic Thistle Stitches New to Me for February :)